A Government House is any residence used by governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and the British Empire. Government Houses serve as the venue for governors' official business, as well as the many receptions and functions hosted by the occupant. Sometimes, the term Government House is used as a metonym for the governor or his office.
While a Government House is the official residence of a viceroy or governor who represents the monarch, many Commonwealth nations now operate without the British monarch as head of state. To avoid confusion, several of these nations refer to their presidential palaces as a State House or President's House.
When King Charles III or a member of the royal family visits a Commonwealth nation, they will often stay at the Government House, which is reported in the Court Circular. This privilege is sometimes extended to other dignitaries, but usually arrangements are made for important non-royal visitors to be accommodated at hotels, or in accommodations provided by their own country's embassy or consulate.
Africa
edit- Bechuanaland, Government House of the Bechuanaland Protectorate
- British East Africa, Government House of Kenya
- Buganda, Government House of the Uganda Protectorate
- Egypt, Consul-General's Residence, Cairo
- Gambia, Government House of Gambia
- Gold Coast, Osu Castle
- Mauritius, Government House of Mauritius, Chateau de Reduit
- Nigeria, Government House of Nigeria
- Northern Rhodesia, Government House of Northern Rhodesia
- Nyasaland, Government House of Nyasaland
- Sierra Leone, Government House of Sierra Leone
- Southern Rhodesia, Government House of Southern Rhodesia
- Sudan, Government House of Sudan
- Tanganyika, Government House of Tanganyika
South Africa
editAmericas
editAtlantic
edit- Bermuda, Government House of Bermuda
- Falkland Islands, Government House of the Falkland Islands
- Saint Helena, Plantation House and The Castle
Canada
edit- Canada, Government Houses in Canada
- Alberta, Government House of Alberta
- British Columbia, Government House of British Columbia
- Manitoba, Government House of Manitoba
- New Brunswick, Government House of New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador, Government House of Newfoundland & Labrador
- Nova Scotia, Government House of Nova Scotia
- Ontario, demolished, now uses suites in the Ontario Legislative Building
- Prince Edward Island, Government House of Prince Edward Island
- Quebec, demolished, now uses suites in the Parliament Building
- Saskatchewan, Government House of Saskatchewan
Caribbean and the West Indies
edit- Anguilla, Government House of Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda, Government House of Antigua & Barbuda
- Bahamas, Government House of The Bahamas
- Barbados, Government House of Barbados, now called the State House after the monarchy was abolished.
- Belize, Government House of British Honduras
- British Virgin Islands, Government House of the British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands, Government House of the Cayman Islands
- Dominica, Government House of Dominica
- Grenada, Government House of Grenada
- Jamaica, King's House
- Montserrat, Government House of Montserrat
- Saint Lucia, Government House of Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Government House of Saint Vincent & The Grenadines
- Saint Kitts and Nevis, Government House of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
- Trinidad and Tobago, Government House of Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands, Government House of Turks & Caicos Islands
South America
editAsia
edit- Burma, Government House, Rangoon
- Ceylon, Queen's House
- Ceylon, Governor's Pavilion
- Ceylon, Queen's Cottage
- Hong Kong, Government House of Hong Kong
- Malaya, Carcosa and King's House (Carcosa Seri Negara)
- Maldives, Government House of Maldives
- Singapore, The Istana, Singapore
British Indian Empire
edit- Residences of the Viceroy of India
Other government residences
- Belvedere Estate, Kolkata
- Flagstaff House, New Delhi, official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army.
- Government House, Darjeeling
- Lalitha Mahal, Palace of the Mysore State (guest house) in Mysore
- Ajmer-Merwara State, Government House of Ajmer-Merwara in Ajmer
- Assam Province, Government House of Assam in Shillong
- Balochistan Province, Government House of Balochistan in Quetta
- Bengal Presidency, Government House of Bengal in Kolkata
- Bombay Presidency, Government House of Bombay in Mumbai
- Central Provinces and Berar, Government House of Central Provinces and Berar in Nagpur
- Coorg State, Government House of Coorg in Kodagu
- Eastern Bengal and Assam Province, Government House of Eastern Bengal and Assam in Dhaka (later popularly known as "Dilkusha Government House")
- Madras Presidency, Guindy Lodge in Chennai
- Bihar Province, Government House of Bihar in Patna
- Northwest Frontier Province, Government House of Northwest Frontier in Peshawar
- Orissa Province, Government House of Orissa in Cuttack
- Punjab Province, Government House of Punjab in Lahore
- Sindh Province, Government House of Sindh in Karachi
- United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, Government House of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh in Lucknow
Middle East
edit- Israel, Palace of the Commissioner , Jerusalem
Europe
edit- Cyprus, Presidential Palace, Nicosia
- Gibraltar, The Convent
- Guernsey, Government House of Guernsey
- Isle of Man, Government House of the Isle of Man
- Jersey, Government House of Jersey
- Malta
Ireland
editPre-independence, the living arrangements of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland varied according to the social calendar:
- The Viceregal Lodge, the "out of season" residence of the Lord Lieutenant, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
- The State Apartments, Dublin Castle. The "Castle season" residence of the Lord Lieutenant.
After 1922, the Viceregal Lodge served as the official residence of the first two Governors-General of the Irish Free State. The Governor of Northern Ireland resided in Hillsborough Castle, which is, since 1973, the official residence of the Northern Ireland Secretary.
Oceania
editAustralia
edit- Australia, Government Houses of Australia
- Canberra, Government House (commonly known as Yarralumla)
- Sydney, Admiralty House
- New South Wales, Government House of New South Wales
- Northern Territory, Government House of Northern Territory
- Queensland, 1st Government House of Queensland, 2nd Government House of Queensland
- South Australia, Government House of South Australia
- Tasmania, Government House of Tasmania
- Victoria, Government House of Victoria
- Western Australia, Government House of Western Australia
New Zealand
editSouth Pacific
edit- Cook Islands, Government House of the Cook Islands
- Fiji, Government House of Fiji
- Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Government House of Gilbert & Ellice Islands
- Nauru, Government House of Nauru
- Niue, Government House of Niue
- Norfolk Island, Government House of Norfolk Island
- Papua New Guinea, Government House of Papua New Guinea
- Pitcairn Islands, Government House of Pitcairn Islands
- Solomon Islands, Government House of Solomon Islands
- Tonga, Government House of Tonga
- Vanuatu, Government House of Vanuatu
- Western Samoa, Government House of Western Samoa