The story of this place
Built between 1799 and 1818, Old Government House in Parramatta is Australia's oldest surviving public building and served as the country residence for early governors including Lachlan Macquarie. During major conservation work in 2011, workers discovered hidden graffiti scratched into the walls by convicts—including a detailed drawing of a soldier that had been covered for nearly 200 years. Governor Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth transformed this simple cottage into a grand Georgian mansion, hosting the colony's first formal balls and official ceremonies. Ten governors lived here before the role moved to Sydney.