Como

Melbourne was a village barely two years old when the site that is now Como was used as a cattle run.
In 1847 Edward Eyre Williams, lawyer and later Judge of the first Supreme Court of Victoria purchased land extending from the Yarra River to Toorak Road.
He had a four roomed residence with separate kitchen built and named it 'Como' after the Italian Lake Como where he had proposed to his wife Jessie (pictured, with Justice Williams).

In 1852 Williams sold Como, with its "noble frontage to the River Yarra," and "most commanding views of the surrounding country that could be desired" to Frederick Dalgety, owner of a firm providing supplies to wool, gold and settlers' trades.
Dalgetty paid £4,200 for the house and grounds, commenting that "I know it was not a bargain, but I foresaw that if I delayed I should not be able to buy except at a higher figure."
Dalgety, however, found Como “infernally dull” and sold it within a year to John Brown, master builder and later a wine and spirits merchant.
It turned out to be a bargain for Dalgety because Brown paid him £12,000 for Como!
Brown had the grounds landscaped and added a second storey to the original four rooms, including a Ball Room overlooking the gardens. The Ball Room, divided by folding doors, can still be seen upstairs. Portraits of John Brown and his wife Helen hang in the Billiard Room.