Seri Melaka, built by the Dutch, was the official residence and office of the Dutch Governor of Melaka when the Dutch ruled Melaka during the 17th century. It is located on top of St. Paul's Hill, next to the ruins of St. Paul's Church. During the period of British rule the building continued to serve as the residence and office of the British governor of Melaka. After Malaya became independent, the venerable old building added another feather to its cap by becoming the first residence of the first governor of Melaka. It remained so until a new official residence and office complex befitting the office of 'Governor of Melaka' was completed at Ayer Keroh in September 1996. The location of the old residence and its limited space was inadequate to meet the demands of the office in a fast developing Melaka State.

The site of the old residence of the Governor of Melaka is believed to be the site where the original palace of the Melaka Malay Sultanate stood. According to references in the 'Hikayat Munshi Abdullah', the palace of the Malay Sultan was known as 'Rumah Raja'.

After independence the residence of the governor was officially referred to as 'Seri Melaka'. The title of 'Governor' was officially changed to the Malay term of 'Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

Governors of Melaka who have stayed in the old Seri Melaka since independence are as follows:

• Tun Leong Yew Koh (31 August 1957 - 30 August 1959)
• Tun Hj. Abd. Malek bin Yusof (31 August 1959 - 30 August 1971)
• Tun Hj. Abd. Aziz bin Hj. Abd. Majid ( 31 August 1971 - 18 May 1975)
• Tun Syed Zahiruddin bin Syed Hassan (19 May 1975 - 3 December 1984)
• Tun Datuk Seri Utama Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud (4 December 1984 - September 1996)

To commemorate the important role that the office of governor plays in the political, economical, social, political and administrative life of the State, the Melaka State Government has gazetted the old Seri Melaka as a historic building to be preserved for posterity. In it is housed the official letter of appointment and other documents, artifacts and exhibits as well as the personal collections of past and present governors.