The Governor’s Office and Library Fireplace
Dated 1862
The fireplace measures 1.2 metres high by 1.8 metres wide and has a depth of 28 centimetres. It is the central feature in this room which was once the Library, work space and administrative headquarters for the Governor of Queensland and now acts as the reception for the Old Government House Museum. A white marble mantlepiece has a flat surface at the top and beneath it, and two elaborate marble columns stand on either side, framing the fireplace found within. The fireplace itself is enclosed within a black metal arch that has two columns of decorative tiles that are positioned vertically on the left and right hand sides. There are five tiles stacked one on top of the other in each column, with a cream background and upon each tile the image of a calla lily plant with three flowers and abundant leaves is rendered in brown. The floor in front of the fireplace, otherwise known as the fireplace hearth, is also tiled, with tiles in a detailed geometric pattern, again in cream and brown that complements the tiles featuring the calla lilies. The floor tiles are cordoned off by a short marble perimeter that rises 5 centimetres in height, boxing the fireplace in. On either side of the opening to the fireplace, where the fire would be built and the floral tiles are positioned, stand fireplace tools. On the left-hand side is a steel shovel made from black cast iron with a long handle and brass top. On the right-hand side stands a two-pronged fire poker made from the same material, perhaps once used to stoke a fire burning within.
This fireplace is one of features of the House that is original, which also includes the flooring, central staircase and large cedar doors found throughout. This marble fireplace is the last remaining of the four installed in 1862 in the front section of the House. The Colonial Architect Charles Tiffin ordered the marble for the mantle, and the price of 30 pounds as listed on 8 October 1861 indicates that it was expensive and as such likely to be Italian marble in origin. The metal grate and tiles found on the hearth were added in early 1896 as one part of a more general sprucing of the House in preparation for the arrival of Lord and Lady Lamington in April of that same year. The Calla Lily tiles incorporated are known as single colour brown transferware tiles and likely to have originally come from England for use in the décor of the House.