Government House (Prince Edward Island)

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Government House
Government House Charlottetown.gif
Fanningbank
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General information
Architectural stylePalladian Georgian
Town or city1 Terry Fox Drive
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
CountryCanada
Coordinates46°13′52″N 63°08′10″W / 46.231168°N 63.136148°W / 46.231168; -63.136148
Construction started1834
ClientThe King of the United Kingdom
(William IV)
OwnerThe Queen in Right of Prince Edward Island
(Elizabeth II)
Technical details
Structural systemTimber framing
Official nameGovernment House National Historic Site of Canada
Designated1971-05-27
Reference no.578
Official nameGovernment House
TypeProvincial Designated Heritage Place
Designated2001-10-26
Reference no.3243
Official nameGovernment House
TypeHeritage Resource (Charlottetown)
Designated1979-10-26
Reference no.3375

Government House of Prince Edward Island, often referred to as Fanningbank, is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, as well as that in Charlottetown of the Canadian monarch.[1] It stands in the provincial capital at 1 Terry Fox Drive; while the equivalent building in many provinces has a prominent, central place in the capital, the site of Prince Edward Island's Government House is relatively unobtrusive within Charlottetown, giving it more the character of a private home.

History[]

The Fathers of Confederation gathered on the steps of Government House for the Charlottetown Conference, 1864

Government House was constructed between 1832 and 1834 as a viceregal residence for the lieutenant governor of the then British colony of Prince Edward Island. The land, a parcel of 100 acres (0.40 km2) known as Fanning Bank or Fanning's Bank, was in 1789 set aside by Lieutenant Governor Edmund Fanning as Crown land, with the specific stipulation that it be used as the site for the governor's residence. In 1873,[citation needed] approximately 10 acres (40,000 m2) was retained for Government House and its grounds. 40 acres was given to the City of Charlottetown and later became Victoria Park.[citation needed]

Government House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1971.[2]

Use[]

Government House is where members of the Canadian Royal Family and visiting foreign dignitaries are greeted and often stay while in Charlottetown. It is also where numerous royal and viceroyal events take place,[3] such as the bestowing of provincial awards or inductions into the Order of Prince Edward Island,[4] as well as luncheons, dinners, receptions, and speaking engagements. It is also at the royal residence that the lieutenant governor will drop the writs of election, swear-in new members of the Executive Council, and hold audience with her premier.

The property is owned by the Queen in Right of Prince Edward Island and is open to the public for certain periods during the summer.

Architecture and interiors[]

The wood frame building's architectural design is Georgian with echoes of the Palladian tradition. The two axis of the house converge on the main entrance hall, which has doric columns and pilasters and a double switchback stair leading to the second floor. The residence was designed by Yorkshire architect Isaac Smith, who also designed the Island's Colonial Building.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ MacLeod, Kevin S. (2008), A Crown of Maples (PDF) (1 ed.), Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, p. XIV, ISBN 978-0-662-46012-1, retrieved 21 June 2009
  2. ^ Government House. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  3. ^ Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. "History > Government House". Queen's Printer for Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  4. ^ Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. "Photo Gallery > 2009". Queen's Printer for Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
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