Old Government House was one of the first buildings to be protected by heritage legislation in Queensland, and has been extensively restored.
QUT accepted custodianship of the building in 2002 and, after a major restoration project, re-opened it to the public in 2009.
History
Old Government House was constructed between 1860 and 1862.
The building served as the residence for 11 Queensland governors and their families, until in 1909 it was decided that the Governor needed a larger, more impressive residence.
The building was then used as the first campus of the University of Queensland, before becoming part of Queensland Institute of Technology (one of QUT's predecessors).
William Robinson Gallery
Located on the upper floor of Old Government House, the William Robinson Gallery honours the life and work of distinguished Australian contemporary artist and QUT alumnus William Robinson.
Born in Brisbane in 1936, Robinson is best known for his landscapes and portraits. The artist is critically acclaimed for his striking compositions of South East Queensland rainforests and seascapes of northern New South Wales. A two-time winner of two of Australia’s most prestigious art prizes, the Archibald Prize for portraiture and the Wynne Prize for landscape painting, William Robinson’s career as an artist has flourished.
QUT Art Collection holds the largest public collection of Robinson’s work in the world, with more than 320 objects, including his two Archibald-Prize-winning paintings. The Gallery presents annual exhibitions and publications exploring themes in Robinson's work.
Visiting Old Government House
Getting here
Old Government House is located at our Gardens Point campus, next to the City Botanic Gardens and walking distance from the centre of Brisbane and South Bank.
Find our campusOpening hours and prices
Admission is free.
Old Government House, including the William Robinson Gallery, is open to the public Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 2pm. The building is closed on Mondays, Saturdays and some public holidays.
Join a guided tour or navigate through our virtual model of the house.
Food, drink and retail
Pick up a gift for a friend or a souvenir for yourself at our Old Government House gift shop.
Drop in to The Kitchen for fresh, specialty cuisine prepared by one of Brisbane’s best culinary teams that offers both cafe and premium dining experiences.
There is a range of other food and retail outlets at Gardens Point. The campus is also a short walk from extensive dining and shopping options in Brisbane's CBD and across the river at South Bank.
Booking a function
With seven elegant and sophisticated settings to choose from, Old Government House is the perfect location for your wedding, corporate or private function.
While you're at Gardens Point
During your visit to our Gardens Point campus, you'll also be able to enjoy a number of other cultural venues on campus.
- Visit QUT Art Museum, which runs a program of exhibitions by high-profile modern and contemporary artists, as well as free public events.
- Grab tickets to one of the professional or student productions at Gardens Theatre.
- Visit The Cube at our Science and Engineering Centre and interact with one of the world's largest interactive STEM education spaces.