First Government House, Sydney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First Government House |
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An 1809 watercolour painting of the first government house erected in Sydney.
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| Former names | Government House |
| Alternative names | Museum of Sydney site Rum Rebellion site |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished (and replaced with Government House) |
| Type | Government administration |
| Architectural style |
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| Location | 41 Bridge Street, Sydney CBD, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°51′49″S 151°12′41″E / 33.8635°S 151.2115°E |
| Construction started | May 1788 |
| Completed | 1789 |
| Demolished | 1845-1846 |
| Client | Colonial Governor |
| Owner | Government of New South Wales |
| Technical details | |
| Material | English bricks, native stone |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect |
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| Official name | First Government House Site |
| Type | Historic |
| Criteria | a., b., c., g., h. |
| Designated | 19 August 2005 |
| Reference no. | 105761 |
| Official name | First Government House Site; Museum of Sydney; A Rum Rebellion Site |
| Type | State heritage (Archaeological-Terrestrial) |
| Criteria | a., c., d., e., f., g. |
| Designated | 10 December 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1309 |
| Type | Government House |
| Category | Government and Administration |
The First Government House was the very first home for the Governors of New South Wales. It was located at 41 Bridge Street in the Sydney central business district, Australia. Building started in 1788 and it was finished in 1789. The house was used until 1845 and then taken down in 1846.
Today, part of the site is where the Museum of Sydney stands. A builder named James Bloodsworth is believed to have overseen its construction. This important site is also known as the First Government House Site and the Museum of Sydney. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the National Heritage List because of its historical importance.
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A Home for the First Governor
The very first home for Captain Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, was a simple tent made of canvas and timber. This tent was brought from England by the First Fleet and set up in January 1788. The First Government House, a more permanent building, took about a year to build.
Governor Phillip himself laid the first stone in May 1788. He moved into the new house on 17 April 1789. This was the first proper building in the new colony. It had two floors, made from bricks and stone, with six rooms, two cellars, and a back staircase. In front, there was a garden where the first fruit trees and plants from other countries were grown.
Who Built the First Government House?
The house was built under the guidance of James Bloodsworth. He was a convict who became a master builder. He was responsible for constructing most of the colony's early buildings between 1788 and 1800. The house was completed by 1789. It used bricks brought from England, local stone, and bricks made by convicts in the Sydney area.
What the House Looked Like
The First Government House was built in the Australian Georgian style. Behind the main house, there were smaller buildings. These included the kitchen, a place to bake bread, stables for horses, and offices.
When Governor Hunter took over in 1795, he added a verandah to the house. This might have been the first verandah in the entire colony! Governor Hunter also set up the colony's first printing office on the grounds. This office printed official notices and, in 1803, Australia's first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette.
Changes Over Time
Eight different Governors lived in and made changes to the First Government House. They adapted the building to suit the Australian climate. For example, Governor King added a verandah around 1800. A new drawing room was also added that year.
Later, in 1816, Governor Macquarie asked Francis Greenway, a famous architect, to design a large extension. This included a new wing with five rooms and a ballroom. This transformed the house into an Italianate cottage. It was the first building in the colony to have this style. Greenway also designed new stables, which are now part of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
The "Palace for Horses"
Governor Macquarie wanted to build many permanent public buildings. He even tried to build a brand new Government House. However, the British government did not approve this project, so it was never finished.
The stables designed by Greenway in 1816 are still standing today in the Botanic Gardens. They are built in the Gothic Picturesque style, with turrets like a castle. People called it a "palace for horses" because it was so grand! This building shows the romantic ideas of Governor Macquarie and the British architecture trends of that time. It is the only Gothic-style building designed by Greenway that still exists. The high cost of these stables was one reason Macquarie was called back to Britain.
Why the House Was Demolished
The First Government House was generally in poor condition. It was made with weak mortar from crushed seashells, and it had problems with white ants and dampness. Because of these issues, the Governor moved to the new Government House in 1845. The old house was then torn down in 1846.
Even with its problems, the house was a big step forward for Australian architecture. It was the first building in the continent to have a balanced, classical design. It even had Australia's first staircase! The colony's first Legislative Council (a group of lawmakers) met at the house in 1824.
After the house was demolished, the site was used for different things. In 1851, it was considered for a town hall, but it wasn't central enough. For a while, it was just an unfenced grassy area. Later, it was used for Council storage. In the 1880s and 1890s, other buildings were constructed around the site. In 1899, workers found the original foundation stone laid by Governor Phillip in 1788.
Much of the original "Governor's Domain" (the land around the house) still exists today. These areas include The Domain, the Botanic Garden, and the gardens of the current Government House.
In 1912, a two-story building was put up on the site for the office of the Government Architect. This building was removed in 1967, and the site became a carpark.
Discovering the Past: Site Preservation
For a long time, people thought that nothing was left of the First Government House. But in 1983, archaeologists started digging at the site before a new building was planned. In February 1983, they made an amazing discovery: foundations dating all the way back to 1788!
More digging happened between June and December 1983. People became very interested in these finds. The archaeologists uncovered the base of the back wall and part of the western wall of Governor Phillip's house. They also found the foundations of the original kitchen and bakehouse. Stone foundations, garden paths, drains, and even evidence of the first printing office were discovered. Thousands of other objects from the past were also found.
