La Trobes Cottage Melbourne

La Trobe's Cottage, Melbourne was the first Government House built in Victoria in 1839. This pre-fabricated heritage cottage in Melbourne was shipped from England to accompany the first superintendent of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales, Charles La Trobe. Charles La Trobe dwelled with his wife Sophie and their children from 1840 to 1854 in this house.

The La Trobe's Cottage, Melbourne is built on a 50,000 square meters of land at Jolimont, an area close to the presently standing Melbourne Cricket Ground. Charles La Trobe transported the pre-fabricated dwelling materials to Australia in 1939 and constructed the cottage out of them. Charles La Trobe later became the Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria in 1851 and henceforth reserved the sale of King's Domain as a site for the future Government House. He continued to live in this cottage at Jolimont with his family till he left for England in 1854.

The La Trobe's Cottage wears a dilapidated look now, but nevertheless remains a standing example of pre-fabricated house from this period of history and an example of colonial domestic architecture and living arrangements. It is one of the oldest standing structures in Melbourne making it a must see among the Melbourne tourist attractions.

The remains of this dilapidated cottage were however purchased and shifted to the King's Domain, close to the Government House and the Royal Botanical Gardens in 1960's. The La Trobe's Cottage, Melbourne represents an early example of conservation of an endangered heritage building with the use of early techniques of heritage preservation.

This La Trobe's Cottage, in King's Domain contains some original furnishings and other pieces which belonged to La Trobe and his family. This La Trobe's Cottage, Melbourne is now converted into a museum and is open to the public. It has been restored and is operated by the National Trust of Australia.

The La Trobe's Cottage, Australia is one among the few historic homes in Melbourne which was built during the 19th Century. Despite it being lesser in size and grandeur than the other cottages like the Como House and Rippon Lee, the La Trobe's Cottage Melbourne is the oldest of them all. Another similar cottage belonging to that time is the Cooks Cottage, Melbourne. The La Trobe's Cottage, Melbourne is indeed old, with 150 years of existence and hence one of the longest standing structures in Victoria.

The La Trobe's Cottage, Melbourne is open from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Sunday.

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