Kirribilli House

Kirribilli House is the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister. The house is located at the far eastern end of Kirribilli Avenue in the suburb of Kirribilli.

History

In 1854, Adolphus Frederic Feez purchased land at Kirribilli Point for 200 pounds. He built the picturesque Gothic style house, now known as Kirribilli House, a twin gabled residence or cottage ornee. The house features steeply pitched roofs, fretwork, bargeboards and bay windows. The property passed through many private hands until it was purchased in 1919 for 10,000 pounds by Arthur Wigram Allen. Allen planned to subdivide the land and after much public agitation the Prime Minister, Billy Hughes, resumed the property in 1920.

The property was used by the staff of the Governor-General until 1930 when it was leased to tenants. In 1956 Kirribilli House was set aside as a residence for the official use of Prime Ministers, when they need to perform official duties and extend official hospitality when in Sydney. The official Prime Ministerial residence is The Lodge, Canberra. Kirribilli House is located on the North Shore of Sydney Harbour, in the suburb of Kirribilli, with impressive views across to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and to the Sydney Opera House. Located beside Kirribilli House is Admiralty House, which is the Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia.

Kirribilli was most prominent recently during the Prime Ministership of John Howard (1996-2007), who departed with tradition and used Kirribilli House as his primary residence.

References

External links

* [http://www.theaustralianafund.org.au/kirribilli.html The Australiana Fund]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200506/s1399040.htm Proposal for an official residence in Melbourne]