From Yorkshire to Melbourne: The Centennial of 1934, the Trans-Hemispheric Rebirth of Cook's Cottage

🏠 Core Overview - Geographical location*: Located in Fitzroy Gardens in the heart of Melbourne, adjacent to Wellington Parade, within walking distance of Parliament House and St. Patrick's Cathedral. - Historical origins: - Originally built in 1755 in Great Eyton Village, Yorkshire, England, it was the residence of the parents of navigator James Cook. - In 1934, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Melbourne, Australian industrialist Sir Russell Grimwade bought the cottage for £800, dismantled it into 253 boxes of building materials (including 40 barrels, a total of 150 tons), and shipped it to Melbourne to rebuild it in its original appearance. - Controversy: Historians speculate that Captain Cook himself may have only visited his relatives here for a short time and did not live here for a long time, but the cottage is still an important witness to his family life. 🏛️Architectural and exhibition features 1. Structural layout: - The main structure consists of three parts: a single-story bungalow on the left (original storage room), a double-story main building in the middle, and an attached living space on the right. The brick and wood structure is matched with a sloping stone wall, covered with ivy transplanted from the original site. - Lintel inscription: The stone beam of the gate retains the initials of Cook's parents "JGC" and the construction year "1755". 2. Internal restoration: - Ground floor: kitchen (with an old-fashioned fireplace), living room, and bedroom where Captain Cook stayed temporarily when he returned home. - Second floor: The parents' bedroom displays 18th-century furniture such as double beds, spinning wheels, and candlesticks, recreating the life scenes of a working family. - Back garden: native British plants are planted, and a historical exploration center is set up to showcase Cook's achievements in navigation. 🌍 *Cultural symbols and experience - Colonial historical symbol: As the only existing 18th-century British native building in Australia, it symbolizes the starting point of Europeans' "discovery" of Australia (Cook landed on the east coast in 1770 and declared it to belong to Britain). - Interactive experience: - Dress up and take photos: The courtyard provides 18th-century costumes, and visitors can take photos as members of the Cook family. - Commemorative postmark: The red postbox can be stamped with an exclusive postmark for postcards, and the cottage pattern was on the 1984 Australian commemorative stamp. - Related attractions: The Spanish greenhouse (Centennial Flower Palace) and fairy tree sculptures in Fitzroy Gardens can be combined to form a half-day historical ecological route. ⏰ Practical information |Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 daily (no admission at 16:45), closed on Christmas Day Tickets: 6.5 Australian dollars for adults, 3.6 Australian dollars for children (5-15 years old), 18.5 Australian dollars for family packages (2 adults and 2 children) | Transportation: Tram 48/71/75 to Jolimont Rd station, or walk 15 minutes from Federation Square | Tour suggestions: The internal tour takes about 30 minutes, and the whole tour combined with the garden takes 1-2 hours; it is easy to take empty shots in the early morning when there are few people | "A brick migrated thousands of miles, and half of Australia's colonial prologue"-Cook's Cottage uses architecture as a boat, carrying memories across the two hemispheres. It is not only a city landmark in Melbourne, but also a silent footnote to the epic of navigation. #summervacay#myitinerary #travel #thingstodo #familytravel