First residents
Queensland's first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, his wife Lady Diamantina Roma Bowen and their children were the first vice-regal residents of Government House. Governor Bowen was delighted with his new home, calling it 'handsome', 'commodious' and 'beautifully situated'.
Governor Bowen was the first of eleven governors to live in the House over its 48 years of service as a vice-regal residence. In that time four children were born, two governors died, and countless key moments in Queensland's history took place within its walls.
Old Government House is one of Queensland's most important heritage buildings. It holds immense historical significance in terms of the formation and development of the colony, and provides a tangible point of reference for examinations of the social and cultural practices of our past.