Cooks' Cottage

Cooks' Cottage (also known as Captain Cook's Cottage) is located in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, Australia. The cottage was constructed in 1755 in the English village of Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, by the parents of Captain James Cook, James and Grace Cook. It is a point of conjecture among historians whether James Cook, the famous navigator, ever lived in the house, but almost certainly he visited his parents at the house.

In 1933 the owner of the cottage decided to sell it with a condition of sale that the building remain in England. She was persuaded to change "England" to "the Empire", and accepted an Australian bid of £800, by Russell Grimwade as opposed to the highest local offer of £300.

The cottage was deconstructed brick by brick and packed into 253 cases and 40 barrels, for shipping onboard the Port Dunedin from Hull. Cuttings from ivy that adorned the house were also taken and planted when the house was re-erected in Melbourne. Grimwade, a notable businessman and philanthropist, donated the house to the people of Victoria for the centenary anniversary of the settlement of Melbourne in October 1934.

The cottage immediately became a popular tourist attraction. In 1978 further restoration work was carried out on the cottage. An English cottage garden has been established around the house, further adding to its period reconstruction. Very few of the items in the house are from the Cook family, but all are representative furnishings from the period.

References

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Stephanie Sng
4 August 2014
Entry a bit pricy at $6. Not much here in winter. Hoopla before exiting was fun though!
Travellerspoint.com
16 April 2013
Significant historical landmark commemorating the voyages of the first European to discover Australia, Captain James Cook.
Next_Studio
21 January 2011
This Melbourne icon commemorates one of the most prolific contributors to Google Maps. From above, the trees in Fitzroy gardens form the shape of the Union Jack!
Elise ❥
24 April 2014
Walk through the Captain's herb garden and try on some clothes from their century!
Kateryna Vorobyova
2 January 2020
Красиво ) жил
Kateryna Vorobyova
2 January 2020
Домик капитана Кука
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Map
218-228 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia Get directions
Wed 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Thu 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Fri 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sat-Sun 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Mon 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

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