The first home of the legislature was a tavern and lodging house on Duckworth Street owned and operated by a Mrs. Mary Travers.

The official opening of the Colonial Building took place on January 28, 1850, by Governor Le Marchant for the second session of the House's fourth general assembly.

Colonial Building, built in the style of neoclassical was constructed of white limestone specially imported from Little Island, Cork, Ireland.

The facade features a massive portico consisting of six ionic columns supporting an entablature triangular pediment.

One of those was the public protest on April 5, 1932, for maladministration and corruption in government when all the windows were broken, doors smashed and furniture destroyed, which cost $10,000 to repair.

On the night of November 30, 1850, thieves broke in to the Colonial Treasurer's office through a ground floor window and stole £413 from an iron chest belonging to the Savings Bank.

[3][4] The Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development currently has its Provincial Historic Sites of Newfoundland and Labrador offices located in the Colonial Building.