How many clocks are there in Parliament House? What makes the bells on the clocks ring? Why do the bells ring for four minutes?
A clock at Parliament House.
Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)
A clock at Parliament House.
Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)
Description
This photograph of a clock at Parliament House shows the red and green lights that indicate that the Senate and the House of Representatives bells are ringing.
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There are close to 2600 clocks in Australian Parliament House, fitted with 2 flashing lights which call members of parliament to the chambers. One light flashes green for the House of Representatives and the other flashes red for the Senate. When the lights are activated, the sound of a bell rings through loudspeakers set in the ceiling near all the clocks in the building, which are controlled and synchronised by a master clock. The master clock also operates the red and green lights.
The bells ring for 5 minutes at the start of each session – meeting – of the Senate or House of Representatives, and for 4 minutes if there is a division – a counted vote. Four minutes gives members of parliament enough time to get to either chamber from anywhere in Parliament House before the vote is held.