Upon this very spot stood a different Government House. A humble beginning it was. Governor Arthur Phillip’s first Government House. This wasn’t the grand sandstone structure we see today. It was a small six-room home. It stood on the site of the Museum of Sydney.
Imagine this simple dwelling. It served as the home and office for the first nine governors of New South Wales. They lived and worked within its walls. For nearly fifty years it was the colony’s center of power. Yet these early governors complained incessantly. The building was damp unsuitable inconvenient and in poor repair.
Each governor left their mark. Governor King added a long drawing-room. Governor Macquarie created a grand dining-room. Even more rooms were constructed later. A servants’ hall a schoolroom. By 1831 eleven bedrooms a bathroom a kitchen and laundry existed within the sprawling complex. A gallery connected the old and new sections. It was a testament to continual adaptation and growth.
The first Government House wasn’t just a residence. It housed the colony’s first printing office. The first newspaper the Sydney Gazette was printed here. The first meetings of the Legislative Council took place here. Governor Bligh’s arrest during the Rum Rebellion occurred here too. It was a place where history unfolded.
Yet the house was flawed. The mortar was poor. White ants infested the wood. Rising damp caused further problems. It was simply too expensive to repair. It hindered Sydney’s expansion. It became an eyesore. By 1846 it was demolished. Its remains lie beneath Bridge and Phillip Streets.
The new Government House which replaced it was a grander affair. Designed by Edward Blore. It reflects the ambition and changing fortunes of the colony. This magnificent Gothic revival structure stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Government House in Sydney. It continues to serve as the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales. A fitting successor to a humble beginning.