The creation of a new colony called Queensland meant many things to people living north of the Tweed River. They would have their own Parliament. Their own identity. Their own Premier. Their own Governor!
Hang about, where were we going to put our new vice-regal overlord (and lady)? Thankfully, Dr Hobbs had a nice place, and Captain Wickham was happy to proclaim that it would be at the disposal of Sir George and Lady Bowen until something grander could be built.
Adelaide House, or the Deanery
HOUSE FOR THE GOVERNOR. – It is reported, on good authority, that Captain Wickham has taken Dr Hobbs’ house for the Governor – I hear for two hears, until the Government House is built – where that edifice is to be built is not yet known.
The Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld.: 1846-1861), Wednesday 10 August 1859, page 2.
Andrew Petrie designed and built Adelaide House in 1853 as a home for Dr Hobbs. In 1899, the building became part of the St John’s Anglican Cathedral precinct. According to the Queensland Heritage Register, the building still has “a high degree of structural integrity.”
Old Government House
The Colonial Architect, Charles Tiffin, worked with builder Joshua Jeays to create Government House, close to the Botanical Gardens and the river. It was the first significant building created in the new colony. Two years after their arrival in Brisbane, Sir George and Lady Bowen moved in.
Foremost amongst the works in the Colonial Architect’s department, may be mentioned the new Government house, which is completed, and will be delivered over for viceregal occupation at the end of the present month.
Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1861 – 1864), Tuesday 18 March 1862, page 3.
As we have stated on several occasions before, the building is a large and commodious one, constructed of choice freestone, and situated on a prominent eminence overlooking the Botanic Gardens and one of the most romantic and picturesque windings of our noble river.
Government House provided a formal living place, meeting and reception place, and a family home for fifty years. The Bowens and Lord and Lady Lamington brought up young families within its walls. Sir Samuel Blackall and Sir Anthony Musgrave passed away while in office there. The great and the good visited, as well as a lot of colonial politicians of varying degrees of pomposity and self-importance.
(Government House reception for the members of the Queensland Committee of the Australian Exhibition of Women’s Work in Brisbane, Queensland, 1907)
The programme of competitions covers all classes of needlework – white-work, dressmaking, millinery, plain, doll-dressing, fancy work, needle work, church embroidery, knitting, crochet; and also inventions of any kind by women.
Fassifern Guardian (Boonah, Qld.: 1905-1967), Saturday 30 March 1907, page 5.
The Australian Exhibition of Women’s Work.
No ballroom? Let’s make it a University campus instead.
Government House had turned 50. It was considered just a tad snug, particularly for entertaining. In a bizarre echo of today’s political preoccupations (overseas), the lack of a ballroom of sufficiently grand dimensions was starting to occupy the occupants of Government House.
A solution appeared in the established villa-turned-mansion, Fernberg. That site also had the benefit of seclusion (being out in the far distant suburbs), and a lot of acreage.
Old Government House became part of the first campus of the University of Queensland, which later became part of the Queensland University of Technology in Gardens Point, where it stands today.
Queensland University of Technology has made sure that the building’s history is preserved, while allowing access to any interested person who would like to visit. For free. And the people who work there are amazingly pleasant and helpful.
The Chief Secretary has issued invitations for the dedication of Government House to the University of Queensland by His Excellency the Governor, Sir William MacGregor, at Government House on Friday, 10th December at 3:30 o’clock.
Queensland Figaro (Brisbane, Qld.: 1901-1936), Thursday 2 December 1909, page 9.
All images (apart from the contemporary view of the Deanery, which is credited in the caption) are from the digital collection of the State Library of Queensland and are out of copyright. AI colourisation by Copilot.
Header image: Government House in George Street, c. 1875.
Building information is taken from the website of the Queensland Heritage Register. Resource: Queensland Heritage Register (Old Government House); Search: Queensland Heritage Register (Deanery)
Moreton Bay and More 