Centenary of Government House
 

Media advisory: 29 September 2010

 
The Governor-General, Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Susan Satyanand will host a reception on Friday (1 October) at Government House in Wellington to mark the building’s centenary.

As a part of the celebration, to be attended by current and former staff, Sir Anand will unveil a plaque to mark 100 years of occupation by New Zealand’s Governors and Governors-General

The reception will be held in the Ballroom at 10.30am on Friday 1 October and media wishing to attend must contact Public Affairs Manager, Antony Paltridge, by 5pm on Thursday 30 September to register their attendance.

Government House in Wellington was built between 1908 and 1910 and was designed in the office of the Government Architect, John Campbell, the designer of Parliament Buildings, principally by his assistant, Claude Paton.   The first vice-regal resident in Government House in Wellington was Lord Islington who was Governor from 1910 to 1912. 

While Lord Islington took up residence earlier in 1910, October 1 was chosen as the date to mark the centenary as historical records show that court mourning for the late King Edward VII ended on September 30 and the Governor hosted a ministerial dinner in the House on October 1. 

In late 2008, the House closed for a three-year conservation project which is on time and on budget to be completed next year.  Plans are underway for a series of events and open days to allow the public to view the completed Government House.

 For more information about Government House visit: www.gg.govt.nz/government-house

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