whitehall

​Whitehall was built in the early 1900s by Joseph Leon Agostini, a cocoa planter, as the largest private residence along the Maraval Road strip at Queen’s Park West.
Some accounts say it was built in 1904. Others say construction began in 1904 and took three years.
The mansion was originally called Rosenweg (path of roses), and was designed to reflect Agostini’s Corsican heritage (Moorish Mediterranean style) as he was born in Corsica in 1839.
After Agostini’s death in 1906, his family remained in residence until 1910 when, unable to meet mortgage payments, the mortgagee, William Gordon Grant, foreclosed.
The property was then sold to Robert Henderson, an American businessman from Venezuela.
The Henderson family renamed the mansion Whitehall after the coral stone from which it was built.
During the Second World War, with the arrival of the United States Forces to Trinidad, Whitehall was commandeered from the Seigert family, heirs of Robert Henderson, as headquarters of the Air Raid Precaution.
In 1944, the British Council rented the building as a cultural centre.
Later, the Trinidad Central Library, Regional library, National Archives, Government Broadcasting Unit, Trinidad Art Society, and the Cellar Club all rented or occupied space in the building.
From 1949, the building remained empty until 1954, when it was purchased by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1957, Whitehall was occupied by the Pre-Federal Interim Government prior to the establishment of the West Indies Federation in 1958.
In 1963, after the Federation had collapsed, it became the Office of the Prime Minister occupied by Dr. Eric Williams, T&T’s first Prime Minister after Independence.
Restored in 2000, Whitehall continued to be occupied by the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago until 2009.
After some deterioration and $32 million in restoration work, White­hall has been resumed as the home of the Cab­i­net in August 2019. (from Donimic Kalipersad, May 10, 2022)
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Sources: National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago; Josh Lu