Old Government House, Parramatta facts for kids

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Old Government House
General information
Type	Mansion
Architectural style	Old Colonial Georgian
Location	Parramatta Park, Parramatta, Greater Sydney, New South Wales
Country	Australia
Coordinates	33°48′44″S 150°59′50″E / 33.812119°S 150.997359°E / -33.812119; 150.997359
Construction started	1799
Completed	1820
Client	John Hunter Lachlan Macquarie (as Governors of New South Wales)
Owner	National Trust of Australia (NSW) - Trustee
Grounds	45 hectares (110 acres)
Design and construction
Architect	John Cliffe Watts Francis Greenway Walter Liberty Vernon
Architecture firm	Colonial Architect of New South Wales

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	iv, vi
Designated:	2010 (34th session)
Part of:	Australian Convict Sites
Reference #:	1306}
Region:	Asia-Pacific
Australian National Heritage List
Type:	Historic
Designated:	1 August 2007
Reference #:	105957
New South Wales Heritage Register
Type:	Historical
Designated:	2 April 1999
Reference #:	00596

The Old Government House is a very old and important house in Parramatta Park, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. It was once a "country" home for ten early governors of New South Wales between 1800 and 1847. This house is special because it shows how the British Empire grew and how Australian society changed after 1788. It's also a great place to learn about history through old objects found there.

The first Government House in Sydney wasn't very good. Also, the growing Sydney settlement had many problems. Because of this, governors wanted a home outside the city. In 1799, the second Governor, John Hunter, built a more lasting house on the same spot.

Today, Old Government House looks like it did in the early 1820s and is open for visitors. It sits on 110 hectares (260 acres) of parkland overlooking the Parramatta River. It is Australia's oldest public building. The land around it is very interesting. It's a colonial-era area that hasn't been disturbed much. It's surrounded by what is now Australia's biggest city. You can still see marks on trees from the Aboriginal Darug tribe. They used to remove bark to build canoes. Also, shells used to make the house's mortar came from Aboriginal shell piles.

In July 2010, Old Government House and its land were added to the World Heritage List. It's one of 11 Australian sites linked to convict transportation. These sites show the best examples of how convicts were transported and how European powers expanded using convict labor.

The land where the house stands is called Darug land. It was home to the Burramatta tribe. There is proof of Aboriginal people living here, like shell piles.

History of Old Government House

First Peoples' History

The Parramatta River valley has been home to Aboriginal people for at least 10,000 years. The Burramatta clan of the Dharug people lived here. They used the rich plants and animals for food. The river provided crayfish, shellfish, eels, and fish. Men fished with spears and hunted animals. Women fished from bark canoes using hooks. They also gathered yams, berries, and seeds. Animal skins were used for clothing.

Aboriginal groups stayed in Parramatta even after Europeans arrived. Parramatta was their traditional hunting and fishing area. You can still see signs of their use in Parramatta Park. These include old native plants, scarred trees, and the closeness to the Parramatta River.

Governor Phillip's Time (1788–1792)

Governor Phillip's cottage on the site of Old Government House (c. 1798)

Governor Phillip was told by King George III to start farming right away. But the seeds were bad, and the soil in Sydney was not good. Phillip knew the colony needed to grow its own food.

In April 1788, Phillip explored the Parramatta River. He found a large, flat area of fertile land. He named it 'the crescent'. This area had good soil and fresh water. In September, when the Sydney crops failed, Phillip decided to move farming efforts to Parramatta. It was called 'Rose Hill' back then.

In November 1788, Phillip sent soldiers and convicts to start a farm there. They cleared land for crops and animals. They also built a small fort. Everyone hoped this area would help the colony survive.

William Dawes, a naval officer, planned the Rose Hill settlement. It was the colony's first proper town plan. High Street (now George Street) was the main road. It was planned to be 62 m (205 feet) wide and 1,600 m (1 mile) long. Phillip planned a small house for himself at the end of High Street.

The Governor's cottage was built by convicts on a hill. It was 44 feet [13 m] long and 16 feet [4.9 m] wide. It had good outbuildings. The house was simple but looked important because of its large garden and view. It was made from local materials like timber, branches, and mud. The walls were plastered with clay.

