The House Museum

Old Government House is more than just a building. The structure itself is an historical artefact offering a fascinating insight into early colonial life in Queensland, while a range of displays and interactive exhibits further enhance the visitor experience.

The museum entrance – what was once the private drawing room – features a number of interpretive panels, video and multimedia installations covering the design and construction of the House and the stories of those who lived and worked here. A touch-screen kiosk provides biographical information on each of Queensland’s first eleven governors and the key decisions they made affecting the early development of our state.

The Podcast Tour takes you back to certain moments in the life of the House, with audio dramatisations revealing the types of exchanges that would have occurred between the characters of 19th century Queensland. The ghost of Governor Musgrave, who died in the House, guides you through echoes of the past as you walk around the rooms. Pre-loaded podcast players are available for hire from the museum reception, or you can choose to download the tracks from this website prior to visiting.

In the old Servant's Hall there are now four single-user “Virtual House” stations, providing a unique opportunity to explore parts of the House as it would have looked in the year 1900. An interactive visual exhibit shows a digitally restored 1870s panorama photograph of Brisbane stretching from Mt Coot-tha to beyond Kangaroo Point, with clickable hotspots over key points of interest.

The Virtual House exhibit is taken a step further in the old storeroom: a custom-built projection rig casts the images onto a 3½ metre curved screen, creating an immersive visual environment that the user can navigate through the use of a joystick.

Each of these installations complements a physical tour of Old Government House and its surrounding grounds, for an entertaining and educational visitor experience.