Fountain Court, with the Ballroom as backdrop. The Court is a raised spatial enclosure on the south-west of the State apartments. Its quadrangular shape is formed by a balustraded terrace on two sides, and by the Drawing Room and Ballroom, both of which have access to the Court.

The balustrading on arcade and terrace, the dentillated cornice and frieze, and the rows of urns, pommels and dormer vents all emphasise the horizontal lines of the house. The ornate Magnolia Grandiflora trees, which provide shade for the Ballroom arcade and terrace, were saved from removal by the Governor-General, Lord Forster, in 1921.

The fountain, designed by Wardell and made from Tasmanian sandstone, is situated at the centre of a symmetrical geometric space. Restored for the Sesquicentenary of Victoria in 1984, its new materials blend in with the surrounds.

The area was described as one for 'agreeable evening promenade'. Seating was provided when the Fountain Court was used for garden parties. The Court provides an entertaining space in its own right, or as an additional area during receptions in the Drawing Room and Ballroom.