First Government House, Sydney, Colonial residence in Sydney, Australia
The First Government House in Sydney was a two-story building with six rooms, two cellars, and a rear staircase constructed from imported and locally made bricks. It served as the administrative center and residence for the colony's leadership.
Governor Arthur Phillip established this residence in 1788 as the administrative seat of the New South Wales colony. The building housed nine successive governors until 1845.
The building served as a meeting place between European settlers and Aboriginal people, with some residents like Arabanoo and Bennelong staying there during this period. These early interactions shaped relationships between the two groups in the young colony.
The original building no longer stands where it once was, as the Museum of Sydney was constructed on the site in 1995. The location is easy to reach by public transport, and archaeological remains are integrated into the modern museum.
The construction combined 5,000 bricks from England with locally made materials, marking the first major colonial building project in Australia. This blend of imported and local resources shaped how the colony developed its infrastructure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
