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Cooks' Cottage, also known as Captain Cook's Cottage, is located in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, Australia. The cottage was constructed in 1755 in the English village of Great Ayton,
North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in Northern England.The Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority areas of City of York, York and North Yorkshire (district), North Yorkshire are in Yorkshire and t ...
, by the parents of Captain
James Cook Captain (Royal Navy), Captain James Cook (7 November 1728 – 14 February 1779) was a British Royal Navy officer, explorer, and cartographer famous for his three voyages of exploration to the Pacific and Southern Oceans, conducted between 176 ...
, James and Grace Cook.The Captain Cook Society: Cook's Log, page 212, volume 6, number 3 (1983).
/ref> It is a point of conjecture among historians whether James Cook, who was born in 1728, ever lived in the dwelling, but almost certainly he visited his parents at the house. The building was purchased and brought to Melbourne in 1934 by the Australian philanthropist Sir
Russell Grimwade Sir Wilfrid Russell Grimwade (15 October 1879 – 2 November 1955) was an Australian chemist, botanist, industrialist and philanthropist. He was the son of Frederick Sheppard Grimwade and brother of Harold Grimwade. He was educated at Melbour ...
. The inside of the cottage is styled in the manner of the 18th century, and though very few of the items in the house are originals from the Cook family, all are antiques representative of furnishings of the period. Likewise, the volunteer guides dress in period costume.


History

In 1933, the owner of the cottage decided to sell it with a condition of sale that the building remain in England. She was persuaded to change "England" to "the Empire", and accepted an Australian bid of £800 (£45,314 or A$80,556 in 2023 terms) by
Russell Grimwade Sir Wilfrid Russell Grimwade (15 October 1879 – 2 November 1955) was an Australian chemist, botanist, industrialist and philanthropist. He was the son of Frederick Sheppard Grimwade and brother of Harold Grimwade. He was educated at Melbour ...
, as opposed to the highest local offer of £300 (£16,993 or A$30,209 in 2023 terms). The cottage was deconstructed brick by brick and packed into 253 cases and 40 barrels for shipping on board ''Port Dunedin'' from Hull. Cuttings from ivy that adorned the house were also taken to be planted when the house was re-erected in Melbourne, though it is unclear whether the original plant survived fumigation by the Chief
Quarantine A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals, and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have bee ...
Inspector of Plants for Victoria. Grimwade, a notable businessman and philanthropist, donated the house to the people of Victoria for the centenary anniversary of the settlement of Melbourne in October 1934. The reconstruction project was supervised by Percy Meldrum of Stephenson and Meldrum. The cottage immediately became a popular tourist attraction. In 1978, further restoration work was carried out on the cottage. An English
cottage garden The cottage garden is a distinct garden style that uses informal design, traditional materials, dense plantings, and a mixture of ornamental plants, ornamental and edible plants. English in origin, it depends on grace and charm rather than grandeu ...
has been established around the house, further adding to its period reconstruction.


In popular culture

The cottage features in two scenes of the 2012 movie '' Any Questions for Ben?''.Movie review: Any Questions For Ben?
25 February 2012, 89.9 LightFM, ''... It is great to take note of the locations – Captain Cook's Cottage, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Yarra River...''


Gallery

Cooks' Cottage Inside 01.jpg, Cooks' Cottage Inside 03.jpg, Cooks' Cottage Inside 04.jpg, Cooks' Cottage Inside 05.jpg,


See also

* Stewart Park, Middlesbrough – site of the cottage where Captain James Cook was born.


References


External links

* {{MuseumVictoria James Cook Relocated houses Museums in Melbourne Houses completed in 1755 Houses in Melbourne Historic house museums in Victoria (state) East Melbourne, Victoria Landmarks in Melbourne 1934 establishments in Australia Buildings and structures in the City of Melbourne (LGA) Cottages