There are four old pictures of the house from the 1790s. They show the house had two rooms with a central hall. This was for the Governor's private bedroom and a public room for guests. There was also a small addition at the back. Later, two bigger buildings were added behind the house. One might have been a bedroom wing, and the other a kitchen.

Visitors were impressed by the gardens around the Governor's house. They had fruit trees like pomegranates and apples. They also grew many European vegetables.

Governor Hunter's Time (1795–1800)

When Phillip left, Major Francis Grose and then Captain William Paterson governed the colony. They didn't make many changes to the house.

Governor John Hunter arrived in 1795. Phillip's cottage became too old and fell apart by 1799. Hunter decided to build a new, stronger house. Convicts helped collect lime for bricks and worked as carpenters. In April 1799, the brick foundations were laid. A storm damaged the house in June, but it was repaired.

The new house was 18 m (60 feet) long and 7.3 m (24 feet) wide. It had two floors with rooms and cellars. It was made of brick and covered in a rough plaster. The original plaster still exists on the chimneys. Hunter kept the old outbuildings for the kitchen and other uses.

Governors King and Bligh (1800–1809)

The house in 1805

When Phillip Gidley King arrived in 1800, the new house in Parramatta was almost ready. The Sydney Government House was not fit to live in.

King handed over power to William Bligh in 1806. Bligh was arrested in 1808 by the New South Wales Corps. He was held in Sydney for over a year. Major George Johnston, Joseph Foveaux, and Lieutenant Governor William Paterson then took turns governing.

No major work was done on Old Government House during this time. People talked about the 'Government Garden' around the house. Governor King brought a botanist, George Caley, to the colony. Caley used the Government Domain at Parramatta to collect plants for Kew Gardens in England. He and Governor Paterson, who was also a botanist, experimented with growing imported plants. They also collected native plants to send to England. These gardens were very important for science.

Governor Macquarie's Time (1810–1821)

Government House in 1819

Governor Macquarie wanted to improve Parramatta town and the Governor's house. He reorganized the town with straight streets. He also made rules about building new houses.

Macquarie decided to make the land around the Governor's house private again. He restricted public entry. This area became known as the "Domain." He wanted to make the house bigger for his family and staff.

The entrance hall/foyer

By 1812, the house was in bad shape. The foundations were rotting, floors had sunk, and the roof was bad. Outbuildings were also falling apart. From 1812 to 1813, they tried to fix the house. Convicts worked on plastering, replacing windows, and making new doors. More repairs were done in 1815, including a new staircase.

Macquarie asked his aide, Lieutenant John Watts, to plan how to rebuild and extend the house. Watts transformed the simple Hunter house into an elegant country house. He added two identical side sections, connected by passages. He also added a front porch with columns. The house was plastered to look like stone. The different parts of the house were clearly separated. The Macquaries lived in the northern section. Servants lived in the southern section and a building at the back. The middle part of the house was for guests and entertaining.

A downstairs sitting room

The formal dining room

Work on the new house was a main focus of public works in Parramatta in 1815. Many skilled convicts worked on it. Governor Macquarie was criticized for keeping these skilled workers for public projects.

Francis Greenway designed the detailed front porch. It had columns and pilasters. An engraving from c. 1819 shows how the Macquaries made the house look like a grand English country home.

Improvements were also made to the grounds. Stables and a coach-house were built in 1817. A pigeon house was added by 1820. Mrs. Macquarie designed a rustic 'bark hut' on a hill. The pigeon house was round with a domed roof. These buildings were later removed.

Around 1818, another section was added to the back of the house. This made the original Hunter house twice as long. It added more bedrooms and space for the Governor.

Kitchen area

Mrs. Macquarie was likely the main person behind the house's design. She knew about architecture and garden design. The gardens were redesigned to be more beautiful, not just for growing food. The kitchen garden was moved away from the main house. Native trees were kept, and foreign trees like oaks and elms were planted.

The Macquaries used the house a lot between 1816 and 1822. In November 1820, lightning badly damaged the house. Many repairs were needed.

An inventory from the Bigge inquiry shows how the rooms were used. The northern section was the Governor's private area. It had a breakfast room, bedroom, and dressing room. The middle hall and front hall were for visitors waiting to see the Governor. The two front rooms were used as a dining room and a drawing room.

