Rehab - Rest - Recreation
Government House Convalescent Period 1945-1957

This exhibit explores a less talked about period of Government House. The building, grounds and residents of this time were all very different from the previous 54 years.

Government House opened as a convalescent home on August 12, 1946. Healing, therapy, and sports were the three pillars of rehabilitation. The facility was available to veterans with pensions or who had seen wartime service, and who did not need active medical treatment.

This was a time of great change for Government House. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) established rehabilitation centres across the country. By June 1957, sixty-five veterans between the ages of 50 and 90 were living at Government House.