Located in the middle of Canberra, the national capital city, The Lodge is the main official residence of the Australian Prime Minister and one of the two ministerial houses in the country, with the second being in Sydney. It is a mansion of Georgian Revival style architecture and contains 40 rooms over 18,000 square metres, with an expanse of landscaped gardens. Construction of The Lodge finished in 1927 when created along with the rest of Canberra city.
As an official home of the Prime Minister, The Lodge is not open to members of the public, but its presence in Canberra is a potent symbol of the Australian people and the cultural heritage and significant of the country. Inside, there is a collection of artwork representing the modern culture of Australia, including paintings and crafts created by local designers and national creative figures, like Inge King. Various Prime Ministers and their families have adapted The Lodge over the years and added their personal touches, including a swimming pool and a large garden of native plant life.
Located on the outskirts of Capital Hill, The Lodge is a small detour for those visiting Parliament House, also in the centre of Canberra. It is a 50-minute walk from Canberra train station, but many local buses go in the direction of The Lodge and stop on Melbourne Avenue or the State Circle.
The Lodge was initially a temporary residence, designed by the architect J.S.Taylor, but officials have still failed to build a replacement. Stanley Bruce was the first Prime Minister to live in the residence, moving there in 1927 with his wife, Ethel. Assembled from local materials, the interior was designed by Ruth Lane-Poole.