Fernberg Quarterly APRIL 2017
A QUARTERLY UPDATE FOR STAFF AND VOLUNTEER GUIDES
IN THIS ISSUE History: When electricity came to Fernberg
Gavel’s new role
The story of Harefield Hospital
The Drawing Room.
Alterations preserve Fernberg’s heritage values New carpets and curtains have been installed, and furniture reupholstered, as part of a recent soft furnishing project to preserve, develop, and protect the heritage values of the Government House estate. The alterations to the public rooms of the House – which play host to thousands of people each year, from State guests to Queenslanders who make remarkable contributions to their communities – represent the most significant changes to the House’s soft furnishings since 1998.
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FERNBERG QUARTERLY • APRIL 2017
Official Secretary’s Welcome Welcome to the first edition of the Fernberg Quarterly for 2017. The Governor and Mrs de Jersey have not long returned from official travel in March to the United Kingdom and Malaysia. Both nations are vitally important trading partners for Queensland, and the Governor was promoting the significant opportunit ies for the State to strengthen trade, business, and cultural ties with them, and all members of the Commonwealth, ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The visit involved a very busy program of engagements, which included the Governor and Mrs de Jersey witnessing at Buckingham Palace the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay on Commonwealth Day, and being received at a private audience with Her Majesty The Queen the following day. While I encourage you to visit the Government House website to view the full details of the
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Governor and Mrs de Jersey's trip, the following page highlights background information relating to the former No. 1 Australian Auxilliary Hospital, just outside of London, which they visited. This site forms a fascinating part of our nation’s history, where many fine Queenslanders have been laid to rest. Back at Fernberg, the daily efforts of the Office of the Governor staff to support the Governor, and preserve and promote the estate's heritage, continue with pleasing results. The soft furnishings project, which is featured in this edition, was a major undertaking for the Office, in conjunction with the Queensland Government. It has ensured that Fernberg will continue to be enjoyed by tens of thousands of Queenslanders in years to come, including at the upcoming Open Day on 3 June 2017. We look forward to seeing many of you there. Air Commodore Mark Gower OAM Official Secretary
GOVERNMENT HOUSE QUEENSLAND
The story of Harefield Hospital On 17 March 2017, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey visited Harefield (St Mary’s) Churchyard outside London to honour the sacrifice of Queenslanders whose service at war cost them their lives. Lest we Forget. The stately manor of Harefield Park House in Middlesex, England, was used as the No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital from December 1914 until January 1919. Originally, it was estimated that the house would accommodate 50 soldiers under winter conditions and 150 during spring and summer. At the height of its operation, Harefield House accommodated over 1,000 beds and had a large nursing and ancillary support staff. Harefield House was donated for use as a home for convalescent wounded soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force by two remarkable expatriate Australians, Charles and Letitia Billyard-Leake. King George V and Queen Mary visited Harefield on 16 August 1915, speaking to every bed-bound patient and later donating playing cards and reading stands. The churchyard at St Mary’s in Harefield contains the graves of 112 Australian soldiers (including one nurse) who were treated at the hospital.
FERNBERG QUARTERLY • APRIL 2017
A number of Queensland soldiers lie at rest in the cemetery, including Private Oscar Jones, Sergeant Charles West, Gunner William Lingley, Driver Joseph Hogarth, Private John McCalla, Driver Patrick Flaherty, Private Charles Luff, Private William Sutherland, Private James McDonald, and Private William Wilkinson.
ABOVE LEFT: The Governor and Mrs de Jersey lay a wreath at St Mary’s Churchyard; ABOVE: Harefield Hospital.
Today, Harefield Hospital is part of the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK. Right through to the present day, an Anzac Day service has been held at St Mary’s Church, which hospital staff, community members, and representatives of the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions attend every year.
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ABOVE: The Small Sitting Room.
RIGHT: The internal staircase.
BELOW: The botanic-patterned design of the new carpet.
