Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Friday 2 June 1911, page 8


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

TO BE ABOLISHED.

PROPOSED MUSEUM OF ARTS, '

STATE GOVERNMENT, ima.LXQ

SCHEME.

The Icr'o of Government House by his

State to the Federal authorities is shortly

to expire and the State Government is GOD

ordering the advisability of devoting tile bulli i flag to an entirely new life The Acting

I ran her Mr Holman) and the Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) are to confer on "5 matter to-day. The governments plans In regard to what is to be done with the house and grounds are in a nebulous state at the sent but the principal idea is that it should be turned into a National Museum of Arts.

As stated in the Herald yesterday It is proposed to throw open the grounds to the public The Acting Chief Secretary his come to the conclusion that something must be done in the way of extension of the Sydney Hospital In Macquarie street and the only way in which the site can he enlarge! Is by encroaching on the Domain He Is recommending that this shoal i be done but on the understanding that the grounds of Government House will replace what Is 108th the Dom the land by the people

One of the reasons that has influenced the Government in taking this new view 01 Hu future of Sydney Government House Is that the Public Library tins for some time be a considerably troubled for ve int of space Room In which to place thousands of valuable books which are now lying idle In sundry corners owing to the lack of shelf space is required Willi some comparatively slight alterations Government House which is only used at intervals during the year can be

turned into a library The drawing-room and the dining room on the ground floor it is suggested might be thrown into one In Gio upper sion similar alterations could be made so that there would be two large rooms, one above the other on the eastern side of the premises thus making room for a large lion TV To this will be removed the whole of the treasured volumes of the Public Library where they will remain until the National Liberal. Is finished AMion that comes to pass the books will again be transferred to new quarters an 1 the present Government House will become a museum of arts

The removal Is part of a general building; scheme of Col eminent offices The State to day's paying a large sum in rent tovarious places scattered all over Sydney)

The Railway Department for instance Isla Hunter street the Pi bile Service Commis stones are in O Connell street the Agricultural

Department In his office In many places while being down ii at Circular Quay In makeshift premises, Plans are well and I lived for the erection of a block of buildings

in which all these and others will be concentrated

The Public Library stands on the corner of Bridge and Macquarie streets On the cor nor of Bridge and Phillip streets are the Government Printing Offices Between the 1st ter and the Public Corlis Building is a Ta cant piece of land hidden behind a hoarding It is intended to shift the printing office to the Rocks are and with the Public Library removed to Government House A large silo fronting on three streets will thus be available

including the vacant land Preparations for the plans of the buildings to be erected are not, being made and it is expected that it will not be at any very distant date when a commencement will be made On the Macquarie street side of the block there are a number of privately owned residences whether some of those will be resumed as part of the site is not known The Government intends however to accomplish a gathering together in one centre It not on one side of all the offices of the State administration includes the Treasury which is at present Inslgnlflcently housed in Macquarie street,

in the vicinity of the hospital there is a scheme also of noble proportions for provid-ing handsome Government buildings to grace a fine thoroughfare The position the State stands in with regard to the Royal Mint premises is being inquired into with a view to the site being secured the Mint being removed to Dawes Point If this is accomplished King street will probably be run through to the Domain the law courts being built on the site of the Mint The hospital site frontage on the Domain will be moved out 200 feet and similarly land will he made available for grounds for Parliament House and the National

Library

The Federal authorities have been informed of the State Government's Intention to resume Government House on the expiration of the lease-In August-and what will he done to provide a residence in Sydney for the Governor General is not known "Mr Hughes on being, questioned on the subject last night, said he knew nothing about it. He observed that he had come from Melbourne to consult with Mr Holman on the subject of the trans-

ferred properties and other ran term but not In regard to Government House