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 normally open on the Third Sunday of each month (except December), from 10:30am to 4pm with last entry at 3:30pm.
Upcoming Dates:
- Sunday 19 January 2025
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.
Guided house tours and tower tours operate through out the day, and the tea room is open 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Join us for a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour.
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.
Pre-bookings are highly recommended to avoid disappointment. Walk up availability is subject to the numbers already in the house.
What’s On
Louise Lovely’s Labassa
21 March 2025, 6.00pm-7.30pm & 8.00pm-9.30pm
Delve into Miss Lovely’s extraordinary life story as a star of stage and screen and learn what her splash of glamour brought to Labassa.
Beginning with light refreshments in Labassa’s opulent Drawing Room, guests will then attend a talk on the world of Louise Lovely and her cinematic achievements. A guided tour will take guests back to the 1930s, highlighting how the property appeared at that time.