The Museum of Sydney
When the foundations were found, there was a plan to build a tall office tower on the site. But a group called "Friends of the First Government House Site" asked the NSW Government to stop the construction. They wanted archaeologists to explore the area properly. The government agreed, and the well-preserved foundations were excavated. This gave us priceless information about Australia's early years.
The tower was redesigned to protect these historic foundations. The new plan was to build a museum that would include the old foundations. This project was first called the First Government House Museum. However, in November 1993, the museum was officially named the Museum of Sydney on the Site of First Government House. This long name was often shortened to just the Museum of Sydney.
Because of how important these discoveries were, the NSW Government decided to keep the site for future generations. They held a national competition to design a building that would protect the site and tell its story. In 1984, more digging took place. Then, from December 1984 to January 1985, the site was covered with bitumen to keep the remains safe. Today, the site is home to the Museum of Sydney, where you can see parts of the original foundations.
What Remains Today
The site of the First Government House is located at the corner of Bridge and Phillip Streets in Sydney's city centre. Some Victorian-era terraces (a type of house) are also on the north-west part of the site.
Archaeologists found the foundations of the back wall and part of the western wall of Governor Phillip's house. They also found the foundations of the original kitchen and bakehouse. Other stone foundations, drains, and a corner of the Dining Room that Governor Macquarie added are still there. These remains are now part of the Museum of Sydney's floor and its outdoor area. Experts believe there might be even more foundations under Bridge Street.
Changes to the Site Over Time
- 1795: A verandah was added to the house.
- Around 1795: The first printing office was set up.
- 1801: Governor King added a Drawing Room.
- 1810-1821: A new wing with five rooms and a new stable block were added.
- 1825-1827: More changes were made for Governor Darling.
- 1845-1846: The house and its smaller buildings were demolished.
- After 1846: The site was used for offices, stores, and a carpark.
- 1993: The Museum of Sydney was built on part of the site.
Why This Site is Important
The First Government House was the first main centre for British rule in Australia. It was the home and office for the Governors of New South Wales from 1788 to 1845. It was also the official, social, and administrative heart of the colony during those years. Many important political, cultural, and social events happened here. The location and growth of the house greatly influenced how Sydney developed, both its streets and its different areas for government, recreation, and homes.
The site holds the only known remains from 1788. These remains show us how Australia's history, architecture, building technology, and colonial administration developed.
The First Government House has a special historical meaning because many important people, both European and Aboriginal, were connected to it. It also has great scientific value, as it can help us answer many questions about the past through archaeological research.
This site is very important to Australians. It is our most direct link to the past and the beginning of European settlement in this country.
The First Government House site is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because:
- It shows the start and continuation of European settlement and authority in Australia.
- It was the first permanent centre of British rule in Australia and the main place of power for 57 years.
- The first parts of the building were built by the first settlers. The remains show the high quality of the first buildings and their European style.
- It shows how building materials were used and how problems were solved.
- It was a model for modern living and influenced later buildings.
- It is connected to important people like governors, explorers, visitors, Aboriginal people, and settlers.
- Many important government decisions and historical events happened here. For example, Governor Bligh was arrested here during a period of political tension. It was also where Australia's first newspaper began and where the first meetings of the Legislative Council took place.
- As one of the first stone and brick buildings, it shows how building styles and technology developed.
- Its location influenced the unique street pattern around Sydney Cove.
- The land around the house was one of the first areas cleared in the colony. How this land was used changed over time, showing the development of landscape design.
- It is also important for art history, as it was featured in many paintings and drawings of Sydney before 1845.
Creative and Technical Achievements
The First Government House area is important because of the different building styles, consistent size, and unique quality of its buildings. The site adds a balance to the tall buildings in the city today.
Importance to the Community
This site is a crucial landmark for all Australians. This includes people of English, Irish, and Scottish descent, as well as Aboriginal people and those whose ancestors arrived with the First Fleet. The site is important to Aboriginal people because of its connection to historic Aboriginal individuals. It also marks the place where their country was first settled by Europeans. Since it has the oldest physical remains of British settlement in Australia and was the first seat of government, the site is full of direct historical connections. For many, it has become a symbol for various environmental, cultural, racial, and political issues related to the colonisation of Australia.
Learning from the Site
The First Government House site is important for archaeology. It holds answers to many historical and scientific questions that can only be found through archaeological digging. The site offers archaeologists and historians chances to research what Sydney was like 200 years ago. It is a valuable source of information from the earliest days of settlement to today. It also helps teach people about history and how to research it. The site and its surrounding area, with their buildings and grounds, are like an archive. They show how architectural history, building technology, and land use in cities have changed over 200 years.
Unique Aspects of the Site
The site contains the original remains of Australia's first permanent Government House. These remains are the only known physical evidence from the very first year of European settlement. They are our most direct link to that time. It is also the only site found so far with archaeological layers covering all 211 years of European settlement in Australia.
Setting a Standard for Buildings
As the first permanent residence, it set a trend for building styles. Stone foundations, white-washed brick walls, and terracotta or shingle roofs became the accepted standard for homes built by free settlers.
Gallery
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First Government House Sydney - Forecourt
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First Government House Sydney - Museum Entrance
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First Government House Sydney - Sculpture
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First Government House Sydney - Arthur Phillip
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First Government House Sydney - Plaque
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First Government House Sydney - Early Engraving
