Government House (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Government House
Government House
	George IV)
Owner	The King in Right of Newfoundland; (Charles III)[citation needed]
Technical details
Structural system	Timber framing and load-bearing masonry
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	Government House National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1982

Government House is the

Newfoundland

.

The first governors of Newfoundland were naval officers who resided on their

Richard Edwards decided it would be more apt for the Governor to live ashore, and thenceforth the governor resided at Fort Townshend, where the first Government House was constructed. Completed in 1781, it was intended to be a summer house for the governors, but remained in constant use until the present structure was finished in 1831. Never intended for winter use, the inhabitants complained of the cold, and Francis Pickmore

even died there in the winter of 1818.

The building plans for Government House were drawn up in

Signal Hill, trimmed with English Portland stone

.

The construction of the new Government House was meant to reflect the proper status of the governor of a province that was now a proper British colony, and a key part of the Empire. The principal rooms for entertaining—a salon, dining room, and ballroom—along with the main entrance hall were laid out in such a manner as to allow for ceremonial processions, and pomp befitting a governor.^[1]

The Lieutenant-Governor's residence is where dignitaries visiting the province are greeted. Inside are also reception rooms, offices and support facilities; the Lieutenant-Governor's office is the site of swearing-in ceremonies for Cabinet ministers, where Royal Assent is granted, and where the Lieutenant-Governor receives the Premier.

The site was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.^[2]