Villa Alba, a two-storeyed residence with rendered masonry walls and a slate roof, stands opposite Studley Park, overlooking the Yarra River. It is believed to have been first built before 1863, but substantially remodelled and enlarged in about 1882-83 for William Greenlaw, the Manager of the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Although the house and its tower must always have been a landmark in the area and the architecture is unusual, almost Norman in style, it is the interior which is the most remarkable feature of Villa Alba. (Source: VHD)Small black and white photographic positive of Vila Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew in 1981 when the original 1880s house was surrounded by hospital wards. The latter had been built by the Royal Women's Hospital after it acquired the site in 1950. The site wa Slater transferred to the Mount Royal Hospital before being purchased and converted into a museum of interior design.Verso: "Villa Alba 1981"villa alba -- 44 walmer street -- kew (vic.), mount royal hospital, henry pride wing

The Villa Alba Restoration Fund was established by the Villa Alba Preservation Committee. As part of a fundraising activity, they commissioned Suzie Dickson to photograph six panels in the Upper Hall that had been uncovered to date by conservators. The dado panels extend along the entire upper hall. Many are still to be restored. These images were used to create a series of six large postcards. Jonquils - No. 1 in a series of postcards of the dado panels to the Upper Hall, Villa Alba Museum, Kew.villa alba museum - kew (vic), interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, signor rizzi - artist, villa alba preservation committee

The Villa Alba Restoration Fund was established by the Villa Alba Preservation Committee. As part of a fundraising activity, they commissioned Suzie Dickson to photograph six panels in the Upper Hall that had been uncovered to date by conservators. The dado panels extend along the entire upper hall. Many are still to be restored.Roses - No. 2 in a series of dado panels to the Upper Hall, Villa Alba Museum, Kew.villa alba museum - kew (vic), interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, signor rizzi - artist, villa alba preservation committee

The Villa Alba Restoration Fund was established by the Villa Alba Preservation Committee. As part of a fundraising activity, they commissioned Suzie Dickson to photograph six panels in the Upper Hall that had been uncovered to date by conservators. The dado panels extend along the entire upper hall. Many are still to be restored.Wildflowers - No. 3 in a series of dado panels to the Upper Hall, Villa Alba Museum, Kew.villa alba museum - kew (vic), interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, signor rizzi - artist, villa alba preservation committee

The Villa Alba Restoration Fund was established by the Villa Alba Preservation Committee. As part of a fundraising activity, they commissioned Suzie Dickson to photograph six panels in the Upper Hall that had been uncovered to date by conservators. The dado panels extend along the entire upper hall. Many are still to be restored.Daffodils - No. 4 in a series of dado panels to the Upper Hall, Villa Alba Museum, Kew.villa alba museum - kew (vic), interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, signor rizzi - artist, villa alba preservation committee

The Villa Alba Restoration Fund was established by the Villa Alba Preservation Committee. As part of a fundraising activity, they commissioned Suzie Dickson to photograph six panels in the Upper Hall that had been uncovered to date by conservators. The dado panels extend along the entire upper hall. Many are still to be restored.Lilies - No. 5 in a series of dado panels to the Upper Hall, Villa Alba Museum, Kew.villa alba museum - kew (vic), interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, signor rizzi - artist, villa alba preservation committee

The Villa Alba Restoration Fund was established by the Villa Alba Preservation Committee. As part of a fundraising activity, they commissioned Suzie Dickson to photograph six panels in the Upper Hall that had been uncovered to date by conservators. The dado panels extend along the entire upper hall. Many are still to be restored.Peonies - No. 6 in a series of dado panels to the Upper Hall, Villa Alba Museum, Kew.villa alba museum - kew (vic), interior design - 19th century, paterson brothers - decorators - melbourne, signor rizzi - artist, villa alba preservation committee

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. Digital copy of a olour 35mm slide, framed in a plastic mount, of the entrance to Villa Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew, 3101, in 2001. The transparency shows the grey rendered entry, viewed from the east, looking west. At this stage a wing of the hospital abutted the portico. The hospital wing was subsequently demolished and a Victorian era garden reinstated based on an original plan."Villa Alba 2001 / Les Littlechild photo"villa alba museum, mount royal hospital, historic houses -- kew (vic.), victorian architecture -- melbourne (vic.)

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. Digital copy of a oolour 35mm slide, framed in a plastic mount, of the entrance to Villa Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew, 3101. The transparency shows the grey rendered tower, viewed from the east, looking west. At this stage a wing of the hospital abutted the south facade. The hospital wing was subsequently demolished and a Victorian era garden reinstated based on an original plan."Villa Alba exterior"villa alba museum, historic houses -- kew (vic.), victorian architecture -- melbourne (vic.), mount royal hospital

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. Digital copy of a olour 35mm slide, framed in a plastic mount, of the entrance to Villa Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew, 3101. The transparency shows the grey rendered portico, viewed from the west, looking east. At this stage a wing of the hospital abutted the portico. The hospital wing was subsequently demolished and a Victorian era garden reinstated based on an original plan."Villa Alba ext"villa alba museum, historic houses -- kew (vic.), victorian architecture -- melbourne (vic.), mount royal hospital

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. Digital copy of a olour 35mm slide, framed in a plastic mount, of the entrance to Villa Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew, 3101. The transparency shows the grey rendered portico, viewed from the east, looking west. At this stage a wing of the hospital abutted the portico. The hospital wing was subsequently demolished and a Victorian era garden reinstated based on an original plan."Villa Alba ext"villa alba museum, historic houses -- kew (vic.), victorian architecture -- melbourne (vic.), mount royal hospital

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. Digital copy of a olour 35mm slide, framed in a plastic mount, of the portico of Villa Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew, 3101. The transparency shows the grey rendered rear of the building, viewed from the east, looking west. A two storey wing of the Mount Royal Hospital, facing Nolan Avenue is at the right. The slide shows a set of wire gates separating the east garden of Villa Alba from the main house."Villa Alba"villa alba museum, mount royal hospital, historic houses -- kew (vic.), victorian architecture -- melbourne (vic.)

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. Digital copy of a oolour 35mm slide, framed in a plastic mount, of the entrance to Villa Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew, 3101. The transparency shows the grey rendered portico, viewed from the west, looking east. At this stage a wing of the hospital abutted the portico. The hospital wing was subsequently demolished and a Victorian era garden reinstated based on an original plan."Villa Alba ext"villa alba museum, historic houses -- kew (vic.), victorian architecture -- melbourne (vic.), mount royal hospital

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. Digital copy of a oolour 35mm slide, framed in a plastic mount, of the earliest known photograph of Villa Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew, 3101. "Villa Alba photo / 1800s"villa alba museum, historic houses -- kew (vic.), victorian architecture -- melbourne (vic.)

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. Digital copy of a olour 35mm slide, framed in a plastic mount, of the portico of Villa Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew, 3101. The transparency shows the grey rendered tower and entrance, viewed from the east, looking west. The bay window of the drawing room is in the foreground."Villa Alba Exterior 1987"villa alba museum, mount royal hospital, historic houses -- kew (vic.), victorian architecture -- melbourne (vic.)