They have documented Australia's political history for the past century, but Canberra's political reporters have neglected to record their own history — until now.

Love 'em or hate 'em, journos in the Press Gallery have been recording the nation's political history since 1901, when Australia was federated and Federal Parliament first sat in Melbourne.

All the backflips, the backstabbing and backbench revolts have been written down, typed up and published.

One-hundred-and-fourteen years worth of history have been recorded in fantastic detail by hundreds of journalists.

And yet, if you wanted to look at the history of the Press Gallery itself, it was very hard to find... until now.

For the first time, a comprehensive history of the Press Gallery has been written and published on their website containing over 20 historic photos.

The images demonstrate the fascinating love-hate relationship between our elected representatives and the media who have recorded their every move.

Paul Keating gives his first press conference after toppling Bob Hawke as Labor leader and subsequently prime minister, December 19, 1991. ( Supplied: SMH News Picture by Staff )

Some of the stories uncovered are fascinating.

There is the prime minister who wrote newspaper stories under a pseudonym for more than a decade; the two men who fell from the press gallery into the chamber (one of them tired, the other drunk); another two men who were jailed by Parliament without legal representation or the right to appeal.

There are stories about reporting on Parliamentary sittings lasting for 20, 30, 40 hours and longer; and the journalist who swore at a bullying PM while his daughter listened in — terrified the police would break down the door because daddy just told the prime minister to "get fucked".

Newly-elected prime minister Malcolm Fraser waves to the gathered press at Old Parliament House on December 15, 1975 — two days after his election victory. Legendary Channel Nine reporter Peter Harvey is throwing a question on Mr Fraser's left. ( Supplied: Fairfax Photo Library (Sydney) )

The history also shows the relationship between the Press Gallery and the PM and how it has changed from one leader to the next.

While some prime ministers were warm and welcoming to reporters, others have been cold, distant and aloof.

Several PMs started in the job with a media rapport like a love affair, to have it turn sour by their reign's end.

Press Gallery president David Speers and prime minister Kevin Rudd playing backyard cricket at The Lodge, December 2009. Speers was clean bowled the next ball. ( Supplied: Sue Kemp )

Constant themes emerge throughout the history of the Press Gallery — the struggle between the media and Parliamentary authorities and the ongoing challenges presented by new technology.

Politicians and the Press Gallery resisted the arrival of the new mediums of radio, television and online media — all of which eventually cemented their place in political reporting.

Unlike in any other Western democracy, Australia's Press Gallery has always been housed in the same building as the politicians.

This has been despite several unsuccessful attempts over the years to separate the media from those they were reporting on.

The closeness between politicians and the Fourth Estate is here to stay — and will no doubt provide many interesting stories over the decades to come.

The media team covering prime minister Harold Holt's Vietnam visit from 1966 to 1967. Mr Holt was the first prime minister to take the media on organised trips overseas. ( Supplied: Tony Eggleton )

Nick Haggarty is an ABC cameraman who has been in the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery since 2001.