Government House is the office and official residence of the

Administrator of the Northern Territory The administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the governor-general of Australia to represent the Crown in right of the Northern Territory. They perform functions similar to those of a state governor. Strictly speaking ...

in Darwin, Australia. Built between 1870 and 1871, with later renovations between 1878 and 1879, the building is set on 13,000 square metres of hillside gardens in the centre of the Darwin business district, on The Esplanade.

History

Government House is the oldest

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

an building in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

. Government House has been the home of successive Government Residents and

Administrators Administrator or admin may refer to: Job roles Computing and internet * Database administrator, a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database * Forum administrator, one who oversees discussions on an Internet forum * N ...

since 1871. The house is an example of a mid-Victorian Gothic villa, here adapted for the local climate by the addition of numerous shaded verandahs and porches. It has endured

cyclones In meteorology, a cyclone () is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above (opposite to an ant ...

earthquakes An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they c ...

, enemy

bombing A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechan ...

raids, infestations of white ants and rowdy public demonstrations to remain one of the most spectacular and attractive buildings in Darwin. Of its construction early resident Harriet Douglas Daly said: On 17 December 1918, Government House became the focal point of political turmoil and union unrest against John Gilruth's administration. About 1000 demonstrators marched to Government House where they burnt an

effigy An effigy is a sculptural representation, often life-size, of a specific person or a prototypical figure. The term is mostly used for the makeshift dummies used for symbolic punishment in political protests and for the figures burned in certain ...

of Gilruth and demanded his resignation. The incident became well known as the Darwin Rebellion.Alcorta, Frank (1984)
''Darwin Rebellion 1911-1919''
Northern Territory University Planning Authority. . . Government House was entered on the now-defunct

Register of the National Estate The Register of the National Estate was a heritage register that listed natural and cultural heritage places in Australia that was closed in 2007. Phasing out began in 2003, when the Australian National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heri ...

on 14 May 1991 and was added to the Northern Territory Heritage Register on 19 March 1996.

Some former residents

Some former residents include: *

William Bloomfield Douglas William Bloomfield Douglas (25 September 1822 – 5 March 1906), generally known as "Bloomfield Douglas" or "Captain Douglas", was a Welsh naval officer and public servant. During his career, he served in various positions in South Australia, ...

, the first Government Resident of the Northern Territory, and his family. His family included his daughter Harriet Douglas Daly who wrote about the construction of the building and early experiences of living there in her book ''Digging, squatting and pioneering life in the Northern Territory of South Australia'' (1887). * John Anderson Gilruth, Administrator of the Northern Territory from 1912 - 1919, he was there during the Darwin rebellion which sought for his resignation. As a part of this rebellion over 1,000 demonstrators marched on Government House and burnt an

of him. * Aubrey Abbott, Administrator of the Northern Territory from 1937 - 1945, and his wife

Hilda Abbott Hilda Gertrude Abbott (; 9 September 1890 – 26 May 1984) was the wife of the former Administrator of the Northern Territory, Charles Lydiard Aubrey Abbott. She is best known her contribution to the Northern Territory's Red Cross branch. Earl ...

who lived there during the

Bombing of Darwin The Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, on 19 February 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. On that day, 242 Empire of Japan, Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked the ...

when it was partially destroyed. The pair donated the bomb damaged flag to the

Australian War Memorial The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national war memorial, war museum, museum and archive dedicated to all Australians who died as a result of war, including peacekeeping duties. The AWM is located in Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, C ...

as they believed it to be the first flag to have been damaged on Australian soil by enemy action.

Gallery

Image:Government House Darwin.jpg, Darwin's Government House in 1913, with Liberty Square in foreground. Image:John Gilruth 1.jpg, From left: Minister Josiah Thomas, Sir Walter Barttelot and

Administrator Administrator or admin may refer to: Job roles Computing and internet * Database administrator, a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database * Forum administrator, one who oversees discussions on an Internet forum * N ...

John Gilruth in 1912.

References

External links

Government House Northern Territory website
{{Vice Regal Residences of Australia Buildings and structures in Darwin, Northern Territory Tourist attractions in Darwin, Northern Territory Official residences in Australia Darwin Victorian architecture in Australia Northern Territory Government 1878 establishments in Australia Northern Territory Heritage Register Northern Territory places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate

History

Some former residents

Gallery

See also

References

External links