Government House

Main façade of Government House
Building
Architectural style	Adamesque Georgian
Structural system	Timber framing and load-bearing masonry
Town	1451 Barrington Street Halifax, Nova Scotia
Country	Canada
Client	The King of the United Kingdom (George III)
Owner	The Queen in Right of Nova Scotia (Elizabeth II)
Coordinates	44°38′36″N 63°34′17″W / 44.643414°N 63.571293°W / 44.643414; -63.571293
Construction
Started	1800

Government House of Nova Scotia is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, as well as that in Halifax of the Canadian monarch,^[1] It stands in the provincial capital at 1451 Barrington Street; unlike other provincial Government Houses in Canada, this gives Nova Scotia's royal residence a prominent urban setting, though it is still surrounded by gardens.

Contents 1 History 2 Use 3 Architecture 4 See also 5 References

[edit] History

Construction of Government House was ordered in 1800 by then Governor Sir John Wentworth to replace the existing Government House that stood on the present location of Province House, with the cornerstone of the former being laid on 1 September of that year. The site had originally been purchased by the Crown as the site of a new colonial legislature, but it was eventually deemed to be too far removed from the capital, and was allocated for use as a viceregal residence instead. The Governor and his family moved into the still incomplete building in 1805.^[2]

It was at Government House that The Marquess of Lorne, accompanied by his wife, Princess Louise, was in 1878 sworn in as Governor General of Canada. The first royal resident was Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), in 1860, who was followed by others such as Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, in 1869 (he would also serve as Governor General); Prince George (later King George V) in 1883 and 1901; Prince Albert in 1913 and again in 1939 as King George VI, along with his wife, Queen Elizabeth, who returned as the Queen Mother in 1967 for the Canadian Centennial and in 1979; their daughters, Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, in 1951 and again in 1959, 1976, and 1994 as Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, in 1958 and 1988; Elizabeth II's children, Prince Andrew in 1985 and Prince Edward in 1987, as well as Prince Charles, Prince of Wales in 1983, accompanied by Diana, Princess of Wales, and in 2009, with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The mansion was also the gathering place for the various ministers of finance attending the 1995 G7 summit in Halifax.^[3]

A fire errupted in the mansion's attic in 1854; however, the blaze was kept under control due to the fireproofing precautions taken during the design and construction of the edifice. For a few years prior to the end of 2008, Government House underwent extensive renovation and restoration. It is presently the oldest viceregal residence in North America.^[2]

[edit] Use

Government House is where the Canadian Royal Family and visiting foreign dignitaries are greeted and often stay while in Halifax. It is also where numerous royal and viceroyal events take place, such as the bestowing of provincial awards or inductions into the Order of Nova Scotia, as well as luncheons, dinners, receptions, and speaking engagements. It is also at the royal residence that the Lieutenant Governor will drop the writs of election, swear-in new members of the Executive Council, and hold audience with her Premier.

The property is owned by the Queen in Right of Nova Scotia and is open to the public.

[edit] Architecture

Government House's overall style is one of Georgian with hints of Adam, elements of the main and rear facades having been taken from a book of house plans published in 1795 by George Richardson, a former employee of Robert and James Adam. Many of the materials, however, were acquired locally; the stone came from Antigonish, Bedford Basin, Cape Breton, Lockeport, Lunenburg, and Pictou, brick from Dartmouth, and pine from the Annapolis Valley, Cornwallis, and Tatamagouche. Imported materials came from New Brunswick, Newfoundland, England, and Scotland; notably, the marble fireplace mantles were made in London. These adorned an interior arranged for both entertaining and state business, including a drawing room, dining room, and ballroom for formal entertaining, as well a suite for the Governor, his family, and servants. At the time, Nova Scotia had no equal in design and decoration.^[2]

[edit] See also

• Government Houses of Canada
• Government Houses of the British Empire

[edit] References

v • d • e   Official residences of Canada Federal Governor General Rideau Hall (also Ottawa residence of the monarch), Ottawa • La Citadelle, Quebec City Prime Minister 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa (residence) • Harrington Lake, Gatineau Park(retreat) Leader of the Opposition Stornoway, Ottawa Speaker of the House The Farm, Gatineau Park Guest house 7 Rideau Gate, Ottawa Provincial Residences of the Lieutenants Governor British Columbia Government House, Victoria Manitoba Government House, Winnipeg New Brunswick Old Government House, Fredericton Nova Scotia Government House, Halifax Prince Edward Island Government House, Charlottetown Newfoundland and Labrador Government House, St. John's Former Government House, Edmonton · Government House, Regina · Government House, Toronto · Government House, Quebec City · The Monklands, Montreal · see: Government Houses in Canada