COMO HOUSE, SOUTH YARRA

Como House is a grand colonial Victorian residence overlooking the Yarra River. Its building was begun in 1840, and the home underwent renovations up till 1959, when the last of the Armytage family (the last owners) sold the home and contents to the National Trust of Australia, for considerably less than its true value. The building has been faithfully restored by the National Trust and contains some of the Armytage family’s belongings, the last and longest owners. Genuine architectural features, fittings and objects of everyday life make this a good experience for the person wishing to immerse themselves in Melbourne's Victorian past.

It is unfortunate that photography is not allowed inside the house, for reasons not well stated or understood by the staff there. The extensive well-tended grounds are faithful to 19th-century landscaping principles and include a croquet lawn, vegetable garden, stately grand old trees and magnificent flower walks. Tours of the interior take around an hour. The first is at 10.30am, and then half-hourly until 3.30pm. One is not allowed to walk through the residence without a guide.

This post is part of the Watery Wednesday meme.