A room on the second floor

An upstairs bedroom

Upstairs rooms were bedrooms and dressing rooms. The servants' loft was likely in the back part of the roof. In the southern wing, there was a kitchen and scullery. The laundry was in a separate building.

Part of the land was bought by Governor Macquarie in 1813 to make the Domain bigger. Until the 1820s, the Domain was a working convict property. It had a lumber yard and up to ninety convicts working in quarrying, farming, and gardening. A small farm house built by George Salter was bought and made bigger by Macquarie in 1816 to be a dairy. This building is now called Dairy Cottage.

Governor Brisbane's Time (1821–1825)

Governor Brisbane preferred to live at Parramatta. He liked it because the land was good for his private observatory.

Remains of the observatory in Parramatta Park, Parramatta, N.S.W.

The Observatory was built in 1822. Brisbane wanted Parramatta to be "the Greenwich of the Southern Hemisphere." He brought two astronomers, Charles Rumker and James Dunlop. Brisbane paid for the observatory himself. It was a plain building with two domes. It had special telescopes and clocks. The observatory worked from 1822 to 1829, and again from 1831 to 1847. The equipment was later moved to Sydney Observatory.

Brisbane and his astronomers made the first scientific observations in Australia. Their work led to important discoveries and publications. For example, Rumker discovered a new comet. Brisbane's own work, A Catalogue of 7385 Stars, was a major scientific achievement.

Two special trees, Pinus roxburghii (pine trees), stand near the observatory remains. They were used as marker trees, just like at Brisbane's observatory in Scotland.

Brisbane also kept up Macquarie's garden. He tried growing new plants like tobacco and coffee. Lady Brisbane continued planting trees in the park.

Minor repairs were done to Old Government House during this time. A Bath House was also built for the Governor. It had its own water supply from the Parramatta River. In 1886, the Bath House was changed into a park pavilion.

The Garrison Building, or Officers Quarters, was also built around this time. It provided more rooms for the Governor's staff and servants. It might have used parts of earlier buildings.

Governor Darling's Time (1825–1831)

Governor Darling found Government House Sydney in poor condition. He lived in Parramatta while the Sydney house was fixed. He described the Sydney house as 'a perfect Hovel'. Parramatta was seen as a good country home, but Sydney became the main residence again. Parramatta was used as a winter retreat.

Governor Darling didn't make many changes to Old Government House. An inventory from 1831 shows how the rooms were used. The dining room stayed the same. The breakfast room was now a drawing room. The Governor and his private secretary had offices. Most servants lived in separate quarters.

In 1828, the British government decided that the NSW Colonial Treasury would pay for building maintenance and furniture. This meant less money for Government House Parramatta. The idea of having two houses for the Governor became less popular.

Governor Bourke's Time (1831–1837)

Governor Bourke liked Parramatta and lived there, hoping the climate would help his wife's health. Sadly, his wife died in the house in May 1832. The Bourkes changed some room uses. The former drawing room became a bedroom. The gardens continued to be maintained.

Bourke loved Parramatta and used the Domain for daily walks. He worked there as much as possible. But after 1832, when a new Government House was planned for Sydney, it became hard to get money to maintain the Parramatta house. Bourke argued to keep the house, saying it gave the Governor a needed rest from work.

Minor repairs like plastering and repainting continued. But the cost of repairs was criticized. The only new building approved was an addition to the Guardhouse in 1835.

Governor Gipps' Time (1838–1846)

Governor Gipps discussed keeping the house with Lord Stanley. Stanley agreed, but only if the Governor paid for its upkeep. Gipps decided in late 1845 that he didn't want to use the house. He was unwell and found climbing stairs difficult. He also didn't want the cost of two households. He tried to lease the property, but it seems it wasn't leased for long.

Governor Fitzroy's Time (1846–1855)

Monument to Lady Fitzroy and Lieutenant Masters in Parramatta Park.

Governor Fitzroy used the house often. He also limited public access to the Domain. In December 1847, his wife, Lady Mary Fitzroy, and Lieutenant Masters were killed in a tragic carriage accident. The Governor rarely visited the house after her death. It is believed he had the house boarded up.

