- Address: Fitzroy Gardens, Wellington Pde, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia;
- Phone: +61 3 9658 9658;
- Open: 09.00-17.00;
- Cost: adults $ 5, children 2.5 dollars
Cottage Captain James Cook for many years remains one of the most visited attractions of Melbourne . It is noteworthy that the cottage was built in the 18th century, and the city of Melbourne was founded much later, in the 19th. An intriguing beginning, is not it?
The amazing history of the cottage
The cottage was built by the parents of the famous seafarer, James and Grace Cook, in 1755 in the small village of Great Ayton, in North Yorkshire (England). At that time the eldest son of the couple Cook, James, had already grown up and left the parental home, so there is no evidence of his residence in this cottage. However, it is reliably known that he visited his parents.
In 1933, the owner of the cottage put him on sale. The news immediately spread to the editorial offices of newspapers around the world. She was also printed in the newspaper Melbourne Herald, which caught the eye of Australian businessman Russell Grimevde. He invited the Australian government to purchase this house and finance all costs associated with its purchase and transportation for a distance of more than 10,000 miles. Initially, the owner of the cottage had a condition - the house must remain in England. As a result of the negotiations, she agreed to replace the word "England" with the word "Empire" in the treaty. Therefore, when the Australian government offered an amount that exceeded the price of local buyers more than twice, she had no reason to refuse him.
The building was carefully disassembled into bricks and packed into 253 boxes and 40 barrels, followed by transportation to Australia. Together with the cottage was transported ivy cuttings, cut off next to the house and subsequently planted in a new place. Sponsor of the whole operation for the acquisition and transfer of the cottage was Grimevde, who wished to make his city a gift for the centennial anniversary.
Cottage Captain James Cook instantly became a landmark. In 1978 an extensive reconstruction was carried out. The grand opening of the renovated cottage was held on October 27, 1978 with the participation of Australian Governor-General Zelman Cowell. The date was not chosen by chance - this day was exactly 250 years since the birth of Capt. James Cook.
Cottage in our days
The cottage was sold without furniture, so virtually none of the interior items has a direct relationship to the family of the legendary captain. But the whole situation consists of the ancient objects of the era in which the great seafarer lived. In addition to the cottage, you can see the statue of Captain Cook, the portraits of his wife Elizabeth Baths and the entire Cook family.
Conditionally considered the oldest building in Australia.
How to get there?
The cottage is located in Fitzroy Gardens, in the heart of Melbourne. It is convenient to get by city tram No. 48, 71, 75, landmark - stop Lansdowne St. Admission costs: adults $ 5, children (5 - 15 years) $ 2.50.
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