Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Government House.

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Overview

View from façade of the building, with one male adult and two children (unidentified)

Historical information

In 1848 Governor Charles Fitzgerald expressed an interest in a summer residence on Rottnest. He resided temporarily in the First Superintendent's House. His successor, Sir Arthur Kennedy authorised funding for the construction of an official residence and works commenced in 1858. Architect Richard Roach Jewell as Superintendent of Public Works and Towns, designed the two-storey building, which was completed and occupied in 1864.
Between 1909 and 1913 Governor Strickland attempted to extend the grounds of the Governor's Residence forward to the sea-front and behind to Government House Lake. This would have prevented the residents of the settlement from walking in front of the Residence to get to the chapel, and so the extension was not permitted. After this the summer-time residence of the Governor was moved to Albany.
The Residence was converted to holiday accommodation in 1919 and in 1953 it opened as a hotel with a liquor license. It has been known variously as the "Rottnest Hotel", "Quokka Arms" and in 2015 "Hotel Rottnest". Today the site is associated with the Samphire resort complex.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-MIL1989.229

Themes

Buildings > Colonial
War and Conflict

Keywords

BUILDINGS

Colonial

Government House

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
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