Melbourne Australia

Cook's Cottage

This cottage was constructed in 1755 in the English village of Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, by the parents of Lieut. 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, whose home it was.

The cottage was deconstructed brick by brick and packed into 253 cases and 40 barrels, for shipping on board 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 in 1934. Very few of the items in the house are from the Cook family, but all are representative furnishings of the period.

Location: Fitzroy Garden, Wellington Parade, East Melbourne

Open: daily 9am  4.45pm