Government House

• 1908 - 1910
• Construction
• c.1980 - c.1989
• Refurbishment
• 1995
• Alterations (00061: 74: 12210), Repile (00061: 122: 13987)
• 1996
• Dwelling alterations (00061: 175: 15598), Dwelling alterations (00061: 203: 16433)
• 1997
• Additions and alterations (00078: 103: 33933)
• 1998
• Alterations to ballroom and office (00078: 233: 40942)
• 2000
• Additions to butler’s residence to accommodate laundry (00078: 778: 64093)
• 2008
• Seismic bracing to walls and chimney (00078: 2708: 184638), Level 1, 2, and ground, internal alterations (00078: 2741: 186888), Structural strengthening, refurbishment of roof and wall cladding (00078: 4730: 185953)
• 2008 - 2011
• Restoration project: re-roofed, seismically strengthened, interior and exterior extensively renovated
• 2012
• Installation of fire place into existing brick chimney (00078: 4611: 280944)

• 1910
• The Governor-General of New Zealand

Not assessed

Government House is a two-storey Edwardian mansion, with extensive attics built into the roof space. The building is stylistically mixed, combining Classical and Tudor features; the general effect is that an eclectic English Domestic design.

The house has one dominant roof which terminates that is punctuated by three abutting gables on the garden side - one in the centre and one at either end. These three bays are not well-integrated and stand rather awkwardly. Indeed, the house seems rather less than the sum of its parts. Other wings abut the building:- the conservatory, and an administrative block on the east end, and a staff accommodation block on the west end. The central tower marking the main entrance adds a rather eclectic, Italianate touch to the building, as does the incorporation of roof dormers, and the porte-cochere on the south side with Oamaru stone columns.

The interior is the most successful aspect of the building and there are impressive formal spaces, well-detailed, on the ground floor: the ballroom, drawing room, conservatory, smoking room, dining room and entrance hall with its wide formal staircase and the coats-of-arms of all Governors General who have lived in the residence. Rimu finishing work is a feature of some of these spaces, and the interior finishes are particularly fine.

The construction is of timber, with extensive use of jarrah members. The upper storey is half-timbered, with roughcast plastering. The ground floor is clad in lapped weatherboards while the roof is clad in English tiles.

Government House is situated on the western ridge of Mount Victoria, at the northern end of the suburb of Newtown. The house is integral with its setting; the extensive landscaped grounds contain numerous outbuildings, including particularly fine entrance gates and lodge. The elevation, flora, and scale of the grounds separates Government House from its neighbours to the north and south, Wellington College and Wellington Hospital respectively, while it is bounded by the Mount Victoria town belt to the east. The main front lawn faces north with obscured views over the city.

• Architectural

  Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

  Government House is a two-storey Edwardian mansion that was designed as in an eclectic ‘English Domestic’ style with Classical and Tudor inspired elements. The house is notable for its fine interiors, for its spectacular site, and its well-tended park-like grounds.

• Group

  Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

  The building has some group value with the other government buildings, embassies and High Commission buildings in Wellington that have a similar official/residential function. Examples include Premier House (WCC ref 18/308), the Cook Islands High Commission (WCC 15/442) and the Papal Nunciature (WCC ref 1/158).

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  Government House plays a curious role as a landmark in Wellington. On one hand, its location is well known by Wellingtonians, but the building is nestled in park-like grounds and obscured by mature trees from many nearby vantage points.

  
  

  The stature and function of the home contributes to the identity of Wellington as New Zealand’s capital city.

  
  

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

  The Governor General is a significant figure in the constitutional life of the country, in their role as representative of the Queen in New Zealand, and the role has been filled by very distinguished people from a variety of backgrounds. Government House has been the official residence of Governors General from the time it was completed in 1910 to the present day. It has hosted many visiting dignitaries and been the location for state and public ceremonies, occasions and functions.

• Technological

  Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

  There is technical interest in the large-scale timber frame of the house and in its high-quality internal fixtures, fittings and finishes.

• Identity - Sense Of Place - Continuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  Government House contributes to a sense of continuity, having housed New Zealand’s Governors General since 1917 (and the country’s Governor beforehand). For this reason, the house is also a focus of national identity.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The building, although discreetly sited from public gaze, is nevertheless held in very high public esteem as many people have visited the house for investitures and social functions; it has also been the scene of numerous visits by royalty and visiting dignitaries.

• Sentiment - Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  Government House is a focus of national sentiment and connection, especially for those that have been received there, and had honours bestowed on them at the grounds.

• Symbolic - Commemorative - Traditional - Spiritual

  Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

  Government House has commemorative and traditional value for the official role it plays in the New Zealand Government.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  The house’s restoration from 2008-2011 was one of the most rigorous, most expensive, most extensive, and best documented conservation projects ever to have been carried out in New Zealand. The house has, as such, retained a high degree of authenticity in its built fabric, design intent, use and setting.

• Rare

  Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

  Government House is a large New Zealand Edwardian mansion that fulfils a unique role as home to New Zealand’s Governor-General.

• Representative

  Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

  Government House is good representative example of an Edwardian mansion.

• Local/Regional/National/International

  Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  Government House is important at a national level for its function as the official residence of the Governor-General.

Not assessed

• Cook, R. Parliament: The Land and Buildings from 1840. Wellington: Parliamentary Service, 1988
• Department of Internal Affairs. ‘Government House’. Wellington: DIA, 1989
• Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. ‘Government House Conservation Project: Application for Resource Consent’. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, July 2008
• ‘Government House’ website, accessed June 2013
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust. ‘Paton, Claude – Architect’. Accessed June 2013
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust. ‘Campbell, John – Architect’, accessed June 2013
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust. ‘Buildings Record Form - Government House’. NZHPT
• Nelson, Wayne (notes). From Tipples R. Colonial Landscape Gardener: Alfred Buxton of Christchurch, New Zealand 1872-1950. Lincoln College, 1989

• Inventory Report

Not available