The Governor of Victoria is the Queen of England's personal representative in Melbourne, and he or she (currently it's a she) lives in one of Australia's grandest mansions. Built in 1876, Government House sits regally in vast parklands on the fringes of Melbourne's central city district. It's one of Victoria's major cultural and historic assets and "one of the finest examples of 19th century residential architecture in Australia," writes Weekend Notes.
Weekly tours of Government House and nearby La Trobe's Cottage are run by the National Trust on Monday and Thursday mornings, including the State Apartments, Ballroom, State Dining Room, State Drawing Room, Billiard Room and outbuildings like the 19th century kitchen and the Stables.