La Trobe’s Cottage

La Trobe’s Cottage was the original home of Victoria’s first Lt. Governor, Charles Joseph La Trobe, from 1839 to 1854.

Described by a visitor in 1852 as ‘small but elegantly furnished and standing in spacious grounds’, La Trobe’s Cottage is now a vital part of Victoria’s history. The cottage was made from prefabricated materials brought from England to be the home of La Trobe, his wife Sophie and their children.

As Melbourne’s oldest surviving building, the restored cottage replicates the original prefabricated structure and contains items belonging to La Trobe along with artefacts from the earliest time of Victoria’s settlement.

Combined Tours of La Trobe’s Cottage and Government House are also available on Mondays and Thursdays. The tours provide a tangible link between the pre-gold rush and the legendary Marvellous Melbourne eras, granting a fascinating insight into the city’s origins.