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Government House
Early Government House
The first building known as Government House was a residence
inside the walls of Upper Fort Garry that was occupied by Louis Riel as
President of the Provisional Government of Red River in 1869-70.
Manitoba became the fifth province of Canada in 1870 and the first Lieutenant
Governor, Adams Archibald,
arrived on September 2. He set up temporary quarters at Upper Fort Garry
in Hudson’s Bay House, also known as the McTavish House, instead
of occupying Silver Heights, the residence leased for him five miles from
Winnipeg. However, the following spring, 1871, Archibald relocated to
Silver Heights on the old Portage Trail near the Assiniboine River but
was decidedly unhappy about the size of the house chosen as Government
House and its distance from the capital. The problem was solved later
that year when Silver Heights was sold, necessitating a new official residence.
The Lieutenant Governor relocated to Upper Fort Garry in early 1872 and
established Government House in the residence of the last Governor of
Rupert’s Land, owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company. A third storey
was added in 1873 and Government House remained at Upper Fort Garry until
1883 when the current residence at 10 Kennedy Street was completed.
Back to Government House
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Click on the picture for a larger view.
Government House 1871
Government House 1880
Government House 1881
Government House 1884
Government House 1889
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History
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