We'd like to say that we received a special embossed and engraved invitation to tea at Government House with the NT Administrator Her Honour the Honourable Sally Thomas AM, but the reality is that today was the annual Government House Open Day, so we went along for a sticky beak.The first Government House was built on this site in 1871, but this was pretty well destroyed by termites, so a more appropriate building was erected, completed in 1879. Cyclones, Japanese bombing in World War II and just the ravages of time have seen this building renovated numerous times, but at core it is still the 1879 structure. We were allowed to wander through several of the rooms, including the dining room which was all set up for tonight's official banquet and the guest bedroom, complete with huge canopy bed with a set of stairs to climb up onto it! One of the nicest features of the house is the huge verandah that wraps around 3 sides, covered with louvres that allow cool breezes to flow through the building but keep out the sun and wet season rain.
The house is perched on top of a hill with fantastic views across Darwin Harbour. The gardens that cover the hillside are full of winding pathways, hidden nooks and seats taking advantage of the view, which we shared with half of Darwin who had also come along for a look.
Note in the above photo the colour of the sky and John's attire of t-shirt and shorts - now that's what a Winter's day should be like!
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