Government House splashes $120k on renovations, repairs before Jeannette Young’s arrival
Incoming Governor Jeannette Young will enjoy a $120,000 taxpayer-funded overhaul of Government House before she moves in next week. Here’s what’s getting upgraded.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Incoming Governor Jeannette Young will enjoy a newly renovated kitchen and bathroom as part of a $120,000 overhaul of Government House before she moves in next week.
The Sunday-Mail can reveal the state government will spend up to $120,000 for conservation and refurbishment of heritage elements within the 165-year-old estate at Paddington.
It is understood Dr Young, who will be sworn in as Queensland Governor on November 1, will also enjoy a renovated kitchen and bathroom within her new vice-regal residence.
A spokesman for the Office of the Governor – which manages Government House and serves the Governor – confirmed major renovations and repairs would be undertaken across the estate prior to the arrival of Dr Young and her husband, Professor Graeme Nimmo.
“Government House is a 165-year-old, heritage-listed building which requires regular maintenance and upkeep,” the spokesman said.
“These works are commonly timed for the transition of Governors, to minimise the impact on the Governor’s program and opportunities for Queenslanders to visit the estate.”
Questions to Dr Young, through Queensland Health, about the scope of the bathroom and kitchen refurbishments were referred to the Office of the Governor.
It is understood the personal kitchen within the Government House residence will be refurbished, however Dr Young and Professor Nimmo will also have access to “catering of a five-star standard” and “silver service” from cooks and stewards – according to recent job ads.
The couple’s new home, a sprawling vice-regal estate perched high on the hill at Paddington, features 45 full-time equivalent staff across the executive, professional, administrative and operational departments at the Governor’s service.
Government House costs about $7.2m to run each year, which is entirely covered by Queensland taxpayers.
More than $5.1m was spent on salaries and employee-related expenses last financial year within the Office of the Governor.
In 2015 two lifts, a new porte-cochere and other improvements were installed at the heritage-listed estate to preserve its value and improve access for people with a disability.
Maintenance and refurbishment of the Government House estate is managed in partnership between the Office of the Governor and the Department of Energy and Public Works.
In the past financial year the office’s horticultural staff continued the ongoing control of invasive weeds on the estate and managed the construction of a retaining wall for a rose picking garden.
The Office of the Governor has previously said it was planning a “smooth transition” to Dr Young and an “appropriate farewell” for Governor Paul de Jersey and Kaye de Jersey after their more than seven years in the vice-regal roles.
Dr Young is set to be sworn-in at a lavish ceremony in Parliament House on November 1.
‘Gobsmacked’: Qld rallies behind state’s top cop after cancer diagnosis shock
The great and good of Queensland’s political and policing families have rallied behind Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski following shock news of his cancer diagnosis, offering their support to him and his family.
Why Minister won’t stop Qld police whistleblower ‘witch hunt’
The Premier and his Minister have faced questions about why the Qld Police is on a Fitzgerald-like ‘witch hunt’ to silence whistleblowers in the ranks.