Old Government House

Welcome to Old Government House, one of Queensland's most significant heritage sites and a masterpiece of colonial architecture. Completed in 1862, shortly after Queensland was declared a separate colony from New South Wales,…

Old Government House was designed by the colonial architect Charles Tiffin, who envisioned a building that combined the elegance of the Victorian style with practical adaptations for the subtropical climate. The most prominent…

For the first 48 years of its existence, this building was a private home for a succession of Governors and their families. To live here was to be at the very top of Queensland society. …

The relationship between Old Government House and the adjacent City Botanic Gardens is integral to its design and history. When the house was built, the gardens were already being developed as a place for scientific research and…

Stepping inside Old Government House, one is immediately struck by the level of interior refinement and Victorian craftsmanship. The grand entry hall, with its high ceilings and polished timber floors, sets a tone of understated…

In 1909, the Governor moved to a new residence, Fernberg, and Old Government House began a new chapter. For several decades, it served as the original home of the University of Queensland, and later it was used as offices for…

We cannot discuss the history of Old Government House without mentioning the women who shaped its social atmosphere, most notably Lady Lamington, wife of Lord Lamington, the Governor from 1896 to 1901. Lady Lamington was a…

As we conclude our tour of Old Government House, I hope you have been moved by its elegance and enlightened by its rich history. We have explored its architectural vision as a subtropical colonial masterpiece, its role as the…