Bought by heritage conservationist Chris Richards during an auction earlier this year, the furniture has taken up permanent residence at High Street’s historic Mansfield function centre.

Along with the desk and three-piece furniture suite, Mr Richards has also bought a 36-seat cabinet table used to discuss some of Australia’s most important pieces of legislation including the post-September 11 national anti-terrorism plan.

“This is an incredible piece of history, so to have it here in Maitland permanently is a real pleasure,” Mr Richards said.

“This is a huge, huge heritage asset for Maitland and it (the furniture) will stay in the building for as long as the building is used as a function centre. And I think it’s wonderful people will have the opportunity to sit at a table where the Queen and heads of state have sat.”

The furniture (circa 1980s) was auctioned during the relocation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Philip Street, Sydney, to nearby Bligh Street.

Mr Richards said the cabinet room table was put in during 1987 so every prime minister from Hawke onwards had used this table.

“So it’s had Hawke, Keating, Howard, Rudd and Gillard,” Mr Richards said.

“When it was built it cost $140,000 and it’s made from Australian hardwood timbers, all handmade. I ended up paying just under $4000 for it and I had a budget for up to $15,000 so I was absolutely over the moon.

“It should have gone into the national estate collection and Canberra has indicated they may want to buy it back again but I don’t know if I’ll go that far.”

Mr Richards – who plans to reopen Mansfield early next year – has also acquired the prime minister’s wash basin and toilet roll holder, now fixtures at Mansfield.

“I believe the Queen washed her hands here once and we’ve just moved it in here and slightly modified it,” he said.