Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Cooks’ Cottage

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (18:26): (359) Today I want to raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Local Government, and it concerns Captain Cook’s cottage. We are all familiar with Cooks’ Cottage. As youngsters we all visited Cooks’ Cottage, and we understand the importance of it. Some of us are old enough to remember the bicentenary of 1770 to 1970 and remember the many discussions that occurred at that time. Indeed Captain Cook, as a European, did become the first person – or his mission, his ship the Endeavour was the first – to sight the Australian coast on 19 April 1770. Those who have connections to Gippsland will understand where Point Hicks is, and I remember Henry Bolte and those things on the television – seeing the vision and activities as they unveiled a plaque at the site. Captain Cook, a great navigator, is a person of enormous significance not just to Victoria but to huge areas across the Pacific – North America and New Zealand – and this is a point of national significance. In no way does that diminish the fact that there were Indigenous communities here in Victoria, but it is true that Captain Cook’s was the first expedition to sight the eastern coast of Australia – the first Europeans – and in doing so did set off a chain of events.

Cooks’ Cottage here in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, is a point of international significance, a point of national significance and a point of local significance. The idea that this important heritage would be trashed, would be closed down and would be removed is just extraordinary. History is important. Melbourne was obviously settled in 1835, but Cooks’ Cottage, having been moved here for the celebration of the centenary, is an important monument of history in itself and an important recognition. Sir Russell Grimwade, a philanthropist and businessman, provided the resources and the money to move Cooks’ Cottage from Great Ayton in England. An Australian bid was made of £800, and it was moved, item by item, brick by brick, with indeed I am told 253 packing cases, and reassembled here. It is important for Victoria and it is important for Australia, and the idea that some bozos at the City of Melbourne would not recognise the significance of Cooks’ Cottage is profound. I call on the Minister for Local Government to intervene and ensure that the bozos at the City of Melbourne do not trash our heritage, do not destroy Cooks’ Cottage and leave it available to the Victorian community into the future.