Description of the attraction
Not far from the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Sydney Opera House, the Government Building is located, the façade of which overlooks Sydney Harbor. Once it was the official residence of the governor of New South Wales, and today it is a museum, which, however, regularly hosts government receptions.
The residence of the first governor of the colony, Arthur Phillip, in 1788 was a structure made of logs covered with tarpaulin. Then, at the place where Bridge Street and Phillip Street intersect today, a solid building was erected, which became the full-fledged residence of the governor. Its architect was James Bloodsworth, under whose direction most of the colony's buildings were built between 1788 and 1800. The first Government building was rebuilt and renovated by the next eight governors, but remained generally in poor condition and was demolished in 1846.
In 1835, the British government decided that Sydney needed a new government building and commissioned the royal architect Edward Blore to design the project. Construction work began in 1837 - stone, cedar and marble for the building were brought from all over the colony. Already in 1843, a ball in honor of Queen Victoria's birthday was held at the new governor's residence, although construction had not yet been completed. The first occupant of the building was Governor George Gipps, who moved in in 1845.
The Government building is made in the romantic neo-Gothic style - decorated with battlements and having turrets, it is decorated with portraits and costumes of its high-ranking inhabitants. In 1873, a gallery was added to the building, a veranda was added 6 years later, and in 1900-1901 the ballroom and the governor's office were expanded.
For a century and a half - from 1845 to 1996 - this building served as the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales. However, in 1996 the government moved to the nearby General Secretary Building. Former Prime Minister Bob Carr explained the change: "The governor's residence should be less associated with pomp and ceremony, less burdened with outdated protocols, but in tune with the mood of the people."
