<P> The flag flown from the 81 metres (266 feet) flagpole is 12.8 by 6.4 m (42 by 21 ft), about the size of half a tennis court . The flagpole weighs 250 tonnes and is made of polished stainless steel from Wollongong . It was designed to be the pinnacle of Parliament House and is an easily recognisable symbol of national government . It is visible by day from outside and inside Parliament House and floodlit at night . The flag itself weighs approximately 15 kg (33 lb). </P> <P> The site covers 80 acres (32 hectares). The building was designed to "sit above" Old Parliament House when seen from a distance . The building is four metres (13 feet) higher than the original height of the hill . About one million cubic metres (35,000,000 cubic feet) of rock had to be excavated from the site . It was used to fill low - lying areas in the city . Most of the granite used was sourced from Australia . Twice the amount needed was quarried as a very high standard of granite was required particularly for the curved walls . </P> <P> It was proposed originally to demolish Old Parliament House so that there would be an uninterrupted vista from the New Parliament House to Lake Burley Griffin and the Australian War Memorial, but there were successful representations for preservation of the historic building, which now houses a parliamentary museum . </P> <P> The original idea was for Parliament House to be open freely to the public, and the sweeping lawns leading up to the entrances were intended to symbolise this . The building is a major visitor attraction in Canberra with about 1 million visits each year . With the increased risk of terrorist attacks in recent years, the security of Parliament House has been increased greatly . One result has been the construction of crash barriers blocking vehicular access to the lawns . </P>

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