Anyone who has read history would be acquainted with James Cook. Yes he is the famous British navigator and explorer who was a part of the Royal Navy. He made three voyages to the Pacific Ocean and was the first European to establish contact with Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. So it not a surprise that the Australians were game in bringing his home into their country.
The Cooks cottage is where James Cook lived with his parents in Yorkshire, England. It was built by his parents in 1755. The cottage was brought to Melbourne, Australia in 1934 by Sir Grimwade. The entire house was disintegrated brick by brick and each brick was numbered before packing them into barrels and shipping them to Australia. Hence this is technically the oldest building in the entire Australian continent.
Where is it located?
Fitzroy Gardens. One of the prettiest parts of Melbourne. Once you reach the gardens, You would be amazed as to how vast and green the entire area is; that too in the middle of the city! There are numerous small gardens and the Cook's Cottage is located in midst of the soothing greenery. There are wide roads lined by tall trees and flanked by naturally manicured grass patches.
How to reach: The Melbourne Tram Circle is very well connected to the attractions of the city. The tram drops you right across the road from the Gardens. Visit Yarra Trams for more information on the tram network.
What to do? Well you can laze around for hours or just pay a quick visit for just an hour (if you are on a time crunch) like we did!
The Cooks Cottage has entry fees of 6.7 AUD per person. We of course did not go inside and explored from the exteriors.
You can also dress up in Victorian style inside the cottage and get clicked. That would of course cost you extra.
No matter how quickly you want to wrap up the city tour of Melbourne, make sure to give this place a visit. Firstly because it's rare to see such history in such a modern city like Melbourne. Secondly, it's truly a Victorian cottage (very pretty) which is so rare. Thirdly, the Fitzroy gardens are such an idyllic respite from everyday life.