In 1850, an inspection found the house needed many repairs. There was a big problem with white ants, especially in the roof. This meant a lot of work was needed on the ceilings. The report noted that public rooms had wallpaper, while servants' rooms were whitewashed.

In 1852, the outside wood of the house was repainted. In 1855, another inspection found the house was so decayed it was useless to repair. The white ants had destroyed most of the timber. The roof and floors were rotten. The Colonial Architect advised against spending money on such a ruined building.

Later Years (1855–Present)

Governor Denison didn't want to pay for repairs. So, in 1856, he leased the house. There was an argument about who should get the money from the lease. The government decided it was public money. Denison suggested using the money to fix the boundary fence and buildings.

In 1857, an Act was passed to create Parramatta Park. The size of the Domain was reduced, and the rest of the land was sold. The remaining buildings were leased. The western railway line was built through the park, and the stables and dog kennels were demolished.

From the mid-1850s until the early 1900s, the house was leased to different people. It was a boarding house for a while. From 1901 to 1905, a school called St. John's Preparatory School operated there.

The house was owned by the Government but managed by the Parramatta Park Trust. Not much money was spent on it. The roof was replaced with corrugated iron around 1890. By 1908, the house was in poor condition.

The Park Gatehouses

The gatehouses were built in the 1870s. They are old buildings that provided homes for park staff. Four of them have been preserved. Their styles show their importance. The George Street Gatehouse is a key entry point. It was built in 1885 on the site of Governor Macquarie's old stone lodge. It was designed by Gordon McKinnon. The wrought iron gates were made by T. Forsyth. These gatehouses show English ideas about park design in the 1800s.

The Boer War Memorial

The Boer War Memorial was built in 1904. It's one of the few memorials to the Boer War in Australia. It's important because the first Australian troops in Africa for the Boer War came from the Lancer Barracks, Parramatta. The memorial uses columns from the old Parramatta Courthouse. The gun on top was bought by New South Wales in 1856.

The King's School (1909–1967)

The King's School is Australia's oldest independent school. It was founded in 1831 to provide a "superior" education. It became a very important school for young gentlemen. Many famous people attended, including politicians and leaders. The school has also hosted members of the British Royal Family.

In 1909, a major restoration was done to convert Old Government House into a school. The layout of the central part of the house stayed mostly the same. Upstairs, dormitories, masters' rooms, and a sick room were added. Downstairs, there were dining rooms, a school hall, and classrooms. An ablutions block (showers and toilets) was added to the northern section. The Officers Quarters were changed to house masters and a laundress.

The National Trust (1967–Present)

In 1967, an Act of Parliament allowed the National Trust of Australia to manage the house. From 1968 to 1970, restoration work aimed to make the house look like it did during Governor Macquarie's time. Many changes made for the King's School were removed. The kitchen was put back in its original place.

The National Trust has tried to show the ground floor as the Macquaries used it. The garden was also changed to match 19th-century landscaping ideas.

What You Can See Today

The front portico

The Governor's Domain is now smaller, about 85 hectares (210 acres). Much of the land is used for sports. But it still has over eighty important historical items. These include buildings like Old Government House, old observatory remains, historic plants, and archaeological sites. You can also see evidence of Aboriginal use, like stone tools and scarred trees.

The residence as viewed from Parramatta Park

The park's layout still shows how Governor Macquarie used the space. The roads mostly follow the old carriage ways. The open woodlands are still there, showing Elizabeth Macquarie's design ideas. 'The Crescent', the natural amphitheatre that attracted Governor Phillip, is still used for outdoor events.

You can still see the remains of Governor Brisbane's observatory and the marker trees. These show the start of scientific work in Australia.

The roads in the park are pleasant and tree-lined. They have a special park feeling, different from the busy roads outside.

Old Government House was built by convicts. It is the oldest public building still standing on the Australian mainland. The original 1799 building was made bigger in 1815. It has a symmetrical design with a central porch. This style is called 'Palladian' and is part of Australian Old Colonial Georgian architecture. You can see a section of the original brick floor from Governor Phillip's time (July 1790). The three front rooms of the main house are from Governor Hunter's time (1799). The rest of the main house and the two side sections are from Governor Macquarie's time (1818).

