Only Melbourne on Twitter Counter.com

Cook's Cottage


Cook's Cottage

Cook's Cottage is a cottage rebuilt in the picturesque Fitzroy Gardens to commemorate the voyages of Captain James Cook, discoverer of Australia.

Cook's Cottage was originally built in 1755 in Great Ayton Yorkshire England and purchased in 1933 by Sir Russell Grimwade as a centenary gift to the people and State of Victoria.

When Melbourne celebrated its centenary in 1934 the cottage was moved, brick by brick from Great Ayrton to Melbourne. It was shipped in 253 crates complete with a ivy cutting which had grown on the original building. Today the house is covered by the ivy.

This wonderful building will give the visitor an idea of life in the 1700's. The Cottage originally stood on an extremity of the village of Great Ayton in the county of Yorkshire. Cook's father who had gone to Great Ayton from Marton to be a "hind" or bailiff on Thomas Skottowe's farm, Airey Holme, either built, rebuilt or bought it in 1755.

From the date 1755 and the initials (those of James and Grace, Cook's mother and father) over the doorway which is apparently older than the rest of the cottage, it would seem that the cottage was rebuilt, and not originally built by Cook's father.

Not improbably, with the bettering of his circumstances, the elder Cook improved a building in which the family had lived since it had settled in Great Ayton, and it is possible that our Captain James Cook lived in the cottage during his boyhood years from 1736 until, in 1745 he left Great Ayton to enter his apprenticeship with William Saunderson, the grocer of Staithes.

Captain James Cook was born on October 17, 1728, the family moved to Great Ayton in 1736, that Cook went to Staithes in 1745, that Cook was resident at Great Ayton and spent sometime with his father in the cottage in the winter of 1771/72 on his return from the Australia voyage.

The original thatched cottage in which Cook was born at Marton-in-Cleveland was demolished in 1786 and so the Great Ayton family cottage is the only concrete historical link we have with Captain Cook's origins.

In 1933, the last owner of the cottage, Mrs. Dixon put the cottage up for sale and it was suggested that it would make an ideal focus piece for Victoria's centenary in 1934. The prominent Melburnian Russell Grimwade agreed to buy the cottage and present it as a gift to the Victorian people. However, a difficulty arose in that the patriotic Mrs. Dixon had stipulated that cottage should remain in Britain. She had rejected offers from wealthy Americans for this reason, but she was persuaded to accede to Victoria's claim on the cottage as Australia was, after all, still "in the Empire".

The cottage was purchased by Russell Grimwade in 1933, dismantled, and shipped to Melbourne in 253 packing cases, arriving April, 1934. As the cottage structure had been altered considerably by a succession of owners following the Cook family's occupation, its Australian assemblers had the task of restoring the cottage as accurately as research and guess work would permit to its mid 18th century appearance.

A site in the Fitzroy Gardens was selected to complement the cottage with its large shady European trees and the construction work was completed in six months. The cottage was handed over to the Lord Mayor, H. Gengoult Smith by Russell Grimwade on the 15th October, 1934 during a centenary ceremony.

The cottage has undergone two restorations. The first was undertaken in the late 1950's and the most recent in 1978, when a thorough effort was made to investigate and restore the building, furnish it with material appropriate to the period, and surround it with a garden of eighteenth century character.

Spelling Anomaly: For some odd reason, the MCC insist on spelling it Cooks' Cottage when the surname is Cook, so regardless of how many of the Cook family lived in the cottage, it would be spelt Cook's (not Cooks'). Maybe there were too many cooks' in the kitchen?

Planning your visit


Opening hours
Monday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm
Cooks' Cottage is not open Christmas Day.
Last visitor admitted 4.45pm.

Days: Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Time: 9am to 5pm



 Wellington Parade,  East Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia | MapMap opens in new browser window
 Telephone: 61 3 9419 4677

Web Links

Melbourne Link Cook's Cottage Link opens in new browser window

Melbourne Link www.cookscottage.com.au

Melbourne Link Fitzroy Gardens

Melbourne Link Captain Cook Society



Also See...


