The Australiana Fund is an independent fundraising organisation responsible for the purchase and maintenance of artworks in the four Official Residences of the Governor-General of Australia

Governor-General of Australia

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...

 and the Prime Minister of Australia

Prime Minister of Australia

The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...

.

History

The Australiana Fund was started in 1978 by Tamie Fraser

Tamie Fraser

Tamie Fraser AO is the wife of Malcolm Fraser, who held office as Prime Minister of Australia between 1975 and 1983. -Early life:...

, wife of the then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser

Malcolm Fraser

John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...

.

Based on an idea for The Americana Fund by Jacqueline Kennedy for the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the White House

White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...

, Mrs. Fraser hoped to furnish the Official Residences of the Governor-General and Prime Minister of Australia with objects of Australian origin and craftsmanship. The Fund's collection policy also allows for the acquisition of items with specific relevance to past Governors-General and Prime Ministers.

Activities

Through the generosity of the Governor-General and the Prime Minister, the Australiana Fund is the only organisation permitted access to open the Residences to the public. This takes place once a year usually on a Sunday, to coincide with Floriade in Canberra and with Spring in Sydney. The Canberra Branch organises public tours of the gardens of Government House, "Yarralumla", every Thursday.

Acquisitions are made without financial assistance from the Australian Government so proceeds from these events allow a continuing programme of new acquisitions as well as the management of the existing collection. The current value of the collection is in excess of A$4 million.

The Australiana Fund aims to enhance the decor of each house with quality artworks, furniture and objects which will represent the best of Australian workmanship from every State and Territory and in years to come will continue to reflect Australian cultural pride and heritage.

Sites

• Government House
  Government House, Canberra
  Government House, Canberra, commonly known as Yarralumla, is the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Yarralumla, in the City of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory....
  
  , Canberra ("Yarralumla")
• The Lodge, Canberra
• Admiralty House
  Admiralty House, Sydney
  Admiralty House is the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Kirribilli, on the northern foreshore of Sydney Harbour . This large, Italianate, sandstone mansion occupies the tip of Kirribilli Point...
  
  , Sydney
• Kirribilli House
  Kirribilli House
  Kirribilli House is the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister. The house is located at the far eastern end of Kirribilli Avenue in the harbourside suburb of Kirribilli...
  
  , Sydney

External links

• The Australiana Fund
• The Prime Minister of Australia
• The Office of the Governor-General of Australia