First Government House, Sydney facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids First Government House
An 1809 watercolour painting of the first government house erected in Sydney.
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	Australian Georgian Italianate
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 / -33.8635; 151.2115
Construction started	May 1788 (1788-05)
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	James Bloodsworth (attrib. 1789) Francis Greenway (1810-21)

Australian National Heritage List
Official name	First Government House Site
Type	Historic
Criteria	a., b., c., g., h.
Designated	19 August 2005
Reference no.	105761

New South Wales Heritage Register
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 in Australia. It was located at 41 Bridge Street in the heart of Sydney. This important building was constructed between 1788 and 1789.

It served as the Governor's residence until 1845 and was later taken down in 1846. Today, part of its original location is where the Museum of Sydney stands. A builder named James Bloodsworth is believed to have overseen its construction. The site is also known as the First Government House Site, Museum of Sydney, and A Rum Rebellion Site. It was officially recognized for its historical importance on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 and on the National Heritage List in 2005.

Building the First Government House
Changes and Important Events
The End of the First Government House
Discovering the Past
What Remains Today
Changes Over Time
Why This Site is Special
Gallery
See also

Building the First Government House

Sydney Cove and Old Government House, Port Jackson, 1808

Government House, Sydney, 1836, Charles Rodius

Old Government House in the 1840s

When Captain Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, arrived in January 1788, his first home was a simple tent made of canvas and timber. This temporary shelter had been brought all the way from England with the First Fleet.

Building the First Government House took about a year. Governor Phillip laid the first stone in May 1788 and moved into the completed house on April 17, 1789. It was the first permanent building in the new colony.

The house had two floors and was made from bricks and stone. It featured six rooms, two cellars, and a back staircase. In front, there was a garden where new plants from other countries were grown, and the colony's first fruit orchard was planted.

The house was built in the Australian Georgian style. It was located at the corner of Bridge and Phillip streets. James Bloodsworth, a skilled builder who was a convict, led the construction. He was responsible for many early buildings in the colony. The house was finished by 1789, using bricks from England and local stone. Some bricks were also made by convicts in the Sydney area.

Changes and Important Events

Behind the main house, there were other buildings. These included a kitchen, a bakehouse, stables for horses, and offices. In 1794, Lieutenant Governor Grose added a verandah to the house. This was later made even bigger by Governor King in 1802.

In 1795, Governor Hunter started the colony's first printing office on the grounds. This office printed official notices and orders. In 1803, it also printed Australia's first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette.

Over the years, eight different Governors lived in and made changes to the house. They adapted the building to suit the Australian climate. In 1802, Governor King added a drawing room and extended the verandah.

Later, from 1816, Governor Macquarie asked architect Francis Greenway to add a large extension and a ballroom. This changed Phillip's original house into an Italianate cottage, which was the first of its kind in the colony. Greenway designed a new section with five rooms and a new stable block. This stable block is still standing today and is now part of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Governor Macquarie wanted to build a completely new Government House, and Greenway started the work. However, the British government did not approve the project, so it was never finished.

The stables built by Greenway in 1816 are still in the Botanic Gardens. They have a unique facade (front) that looks like a castle, with turrets. People called it a "palace for horses." This building shows the Gothic Picturesque style that was popular at the time. It is the only Gothic-style building designed by Greenway that still exists. The high cost of these stables was one reason Governor Macquarie was called back to Britain.

The End of the First Government House

The First Government House eventually became old and was in poor condition. It had problems with weak mortar (the cement between bricks), 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 very important building for Australia. It was the first building on the continent to have a classical design and even included Australia's first staircase! The colony's first Legislative Council (a group that helped make laws) met there in 1824.

After the house was demolished, the land was used for different things. In 1851, it was given to the Sydney Council for a possible town hall, but that plan didn't happen. For a while, it was just an open grassy area. Later, in the 1880s and 1890s, other buildings were built around the site. In 1899, workers digging at the site found the original foundation stone that Governor Phillip had laid in 1788.

Much of the land around the original house, known as the "Governor's Domain," still exists today as The Domain and the Botanic Garden.

In 1912, a two-story building was put on the site for the office of the Government Architect. This building was removed in 1967, and the area became a carpark.

Discovering the Past

Until 1983, most people thought that nothing was left of the First Government House. However, when a new building was planned for the site, archaeologists began to dig. 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 parts of the back wall and a western wall of Governor Phillip's house. They also found the foundations of the original kitchen and bakehouse. Stone paths, drains, and even evidence of the first printing office were found, along with thousands of other objects.

