Government House Queensland
The Governor's official 1973 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI is one of the most recognisable vehicles in Queensland and remains in active service more than five decades after arriving at Government House.
Fitted with distinctive crown plates and a bonnet flagstaff for the Governor's Standard, the Phantom VI represents the latest chapter in a long history of Vice-Regal transport at Fernberg. Its arrival in 1973 was so significant that Government House was forced to alter its garage to accommodate the vehicle, creating a visible architectural feature that remains today.
Long before Queensland's Governors arrived at official functions in the iconic Rolls-Royce, the estate relied entirely on horse-drawn coaches. Fernberg was home to bustling stables and a dedicated team of specialised tradesmen, including saddlers, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, farriers, grooms and coach drivers.
The transition from horse to horsepower reflects both changes in technology and the evolution of Government House itself.
1901 | The Perils of the Road
Horse-drawn travel was notoriously unpredictable. During a procession in 1901, a team of horses drawing a lorry swerved and collided with the carriage carrying Lord and Lady Lamington. The incident resulted in a young bystander being crushed in the crowd and requiring urgent treatment by the Ambulance Brigade.
The Post-War Era | The Shift to Motorisation
As the equestrian era came to a close, the stables were permanently transformed into a motor garage. While records of the earliest imported English vehicles have been lost, the post-war years saw Government House develop a preference for Daimler motor vehicles, the marque famously favoured by the British Royal Family.
1967 | The Daimler Limousine
Government House upgraded to a dark blue, 4.5-litre Daimler Automatic Limousine. Featuring power steering and seating for eight passengers, it served as Queensland's flagship vehicle for five years.
1973 | The Arrival of the Phantom VI
The Daimler eventually gave way to the splendid Rolls-Royce Phantom VI that continues to serve as the Governor's official vehicle today.
Its arrival presented an immediate logistical challenge. At almost a metre longer than the existing garage had been designed to accommodate, the Rolls-Royce simply would not fit.
An urgent call was placed to the Department of Works and, before the vehicle arrived, tradesmen had pushed a nine-foot section of the garage's rear wall back by five feet. Those practical alterations remain clearly visible today, providing a lasting reminder of the day Fernberg made room for one of Queensland's most enduring vice-regal symbols.
This story is among the many fascinating pieces of Fernberg's history shared with visitors during events such as Brisbane Open House, helping to bring the estate's rich heritage to life for Queenslanders.
