Textile Treasures at Government House

Government House in Wellington is the official residence of the Governor General and his family.  Twelve members of our caravan club did a tour through this wonderful old building, which was recently refurbished and earthquake strengthened at a cost of 40 million dollars.  The House is full of all sorts of treasures, lovely old furniture, paintings, silver, ceramics, and although I didn’t spot and quilts, there were many beautiful textiles on display.  Such as this beautiful silk screen in the State Dining Room which dates from the 1860s.

Silk Screen

The Norrie State Dining Room in Government House features a long, extending table from about 1880 and can seat up to 26 guests, and is where State Dinners for visiting Heads of State are often held.  I was particularly interested in the 38 tapestry chairs which were created by branches of the Country Women’s Institute in the 1950s, for the cancelled visit of King George VI.   The design on the back of each chair is the coat of arms of a New Zealand city or borough.  The carver chairs (with arms) are from  the four major cities: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.  Our guide kindly found me the chair stitched in Levin, our new home town, so I could get a photo taken.

Chair with  the coat of arms from Levin

The Blundell Room is characterised by New Zealand’s native Tui, known for its social, chatty nature. The dark oily blue of the Tui’s plumage and the bright yellow Kowhai flower whose nectar the Tui feasts upon, have guided the selection of drapery and upholstery fabrics.  Plump embroidered cushions are arranged on the settees in this room.

Embroidered cushions

The woven kowhai screen had quite a story.  It was being made at the Arts Centre in Christchurch when the massive earthquake struck, and laid buried in the rubble for some time.  It was finally dug out, and was finished in time for when the refurbishments were complete and Government House finally reopened

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Woven screen featuring kowhai blossoms

Government House has an unique tapa cloth dress in the foyer.  The World of Wearable Art collection loans a rotating range of items with a Pacifica theme, we were told.

Tapa cloth dress on loan

Owen took us through the house starting at the Ballroom,  which is used for receptions, concerts, balls, investitures and other award ceremonies.  Most significantly, it is the room where the Prime Minister and his or her Ministers as sworn in as members of the Executive Council by the Governor-General after a General Election.  At one end is the dais on which stand the two thrones. Above these hangs a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, painted by Denis Fildes in 1960.   The two beautiful  Czech crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling were completely disassembled and rewired with energy-efficient bulbs as part of the Conservation Project during the refurbishment.

The Ball Room

Government House and the Reflecting Pool

We had a great tour, and as we walked through this room and that, our guide Owen told us the function of each room.  He pointed out various interesting objects and was a font of knowledge.   Such as the fact that Government House was built on the site of the Mt View Lunatic Asylum, which was dismantled and the patients moved to Porirua Hospital – we didn’t know that before!

Refurbishing Government House

With a $40 million refurbishment programme just completed, Government House is looking magnificent.  Built in 1910, Government House is the official residence of the Governor General, the representative of Queen Elizabeth.  The Conservation Project involved seismic strengthening, removing and replacing the roof, repainting, and upgrading the power, gas, water and telecommunication services.  It was a makeover of epic proportions to our most nationally significant heritage building.  Government House was holding Open Days over the weekend for the public, and we joined the crowds to see the result of the two year refurbishment programme.

   Government House

There were plenty of staff to shepherd the queue through the security measures, and then it was “Welcome to Government House” by a dashing serviceman in blue uniform with gold braiding.  Look at that nice smile - that was a warm welcome indeed!

Welcome to Government House

The Ballroom looked magnificent with two Czech crystal chandeliers hanging from the plaster ceiling, and tables heaped with all sorts of glittering treasures which had been gifted over the years.  There was a display under glass of medals and jewellery.  This wonderful gold collar was crafted in 1997.  It is “The New Zealand Order of Merit Collar”, and is worn by both the Queen and the Governor General, made with with gold koru motifs and enamelled discs.  All these types of items are kept well protected under lock and key in the Beehive (Parliament Buildings), I was told.

NZ Order of Merit Collar

The Ballroom curtains were sumptuous, made from a deep rich red brocade with a raised flocked self pattern, and held back with beautiful curtain ties.  It was a look back in history when the new curtains were chosen, a staff member told me, as the replacements were replicas of what was hanging many years ago.   

Ballroom curtains

The new carpet in the Drawing Room was designed to suit the room and had a New Zealand theme with blue/green tones and a fern pattern.  The patterned navy borders around the edge of the room added an extra attractive detail, and the drapes in this room were a deep navy taffeta, with gold cord tie backs.

The Drawing Room

Many years ago the Country Women's Institute took on the huge task of producing embroidered chair seats and backs.  Thirty eight were stitched, from regions around the country.  Most of these chairs are set around the State Dining Room, with several others dotted along the hallway.  This one was done by the Wellington group.

Embroidered chairs stitched by CWI members

I also came across some embroidered cushions featuring New Zealand native birds.  There was a Tui sitting on a Kowhai branch, and a Yellow Eyed Penguin. 

We were very impressed with what we saw on the Open Day.  The refurbishments have taken two years to complete and Government House is now open once again for official business.