Government
House, Melbourne is the office and official
residence of the Governor of Victoria. It
is found next to the Royal Botanic Gardens
and bounded by King's Domain in Melbourne.
It was the official residence of the Governor-General
of Australia from 1901 to 1930.
The building was designed by
William Wardell, Inspector General of the Public Works
Department, and built in the Victorian Period. Lieutenant-governor
of Victoria, Charles La Trobe set aside the land for
Government House in 1841. Ferdinand von Mueller, Director
of the Royal Botanic Gardens in 1857, landscaped the
whole area, including Government House reserve, as
one parkland. Construction of the building did not
start until 1871 and was completed in 1876.
Between
the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia
in 1901 and 1927, it was the official residence
of the Governor-General of Australia (the representative
of the Crown in Australia). When the Federal Parliament
commenced sitting in Canberra in 1927, the Governor-General
stayed at Government House, Canberra at Yarralumla
while Parliament was in session, but also continued
living at Government House in Melbourne until 1930.
The House has been in continuous use by the Governors
of Victoria since 1934. This house is designed in
Italianate style, and reflects the extravagant style
of the period with a booming economy due to the
Victorian gold
rush.
The
garden was designed by John Sayce in 1873 and is
thought to be the most integral 19th century mansion
garden remaining in Melbourne by the Victorian Heritage
Register. William Guilfoyle, curator of the Melbourne
Botanic Gardens, The main building consists of three
parts: the south wing with its extravagant single
storey State Ballroom; a grand staircase hall entrance
to the three storey State rooms; and two storey
vice-regal apartments
to the north.
Rising
from the building is a 145 foot belvedere tower.
A paved area surrounded on three sides by stables,
coach houses and staff living quarters is nearby
is called The Mews. Further sophisticated the original
garden design with many
fine mature trees, including conifers, Australian
rainforest species and deciduous trees, which are
characteristic of the era and which also reflect
Guilfoyle's personal taste.
