[1][2] Construction was interrupted by the Second Matabele War and the site was bought by the British South Africa Company in its unfinished state in 1898.

[3] The dining room of the hotel was converted into the chamber of the Legislative Assembly, which had its inaugural sitting on 31 May 1899, only eight days after the arrival of the first train into Salisbury.

[2] In 1938 the balconies were enclosed, and the current facade was added in 1953 when the building was extended at the back to Union Avenue to house the Parliament of the newly-formed Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

During this period, the Reading Room on the northern side of the building served as the Federal Chamber of Parliament.

[2] By the time of the 2023 election, the Constitution had altered the make-up of Parliament to accommodate 280 MPs and 80 senators.