The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Digital photograph of the fireplace in the dining room at Villa Alba. The original 1880s black marble mantel surround is inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- dining room

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Digital photograph of the pattern of plain and decorative hearth tiles in the fireplace of the dining room at Villa Alba. The decorative tiles placed on the left and right of the centrally-placed tile panel depict pink and yellow flowers, set within plain maroon and teal blue rectangular tiles. The tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- dining room

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Digital photograph of the pattern of plain and decorative hearth tiles in the fireplace of the dining room at Villa Alba. The centrally-placed decorative tiles depict a surround of pink and yellow flowers with a corner decoration, once assembled, that features cobalt blue fern leaves, chrysanthemums and foliage, , set within plain maroon and teal blue rectangular tiles. The tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- dining room

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Digital photograph of the pattern of plain hearth tiles in the fireplace of the dining room at Villa Alba. The square majolica plain tiles, positioned under where the original cast iron grill sat, are in shades of brown, green and blue. The tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- dining room

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Digital photograph of the pattern of decorative surround tiles on the left side of the fireplace in the dining room at Villa Alba. The figurative tiles depict young girls surrounded by blossoms. These two figurative tiles are surrounded by rectangular plain majolica tiles in shades of maroon, blues and green. The tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- dining room

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Digital photograph of the pattern of decorative surround tiles on the right side of the fireplace in the dining room at Villa Alba. The figurative tiles depict young girls surrounded by blossoms. These two figurative tiles are surrounded by rectangular plain majolica tiles in shades of maroon, blues and green. The tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- dining room

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Digital photograph of the pattern of decorative surround tiles on the rear panel of the fireplace in the dining room at Villa Alba. The central decorative tiles depict pears and pomegranates. Above and below this central pair are abstract floral tiles in shades of olive green, blue and white. These six decorative tiles are surrounded by rectangular plain majolica tiles in shades of maroon and teal blue. The tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- dining room

The interior decoration of Villa Alba was completed by the interior decorating firm The Paterson Brothers. All of the interior surfaces of the house were painted, often with figurative murals. The frieze in the Dining Room of Villa Alba was completed by Hugh Paterson in 1883-4, and depicts scenes from Walter Scott's novels 'Rob Roy' and 'The Heart of Midlothian.' High quality photographic record of the frieze with annotations by Robyn Riddett9-page annotated photographic catalogue of the Walter Scott frieze in the Dining Room of Villa Alba, Kew, as painted by Hugh Paterson in 1883-1884. The (PDF) file includes the annotated photographs, taken by Trevor Mein for Robyn Riddett's study of the VA interior. The order of the photographs in the document was determined by Robyn Riddett. The scenes, depicted in panels, are taken from two Scott novels: 'Rob Roy' and 'The Heart of Midlothian'.villa alba museum, domestic interiors -- 1880s, hugh paterson, the paterson brothers, walter scott, the heart of midlothian, rob roy

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

Built between 1882 and 1884 for the banker William Greenlaw and with interior decoration by the Paterson Brothers, a number of elements of the the interior design scheme reference Greenlaw’s Scottish origins. Following his death in 1895, from 1897 the house was leased and owned by a succession of owners including the Fripp family, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Mount Royal Hospital before being sold to the Society of Jesus for Xavier College. In 2004 the title was transferred to Villa Alba Museum Inc., and the western section of the garden leased to Xavier College for 99 years. The photograph is one of a series of views of the interior commissioned from the photographer Russell Winnell by the Board of Management of Villa Alba Museum in 2011.villa alba museum, interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, russell winnell photography, dining rooms - 19th century

As part of the National Trust's Australian Heritage Festival 2021, the Kew Historical Society and the Villa Alba Museum collaborated to mount a fashion and design exhibition. The theme of the exhibition took its focus from the year-long program at the Museum featuring the use of flowers in design. The walls and ceilings of the house are notable for their use of floral and narrative painted decoration produced, in the early 1880s, for William and Anna Maria Greenlaw by the Melbourne art decoration firm the Paterson Brothers. The examples of fashion and design from the collection of the Kew Historical Society were located on the ground floor of the house: in the drawing room, dining room, morning room and in the vestibule, or ballroom as it was sometimes described in nineteenth century newspapers. The exhibition was supported by the City of Boroondara through Triennial Operational Grant funding for the Kew Historical Society and the Villa Alba Museum.Series of photographs taken by Mitchell Luo Photography of exhibition pieces in situ at the Villa Alba Museum in May 2021.textiles in bloom, exhibitions — villa alba museum, australian heritage festival 2021

