Government House Sydney

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Government House - The little castle in the city

Government House - A castle in the city cc licensed photo by Flying Cloud

Government house in Sydney is a beautiful stately building surrounded by just over 12 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds adjoining the Royal Botanic Gardens. It sits just behind the Sydney Opera House overlooking Farm Cove on Sydney Harbour. With its gothic revival architecture and many turrets, it is more like a small castle than a house.

You can enjoy a free tour of this fascinating house and property between Friday and Sunday, but you must still obtain a ticket from the gatehouse for access which is only by guided tour

Construction of Government House in Sydney, which replaced the Old Government House in Parramatta, began in 1837. The architect, Edward Blore, was also very much involved in the design of Buckingham Palace in London. In 1845 the first resident, Governor George Gipps, moved in. Except for a period of time between 1996 and 2011 the house has always been the residence of the Governor or Governor-General. Beginning in 1996 the house was managed by the Historic Houses Trust. They continue to manage the property to this day carrying out a rigorous program of restoration and maintenance. In 2011, after much public protest, it was decided that the Governor should once again take up official residence in Government House as it was realized that it was actually costing more to maintain the property without the Governor residing there.

Government House hosts many functions throughout the year, including state functions, concerts, festivals, exhibitions and as many as 250 Vice Regal functions.

Nearby attractions include : Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Opera House, Customs House, Justice and Police Museum and the Museum of Sydney.

Facts For Your Visit

Official Website: Government House

Fee: No

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Address: Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Phone: (02) 9228 4111

Official Website: Government House

Reviews

Rated 4.5 out of 5 Government House Star Rating

An interesting place; beautiful house, steeped in history and well worth a visit. Go for a guided tour if you get the chance, as our guide was a fountain of knowledge and easily answered any questions we had. Highly recommended, if you want to take in some culture while in Sydney.

DR77 - 1 month ago

A beautiful house set in the Botanical Gardens. It is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets are free but are provided on a first come, first served basis. Tickets are available from the Gatehouse, which is next to the main gate. You need ID when registering for the tour. For tourists, this means your passport. On the day I went, the house had been opened to celebrate the coronation of King Charles, so I did not do the tour. I was able to see a number of tge fountains rooms and the gardens. Staff were happy to discuss the rooms and answer any questions. The tours accommodate the needs of people who have a disability. This includes people with vision loss or blindness. Uou are added to advise the guides at the time of booking of your needs.

Jenny Clate - 5 months ago

On Sunday we visited Government House, a building steeped in history with a beautiful garden and a fantastic view of Sydney Bay. The friendly and competent guide explained the function and furnishings of the rooms with great attention to detail. After the tour, we had a great surprise: a spontaneous, no less interesting private tour, thank you very much!

Rubén Recio - 8 months ago

Incredible house with an amazing historical tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and seemed to be passionate about her job. Made our day out in the botanical gardens. Would highly recommend to anyone who has a spare hour or two in the city.

Glenn Wright - 21 days ago

A timeless beauty designed by Edward Blore (who worked on Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle) and adapted to local conditions. Accesible to the general public and enhanced by hosts demonstrating knowledge and professionalism. Highly recommended.

Liliana - 2 months ago

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Directions

Train Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
L2, T2, T3, T8 or Sydney Ferries	Circular Quay	10 minutes

How to get to Government House by Train

By Train or Ferry: exit at Circular Quay Station and proceed west on Alfred Street then left on Albert Street and right on Macquarie Street. Enter the park by the horse and rider statue and follow the signs to Government House.

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Photo Gallery

Beautiful landscaping accentuates the striking architecture of Government House cc licensed photo by safaris

Video

Tour of Government House in Sydney