Government House, Sydney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Government House is located in Sydney just south of the Sydney Opera House, and overlooks Sydney Harbour. It was the official residence and remains the official reception space of the Governor of New South Wales, Australia.
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[edit] Early Government Houses in Sydney
[edit] Town House
The abode of the first Governor of New South Wales, Captain Arthur Phillip, was a structure made of canvas and timber brought from England by the First Fleet. Built after the Fleet's arrival in January 1788, it was located on the corner of what is now Bridge and Phillip streets, Sydney. It was extended and repaired by the following eight Governors, but was always in poor condition and was demolished in 1846. Much of the "Governor's Domain" to the east of the original house has survived today as the adjacent areas of parkland known as The Domain, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and also the gardens of today's Government House, adjacent to the Sydney Opera House.[1] The foundations of this house were excavated by archaeologists in 1983, and they were incorporated into the new Museum of Sydney.[2]
Major General Lachlan Macquarie (Governor 1810-1821) was responsible for prompting the construction of many of the colony's first permanent public buildings, and he attempted to build a replacement for the original Sydney Government House. Work was started by the convict architect Francis Greenway, but the project was not approved by the British government, and only the castle-like stables were ever finished. This building now is the nucleus of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.[3]
[edit] Country House
The desperate search for farmland suitable to sustain crops to feed the new colony led to the establishment of the township of Parramatta and, in 1790, Governor Arthur Phillip built a second residence for himself there. This cottage, as with many of the settlement's earliest structures, was not robustly constructed and fell into disrepair[4]; it was demolished by 1799. However, a precedent for a "country residence" for the Governor had been set.
[edit] Old Government House (Parramatta)
The poor quality of the original Sydney Government House, as well as crime and unsanitary conditions in the growing Sydney settlement[5] convinced successive Governors of the desirability of a rural residence. In 1799 the second Governor, John Hunter, had the remains of Arthur Phillip's cottage cleared away, and a more permanent building erected on the same site.
Later, starting in 1815, Governor Lachlan Macquarie and Mrs Macquarie added extensively to Hunter's structure and by 1818 their principal residence had acquired the appearance which it retains today (the building's Palladian style extensions were designed by Macquarie's aide, Lieutenant John Watts).[6]
"Old Government House" is furnished in the style of the early 1820s and is open to visitors. It is situated on 260 acres of parkland overlooking the Parramatta River, and is Australia's oldest public building. The grounds are of particular interest as they are a relatively undisturbed colonial-era reserve surrounded by what is now Australia's largest urban area. The practice of "firestick" land management conducted by the aboriginal Darug tribe, which once dwelt in the area, is evident from certain scars to be seen on trees still standing (their bark being removed to build canoes). Also, shells used to strengthen the mortar used in the House's construction have been found to originate from aboriginal middens.[7]
[edit] Government House (Sydney)
In 1835 the British government agreed that a new Government House in Sydney had become a necessity, and the Royal Architect, Edward Blore, was instructed to draw up plans. Construction commenced in 1837 and was supervised by Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis, and Colonel Barney of the Royal Engineers.[8] Stone, cedar and marble for the construction were obtained from various areas of New South Wales. A ball in honour of the birthday of Queen Victoria was held in the new building in 1843, although construction was not complete. The first resident, Governor George Gipps, did not move in until 1845.[9]
Government House, with its setting on Sydney Harbour, has a garden area of 5 hectares and is located south of the Sydney Opera House, overlooking Farm Cove. It was designed in a romantic Gothic revival style – castellated, crenellated, turreted and is decorated with oil portraits and the coats of arms of its successive occupants. Additions have included a front portico in 1873, an eastern verandah in 1879 and extensions to the ballroom and Governor's study in 1900-01.
From 1845 until 1996 it served as the Governor's residence, office and official reception space. However, since 1996 the Governor has not used it as a residence and the Governor's day office has been relocated to the historic Chief Secretary’s Office building nearby, at 121 Macquarie Street.[10]
Government House is open to the public, although it remains the Governor's official reception space and is frequently used for Vice regal purposes.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Government House website (Historic Houses Trust)
- Official Old Government House website (NSW National Trust)
- School excursion information - Old Government House
- Pictures of Old Government House, Parramatta
- Satelite picture by Google Maps
