Government House (New Brunswick)

• Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada

• Architect: James Woolford,

• Style: Palladian Georgian

• Completed in: 1826

Government House of New Brunswick is the official residence of the lieutenant governor of New Brunswick and is located in the west side of downtown Fredericton, along the the St. John River.

The building serves not only as the vice-regal residence but also as an office of the lieutenant governor where he/she performs constitutional duties including issuing of writs of election, swearing in the new members of the Executive Council and holding audiences with the premier. The building is also used to host visiting dignitaries and public engagements.

The current Government House of New Brunswick was constructed in 1826 to house the Governor of the Colony of New Brunswick after the after the earlier residence of the Governor of New Brunswick was burned down in 1825 (the present day lieutenant governor's post is the continuation of governorship post including Governor of New Brunswick before joining the Canadian Confederation in 1867).

Many important meetings and discussions took place in this building including the historic meeting between Governor Arthur Gordon and Premier Albert J. Smith on April 7, 1866, which set the stage for Confederation.

"The Standard of the Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick is flown."

After then-Lieutenant Governor Samuel Leonard Tilley decided in 1890 to relocate the Government House due to high maintenance cost, the building serves its different users including the Institute of Deaf and Dumb, the Canadian Forces and RCMP. In 1988, the building was once again restored and reopened as the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.

It was designed by the English architect John W. Woolford in the Palladian-Georgian style. The distinctive characteristics are shown in the elements such as pedimented windows, paired chimneys and a symmetric façade with projecting wings with semi-circular bays, typical of late 18th-century gentlemen's residences in rural England, all hallmark characteristics of Georgian architecture. The semi-circle portico showcases the Palladian architectural style.

"Pedimented windows and paired chimneys"

"Symmetric façade with semi-circular bays"

"Semi-circular Portico with British Royal Coat of Arms"

"Entrance Hall"

"The chandelier in the entrance hall is one of four original items in the building"

"Reception and Drawing Room"

"Dining Room (the dining table is one of four original items in the building"

"Original lieutenant governor office"

"Music Room"

"Library"

"Conservatory"

Reference:

Government of New Brunswick. (n.d.). Flying Flags in New Brunswick. Retrieved from https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/iga-aig/pdf/FlyingFlagsinNB.pdf

Government of New Brunswick. (n.d.). Government House. Retrieved from https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/lgnb/house.html

Government of New Brunswick. (n.d.). History of Government House. Retrieved from https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/lgnb/house/content/history.html

Historic Places Canada. (n.d.). Government House. Retrieved from https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=7642

Parks Canada History. (n.d.). New Brunswick - A Summary of Its Parks. Retrieved from http://parkscanadahistory.com/park_summaries/nb-e.htm

Parks Canada. (n.d.). Government House National Historic Site of Canada. Retrieved from https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=171&i=44557

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Government House (New Brunswick). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_House_(New_Brunswick)