Each year, Government House is open in Autumn and Spring to the public. However, what is Government House you ask?
It is the residence of the Governor-General (GG), whose job it is to act as the representative of the British Monarch for Australia, sign off on all new laws and greet foreign dignitaries.
As someone who has always been interested in politics and grew up in Melbourne, visiting Government House was something I wanted to do while living in Canberra. So I made sure when it announced an Open Day, that I would go – even if I had to go alone.
I arrived around 11am, and already there were A LOT of people.
I did not expect it to be as busy as it was, especially for only being open for an hour. I found out later that over 3000 people attended the open house.
One of the very first things that stood out to me was how green and manicured the grounds were. As well as the size of the grounds.
Before I even got to the main area I was greeted with a plethora of stalls – an SES sausage sizzle, a bake sale, Mexican food and a coffee cart.
In total, 43 stalls gathered, ranging from Cancer Council Australia, many different Australian charities and Australian defence forces. There was really something for everyone on the day.
Whilst I was walking around the estate I could tell that Government House was built over time, with each building representing a period of time. The traditional buildings that looked more like cottages – are the remnants of when the Government House used to be farmland.
I was blown away by the views on the property, especially on the east and west sides of the original house.
The views on either side of the original house were breathtaking, with Molonglo River (pictured below) on the east or the estate on the west – I realised why this was chosen to greet foreign dignitaries.
Before I entered Government House, I was fortunate enough to meet the Governor-General himself, David Hurley
He was standing out the front of the house, with only a short line for him. Many would not know when looking at him that he was in fact the Governor-General.
I think this speaks to how Australians are, we do not make a big deal out of people. We may stand out on the streets to see the Royals drive past, but when we are going about our business everyone is treated equally.
We spoke for a brief time, mostly on myself becoming a journalist after graduation – and how I may work for the Governor-General next year.
When I finally went inside the house, all I could focus on was how ugly the carpet was! As someone who was subjected to countless hours of renovation shows growing up, I now have too many opinions on interior design.
The public was only allowed to go through a few rooms on the ground floor – with the top two levels being out of bounds. There were workers that answered questions about each room, such as why this carpet was chosen
One of the questions I had answered from a worker was why there was carpet in eating areas (seems to me like it would be more of a hassle to clean). I found out that the carpets were put in very early on (in the ’30s or ’40s), and if the decision was made to fix the carpet the whole bottom floor that has carpet will have to be redone – they can not do patchwork in Government House.
I also found out that the original building is not the personal residence of the Governor-General anymore, with a newer building built behind it in the ’90s.
Going through each room the sense that one got was that it was ornate and hollow. That the rooms in the house were only there for decoration, and when you think of the role of the Governor-General, having something that is ceremonial and ornate – makes sense.
The dining room was the most magnificent – with the views onto the lake, it felt like a perfect place for a monarch to visit.
Visiting Government House is a great day out with family and friends, but also as a solo expedition. To learn the history of the role, and the residence that we as citizens pay for – is fascinating for any political fanatic. You also can never go wrong with ending the day with a snag.
Photos by Sarah Johnson-Husband