The former home of one of the wealthiest pioneer couples in Melbourne, Como House is a beautiful example of colonial Australian architecture. A visit to the house and gardens is an excellent introduction into colonial life in
Built in 1847 by Edward Eyre Williams for his new wife Jessie Gibbon, the house changed hands several times during its early history. The third owners, John and Helen Brown, developed the beautiful gardens that can now be seen today. When the Armytage family purchased the house in 1864 the property moved into a period of stability that lasted almost one hundred years. Charles and Caroline Armytage raised their ten children at the house, and in 1906 their daughter, Constance, was married there in what was then coined as the “social event of the year.” In 1959 the Armytage family gave the house to the National Trust so that it could be forever preserved as a heritage site. The house remains fully decorated with Artymage family heirlooms, and is known for its collection of antique furniture. The gardens have been meticulously restored, right down the vegetable gardens that once fed the household. A popular place for both casual picnics and upscale weddings, the gardens are a beautiful spot not to be missed.
Visits to the house and gardens are by guided tour only, so be sure to call ahead. The house is a convenient seven minute walk from the
