Description of the attraction
Government Building is the official residence of the Governor of the State of Tasmania in Hobart. The luxurious building is located near the Royal Botanic Gardens of Tasmania in the "Queens Domain" park.
In 1805, Governor Collins, after two years of living practically in a tent on the shores of Sullivan's Bay, moved to the first Government Building - a new wooden house. Over time, it was expanded, adding new outbuildings, but it remained a simple three-room house, open to wind and rain.
The second government building was built in 1817 at the intersection of Macquarie Street and Elizabeth Street. There were already 14 rooms in this house, located on two floors, a man's room, a barn and a stables. It was demolished in 1858.
The current Government building is considered one of the best vice-royal residences in the Commonwealth. Designed by architect William Kay, the building is also one of Australia's largest examples of neo-Gothic architecture. Construction work began in 1855 on a hill overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens of Tasmania and the Derwent estuary. Sandstone was mined on the spot, and the quarries were then turned into decorative ponds. Furniture on special order was brought from London. The construction was completed in 1857.
The building has 73 rooms, the most beautiful of which are the Main Hall, the Dining Room, the Living Room, the French Room, the Ballroom and the Orangery. To this day, the Government building has retained its original appearance. Its staircase, lobby framing, corridor and state rooms and furnishings are unmatched in Australia. Outstanding features of the building's exterior are the bas-reliefs, stunning stonework and custom-made chimney caps. The building is surrounded by a traditional English garden.
