Government House, Perth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Government House |
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Government House by Albert Henry Fullwood (1911/1912)
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| General information | |
| Type | Government office |
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°57′25″S 115°51′41″E / 31.957035°S 115.861443°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 19 April 2011 |
| Reference no. | 2095 |
Government House is a very important building in Perth, Western Australia. It is the official home and office for the Governor of Western Australia. The Governor is like a representative of the King or Queen in the state.
This grand building was constructed between 1859 and 1864. It was designed in a special style called Jacobean Revival. Government House is located right in the middle of Perth's city area. It sits on St Georges Terrace, a main street. Nearby are other important buildings like Council House and the Supreme Court.
Governors have used this spot since 1829, when the Swan River Colony was first started. The building you see today is actually the third one on this site. Both the buildings and the beautiful gardens are very important to Western Australia's history. They are listed on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places. Sometimes, the public can visit and explore them.
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What is Government House Like?
The main building is a large two-storey mansion. It was designed by an architect named Edmund Henderson. The style is called Jacobean Revival, which looks a bit like old English castles.
The house sits on a huge area of 32,000 square metres (7.9 acres) of English gardens. These gardens are right in the centre of Perth's business district. They are located between St Georges Terrace and the Swan River.
Unique Design Features
The building has a unique look. It uses both stone and special bonded brickwork. You will see square windows with mullions (vertical bars). There are also decorated gables (the triangular parts of a wall under a sloping roof). Small, round turrets with pointed tops add to its special style.
Inside, the building is very large. There are 16 rooms on the ground floor. The first floor has 25 rooms. Experts say Government House is a "unique example of a Victorian Gentleman's residence." It is surrounded by beautiful, old gardens with many special trees.
- Images of Government House
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Government House, the residence of the Governor of Western Australia
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Government House, east front
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Government House, north front
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Grand staircase
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Dining room
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Drawing room
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The Governor's study
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Government House Ballroom, west side
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The grounds of Government House on Open Day
History of the Governor's Home
When the Swan River Colony was founded in 1829, the first governor was Captain James Stirling. He and his family first lived in tents. These tents were near what is now Stirling Gardens.
In 1832, a temporary wooden house was built. This was used until the first official Government House was ready. That first house was built between 1834 and 1835. It was used by governors for many years. It was taken down in the 1880s.
Building the Current Government House
The current Government House began construction on March 17, 1859. It cost about £15,000 to build. Much of the work was done by convicts. These were people sent from Britain to Australia as punishment.
Governor John Hampton moved into the house in 1863. The building was fully finished in 1864. Later, in the 1890s, a large ballroom was added. This was designed by Hillson Beasley, a government architect. He also designed many other public buildings in Perth.
The Lodge
There is a smaller building in the gardens called The Lodge. It was built around 1904. This house was for the Governor's police orderly and their family. An orderly is a police officer who helps the Governor. They needed to live close by.
The Lodge was designed by William Hardwick. Its style is called Federation Queen Anne. In the 1980s, The Lodge was changed. It is now used as offices.
