Old Government House, Auckland
Encyclopedia
Government House
Government House is the name of many of the residences of Governors-General, Governors and Lieutenant-Governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. It serves as the venue for the Governor's official business, as well as the many receptions and functions hosted by...
is the former residence of the Governor of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The present Government House
Government House, Auckland
The site of the present day Government House, Auckland was first built upon in the 1880s or 1890s, although some of the trees are slightly older, dating from the 1870s...
in Auckland was previously a private residence.
The building, the second Government House built in Auckland, was designed by William Mason, and was completed in 1856 as one of the measures taken by Auckland to retain its status as New Zealand's capital. However, the house was used only sporadically after the seat of government was moved to Wellington in 1865.
In 1969, the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
took over the building, as the present day Government House was donated for the Governor-General's use. The University has since used the building for its Staff Common Room, Council reception suite, flats for visiting academics, rooms for the Federation of Graduate Women and a lecture theatre.
Royalty have stayed at the house six times, and Queen Elizabeth II broadcast her Christmas speech from the House in 1953.
See also
- Government Houses of New ZealandGovernment Houses of New ZealandThis is a list of Government Houses in New Zealand.* Old Government House, Auckland* Government House, Auckland* Government House, Wellington...
- Government Houses of the British Empire
- Governor-General of New ZealandGovernor-General of New ZealandThe Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....