A fire at the front door of Old Parliament House in Canberra has seen the museum shut down this week, as protesters occupied the front steps.
The building now houses the Museum of Australian Democracy, and staff had been gearing up for a busy summer welcoming back visitors after the long lock down.
But a group of protesters took position at the front of the building, and safety concerns led to the Museum's director Darryl Karp closing the doors on Tuesday.
"Initially there were approximately 30 or 40 people approaching the building advising us that they wanted to protest on the front steps of Parliament House, and they took up position there," Ms Karp said.
"On Tuesday the protesters lit a fire that got out of control and it scorched the front door.
"I don't believe it was their intention to do any damage; however, we had to ask them to move on."
The museum decided there was no option but to close the building for safety reasons.
The ABC has been told the protesters are not part of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy across the road, and its members are both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
The Australian Federal Police released a statement saying they had been talking to the group, but had to move in when the fire was started.
"About 4.10pm on Tuesday officers moved approximately 12 people who were protesting at the front doors of the building," the statement read.
"One person was arrested and was charged with Breach of the Peace. No other arrests have been made in relation to these protests."
The police said they will continue to monitor the protests in the coming days.
"ACT Policing will continue to monitor peaceful protests; however, when criminal actions take place the people responsible will be dealt in accordance with the law," they said.
Ms Karp said she hopes to reopen Old Parliament House on Boxing Day.
"The situation is now resolved; we've been working very closely with the ACT police as well as with the elders, and I believe we've got a really good solution that will allow us to open safely," she said.
Old Parliament House is no stranger to protests, and Ms Karp said she is already preparing for an important milestone for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, across the road from the museum, next month.
"We are really keen to continue a good relationship with the tent embassy in the lead up to the 50th anniversary of the tent embassy which is the longest running demonstration in the world," Ms Karp said.
"It's a significant day for the tent embassy and for Indigenous Australians and so for us we really want to ensure that it is a peaceful good experience for everybody."