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Government House and Grounds
Government House and Grounds is the official residence of the Governor of Western Australia and a prominent civic landmark in the heart of Perth. Earlier vice regal residences, constructed in the 1830s, proved inadequate for the growing Swan River Colony. The current building was constructed between 1859 and 1864 using convict labour. Designed in the Victorian Tudor style, it has evolved over time to meet ceremonial and social functions, including the addition of a grand ballroom in 1899 to accommodate official entertaining and royal visits.
Beyond its role in governance, the place is associated with several significant people and events in Western Australian history, including Whadjuk Noongar yorga (woman) Fanny Balbuk Yooreel and the widely publicised 1925 ballroom shooting.
The surrounding 3.2-hectare gardens, once part of Perth’s first botanic garden, were landscaped in the 19th century. They feature a mix of native and introduced plantings, including commemorative trees planted by visiting dignitaries and members of the British Royal Family. Government House and Grounds continues to function as a ‘living heritage place’, serving as the Governor’s residence and workplace, while opening its grounds and interiors to the public on selected days.
Government House and Grounds was entered in the State Register of Heritage Places on a permanent basis in April 2011.
Acknowledgement of Country
Show moreThe Heritage Council acknowledges the Whadjuk Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this place is located, their enduring and continuing connection to the land, and its significance to Aboriginal people. We pay our respects to the Ancestors and Elders, past and present, and acknowledge those who continue to share knowledge and journey toward reconciliation. Information on the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation can be found at: https://whadjuknoongar.org.au/.
History
Show moreNoongar connection
Long before Government House became a symbol of colonial authority, the land formed part of the traditional Country of the Whadjuk Noongar people. For tens of thousands of years, Whadjuk Noongar communities lived on and cared for this area of the Swan Coastal Plain, including what is now known as central Perth.
Early development
Following the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829, the first Government House was constructed in 1834. Commonly referred to as ‘Old Government House’, it soon proved unsuitable due to structural issues, and its inability to support official functions. It was demolished in the 1880s after the completion of the current building.
The ‘Old Government House’ building, c1860. Image credit: Photograph courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (6923B/17).
Construction and additions
Recognising the need for a more suitable residence, Governor Arthur Edward Kennedy (the fifth Governor of Western Australia,1855-1862) commissioned a new Government House in 1859. Completed in 1864 and built using convict labour, the residence was designed to accommodate both private living and official duties.
Government House close to completion with newly planted gardens, 1863. Image credit: Photograph courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (6923B/200).
Over time, additions such as the ballroom, which was completed in 1899, expanded its capacity for large gatherings and formal events.
Interior of the Government House Ballroom decorated for a visit from the Governor General and Lady Northcote, c1905. Image credit: Photograph courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (3410B Vol. 77).
The gardens were laid out in the 19th century and have been maintained as an integral part of the site’s character, featuring significant plantings, including a nearly 200-year-old olive tree and a formal rose garden.
Significant people and events
Government House and Grounds has played a central role in Western Australia's civic and cultural life, hosting royalty, dignitaries and community leaders since the 19th century, including the visit of Prince Alfred in 1869.
Two notable associations include the life of Fanny Balbuk Yoreel and the 1925 ballroom shooting.
Fanny Balbuk Yooreel (1840-1907), a Whadjuk Noongar woman, is remembered for her resistance to the impacts of colonisation. She asserted her rights to access Country and maintain cultural practices and is associated with acts of protest at the Government House site. A statue within the grounds commemorates her legacy and was the first statue dedicated to a woman in the Perth CBD.
Fanny Balbuk Yooreel, c1895. Image credit: Photograph courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (BA129/15).
In August 1925, a shooting occurred during a formal ball held in the Government House ballroom, attracting widespread attention and becoming one of Perth’s most talked-about criminal cases of the time.
Present day
Government House and Grounds continues to fulfil its original role as the residence and workplace of the Governor of Western Australia. While maintaining its ceremonial and administrative functions, the site is also accessible to the public through open days and guided tours, allowing visitors to experience both the historic building and its gardens.
State Register of Heritage Places and Themes
Show morePlace 2095 – Government House and Grounds Register Entry
Themes relevant to this place, as identified in the Heritage Council’s Thematic History of Western Australia, include:
- Peopling WA – Colonisation
- Economy – Workers and Working
- Infrastructure – Development of Settlements and Services
- Governing – Government and Politics
Sources
Show moreState Register of Heritage Places, Heritage Council of Western Australia, P2095 Government House and Grounds, Register Entry, accessed June 2025.
Government House Western Australia, History of Government House, accessed June 2025
Image gallery
Show more
Government House under construction, c1862. Image credit: Photograph courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (6923B/113). |
The first presentation of commissions of officers of the Volunteer Force, made in the Government House gardens Perth, on 11 December 1863. Image credit: Photograph courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (6909B/71). |
A ball held in the Government House Ballroom to celebrate the Coronation of King George IV, 1937. Image credit: Photograph courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (095666PD). |
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at a garden party held in Government House grounds during the Queen’s visit to Perth, 1954. Image credit: Photograph courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (011635D). |
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