Residence of Sir George Grey, Island of Kawau.

Scarce c.19th hand coloured engraved view of Sir George Grey’s residence on Island of Kawau.

Grey purchased Kawau Island in 1862 during his second term as Governor.  Grey had a keen interest in the natural sciences and in horticulture, and was an enthusiastic collector of plants and animals from around the world. Between 1862 and 1888 he spent a fortune developing Kawau as his island home, planting hundreds of different plant species and introducing many exotic and native animals including wallabies, kookaburras, weka, peacocks, zebras and monkeys.  Sir George Grey enlarged and remodelled the former residence of the mine superintendent, which was built between 1845 and 1847 as his Kawau home. Sir Frederick Thatcher (architect, cleric, and Grey’s private secretary) was responsible for the design.  Known today as Mansion House, it has been in public ownership since 1967 and was extensively restored to its former appearance in 1977-80 after many years of neglect. It has been furnished with a valuable collection of antique furnishings largely donated or loaned to DOC, and is open to the public.

From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher. 

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 914558
State Library New South Wales: REF1/MAV/FM4/9236-9239
State Library Victoria: PCINF AS 12-07-73 P.65

References:
George, H. Australasian Sketcher. Melbourne. 2012 Bib ID 5779434.