Located with a commanding view on Dove's Plot behind Emily Beach, Norfolk Island's Government House is in the centre of Norfolk Island’s historic capital Kingston. Originally built in 1804, it was rebuilt in 1828 and is Australasia’s oldest functioning vice-regal residence and the only one located in a World Heritage area.br/When Norfolk Island was abandoned by Governor Macquarie on 28th January 1814 as a penal settlement the town of Kingston ( Sydney as it was then known) was ordered to be burned. The last few soldiers directed a gang of 30 convicts to set the Kingston ablaze and Government House was not spared from being burned.br/Kingston and Norfolk Island was left to feral animals, long grass and forest re-establishing until 1825 when the British again decided that Norfolk Island, in its second settlement, would be home to a another harsh penal institution. The returning military, the 40th (Somersetshire) Regiment, recognising the defensive location of Government House soon built the first, temporary soldier’s barracks at the back of the House. renovation of the house commenced in 1826 and by 1829 it was ready for occupation by Commandant Lt Colonel Morisset and his family. The soldiers moved into their permanent barracks (now the Legislative Assembly building) a little later, and the Morissets became the first permanent residents of the house since 1814.br/With the arrival of the Pitcairner’s in 1856 Norfolk Island was governed as a separate colony under its own Governor, and Government House was specifically kept in Crown ownership.br/However the administration of the island was returned to the NSW Government in 1897 and to Australian Federal control on the 1st July 1914 when Norfolk Island became Australia’s first external territory. br/br/Australia continues to administrate Norfolk Island today, although some Pitcairn descendants argue that this situation is not legal and they continue their efforts toward the goal of full self governance.br/a href="http://yourworldofnorfolk.com.au/government-house-a-living-national-treasure/"; target="_blank"More information/a