Government House Sydney

Government House - The little castle in the city

Government House - A 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

Open Now

Regular Hours:
Hours may be subject to change. Please verify on the official website.

  • Monday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Saturday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Sunday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Category: Travel Services

Address: Royal Botanic Gardens
Sydney New South Wales 2000
Australia

Phone: +61 2 9931 5222

Reviews

Yelp Rating:
4.5 out of 5 4.5 Star Rating
Based on 7 Reviews.

See all reviews on Yelp

5 Star Rating Beautiful piece of history. Amazing building/architecture and amazing garden/landscaping. A must see when in the area and just a short walk from the... Read More

Mke K. Nov-30-2018

5 Star Rating Great place to visit. They give free tours everyday. You need a form of picture ID to get in. The house and the grounds are beautiful Read More

Richard A. Jul-08-2017

4 Star Rating We attempted to visit the Government House right before they closed one day but couldn't find a way in! We found it after the last tour for the day was... Read More

Christina M. Oct-18-2016

Accommodations near Government House:

Directions

Train Line Nearest Station Walking Time
L2, T2, T3, T8 or Sydney FerriesCircular Quay10 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.

Map & Instant Route Finder

Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.

Load Interactive Map
Finding Your Route - Please Wait

Photo Gallery

Video


Tour of Government House in Sydney

Visiting Sydney?
Here's why we use Booking.com for our hotel bookings.
Best Selection
Daily Deals
Price Matching
Pay at the Hotel
24/7 Support
Share on Pinterest
Share on Pinterest
Help us grow! Please Share
Thanks for Visiting!