Book OnlineFitzroy Gardens





View all (4) Comments


Jimmy Cook writes:
Posted on 9:59 AM January 17, 2012
Why does M.C.C. insist on calling it Cooks' Cottage when it is Cook's Cottage? The surname was Cook, so 2 or more = Cook's not Cooks'.
observer writes:
Posted on 1:52 PM October 7, 2011
Visited Cook's Cottage yesterday during Seniors' Week. Attentive staff and a very interesting video of Cook's life in the 'shop'. What did disturb the ambiance however was to see the staff dressed up in period costume with modern keys hanging from their belts and mobile phone (?)
Cloe Best writes:
Posted on 6:22 PM June 15, 2011
Very very cute. I'm only in year 5 and went on an excursion today and found this website and loved everything about it! I loved the garden and the house was magnificent! Well Captain Cook I love everything about you and your little house!
Veronica writes:
Posted on 10:33 PM May 31, 2011
Intresting and Cute. The garden is very beautiful. I also like the statue in the garden. The whole house is really cute, intresting and beautiful. VW

View all (4) Comments




Add Your Comments
1200 characters left

BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGEView Listings In Same Topic | View More Listings in East Melbourne  TOP OF THIS PAGE



Tags: cook  ,   cooks

Is this your information or business? | Update This Information

What's On Date Selector
Select a date to see What's On In Melbourne


Check Out..
I Will Week 2013
View I Will Week 2013
From 17-23 June, I Will Week 2013 poses the question, Love it? Will it. To get people thinking about what matters most in their lives – be it their | More..

Education for Productive Ageing Forum
View Education for Productive Ageing Forum
The National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre is is bringing together leading experts in education to discuss the latest ideas and developments in education | More..

Most Viewed Events
 Boxing & Boot Camp Fitness Classes Boxing & Boot Camp Fitness Classes
 Roka Pet Photography Roka Pet Photography
 Separation Proclamation Day Separation Proclamation Day
 Victoria Day Victoria Day
 Victoria Day Awards & Lecture Victoria Day Awards & Lecture
 Business | Cancelled Business | Cancelled
 Millionaire Hot Seat | FREE Tickets Millionaire Hot Seat | FREE Tickets
 The Age | GoodCafe Guide 2013 The Age | GoodCafe Guide 2013
 What's Showing @ IMAX What's Showing @ IMAX
 Bendigo Cup Bendigo Cup

Featured Advertiser
Vintage High Tea @ The Vincent
View Vintage High Tea @ The Vincent
You are cordially invited to The Vincent's Vintage High Tea service. When: Sunday 23rd June 2013 Where: 111 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park Indulge in an afternoon of decadence as we present our ...

Drama Holiday Program for Kids
View Drama Holiday Program for Kids
Perform in The BFG by Roald Dahl A play in Five Days! This drama holiday program is being run by Drama With A Difference - one of Australia's leading independent drama schools that has ...

Make Your Parents Disappear
View Make Your Parents Disappear
A Magic Show for the Whole Family Ever wanted to stay up past your bedtime? Alex and Luke have discovered the perfect way to make it happen. Come and help create the most incredible magic you’ve ...

Editor's Pick
Roka Pet Photography
View Roka Pet Photography
Roka Pet Photography creates stunning artwork that is unique and emotive. With their signature “Outdoor Studio” style and exclusive “Underwater Dog Photography”, Roka caters for the most devoted ...

School Holiday Guide | Winter
View School Holiday Guide | Winter
Our exclusive guide to keep the kids entertained during the Winter School Holidays, running from June 28 to July 15, 2013. Be sure to check in regularly for updates on things to do including ...


What's On Newsletter
Get our free newsletter every Tuesday.
Enter your email address in the box below...

Read | Newsletter This Week
Read This Week In Melbourne
Read This Week's list of Things To Do in Melbourne including all the major events, festivals, exhibitions, markets and family fun happening this week in Melbourne ...Read Here

Hot Comments
 Picture The Word Picture The Word
 Channel 7 | SEVEN Channel 7 | SEVEN
 Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix 2014 Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix 2014
 Footy @ Channel 7 Footy @ Channel 7
 Footy @ Channel 7 Footy @ Channel 7
 Footy @ Channel 7 Footy @ Channel 7
 Footy @ Channel 7 Footy @ Channel 7
 Footy @ Channel 7 Footy @ Channel 7
 Perry Bros Circus Perry Bros Circus
 Footy @ Channel 7 Footy @ Channel 7