Lucy Turnbull takes media on rare tour of The Lodge
The gates of The Lodge have been thrown open to give the Australian public a rare glimpse of the Prime Minister’s residence after an almost $10 million refurbishment of the historic place.
The Lodge, on Canberra's Adelaide Avenue, was opened in 1927. Despite most prime ministers living in the Georgian-style home during their time in office, there have been no major renovations to the place.
The refurbishment was first approved in 2013 when Julia Gillard was Prime Minister and then extended during Tony Abbott’s prime ministership.
"I would think with the work that we've done we'll be able to use it for a very long time to come," Deputy Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Elizabeth Kelly, told Macquarie radio.
The Lodge now boast a new roof, kitchen and bathroom, replacement wiring, the removal of asbestos, and a security upgrade. The total cost of the renovations came in at $9.4 million, much more than the initial expectations of just over $3 million.
The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy moved into the residence last weekend to host a reception for 2016 Australians of the Year.
Mrs Turnbull took media on a 20-minute tour of The Lodge this week, an event that has been likened to the White House tour Jackie Kennedy gave to a CBS news crew in 1962.
The Lodge: Lucy Turnbull's tour of the newly renovated Prime Minister's residence. https://t.co/6rm43QpgOj #auspol https://t.co/AUfpfHmMNv
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) January 30, 2016
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