Cooks' Cottage

Overview

Cook's Cottage is the oldest building in Australia, the former Yorkshire home of the parents of Captain James Cook, transported brick by brick from Great Ayton, England, and reassembled in Fitzroy Gardens in 1934.

Highlights

• Historic Interior: Furnished rooms re-create 18th-century English cottage life with period-appropriate furniture, tools, and crockery.
• Cook Exhibition: Displays chronicle Captain Cook's voyages of discovery, his mapping of Australia's east coast, and the cottage's remarkable journey to Melbourne.
• Cottage Garden: A small herbaceous garden planted with 18th-century varieties surrounds the cottage.

History

The cottage was built in 1755 in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire. In 1934, Sir Russell Grimwade purchased it and had it dismantled, shipped to Melbourne, and rebuilt in Fitzroy Gardens as a gift to the state of Victoria.

Visitor Tips

• Quick Visit: The cottage is small — 20–30 minutes is sufficient.
• Garden Walk: Combine with a broader stroll through Fitzroy Gardens.
• Duration: 20–30 minutes.