Old government house nsw environment, energy and science. A short video i made from the front of old government house and i was just waffling. View all hotels near old government house on tripadvisor. It is a great venue for weddings, parties, wedding anniversaries, celebrations, high. Parramatta park ghost tours at old government house.
Old government house national trust of australia nsw. The old government house shop sells souvenirs and books. Old government itself house lies in the southeastern portion of the park, being built by convict labour in 1799 under the 2nd governor of new south. Her excellency is the 28th governor to occupy this government house and has held the position since 2 may 2019. Old government house national trust of australia nsw, parramatta, nsw. A sense of identity, government house parramatta 17882000. Efforts to identify the house have been inconclusive. About the old government house lachlans old government house at parramatta park is a great restaurant with private dining rooms and al fresco dining outside on the long verandah. Parramatta has one of the finest and most important collections of colonial architecture, including old government house, hambledon cottage, elizabeth farm house, experiment farm and many others. In 1885 a two storey brick tudor revival pattern book gate house replaced the.
King was appointed to the commission of inquiry and found the instruments and books in good condition at the parramatta observatory but the buildings very dilapidated. Ship to shore old government house, parramatta education program nsw this program aims to provide students with an insight into the school lives of primaryaged children in the early 1800s, the exploration of australia and the lives of the early colonists. Sue rosen is an historian and a heritage consultant. A bbq, drinks, glowstix, candles and song books will be on sale with all proceeds going to old government house. She is the author of several books including australias oldest house surgeon john harris and experiment farm cottage, we never had a hotbed of crime. It is home to the national trusts premier colonial furniture. First part old government house, australias oldest surviving public building, completed. Mixed bruschetta with vine ripened tomato, basil, black olives and feta. The government house is the heritagelisted viceregal residence of the governor of new south wales, australia, located on conservatorium road in the sydney central business district adjacent to the royal botanic gardens, overlooking sydney harbour, just south of the sydney opera house. Parramatta has always been an interesting and historical place. The research library contains books, magazines, newspaper clippings and microfilm related to the history of parramatta and western sydney.
Visiting australias oldest public building was a bucket list item for me and my visit to old government. Even though the skyscrapers are now overwhelming, there are still plenty of historical gems hidden away, including experiment farm cottage, hambledon cottage, elizabeth farm at harris park as well as the national trusts old government house in parramatta park, which make an. Seasonal amuse bouche often a delicate soup served in a demitasse crispy squid with schezuan pepper on greens. We manage, preserve and document the history of our local government and the people, places, art, events, and natural and built environments which have. That oldfashioned keyhole and all the narratives which have been spun by noseyparkers peering. Old government house, parramatta is australias oldest surviving public. Partly through the annual meeting of the tribes but also by receiving aborigines at old government house. Today, the unesco world heritagelisted old government house, built on indigenous darug land by convicts in 1799, is the oldest surviving public building in australia. See more ideas about history, western australia and australia. Government house is the official residence and office of her excellency the honourable margaret beazley ao qc, 39th governor of new south wales and mr dennis wilson. This committees work was broader, including work on replanting the grounds of experiment farm cottage, parramatta, old government house, parramatta and riversdale, goulburn. It takes about an hour, but the harbor is spectacular, there are lovely coves, and some of the houses. However some aspects of the history will be best understood from the point of view of the traditional owners of the land. About the old government house lachlans old government house.
While its grand hallway reflects the social standing of its occupants, what really attracted my attention, was the keyhole. Overlooking the city of parramatta, a grand georgian house holds the private memories and nationshaping decisions of its historic former residents. Treasuring the old amongst the new parramatta has always been an interesting and historical place. I was incredibly excited about getting the opportunity to visit old government house. It was the country residence for the first ten governors of the colony, including governor and mrs macquarie who preferred the clean air and space of rural parramatta to the unsanitary and crimeridden streets of sydney town. Old government house standing in 200 acres of parkland overlooking historic parramatta, old government house is australias oldest public building. Time only allows me a short walk through the park along the river to a few sites of significance. Old government house parramatta the dictionary of sydney. Discover unesco world heritagelisted old government house, the oldest. Parramatta park is about a 15 minute walk from parramatta station. The old government house is a heritagelisted former country residence used by ten early. The australia convicts sites tell the story of the largest forced migration the world has. Old government house and government domain wikipedia. The first government house in parramatta stood within the.
Lachlans old government house at parramatta park is a great restaurant with private dining rooms and al fresco dining outside on the long verandah. Old government house at parramatta was built by convicts and is the oldest surviving public building on the australian mainland. A collection item from the state library of new south wales. As history would have it, the progressive pair would significantly shape the future of their. Old government house and domainparramatta park is one of 11 historic places that.
Feeling brave then try a ghost tour of old government house. There is also evidence of the history and growth of parramatta including 19 th and early 20 th century houses, shops, factories, public institutions, bridges and other structures, as well as cemeteries. Wonderful history old government house, parramatta. This weeks photo captures the front door, government house in parramatta, sydney from an interior perspective. The grand george street gatehouse is one of six entries to parramatta park. On 26 january 1788 governor phillip landed at farm. Published 2018 by gary carter covers the history of past and present hotels and inns of parramatta, dating from 1800 to the present 2018. It is steeped in history and old government house has been recently world heritage listed by the united nations.
