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The Cook's Cottage, Melbourne was built in 1755 in an English village called Great Ayton in North Yorkshire by James and Grace Cook - the parents of Captain James Cook. It cannot be said for sure if Captain James Cook stayed at Cook's Cottage but it is known that he did visit his father there in 1772. In 1933, Cook's Cottage was put up for sale with a prerequisite that the building was to remain in England. Later the condition was changed from "England" to the "Empire". This created a lot of interest in Australia and a local scientist, businessman and philanthropist called Russell Grimwade agreed to purchase the Cook's Cottage, Melbourne. He wanted to purchase it for Victoria and later rebuild it in Melbourne. Russell Grimwade bought the house for 800 pounds. The highest offer made for the Cook's Cottage in England was 300 pounds. After some discussion on the purpose and location of the cottage, it was decided that Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne would be its new home. The Cook's Cottage was taken apart brick by brick and shipped down to Australia on board Port Dunedin from Kingston upon Hull. It was brought down in 253 cases and 40 barrels. The dismantled house reached Melbourne in April 1934. To replicate the ivy that surrounded the house in England, cuttings from the trees were brought down to be planted here. One of the doorways at the Cook's Cottage, Melbourne contains the inscription "JGC 1755" (James and Grace Cook). Russell Grimwade gave away the Cook's Cottage to the people of Victoria for the centenary anniversary of the settlement of Melbourne. It took a few months to assemble the house, after which it was opened to the public in the October of the same year. Since the beginning, Cook's Cottage was a favorite with the people of Melbourne. It instantly became one of the most popular Melbourne tourist attractions. Restoration work was again carried out in 1978 wherein an English cottage garden was added around the house. This aided in enhancing the original feel of the house. Today, most of the furnishings present in the Cook's Cottage, Melbourne do not belong to the Cook family but all of them have the essence of the original house back in England. An architectural mini marvel of sorts, make sure that you drop in at the Cook's Cottage, Melbourne when you are sightseeing in Melbourne.
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