Old Government House is located in the suburb of Parramatta in Sydney, and is the oldest public residence within Australia. This historic building is set within the 250 acre Parramatta Park. The green parklands with water views stand out significantly within the surrounding Western Sydney developments, and the land is dotted with tall, shady trees.
Old Government House was established in 1799, by the Governor at the time, John Hunter. This property then became the ‘country residence' for the first ten Governors of Australia. Governor and Mrs Macquarie preferred residing here, away from the city area because of the green pastures, fresh air, and the absence of a noisy and rough convict colony which then occupied Sydney City.
During the time they spent at Old Government House they made several dramatic renovations, to follow Palladian style architecture, and this is the state the house is restored to today.
Mrs Macquarie not only influenced the structural extensions of the property, but the internal decorations and furnishings. She had very strong and particular tastes and these were expressed in her home environment. In the effort to restore and maintain the specific preferences of Ms Macquarie, extensive research has been conducted in recent years, into the fabrics and soft furnishings that the house currently features. The National Trust has the largest collection of early colonial furniture in Australia, and this has been provided for the efforts of restoring and displaying Old Government House for the public.
Old Government House can be visited by the public and hired out for special events. Tours are available for enthusiasts who want to discover more about the fascinating history of this building, and gain insight into the early colonies of Australia. If you would like to explore the house, you must join one of the organised tours, which are conducted most days.
