From mansion to apartments, Labassa has survived with its Victorian era decoration intact.
Labassa is an outstanding Victorian era mansion with opulent architectural features. Originally called ‘Sylliott Hill’, it was renamed ‘Ontario’ in the 1880s reflecting its new owner Alexander William Robertson’s Canadian heritage. He had the mansion redeveloped in the French Second Empire style by commissioning the German born architect, John A. B. Koch, to remodel the house into a thirty-five roomed mansion. The interior features gilt embossed wallpapers, ornate stained glass and a rare trompe l’oeil ceiling.
Renamed Labassa in 1904 it was home to Melbourne’s elite until 1920 when it was divided into flats. The residents included Hollywood’s first Australian silent film star and other colourful bohemians. Labassa is the most lavish of the few surviving nineteenth century mansions and the magnificently restored interiors of the main rooms again impress all its visitors.
Labassa Lives Journal – the ongoing story for you to read
A reunion of more than 135 former residents, owners and their descendants in 2013 has led to an ongoing research project into Labassa’s remarkable social history during the mid 20th Century.
From 1862-1920 it was the residence of a succession of enterprising and prosperous families. Following those boom years it was divided into apartments and became home to successive waves of residents of more modest means but not necessarily modest ambitions.
Follow the different stories and course of latest research through the Labassa Lives journals written and compiled by historian Vicki Shuttleworth.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Private Lives: Labassa’s Artists
Friday 10 January 2020, 7pm to 9pm
The Private Lives experience begins with refreshments in the Drawing Room followed by a guided tour of those rooms with a particularly strong artistic heritage. Visitors will meet former residents and hear their personal stories of life in the house.
Labassa Open Days 2020
Experience the glorious Labassa Mansion and discover its intriguing social history. Come along and immerse yourself in Labassa’s history at one of our open days and enjoy a tour, or Devonshire tea in our delightful tea rooms.
Melbourne International Millinery Competition
Sunday 16 February 2020, 10.30am to 4pm
The Melbourne International Millinery Competition returns to Labassa with a display of fabulous hats fashioned from recycled materials. Entrants in this year’s competition were invited to design millinery using waste products such as plastic straws, pencil shavings, sardine cans, glossy magazine pages, photo negatives, CDs, empty cotton reels, plastic bags and coffee pods. From junk to joy, waste to wonderful this will be a standout display from the MIMC now in its fourth year.