The rear of the house, facing the courtyard

The Governor's dairy is still there and has been restored. The park landscape has continued to be used since 1857. Memorials have been put up, like the Boer War Memorial from 1904. The memorial to Lady Mary Fitzroy and the gatehouses are also still in their original places. However, some things have changed a lot. Macquarie's stables were removed for the railway. Only the transit stones and marker trees remain of Governor Brisbane's observatory. His bathhouse is still there but has been changed into an open pavilion.

Areas of the Park

Old Government House Area

The gardens and grounds during spring

This area includes Old Government House, its garden, and the courtyards and outbuildings behind it. The gardens are beautifully planted.

The Crescent Area

This is a curved landform, an old part of the Parramatta River. Its rich soil made it a key farming area for the colony. It helped feed the early settlers when food was scarce. Today, it's used for outdoor concerts and events. The hills around it have been replanted with native trees and shrubs.

The Paddocks Area

These are fields west of Constitution Hill and the Dairy/Salter's Cottage area. They are old farm fields from the Government Domain. Today, they are mostly grassy areas for recreation, with playgrounds and picnic spots.

The Dairy/Salter's Cottage Area

This area has some of the park's oldest buildings. It includes parts of early land given to private farmers. It's fenced off and has a small garden and orchard. You can take guided tours to learn about its history.

Other Buildings and Features

George Street Gatehouse

The George Street Gatehouse

The Macquarie Street Gatehouse

Governor Macquarie built the first stone lodge here in 1820. In 1885, a two-story brick gatehouse replaced it. The new gatehouse was designed by Gordon McKinnon. The wrought iron gates were made by T. Forsyth. Historically, the gatehouse keeper's wife provided hot water for tea to picnickers. Different families have lived here over the years.

Mays Hill Gatehouse

This is a single-story cottage facing the Great Western Highway.

Observatory Site

This site includes two transit stones and four marker trees (Himalayan pines). These trees are spaced to mark a north-south line through the stones. There's also an Observatory Memorial (1880) and remains of the observatory building and the astronomer's cottage.

Other buildings that were or are in the park include:

Westmead Gatehouse
Governors' Bathhouse (now a gazebo)
Governor's Stables (demolished for the railway)
Dairy Complex and Salter's Cottage

Timeline of Key Events

1788: Government Farm started at Rose Hill. Wheat and other crops were planted.
1790: Governor Phillip planned the Domain area as part of Parramatta. It had the Governor's home, stockyards, and a lumber yard. Convicts built streets and huts.
1800–10: Governor King set up Australia's first public botanic garden. Governor Macquarie later expanded the Domain and redesigned it.
1822: Governor Brisbane's observatory was built on Coronation Hill.
1823: Governor Brisbane's bath house was built. Water was pumped from the river.
1850: Surveys for a railway line west of Parramatta were done.
1858: Parramatta Park was created for public use. Many changes were made, like new paths and tree avenues.
1860s: English oak trees were planted along River Road.
1886: Governor Brisbane's old bath house was turned into an open pavilion.
1904: The Boer War Memorial and cannon were put up.
1911: A memorial was placed for William Hart, the first Australian to fly a plane cross-country.
1913-1965: Parts of the park were lost for a high school, public roads, an RSL Club, and a Children's Home.
1967: Old Government House was given to the National Trust.
1981: 8 ha (20 acres) of land was lost to Parramatta Stadium.
1985: The Burramatta Visitors' Centre was built.
1990s: The Visitors' Centre was renovated.
1998: Major work was done on the George Street entry playground.
2003: River Road and car park areas were sealed.
2004: Approval was given to build new toilet blocks in the park.
2010: Conservation work began on the Lady Fitzroy memorial. River bank restoration and path improvements were also done.

Heritage Listings

On 2 April 1999, Old Government House was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. It was noted as a very important building from the early colony. It shows the best of elegant colonial Georgian architecture.

Old Government House and its land were added to the Australian National Heritage List on 1 August 2007.

In July 2010, Old Government House and Domain became a World Heritage List site. It's part of the Australian Convict Sites, which are 11 places linked to convict transportation. These sites show how convicts were used to expand European power. Old Government House is a strong symbol of the New South Wales colony and its development.