La Trobe's Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Trobe's Cottage |
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La Trobe's Cottage in Kings Domain, Melbourne
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| Etymology | Charles La Trobe |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Architectural style | Pre-separation colonial Georgian |
| Location | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°49′54″S 144°58′34″E / 37.831599°S 144.975983°E |
| Current tenants | National Trust of Australia (Victoria) |
| Completed | 1839 |
| Official name: La Trobe's Cottage | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 13 April 1995 |
| Reference #: | 4729 |
| Type: | Residential buildings; museum |
| Category: | Registered place |
| Builders: | Manning of London; and others |
La Trobe's Cottage is a very old house in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was built in 1839 for Charles La Trobe and his family. Charles La Trobe was the first leader of the Port Phillip District. This area later became the state of Victoria.
Contents
Building a Home: Construction and Importance
This special cottage was built using parts that were made in England. These parts were then shipped to Australia. It was set up on a large piece of land in Jolimont. Today, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is very close to where the cottage first stood.
In 1851, Victoria became a separate colony from New South Wales. La Trobe then became the first Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria. Even though a new Government House was planned, he stayed in his cottage. He lived there with his family until he left for England in 1854.
The cottage is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. This means it is very important for its history, social meaning, and unique design. It is one of the few houses from that time built with pre-made parts. It helps us understand what early homes in Australia were like. You can still see some of La Trobe's family items inside. The dining room, added by La Trobe, is thought to be the oldest part of a building still standing in Melbourne. Its style is called Pre-separation colonial Georgian.
The Cottage's Journey: From Jolimont to Kings Domain
Over the years, the cottage had different owners. In 1914, it belonged to a company called Bedggood and Company. They made boots and had their factory next to the cottage in Jolimont. The cottage was getting old and falling apart. The company wanted to knock it down to make their factory bigger.
But a group called the 'Early Pioneers Association' wanted to save it. They saw it as an important piece of Australian history. They asked the Bedggood family to wait before demolishing it. Important people, including the mayor and the state governor, came to visit the cottage.
The Bedggood family agreed to save some parts of the cottage. They even planned to rebuild a section in their own garden. In 1942, during World War II, parts of the cottage were taken down. This was to make space for an air raid shelter for the factory workers. The family kept some of the front part of the cottage if possible.
Some interesting items from the cottage were sold to help the Red Cross. Bricks from the demolition were turned into special doorstops. These doorstops had a small copper plate saying they were from Victoria's first Governor's home. Other items like windows, doors, and wall sections were also sold.
Before the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, people noticed the cottage looked old and rusty. They hoped it would be cleaned up for the Games. The owner, Horace Bedggood, said it looked like an antique because it was one. He also said architects believed it might fall apart if they tried to change it too much.
A New Home: Relocation and Museum
In December 1963, the cottage was officially opened in a new spot. It was rebuilt in Kings Domain, a park in Melbourne. It was later moved a short distance again. Now, it is located near Dallas Brooks Drive.
Moving the cottage was an early effort to save an important old building. It shows how people tried to preserve history back then. The cottage we see today is mostly a reconstruction. But it does have some original parts, including one wall from the house that was first made in London.
Today, the National Trust of Australia runs the cottage as a museum. It is open to the public regularly. You can visit and learn about early life in Melbourne and Charles La Trobe.
See also
- Charles La Trobe
