From mansion to tenement, Labassa is a rare survival of nineteenth century splendour
Labassa is an exuberantly decorated high Victorian mansion.
Its vibrant history continued well into the twentieth century as home to a silent movie star, artists and bohemians.
The interiors are a treasure of ornamental decoration with lavish Japanese wallpapers, ornate stained glass and a rare trompe l’oeil ceiling.
Redeveloped in the French Second Empire style by German-born architect, John A. B. Koch, for owner Alexander William Robertson, the house was remodelled in 1889 into a thirty-five roomed mansion with views across Port Philip Bay. The tower is open to small tour groups on open days.
Converted into flats in the 1920s, it functioned as a tenement until 1980. From housing post-war European immigrant families in the 1950s to the psychedelic haze of the 60s and 70s counterculture, Labassa’s diverse history is ready for you to discover.
Labassa Open Days
Labassa is regularly open on the Third Sunday of each month (except December), from 10:30am to 4pm with last entry at 3:30pm.
Tickets can be purchased online and are available approximately one month in advance. Pre-bookings are highly recommended to avoid disappointment. Walk up availability is subject to the numbers already in the house.
Upcoming Dates & Themes:
- Sunday 20 July 2025 (Christmas in July)
- Sunday 17 August 2025
- Sunday 21 September 2025 (Ikebana International Melbourne Annual Exhibition)
- Sunday 19 October 2025 (Travellers, tourists and émigrés)
Although more than 700 people have lived at Labassa, it has miraculously survived with most of its opulent Victorian era decoration intact. Come and experience the complex richness of Labassa’s architectural and human history. Young visitors will have fun tracking down all those non-human “critters” who still live at the mansion.
Join us for a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour. Guided house tours and tower tours operate through out the day, and the tea room is open 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Guided Tour Times:
- 11am: Interior House Tour
- 12pm: ‘Who’s been living in this house?’ Tour (Note: this tour goes upstairs)
- 1pm: Exterior tour
- 2pm: Interior House Tour
- 3pm: Interior House Tour
Tower tours:
- 10:45am, 11.45am, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm & 3.45pm
The tower will be open with a limit of 12 people per tour group. Due to the tower’s narrow, steep steps visitors are advised to wear sensible shoes.
Tea room available:
- 10.30am – 3.30pm
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your intended guided tour time. Capacity will be monitored on the day.
What’s On
Christmas in July
Sunday, 20 July 2025
Open House, 10.30am to 4.00pm
Experience the sights, sounds and tastes of a traditional mid-winter Christmas in the lavish surroundings of Labassa.
We’ve decked the Christmas tree and set the dining table with all the style of a sumptuous 1890 banquet. Join us for a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour. Creative activities for young visitors are available.
Ikebana International Melbourne: Annual Exhibition
Saturday, 20 September 2025: 11am & 1.00pm (Demonstrations)
Sunday, 21 September 2025: 10.30am to 4.00pm (Open Day)
Held over two days, the Ikebana International Melbourne Annual Exhibition is an opportunity to learn more about Japanese traditional floral art. Enjoy over 30 beautiful displays and Ikebana demonstrations sharing more about Labassa’s unique Japanese influences.
This year’s Ikebana theme is Spring and will celebrate the season of new beginnings, growth and renewal.
See the full weekend program here.
Travellers, tourists and émigrés
Sunday, 19 October 2025
Open House, 10.30am to 4.00pm
Labassa’s exuberant décor encapsulates the 19th century passion for exotic travel. Homages to classical Greece, the court of Louis V, Renaissance Italy and Moorish Spain coexist with wallpapers designed for the Emperor of Japan’s palace.
A guided house tour takes visitors on a visual journey through the places and cultures that impressed many of the mansion’s well-travelled residents. Hear the personal stories of those who not only travelled for pleasure or business but those who fled from poverty and persecution.
A unique display from the personal collection of Miss Bessie Leigh Bodey offers a fascinating insight into world travel in the 1920s.
Creative activities for young visitors are available.
