Government House, Perth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Government House |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 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. Think of the Governor as the King's or Queen's representative in the state. This grand building was constructed a long time ago, between 1859 and 1864. It has a special look called the Jacobean Revival style, which was popular back then.
Government House is located right in the middle of Perth, on a main street called St Georges Terrace. It shares its block with other important buildings like Council House and the Supreme Court. This spot has been used by governors since the Swan River Colony began in 1829. The building you see today is actually the third one to stand on this historic site. Both the buildings and the beautiful gardens are very special. They are listed on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places. This means they are protected because of their history and beauty. Sometimes, the public can visit to see inside and explore the gardens.
Contents
What Does Government House Look Like?
A Grand Mansion with Unique Style
Government House is a large, two-storey house, also known as a mansion. It was designed by an architect named Edmund Henderson. The building's style, Jacobean Revival, looks a bit like old English castles or manor houses. It sits on a huge piece of land, about 32,000 square meters (that's like 8 acres!) of English gardens. These gardens are right in the heart of Perth, between St George's Terrace and the Swan River.
Special Architectural Features
The building has a unique look because of its stone and brick walls. You'll notice square windows with stone bars called mullions. It also has fancy decorated gables (the triangular parts of the roof) and round towers with pointed tops called turrets. The ground floor has cool arched walkways that look a bit like old Gothic buildings. Inside, there are 16 rooms on the ground floor and 25 rooms upstairs! Experts say Government House is a "unique example of a Victorian Gentleman's residence." It's surrounded by beautiful, old gardens with many special trees.
- Images of Government House
-
Government House, the residence of the Governor of Western Australia
-
Government House, north front
-
Grand staircase
-
Dining room
-
Drawing room
-
The Governor's study
-
Government House Ballroom, west side
-
The grounds of Government House on Open Day
The History of Government House
Early Days of the Colony
When the Swan River Colony was first started in 1829, the very first governor, Captain James Stirling, and his family lived in tents! Their temporary home was near what are now Stirling Gardens and Supreme Court Gardens. In 1832, a simple wooden building was put up on the same spot. This was used until a more permanent "original" Government House was built nearby between 1834 and 1835. This building served several governors.
Building the Current Government House
Work on the Government House we see today began on March 17, 1859, when the first stone was laid. The older 1834/35 building was taken down in the 1880s. The current Government House cost about £15,000 to build. This was a huge amount of money back then, equal to millions of Australian dollars today! Much of the work was done by convicts, who were people sent to the colony to work. Governor John Hampton moved into the house in 1863, even before it was fully finished in 1864. Later, in the 1890s, a large ballroom was added. This was designed by or overseen by the government architect, Hillson Beasley.
The Lodge: A Smaller Home
Home for the Governor's Guard
Around 1904, a smaller house called The Lodge was built in the north-east part of the Government House gardens. This house was for the Governor's police orderly and their family. An orderly is like a personal assistant or guard. Their job required them to live very close to the Governor. The Lodge was designed by William Hardwick in a style called Federation Queen Anne. In the 1980s, it was changed and is now used as offices.
See also
- Government House
- Government Houses of Australia
- Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth
