Description

Join us for a panel conversation at Victoria’s Government House to celebrate 150 years of one of Australia’s most remarkable historic residences. 

Built between 1872 and 1876 at the height of Melbourne’s gold rush prosperity, Government House stands as a defining example of 19th-century Italianate architecture, renowned for its grandeur, craftsmanship and enduring design. 

Within the historic ballroom, hear from Professor Philip Goad, Associate Professor Ursula de Jong and Dr Soon-Tzu Speechley, moderated by Amy Muir, as they reveal the unique design, construction and purpose of Government House, highlighting its architectural significance within Melbourne’s design landscape.

Together, they’ll explore the building in the context of Melbourne’s rapid expansion during the gold rush years, alongside other Government Houses and institutional buildings across the region.

Panel speakers:

- Professor Philip Goad, Chair of Architecture, University of Melbourne

- Associate Professor Ursula de Jong, Architectural Historian, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University

- Dr Soon-Tzu Speechley, Lecturer Urban and Cultural Heritage, University of Melbourne

- Moderator: Amy Muir, Director at MUIR Architect, Lecturer at RMIT, Board Member of Open House Melbourne and former President of the Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) 

Following the panel, guests are invited to explore the historic State Apartments at Government House.

Presented by Government House and Open House Melbourne as part of Melbourne Design Week.