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The first Wellington Government House was Colonel William Wakefield's
villa, near the main steps of Parliament Buildings. Although this
residence was taken for use as a hospital for a time in 1848 after
a severe earthquake, there is a record of the first Government House
Ball being held in it, on 10 February 1849. |
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| The first Government
House, Wellington |
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| The second Government House in Wellington, built in
1868, was a large timber mansion in the Italian style which stood
on the site of the present Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings (the
Beehive). This residence was lived in by successive Governors, from
Sir George Bowen to Lord Plunket, until it was taken for use as the
Parliamentary Debating Chamber after the 1907 fire that destroyed
the General Assembly. After that, the house became the Parliamentary
restaurant, Bellamy’s, until it was demolished in 1969. |
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| Wellington's
second Government House |
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As well as the two earlier Government Houses in Wellington, there have
also been four in Auckland. The first two Auckland houses both burnt down
— the large wooden residence built by Hobson was destroyed in 1848,
the second vice-regal residence in 1857 (although some argue that this
house, variously known as St Keven’s, St Kevin’s or Moleskin
Hall, should not be counted as it was only rented for the Governor’s
use). Auckland’s third Government House was completed in 1856, as
part of Auckland’s campaign to retain the status of New Zealand’s
capital. This house was, however, used only sporadically after the seat
of government was moved south permanently in 1865. It was eventually taken
over by the University of Auckland in 1969. This was possible because,
in 1962, Sir Frank and Lady Mappin presented their Epsom property, “Birchlands,”
to the Queen and her representatives. This residence, with its outstanding
gardens, is the present-day Government House, Auckland.
There are two other houses in New Zealand with strong vice-regal links.
There was a Government House in Palmerston North last century, which became
part of Massey University, and is now known as Caccia Birch House.
The other is probably the most famous house in the country — James
Busby’s Residence at Waitangi, better known as the Treaty
House. The vice-regal connection dates from Viscount Bledisloe’s
acquisition of the property in 1932 and subsequent gift of it to the nation.
Successive New Zealand Governors-General have all acted as Chairperson
of the Board of the Waitangi National Trust, the body that administers
Lord Bledisloe’s bequest.
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