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the fireplace in the main bedroom of Villa Alba. The original 1880s white marble mantel surround has a raised iron and brass cast iron grate with hearth and side tiles by Mintons Ltd. The marble fire surround has being carved in a conventional style and lacks the opulence of what was at the time described as the grandest bedroom in the Colony, whereas the raised grate features decorative brass sun symbols and scrolling on the iron panels. The 'grey monochrome' surround tiles, of which there are eight in situ were produced to design by John Moyr Smith by Mintons Ltd as part of the 'Waverley' series (No, 1607) of which there were twelve subjects (Mintons Catalogue, p. 62/206). The selection conforms to William Greenlaw's desire to symbolically represent Scottish themes in the decoration of the house. It also relates to the mural in the dining room architrave of scenes from the novels of Sir Walter Scott. The three rows of hearth tiles employ a repeated geometric pattern.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba - main bedroom

Built for William and Anna-Maria Greenlaw in the early 1880s, and with interiors decorated by the Paterson Bros, Villa Alba remained in private ownership until 1949. From 1950, the house was owned by a number of institutions. By 1984, the Villa Alba Preservation Society had been formed, and three years later, the Mount Royal Hospital granted a 25-year lease to Kew Council. In 2004, the title to Villa Alba was passed by the Victorian Government to The Villa Alba Museum Incorporated. The Museum, at 44 Walmer Street, Kew, is now a cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration.This is one of a number of historically and aesthetically significant photos of the interiors and exterior of Villa Alba when it was still owned by the Mount Royal Hospital, showing twentieth century accretions and deterioration of the historic fabric of the building. This was a benchmark survey against which future conservation and restoration activities can be measured.In December 1987, Mockridge Stahle & Mitchell Pty Ltd Architects prepared ‘Villa Alba Survey: A Report on the fabric for Mount Royal Hospital’ of which this photograph is a part. Photo of one chimney on the south west corner of the house. The distinctive rendering of the chimney cornets with the welsh slates used on the roof. This chimney services the fireplaces in the dining room and the second and third bedrooms. villa alba museum, conservation photographs, victorian architecture, slate roofs, chimneys

As part of the National Trust's Australian Heritage Festival 2021, the Kew Historical Society and the Villa Alba Museum collaborated to mount a fashion and design exhibition. The theme of the exhibition took its focus from the year-long program at the Museum featuring the use of flowers in design. The walls and ceilings of the house are notable for their use of floral and narrative painted decoration produced, in the early 1880s, for William and Anna Maria Greenlaw by the Melbourne art decoration firm the Paterson Brothers. The examples of fashion and design from the collection of the Kew Historical Society were located on the ground floor of the house: in the drawing room, dining room, morning room and in the vestibule, or ballroom as it was sometimes described in nineteenth century newspapers. The exhibition was supported by the City of Boroondara through Triennial Operational Grant funding for the Kew Historical Society and the Villa Alba Museum.Series of photographs of exhibition pieces in situ at the Villa Alba Museum in May 2021.fashion & design, exhibitions -- kew historical society, exhibitions --- villa alba museum, textiles in bloom, fashion - nineteenth century, fashion -- twentieth century, textiles - nineteenth century, headwear -- twentieth century

The internal decorative scheme of Villa Alba is significant as a fine example of the work of the leading Melbourne decorators, the Paterson Brothers. It is one of their first interiors to depart totally from the use of pre-prepared wallpapers of repetitive designs and it is a rare and comprehensive extant example of their domestic work. The decorative schemes in the ground floor hall, the dining room, the drawing, the vestibule, the stair hall, the upper hall, bedroom 1 and the boudoir are also individually of significance as outstanding examples of Victorian decoration. The frieze in the Dining Room of Villa Alba was painted by Hugh Paterson in 1883-1884, and depicts scenes from Walter Scott's novels 'Rob Roy' and 'The Heart of Midlothian.'High quality photographic record of the Rob Roy section of the frieze with annotations by Robyn Riddett. Photographs were taken by Trevor Mein.Panels 1 to 10 of scenes from Sir Walter Scott's novel 'Rob Roy'. Positioned below the architrave, each panel or lunette is separated by tromp loeil columns. The Rob Roy section of the frieze begins on the north wall, continues above the fireplace on the west wall, and concludes above the bay window on the south wall. [The panels on the east wall depict scenes from Scott's 'The Heart of Midlothian.][The captions on each image were created by Robyn Riddett using the text of each novel as a reference]villa alba museum, domestic interiors -- 1880s, hugh paterson, the paterson brothers, walter scott, rob roy