Como House and Garden

Immerse yourself in the history and luxury that make Como Melbourne’s most glamorous stately home.

Built in 1847, Como House and Garden is an intriguing mix of Australian Regency and classic Italianate architecture.

Como offers a glimpse into the privileged lifestyle of former owners, the Armytage family, who lived there for nearly a century.

The Armytages became famous amongst Melbourne high society and equally famous for their many elegant dances, dinners and receptions. Those elegant dining and reception rooms are still furnished with Armytage family heirlooms and even the servant’s areas, kitchen and laundry have been preserved.

Opening Hours

To view available session times and to book, click here.

Please note the first floor of Como House will be unavailable to tours until 17 April due to essential maintenance works. Normal tours will take place during this time on the ground floor only, kitchen and laundry areas.

From 20 April until 19 May a special tour will be running as part of the Australian Heritage Festival. Find out more.

All National Trust properties including Como House are closed Good Friday.

Como Conditions of Entry

Planning your visit

Address:

Corner Williams Rd & Lechlade Ave,
South Yarra 3141 VIC

Open:

The gardens at Como and the Stables Cafe are open Monday - Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm
House tours run on select dates. To book visit www.trybooking.com/ZPGL

Como Shop Opening hours:
Wednesday - Sunday: 10.30am-3.30pm

Closed:

Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Phone:

Bookings Office 03 9656 9889 (Mon-Fri)

Email:

Entry Fees:

House entry

National Trust members: Free
Adult: $15
Concession: $12
Child (15 years & under): $9
Family (2 adults + 2 children): $35

What we offer:

Gardens

Explore the beautiful gardens of Come House. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm.

Mansion

Take a guided tour of the mansion. To view available session times and to book, click below.

The Stables of Como cafe

Visit one of Melbourne best cafes, The Stables of Como. Enjoy a glass of French champagne surrounded by the National Trust's exquisite gardens.

Shop

Browse a specially curated range of Australian made products inside our National Trust Shop. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10.30am to 3.30pm.

Education programs

Como House is an important Melbourne icon and a wonderful introduction to the past lives of a Melbourne family in the 1890s. The National Trust offers a full day program with professional facilitators who run a variety of activities from Foundation to Yr 6 for groups of between 30 and 60 students.

Visit Como

Purchase tickets online for tours, or call our National Trust team to make a group booking today.

Book your tickets

Weddings

Como House is the perfect setting for your special day.

Venue Hire

Como is available as a location to host your special event.

Photography and filming

Como is a unique location for filming and photography, and has played host to many local and international movies, advertising campaigns and photoshoots.

The History of Como House

The Early Years

Como was built on the land of the Ngaruk Willam clan of the Boon Wurrung people who were part of the five groups who formed the Kulin nation who had lived on the land for thousands of years.
The settlement of Melbourne was a village barely two years old when the site that is now Como was used as a cattle run in 1837.
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).

Como during the 1850s and beyond

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.

From the Armytages to the National Trust

In 1864, wealthy pastoralist Charles Armytage bought Como, originally as a town house for himself and his wife Caroline. The Ballroom wing was added in 1874 and includes an upstairs children's wing.
Charles died in 1876, leaving the property to Caroline.
Following Caroline's death in 1909, the property was sub-divided and, along with the house, put up for auction. Her daughters Ada, Laura, Constance and Leila purchased some land and the house and continued to spend most of their adult lives at Como. Ada purchased another family property, Holm Park at Beaconsfield and lived there.
In 1959 Como and its contents was sold by Constance and Leila (pictured as children in the grounds) to the National Trust.