Villa Alba Museum (Kew)

Open days are the first Sunday of every month from 1-4pm.


Situated in Walmer Street, Kew, the Villa Alba Museum is one of the finest examples of 19th century interior design in Australia.

Villa Alba has been home to many inhabitants over the years, beginning with the Greenlaws who commenced their married life there in the late 1800’s. Originally named Studley Villa they completely rebuilt the house in 1882; the decorative mansion you see today is essentially a product of their tastes. Although William Greenlaw held a prominent position with the Colonial Australasian Bank, he drastically overextended on the building of Villa Alba and was declared insolvent. After his death, Anna Maria lived in the house for another two years but sold all the contents at an auction in 1897. The house stayed in her family until her death in 1918.

After the Greenlaws, Villa Alba was rented firstly by John Ballenger, a brewer,and his family, who lived there for 15 years and then by Samuel Fripp, a druggist, and his wife Esther and their family who were associated with the house for 35 years. The Fripps were the last occupants to use the house as a family home which they purchased on the death of Anna Maria Greenlaw in 1918. Under the Fripps Villa Alba flourished complete with lavish furnishings, an aviary, a croquet lawn and prize orchids. When Samuel Fripp died in 1936 Esther continued to live in the house until her death in 1949.

In 1950, Villa Alba was purchased by the Royal Women’s Hospital and fit out as living quarters for nurses. Under the ownership of the hospital, the house changed dramatically with most of the exquisite decorated walls being painted over.

Notable for the unique hand painted murals and decorations that line the interior walls and ceilings, Villa Alba is currently being restored and recreated as a museum for the collection, study and display of interior decorations. The historic home also periodically houses various exhibitions and has regular open days on the first Sunday of every month from 1-4pm. Admission charges: adults are $10, concession/students are $8 and children under 18 years are free.