Government House, Adelaide facts for kids
Government House is a very important building in Adelaide, South Australia. It's located right in the city, where North Terrace and King William Road meet. This grand building is the official home of the Governor of South Australia. The Governor is the King's representative in South Australia.
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The Story of Government House
The very first "Government Hut" was a simple thatched hut. Sailors from a ship called HMS Buffalo built it. In 1837, the first Governor, John Hindmarsh, described it as a "mud hut." His family had to sleep on the floor!
When George Gawler became Governor in 1838, he wanted a proper house. He decided to build a strong stone building. An architect from England, Edward O'Brien, drew up the first plans. These plans were later changed by George Strickland Kingston. He was an assistant to the Surveyor General, William Light.
Building the house was quite expensive. The first bids were around £7,000. After some changes to make it cheaper, a company called Messrs East and Breeze started building. Governor Gawler was later called back to England. This was partly because his building projects were seen as too costly. The Governors who came after him, George Grey and Frederick Robe, had to spend as little money as possible on the house.
The first part of the house to be finished was the east wing. It was ready in May 1840. This means Government House is probably the second oldest house in South Australia that people have lived in continuously. Only Walkley cottage in St Mark's College is older. When it was first finished, Government House had several rooms downstairs. These included the main Drawing Room and Dining Room. Upstairs, there were bedrooms for the Governor's family and guests.
The building is recognized for its history. It was listed on the South Australian Heritage Register in 1980.
Summer Homes for Governors
In the past, Governors used to have a special summer residence. This was in the Adelaide Hills. It helped them escape the hot weather of the Adelaide Plains.
The first summer home was called Old Government House. It was built in 1860 in what is now Belair National Park. Later, in 1880, a bigger home was built. This one was at Marble Hill near Norton Summit. Sadly, this beautiful house was destroyed in the big Black Sunday bushfires of 1955. After that, Governors no longer had a separate summer home.
What Happens at Government House?
Government House has beautiful, well-kept gardens. These grounds are often used for important public events and ceremonies. Some of these include:
- Giving out Queen's Scout and Queen's Guide awards to young people.
- Presenting Year 12 Merit certificates to students who did very well in school.
- Giving out awards for Debating SA.
- Hosting other events for non-profit groups.
Arts at Government House
In 2019, a special program started at Government House. It's called the Government House Arts Residency. This program allows artists to work and create art at the house. The first artist to be part of this program was Margaret Worth.
Around Government House
The grounds of Government House also have some smaller buildings. Cottages were built for staff, like the butler in 1928 and the chauffeur in 1945.
Government House is surrounded by many other important buildings and memorials. These include:
- North Terrace, Adelaide
- Jubilee 150 Walkway
- Torrens Parade Ground
- South African War Memorial (South Australia)
- National War Memorial (South Australia)
- State Library of South Australia
- Parliament of South Australia
- Migration Museum, Adelaide
