Government House Sydney: Old World Architecture, Gothic Grandeur

Designed by Edward Blore--one of the royal architects involved in the design and construction of Buckingham Palace--and built between 1837 and 1843 under the supervision of colonial architect Mortimer Lewis, Government House Sydney still stands today alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens overlooking Sydney Harbour. Government House Sydney was formerly the official residence, and still remains the official reception space, of the Governor of New South Wales. Now managed by the Historic Houses Trust, when the building is not being used for a Vice-Regal function, it is open to the public as a free museum.

There were several Government Houses built prior to the creation of Edward Blore’s building. The prior Governor’s residence (now known as Old Government House) still remains today in the western Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The 1843 residence, however, is far more ornate, and arguably one of Sydney’s finest official buildings. Designed in romantic Gothic revival style, it is castellated, turreted and regally decorated with oil portraits and the coats of arms of its successive occupants.

The house is set on five acres of immaculate gardens which once played host to royal garden parties and fetes. Inside, the grand halls and state rooms house significant art collections and elegant 19th century furnishings. The grounds open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and visitors are free to wander around, but the interiors can be explored by guided tour only (departing every half an hour from 10:30am).

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