It was the site where
responsible government was given Newfoundland in 1855. It was at this building that Newfoundland entered in the
Commission of Government in 1934 and the location of the
Newfoundland National Convention from 1946–1948 then in 1949 when Newfoundland entered into
Confederation with Canada. It was also the site of a number of political riots and disturbances. 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. The
prime minister, Sir
Richard Squires, barely escaped the building at that time. The building was also the site of Newfoundland's first bank robbery, in 1850. Besides the legislative chambers, the Colonial Building contained offices, apartments for the caretaker and legislative librarian, and the Newfoundland Savings Bank. 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. A £100 reward and pardon to accomplices was offered for information leading to an arrest. Two men, James Kavanagh and Michael Whelan, were caught, convicted and most of the money was recovered. Legislative librarian Sarah Perchard eventually received the reward, after petitioning the Governor . On July 28, 1959, the provincial legislature had its last working session in the building before relocating to the newly completed
Confederation Building on Prince Philip Drive. == Restoration==