At the dawn of the 19th century, a new symbol of hope and sovereignty rose from the heart of Port Arthur. Where the modest timber home of Arthur Portsman once stood, a grand structure now dominated the old town square: the Parliament House of New Southland. Crafted from locally sourced timber and stone, and overlooking the Port Arthur docks, the Parliament House was to become more than just an administrative center - it would become the beating heart of New Southland’s democracy. Designed to reflect the ideals of a young and ambitious nation, the building blended Georgian symmetry, French neoclassical elegance, and Hakawan artistry. It featured a grand hall for assemblies, smaller chambers for committees, and offices for the various departments that would emerge.

After five years of painstaking construction, on 1st January 1805, the Parliament House was officially opened. With its sandstone façade glowing in the morning light, the doors were opened to the public for the inaugural session of parliament. Within the grand assembly hall, beneath tapestries depicting the settlers’ journey - from the mutiny aboard the Charlotte to the founding of Port Arthur, Governors and representatives from each of the four Territories had arrived for the inaugural session, which was to be opened by the nation's Commander - Arthur Portsman.

Arthur stood before the podium, steady and resolute. “Today,” he proclaimed, “we lay the cornerstone of our future. This Parliament House is not just a building; it is a beacon of our collective will, our shared dreams, and our unwavering commitment to self-determination.”

The crowd's cheers echoed through the city. For many, this was more than just a ceremony - it was the culmination of years of perseverance - a signal that their small island outpost had matured into a nation of its own.

The first order of business was the election of the Speaker of the House. In a unifying moment, French-born settler Jean-Baptiste Lemoine was elected - a powerful symbol of unity, bridging linguistic and cultural divides between the English, French, and Hakawan communities. The next monumental step was the ratification of the Charter of New Southland - the nation’s constitution. Drafted through rigorous debate, the document enshrined the principles of equality, liberty, and rule of law, and balanced diverse political philosophies: British parliamentary structure, French civic ideals, and Hakawan traditions. It established a bicameral legislature, enshrined civil rights, and recognised English, French, and Hakawan as official languages. The Charter passed unanimously, a moment of unity that cemented the nation's democratic foundations. In addition to this, to reflect the multicultural and regional identity of the new nation, key functions of government were decentralised and split between the three major Territories - Port Arthur would become the Administrative Capital, La Perouse the Judicial Capital, and Port Gilbert the Cultural Capital.

In the months following the inauguration, the parliament addressed urgent issues such as trade regulations, infrastructure planning and land allocation. The most ambitious proposal, however, came from Arthur Portsman himself: the Eastern Expansion Scheme. Designed to consolidate the nation's hold of the island, improve defensive capabilities and boost economic growth, the plan aimed to explore and settle the underpopulated Eastern Territories. With the promise of vast untapped resources in the East having the potential to fuel New Southland's growth for generations to come, the time for expansion was now.

Until now, the only settlements in the East included two small whaling stations at Little Cove and Double Bay - home to fewer than a hundred settlers. Under the leadership of French cartographer Lucien Deroux and English explorer Captain Samuel Penrith, surveying parties left Port Arthur to mark out new towns at strategic locations. By the end of 1806, three new towns had been established, tripling the population of the Eastern Territories:

Charlottetown - a military outpost at Cape Charlotte - the northernmost point of mainland New Southland;

Rowan - a farming commune nestled along the fertile shores of King Louis Bay; and

Devonport - a fishing port on King Louis Island.

The opening of Parliament in 1805 was more than just a ceremony - it marked the birth of a nation. From a distant outpost on a rugged island, New Southland had emerged as a sovereign state built on unity, resilience, as well as a great deal of luck - prepared for the challenges ahead and determined to shape its own destiny. As Parliament convened session after session in its stately hall, New Southland began a new chapter - an era of expansion, cooperation, and progress.