Because of these important discoveries, the NSW Government decided to protect the site. They cancelled plans for a new office tower. The well-preserved foundations gave historians a priceless look into Australia's early years.

The new building planned for the site was redesigned to protect these historic foundations. It became a museum. When it first started, the project was called the First Government House Museum. Later, in 1993, it was officially named the Museum of Sydney on the Site of First Government House. This long name is usually shortened to the Museum of Sydney.

The NSW Government held a competition to design a structure that would protect and honor the site. In 1984, more digging took place. To keep the remains safe, the site was covered with bitumen (a type of asphalt) between December 1984 and January 1985. Today, the site is home to the Museum of Sydney, which helps everyone learn about this important part of Australia's history.

What Remains Today

The site is located at the southwest corner of Bridge and Phillip Streets in Sydney's city center. Some Victorian-era buildings are also on the northwest part of the site.

Inside the Museum of Sydney and in its outdoor area, you can see the uncovered remains. These include parts of the back wall and a western wall of Governor Phillip's house. You can also see the foundations of the original bakehouse and kitchen. Other stone foundations, drains, and a corner of the Dining Room that Governor Macquarie added are also visible.

These remains are very important for understanding the history of Sydney. Archaeologists believe there might be even more foundations hidden under Bridge Street.

Changes Over Time

Here are some of the key changes made to the First Government House:

1794 - Lieutenant Governor Grose added a verandah.
c. 1795 - The first printing office was set up.
1802 - Governor King added a Drawing Room and extended the verandah.
1810-21 - A new wing with five rooms and a new stable block were added.
1825-27 - Henry Dumaresq made alterations for Governor Darling.
1845-46 - The house and its other 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 Special

The First Government House was Australia's first permanent center for government. It was the home and office for the Governors of New South Wales from 1788 to 1845. This made it the main place for official, social, and administrative activities in the colony. Many important events in Australia's early development happened here. The location and growth of the house greatly influenced how Sydney's streets and different areas developed.

The site holds the only known remains from 1788 that were found in 1983. These remains show us a lot about Australia's history, building styles, and how the colony was managed.

The First Government House is important because many historical figures, both European and Aboriginal, were connected to it. It also has great scientific value, offering clues to answer questions about the past through archaeology.

This site is a powerful symbol for all Australians. It is our most direct link to the past and the beginning of European settlement in this country.

The First Government House, Sydney, was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because it met several important criteria:

It shows the history of New South Wales: This site represents the start of European settlement and government in Australia. It was the main link to Britain and the center of power for 57 years. The first parts of the building were made by the first settlers, showing the high quality of early construction. It also shows how building materials were experimented with and how problems were solved. The house was a model for modern living and influenced later buildings. It is connected to important people like explorers, governors, and Aboriginal leaders. It was also the place for major historical events, such as the arrest of Governor Bligh during a big disagreement known as the Rum Rebellion, the start of Australia's first newspaper, and the first meetings of the Legislative Council. The house's location also shaped the street pattern of Sydney Cove.

It shows creative and technical achievements: The First Government House area is special because of the different building styles and the unique look of its buildings. It helps balance the tall modern buildings in the city.

It has a strong connection to the community: This site is a key landmark for all Australians, especially those of English, Irish, and Scottish descent, as well as Aboriginal people and descendants of the First Fleeters. It is important to Aboriginal people because of its connection to historic Aboriginal individuals and as the place where European settlement began. As it contains the oldest physical evidence 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 cultural and political discussions about Australia's colonization.

It can teach us about history: The First Government House site is important for archaeology because it holds answers to many historical and scientific questions that only archaeological digs can solve. It gives archaeologists and historians chances to research Sydney 200 years ago. It also has educational value, helping to explain the history of the area and how to research it. The site and its surrounding area are like an archive, showing how architecture, building technology, and land use have changed over 200 years.

It is rare and unique: This site contains the actual remains of Australia's first permanent Government House. These remains are the only known physical evidence from the very first year of European settlement, making them our most direct link to that time. It is also the only site found so far with archaeological layers covering the entire 211 years of European settlement in Australia.

It shows important characteristics of historical places: As the first permanent residence, it set a trend for building styles. Stone foundations, white-washed brick walls, and terra-cotta or shingle roofs became the accepted standard for homes built by free settlers.