History

Government House

Second Floor

• Upstairs, notice the frieze surrounding the skylight. The frieze is original, dating back to the construction of the House in 1883. The skylight was constructed in 1968.

• The brass rail up the right side of the Grand Staircase was added at the request of Lady Aikins, the wife of the ninth Lieutenant Governor, complementing the beautiful curved oak bannister on the left.

• The frieze was repaired and repainted in colours of antique white, pale yellow and shades of Wedgwood Blue, in a major renovation of the official residence in 1999. The existing woodwork was freshly painted to enhance new wallcovering on the Second Floor hallway flowing up the Grand Staircase from the Main Floor. The carpet on the Second Floor hallway now reflects the primary blue colour on the frieze surrounding the skylight.