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Click the icon to access resources
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Focus questions
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What do Government House and Sydney Customs House reveal about the influences on life in Australia at the beginning of the 20th century? |
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How do the influences revealed by these places contribute to our understanding of: Federation, Australia’s Constitution, the White Australia policy, past and present meanings of Australian citizenship? |
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What is being preserved in these places; who decided what was important and should be kept; and how is it being done? |
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Click the icon to view maps of these heritage sites
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Government House, Sydney and Sydney Customs House are linked to the public facilities and places bounded by Phillip’s Domain – an area encompassing Circular Quay, Bennelong Point, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, The Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney’s growth as a city – with its harbourside gardens and public spaces – can be traced to planning decisions made in the early years of European settlement. |
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| Federation in 1901 marked important events at Government House and Sydney Customs House. The Custom Service’s roles of immigration control and administration of tariffs were major reasons for Federation. With Federation, Customs became the major revenue raiser for the Commonwealth Government. Federation also saw Government House become the residence of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth when Parliament was not sitting. The first meeting of the Federal Executive Council was held in the house at 4.30 pm on 1 January 1901 and the future British monarch stayed there during the Federation celebrations. |
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Click the icon to view video of these sites
Home to 24 Governors of New South Wales (1856-1901 and 1915-1996) and the first five Governor Generals (1901-1912), Government House symbolised British authority in the colony and was a powerful symbol of State. Sydney Customs House occupies the presumed site of the First Fleet landing and flag-raising – marking the foundation of the colony of New South Wales. It is a symbolic reminder of European colonisation and the importance of maritime activities in the economic survival of the colony. |
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Click the icon to view historical photos
Both places were built in the 1840s. The original Government House (located on the site of the Museum of Sydney) had featured in all the business of Sydney and was central to port activities. The new house site at Bennelong Point – equidistant between the Government Stables (now the Conservatorium of Music) and Fort Macquarie (site of the Sydney Opera House) – was considered remote at the time of its construction. Newspapers, however, carried nothing but praise for the structure, even though the colony was entering a period of economic depression. |
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| Click on the icon on the left to hear Peter Watts on the special nature of Government House as a Historic Houses Trust place |
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Click the icon to view contemporary photos of Customs House
Sydney Customs House was used continuously by the Australian Customs Service for 145 years. In 1990 operations of the Customs Service were relocated. After undergoing refurbishment, Customs House reopened in 1997 as a combined commercial, performance, tourism and museum space. Governor Sinclair was the last Governor to reside at Government House. In 1996 the Historic Houses Trust took over the management of Government House and regular public openings commenced.
Source: NSW State Heritage Inventory |
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