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GOVERNMENT HOUSE QUEENSLAND
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Alterations preserve Fernberg’s heritage values
The new botanic-patterned carpets installed in the Drawing Room, Governor’s Study, Dining Room, Foyer, Small Sitting Room and Spouse’s Study – which replace the previous Axminster carpets installed in 1998 – and the new curtains and pelmet coverings retain the colour palette instigated by Lady Wilson during the 1930s of sage, greens, cream, gold lines and ivory. Complementary carpet runners were also installed in the Galley areas behind the Drawing and Dining Rooms, and on the internal staircase. Borders have also been incorporated into the carpeting of certain rooms to reflect the historical use of rugs. The alterations additionally preserve the zonal arrangement and traditional hierarchy of the public rooms, with a wider carpet border in the Drawing Room and intricate embroidered bordering on its curtains, reflecting the room’s important social function. A number of pieces of furniture were also reupholstered, incorporating motifs reflective of Queensland’s rich agricultural heritage.
The Galley area behind the Drawing and Dining Rooms.
FERNBERG QUARTERLY • APRIL 2017
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Several of the original etched-glass lampshades in the house were retained and converted from gas to electricity.
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GOVERNMENT HOUSE QUEENSLAND
The day electricity came to Fernberg A search of archival records in 2016 turned up some interesting documents relating to Fernberg’s history, including information about the day the lights were turned on. The Queensland Government’s decision to lease Fernberg as a temporary Government House in 1910 led to a flurry of activity before the arrival of the first vice-regal resident, Sir William MacGregor. The goods and chattels belonging to former owner, John Stevenson, had to be sold and the house rapidly made habitable for the new Governor – including converting lights from gas to electricity. On 3 March 1910, four days before the Stevenson auction, a firm of consulting engineers, Webb & Weston, submitted a proposal to install wiring for approximately 150 electric lights throughout the house, grounds, and ancillary buildings. They also proposed tapping into power from the electric tram line which then ran along Baroona and Rainworth Roads. (The Brisbane Tramways Company Ltd had purchased the original 1885 horse-drawn tram sys tem and converted it to electric operation in June 1897.) The plan was for Government House to purchase power from the tramways company and use it to run a generator which, in turn, would charge a 100volt battery. The following day, the engineers submitted a revised proposal for less
FERNBERG QUARTERLY • APRIL 2017
than half the cost. It was for only 100 lights and noted that the generator could not be hired from the tramways company for “a reasonable figure”. They also noted that the rapid increase in the number of trams and the length of routes had led to an unreliable power supply and severe voltage fluctuations. Within days of this exchange, the Department of Public Works had called for tenders from “electricians and others” for the installation, and the six tenders were announced on 19 March.
A Brisbane tram from the early 1900s.
Notice of tenders published in the Brisbane Courier on 19 March 1910.
Several of the original etched - glass la m p -sha d e s in the house were retained and converted from gas to electricity.
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Key Stats 29 January 2017 marked two-and-a-half years since the Governor was sworn in. During this time, the following has been achieved: Gavel joining Volunteer Guides for a briefing.
Gavel’s im-paw-tant new role Gavel, the German shepherd pup fostered out to Government House while preparing to become a police dog, had his Queensland Police Service coat hung up for the last time in February and commenced official duties in the newly created position as the Governor’s ViceRegal Dog. Gavel’s first official duty was to greet guests attending a Citizenship Ceremony at Government House. Gavel’s other duties going forward will include welcoming tour groups, attending functions with the Governor and Mrs de Jersey, and being present at formal ceremonies.
❖❖Over 40,000 people through Fernberg’s gates ❖❖649 honours & awards invested ❖❖606 community events attended throughout Queensland ❖❖540 speeches delivered ❖❖115 bills Assented to ❖❖103 Executive meetings
Council
❖❖102 regional centres visited
www.govhouse.qld.gov.au www.facebook.com/QldGovernor @QldGovernor @QldGovernor PAGE 8
GOVERNMENT HOUSE QUEENSLAND
Photography by Best Photos