Cooks’ Cottage

Originally built in 1755 in Yorkshire, England, Cooks’ Cottage was the home of the parents of Captain James Cook. In 1934, it was painstakingly dismantled, shipped across the world, and reassembled in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens to celebrate Victoria’s centenary. Today, it stands as a charming historical attraction, offering insight into 18th-century English life and the voyages of the famous explorer. The cottage is furnished with period antiques and surrounded by a traditional English cottage garden, featuring herbs and flowers common in the 1700s. Staff dressed in 18th-century costumes provide information about the Cook family and the challenges of early maritime exploration. Visitors can learn about the cottage’s incredible journey from England to Australia and the meticulous process of its reconstruction. Located within the scenic Fitzroy Gardens, Cooks’ Cottage provides a peaceful retreat from the city while connecting Melbourne to its colonial roots and the global legacy of Captain Cook’s monumental maritime achievements and discoveries.