Hanging of the Lord Lamington Portrait

Thank you all for joining us for the hanging of this magnificent portrait of Lord Lamington, who was Charles Wallace Alexander Napier Cochrane-Baillie: the Second Baron Lamington – best known to us as the 8^th Governor of Queensland, from 1896 to 1901.

Kaye and I are delighted it has come “home”.

And by home, I do mean Queensland, not necessarily Government House!

Although our Acting State Librarian and Chairman are looking rather obliging – our current loan agreement with the State Library of Queensland is for only 12 months…

I thank very much the Library Foundation for its judicious acquisition of the portrait in London last June – your persistence paid off – and for your generous offer that it hang at Fernberg.  

Lord and Lady Lamington actually lived at Old Government House. Sir William McGregor was the first vice-regal occupant at Fernberg, from 1910. It is nevertheless completely appropriate that the Lamington portrait hang here. Lord Lamington’s significance to Queensland so far surpasses the mojo of his Chef’s creation of the lamington cake, that he was our Governor when the colony of Queensland became the State of Queensland with Federation in 1901.

The portrait hangs prominently here in The Gallery, just off the Drawing and Dining Rooms, to be appreciated by the many thousands who visit each year.

Our next Open Day is in June, but our fellow Queenslanders pass through the House regularly – this week, for example, a Citizenship Ceremony tomorrow, then a reception in the Drawing Room on Thursday.

To all the Library staff, today’s morning tea is very much a personal thank you for bringing much-deserved attention to the places and people so important to our State.

Thank you all.

Kaye and I are delighted to return the wonderful hospitality afforded to me at the Private Viewing of the portrait in December; hospitality that is also a token of our gratitude for your magnificently beneficial work – and surprise surprise, we are this morning offering lamingtons!