Marvellous Melbourne Mansions with Andrew Dixon
Three marvellous mansions in Melbourne: Labassa (Caulfield North), Villa Alba (Kew) and Mandeville Hall (Toorak) are all rare survivors of the late nineteenth century.
Labassa’s lavish interiors feature ornate stained glass, gilt-embossed wallcoverings, and a rare trompe l’oeil ceiling. Villa Alba showcases unique, hand-painted interiors created in 1883/84 by Scottish-trained interior decorators the Paterson Bros. The sumptuous décor of Mandeville Hall was influenced by the Aesthetic movement and commissioned from important London firm Gillow and Co.
Each property has architectural, aesthetic, historical and social significance to the history of Victoria and rich stories to tell. Presenter Andrew Dixon will compare and contrast the key features of these fascinating properties and provide insights into their past, present and future.
The presenter: Andrew Dixon has a long involvement as a volunteer at Villa Alba Museum and Labassa Mansion.
Celebrating 50 years of the Victorian Heritage Register