The state 's longest-serving governor , Sir Roden Cutler , was also reported as saying : This move generated further controversy , as the proclaimed cost savings of over $ 2 million never materialised . The Auditor-General found it cost $ 600,000 more to maintain the building without a resident Governor ; and public attendance decreased ( resident Governors had maintained public access during their tenures ) . This led the group Australians for Constitutional Monarchy to organise a protest , resulting in one of the largest marches in Sydney history : a crowd of 15,000 protested outside Parliament House , blocking Macquarie Street . On the day before Gordon Samuels ' swearing-in , a petition bearing 55,000 signatures was handed in , calling on the Premier to reconsider . During the hiatus of resident governor , Government House was consistently used for vice-regal purposes and remained the official reception space of the state , including as a key meeting venue of APEC Australia 2007 in September 2007 , at which time the political leaders of the 21 member states of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation met
APEC Australia 2007
APEC Australia 2007
Government House, Sydney