La Trobe's Cottage
Encyclopedia
La Trobe’s Cottage is a historic cottage in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
, built in 1839 for the first superintendent of the Port Phillip
District of New South Wales
, Charles La Trobe
, and his family. The cottage was constructed out of prefabricated materials imported from England
on 50,000 square metres of land at Jolimont, near where the Melbourne Cricket Ground
now stands. When the colony achieved independence from New South Wales
in 1851, La Trobe, was made the first Lieutenant-governor of Victoria
and reserved from sale the area of Kings Domain as a site for a future Government House
, but remained living with his family in this cottage at Jolimont until their departure for England in 1854.
The house is listed on the Victorian heritage list for its historical, social and architectural significance. It is one of the few surviving examples still standing of prefabricated houses from this period of history and gives an insight into early colonial domestic architecture and living arrangements. Personal effects of La Trobe and his family are still contained in the house. The dining room was added by La Trobe in 1840 and is now one of the oldest surviving structures built in Melbourne. The architectural style is described as Pre-separation colonial Georgian.
In 1963 the cottage was relocated to Kings Domain as an historical landmark, and is now located backing on to Dallas Brooks Drive. As such it represents an early example of conservation of an endangered heritage building, utilising early techniques of heritage preservation. It is now operated as a museum by the National Trust of Australia
, and is regularly open to the public.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, built in 1839 for the first superintendent of the Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
District of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Charles La Trobe
Charles La Trobe
Charles Joseph La Trobe was the first lieutenant-governor of the colony of Victoria .-Early life:La Trobe was born in London, the son of Christian Ignatius Latrobe, a family of Huguenot origin...
, and his family. The cottage was constructed out of prefabricated materials imported from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 50,000 square metres of land at Jolimont, near where the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
now stands. When the colony achieved independence from New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1851, La Trobe, was made the first Lieutenant-governor of Victoria
Governors of Victoria
The Governor of Victoria is the representative in the Australian state of Victoria of its monarch, Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level...
and reserved from sale the area of Kings Domain as a site for a future Government House
Government House, Melbourne
Government House, Melbourne is the office and official residence of the Governor of Victoria. It is set next to the Royal Botanic Gardens and surrounded by Kings Domain in Melbourne. It was the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia from 1901 to 1930...
, but remained living with his family in this cottage at Jolimont until their departure for England in 1854.
The house is listed on the Victorian heritage list for its historical, social and architectural significance. It is one of the few surviving examples still standing of prefabricated houses from this period of history and gives an insight into early colonial domestic architecture and living arrangements. Personal effects of La Trobe and his family are still contained in the house. The dining room was added by La Trobe in 1840 and is now one of the oldest surviving structures built in Melbourne. The architectural style is described as Pre-separation colonial Georgian.
In 1963 the cottage was relocated to Kings Domain as an historical landmark, and is now located backing on to Dallas Brooks Drive. As such it represents an early example of conservation of an endangered heritage building, utilising early techniques of heritage preservation. It is now operated as a museum by the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
, and is regularly open to the public.