A historic building with a stone facade and arched windows stands behind a red iron gate and a sign that reads
A mural inside a building depicts a coastal scene with sailboats in green waters and a cloudy sky, flanked by painted columns.
A wall mural features an archway with a wooden door and intricate carvings, surrounded by a scenic painting including hills and bodies of water.
A mural shows a serene landscape with a large ship and small boats in a bay, with a bird perched on a painted balustrade under a sky with scattered clouds.

Villa Alba Museum

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Architect/Designer: Paterson Bros. (decorators) 1884

Description

Villa Alba's decorated interiors were created by leading interior art decorating firm Paterson Bros. in 1884. The interiors of this Italianate mansion are particularly notable for their use of intricate hand-painted and stencilled decoration instead of pre-prepared wallpaper.

The house is surrounded by a recreated heritage garden. From its beginnings as the exclusive realm of three privileged families, the property is now a community asset accessible to all.

Since 1983, the mansion has been sustained by the generous support of the community in Kew (now Boroondara). Volunteers have generously given time and resources to ensure that the house is preserved for the community and that the public have regular opportunities to visit. The Board and supporters are keen to promote community use of the house for exhibitions relating to heritage decoration, contemporary art and design and solo and group exhibitions.

What's On

Come explore the ground floor of the house and recreated heritage garden. There will also be a display on the community activism that saved and maintains the house and timelines of the history of the house.

Images: (1) Exterior from Walmer St. (2) Detail of Vestibule panorama of Edinburgh. (3) Vestibule doorway. (4) Detail of Vestibule panorama of the North Shore of Sydney Harbour. All photos: Andrew Dixon.

Important Details

Tour/event summary information

Saturday 25 July + Sunday 26 July
Open access 10am-4pm

Bookings

No bookings required

Meeting Point

Enter via the main gate on Walmer St, Kew. No food or drink allowed inside. No stiletto heels.

Accessibility

Accessible parking, All-gender bathrooms

There are three steps into the house with a handrail via the front entrance and two steps via the side entrance.

Location

44 Walmer St, Kew VIC 3101

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country

Plan Your Visit

What's on nearby

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Friday 24 July, Saturday 25 July

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