La Trobe's Cottage is a historic cottage in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, built in 1839 by the first superintendent of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales, Charles La Trobe, and his family.

Construction and significance

The cottage was constructed out of prefabricated materials imported from England on of land at Jolimont, near where the Melbourne Cricket Ground now stands. 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. In June of that year, the Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil published an illustration based on Sharp's photograph and noted that he was a former owner of the cottage which 'still stands'. They published another illustration based on a photograph provided by its then owner H. W. Patton and repeated Sharps' contention that the cottage had also been the home of Charles Perry, the first Anglican bishop of Melbourne, and Hugh Childers, a Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom. This different cottage 'at the corner of Wellington-parade and Jolimont-terrace' had also been the home of Childers. It was proposed that the cottage, which was in an 'advanced state of decay', be demolished to extend the Bedggood premises. During the visit there were a number of speakers about the cottage and its history and the governor was reported as saying that 'Old landmarks disappeared with the advance of a progressive city' but he hoped 'some kind of mural record should be placed' on the boot factory extension. Daniel Bedggood, 'promised the Government whatever portion of the building that was desired as a relic' and 'stated his intention of erecting a building in his own garden with the remaining material'.

thumb|left|alt=Photograph of Edward La Trobe Bateman|[[Edward La Trobe Bateman's early sketches of the cottage were donated to the state by Charles La Trobe's grandchildren.]]

Pencil sketches of the cottage and its grounds from the era when the La Trobe family were in residence were donated by Charles La Trobe's grandchildren to the state of Victoria in 1924. Later that year The Argus newspaper reproduced one of Bateman's sketches adding that 'until recently the remains' of the cottage 'were still standing at the rear of the factory of Bedggood and Co. Pty. Ltd., in Agnes Street'. Two watercolours 'dated 1842 or 1844' depictions of the cottage were also donated by another La Trobe grandchild in 1934.

Thunderstorms were reported to have damaged the cottage in 1935 which was 'already weakened by senile decay in its ninety-fifth year'. Rain had 'severely damaged the ceiling of the old banqueting hall' Contractors had concerns 'another heavy storm might send the tall brick chimney crashing down'. A further reader reply, from a correspondent of Charles La Trobe's daughter Eleanor, wrote that when 'Bedggood bought Governor La Trobe's house he wrote me and told me he had framed a letter he received from Miss La Trobe and attached it to the cottage'.

thumb|right|200px|La Trobe's Cottage (back side)

In March, 1942 it was reported that the cottage was to be demolished to make way for an air raid shelter that would accommodate 350 people. The following month 'a portion of the cottage' was 'taken down'. Mr. H.L. Bedggood said that the family would demolish the cottage 'with regret' to build the air shelter for its factory workers but it was a choice between destroying the 'old building' or the more recently added 19th century garden. In reply, the following day, Horace Bedggood was quoted as saying:

<blockquote> 'We have left the building there as an antique for people to see and naturally it looks like an antique... Architects tell us it would fall down if we interfered with it too much.'</blockquote>

thumb|right|200px|Kitchen and servants quarters

Relocation

In December 1963, the rebuilt cottage was officially opened at its new location in Kings Domain, as an historical landmark. It was later moved again, a short distance, and is now located backing on to Dallas Brooks Drive.

See also

  • Charles La Trobe

References

  • Friends of La Trobe's Cottage
  • La Trobe's Cottage National Trust
  • Disability information