Old Government House, Gardens Point Peninsula, Brisbane, Queensland

When the time came for building an official residence for the first Governor of Queensland, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, a suitable site was selected in the gardens at the Domain end of George Street.

Tenders, in alternative materials, were invited from three builders and the lowest was accepted. However, the lowest tenderer, realizing that his price was too low, refused to proceed with construction. Joshua Jeays, who was at once architect, builder, and quarry master, was awarded the contract in 1860, for a tender price of £12,000. Sandstone from his Goodna quarry was used for the three main elevations, and Brisbane "porphyry" stone for the rear wall. Later, a further sum of £7,000 was voted for the addition of stables and a guardhouse, which were built under the supervision of Mr John Petrie, a son of the first overseer of works at the Moreton Bay convict settlement.

At that time it was considered Brisbane's stateliest house and it remains a fine piece of architecture. The beautifully proportioned semi-circular portico at the main entrance is particularly distinctive.

Over the years a number of additions were made to the original building, including the roofed piazzas on the northeast and southwest, and the stone porte-cochère, built in 1878. In 1895 the whole building complex was renovated.

Between 1862 and 1910 eight successive Governors lived in Old Government House. When the larger official residence was ready for occupation at Rosalie, the building became Queensland's first University (UQ) and is now preserved as part of the Queensland University of Technology.

(Peter Newell, Unk White 1967, Brisbane Sketchbook)