Government House and Western Australian Society 1829-2010

Jeremy C. Martens

With a lineage stretching back to 1829, Government House and its grounds are among Perth’s most important and iconic historic monuments. This social history of Government House uncovers life stories of the scores of people who have lived and worked in this grand Victorian mansion and who played a crucial role in the creation and maintenance of Western Australia’s social order in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Intriguing stories, such as the ‘murder in the ballroom’ and a young royal’s impressions of the sandy colonial town, are woven into this thoroughly researched account.

The book’s handsome design showcases images from the earliest days of the Swan River settlement, royal visits, and the evolving appearance of Government House over two centuries. It also describes the design, construction and furnishing of the residence, and the cultivation and landscaping of the surrounding domain.

Awards

Shortlisted – 2011 WA Premier’s Book Awards (WA History)
Special Commendation – 2012 Margaret Medcalf Award

Praise for Government House:

The UWA Chair of the History Discipline has produced a magisterial history of Government House. It is a welcome addition to that ever-growing library which comprises those most significant parts of our collective memory.

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

Book details

PUBLICATION DATE: 2011
FORMAT: Paperback
EXTENT: 368 pages
SIZE: 250 x 220 mm
ISBN: 9781742583402
RIGHTS: World
CATEGORY: Art, Photography and Design, Australian Studies, General Non-fiction, Jeremy C Martens,