As old government house, the site is also primarily associated with governors phillip, king, macquarie, brisbane, darling and fitzroy. Its always worth taking the ferry up to parramatta. On the commissions advice governor sir charles fitzroy ordered that the instruments be packed and placed in the. We can help you to research your family and house histories, and provide access to genealogy databases and websites. Join the parramatta city band, model farms high school choir and santa claus as we celebrate a very special christmas at old government house parramatta. The park was established in 1858 on the site of the former parramatta government domain. Even though the skyscrapers are now overwhelming, there are still plenty of historical gems hidden away, including experiment farm cottage, hambledon cottage, elizabeth farm at. Held every 3rd friday night of the month, you can revisit the scene of a tragic accident and witness places within the house where psychics, guides and visitors have experienced ghostly encounters. V1b parr 18although titled as government house, it is unlikely to be this official residence.
There is a memorial to lady fitzroy who was killed in a carriage accident. She was familiar with architectural pattern books, bringing one with her to australia. Once you disembark at parramatta, its a 10 minute walk to old government house. A landmark site, the park and house retains historical association with. Or there are buses from parramatta interchange, outside the station, stand b4 bus numbers 705 711 t60 t61 t62 t63 t64 t65 t66 then walk through the park to old government house. Standing in 200 acres of parkland overlooking historic parramatta, old government house is australias oldest public building. In may 1789 arabanoo died from smallpox and was buried in the government house gardens. Parramatta park is of state significance as a landscape and house created by governor and mrs macquarie. Lachlans old government house restaurant romance in. At night you are invited to come and explore this 212 year old georgian mansion by candlelight on a ghost tour of old government house. Includes details of over 60 hotels it is a revised and updated version of an earlier edition of the book with the same name. Parramattas council archive holds important records that document the history of our local government. Old government house at parramatta demonstrates the growth of the colony, from an. Espresso coffee with chocolate dipped strawberries and liqueur.
First government house was an important site of early contact between european settlers and sydneys aboriginal population. Parramatta park carols at old government house 2015. Rapberry and rosewater mess with chocolate soil, cinamon ricotta and rosewater meringues. Parramatta park and old government house nsw environment. Browse and buy a vast selection of australian colonial history books and. Guests are permitted to bring seating for nongrassed areas only. Standing in 200 acres of parkland overlooking historic parramatta, old government house is australias oldest surviving public building. A history of the governors, their home and its domain. Old government house, parramatta, australia youtube. The observatory itself was conveniently located in what is now eightyfive hectare the national heritage listed parramatta park, being mainly chosen for its close proximity to old government house. Old government house parramatta attraction tour new.
It is the regional centre for greater western sydneys 1. Arabanoo, an aboriginal man captured by phillip at manly in late 1788, lived at the first government house for about five months. Shop australian colonial history books and collectibles abebooks. Constructed between 1837 and 1843, the property has been the viceregal residence of the governor since sir. The centre of parramatta is home to well known historical places such as elizabeth farm house, experiment farm cottage and old government house. Female factory set up in conjunction with the new gaol for the manufacture of woollen and linen cloth by female convicts. The current parklands are 85 hectares in size, straddling the parramatta river on the western edge of the parramatta central business district. Army occupied parramatta park willoughby, 20, citing chris rapp, the history of a gate house. The original 1799 building was enlarged in 1815 to a design by john watts to form a twostorey block, two single storey end pavilions and two linked blocks with extended eaves. Research, collections, archives city of parramatta. Old government house, parramatta, sydney the dreamstress.
About the old government house lachlans old government. It was the country residence of 12 early governors of the colony, including governor and mrs macquarie who preferred the clean air and space of rural parramatta to the unsanitary and crime ridden. Our oldest record is a minute book from parramattas first municipal government, dated 1846. Today, this elegant georgian house stands in 200 acres of parkland, overlooking the parramatta river. Governor phillip established australias first inland settlement, parramatta, on a site called the crescent an area of flat alluvial ground contained by a bend in the river in the burramattagals traditional hunting grounds. The city of parramatta council archive holds comprehensive records which document the history of our local administration and government since its creation in 1861.
Tours are conducted, led by very knowledgable guides. A history of the governors their home and its domain parramatta park. For seven decades, it was the country residence of 10 early governors of the colony, including governor and mrs macquarie who, from 1810 to 1821 preferred the clean air and space of rural parramatta to the unsanitary and crime ridden streets of sydney. During 2020 the societys general meetings will be held on 3rd monday of each month at 7.
410 1418 1334 1392 133 344 627 317 489 813 1188 1571 363 1022 579 681 1104 120 333 795 271 1430 1360 871 1256 1006 1170 1389 1576 163 187 494 1482 760 985 836 894 1188 1190 748 247 398 1453 932 862 191