Government House and La Trobe's Cottage - Combined Tours 2024

Join us on a guided tour of the grand State Rooms of Government House and get an unique insight into the constitutional, ceremonial, international and community engagement duties of the Governor.

Visitors will be guided through the State Apartments which includes the State Hall, State Drawing Room, State Dining Room and the Ball Room to learn about the history of the house and its relevance in today's society.

Also, tour the home of Victoria's first Lt. Governor, Charles Joseph La Trobe from 1839 to 1854. La Trobe's Cottage is Melbourne oldest surviving building. Although described by a visitor in 1852 as “small but elegantly furnished and standing in spacious grounds,” La Trobe’s Cottage is now a vital part of Victoria’s history. The cottage was made from prefabricated materials brought from England to be the home of La Trobe, his wife Sophie and their children. The cottage has been restored and today contains items from the earliest time of Victoria’s settlement.

9:45AM

Guided Tours run on selected Mondays from 10am-11am (arrival by 9.45am) starting at either Government House or La Trobe's Cottage, depending on Government House schedules, but will include both properties. You will be advised 3-7 days prior to the event where the tour will start.

Attendees will not be admitted entry after 9:50am, due to entry procedures and tour runtime.

Location:

GOVERNMENT HOUSE is located on Government House Drive between the King's Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens, south-east of the Melbourne CBD.

Please note: Google will sometimes direct you to a location on Dallas Brookes Drive – you cannot access the grounds from this point, so please ensure you enter ‘Government House Drive’ if using Google maps.

Train: The nearest train station is Flinders Street Railway Station. Walk or catch a tram 1.1km down St. Kilda Road.

Tram: St Kilda Road trams (except No.1 to South Melbourne). Arrive at tram stop 17 (Police Memorial stop). Walk 100m along St Kilda Rd to Government House Drive, then 100m up to the main gates of Government House.

Bus: Enter via Government House Drive and stop at the Gate House adjacent to the main gates. Security staff will register your arrival and provide instructions.

Parking is not available at Government House. If you drive, there is metered parking on Linlithgow and Birdwood Avenues.

The exact location is here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Government+House+Gatehouse/@-37.8262099,144.9711736,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xb7b5b49cce7c127e!8m2!3d-37.8273958!4d144.9744009

LA TROBE’S COTTAGE is located on the corner of Birdwood Avenue and Dallas Brooks Drive, near the Shrine of Remembrance and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, VIC 3004.

Train: Take the train to Flinders Street Station, and then catch a tram (except No.1 to South Melbourne) to Anzac Station, Stop 20. Walk towards the Shrine/Botanic Gardens.

Alternatively, take train to South Yarra Station, then catch a tram to Anzac Station, Stop 20.

Tram: St Kilda Road trams (except No.1 to South Melbourne) to Anzac Station, Stop 20. Then walk towards the Shrine/Botanic Gardens.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• Tickets are not transferable.
• Tickets admit entry to the chosen date and session time only. Please check carefully if your tour starts first at Government House or La Trobe's Cottage. You will be advised 3-7 days prior to the event where the tour will start.

• If a ticketholder's name needs to be changed this must be communicated in writing to the email [email protected] at least 4 days prior to the tour date.

• Attendees whose names are not provided in advance will not be permitted entry into Government House, in line with security protocols.

State Drawing Room - Government House

State Apartments

Host or Publisher National Trust of Australia (Victoria)