Nellie Melba Museum

Mention the name Melba and almost everyone knows who you are talking about – Australia’s first international star Dame Nellie Melba.

Born Helen Porter Mitchell at Richmond Victoria in 1861, she was the daughter of builder and businessman David Mitchell and Isabella Dow. Melba left Australia in 1886 and the following year made her operatic debut in at Brussels. Called the Queen of Song Melba went on to conquer and rule over all the major opera houses in Europe and USA for almost 40 years.

Despite her fame, Melba never forgot she was a colonial born Australian. She wrote: “If you wish to understand me at all you must understand first and foremost, that I am an Australian”

International Star

In 1909 she purchased property at Coldstream near Lilydale in Victoria and established her Australian home and country retreat Coombe Cottage. Today, Coombe is still owned by Melba’s descendants.

Melba died in 1931 but her contribution to the arts in Australia lives on through the Melba Opera Trust, the Lilydale & District Historical Society and the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum at Lilydale.

Nellie Melba Museum

Mention the name Melba and almost everyone knows who you are talking about – Australia’s first international star Dame Nellie Melba.

Born Helen Porter Mitchell at Richmond Victoria in 1861, she was the daughter of builder and businessman David Mitchell and Isabella Dow. Melba left Australia in 1886 and the following year made her operatic debut in at Brussels. Called the Queen of Song Melba went on to conquer and rule over all the major opera houses in Europe and USA for almost 40 years.

Despite her fame, Melba never forgot she was a colonial born Australian. She wrote: “If you wish to understand me at all you must understand first and foremost, that I am an Australian”

International Star

In 1909 she purchased property at Coldstream near Lilydale in Victoria and established her Australian home and country retreat Coombe Cottage. Today, Coombe is still owned by Melba’s descendants.

Melba died in 1931 but her contribution to the arts in Australia lives on through the Melba Opera Trust, the Lilydale & District Historical Society and the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum at Lilydale.

Nellie Melba Museum

Mention the name Melba and almost everyone knows who you are talking about – Australia’s first international star Dame Nellie Melba.

Born Helen Porter Mitchell at Richmond Victoria in 1861, she was the daughter of builder and businessman David Mitchell and Isabella Dow. Melba left Australia in 1886 and the following year made her operatic debut in at Brussels. Called the Queen of Song Melba went on to conquer and rule over all the major opera houses in Europe and USA for almost 40 years.

Despite her fame, Melba never forgot she was a colonial born Australian. She wrote: “If you wish to understand me at all you must understand first and foremost, that I am an Australian”

International Star

In 1909 she purchased property at Coldstream near Lilydale in Victoria and established her Australian home and country retreat Coombe Cottage. Today, Coombe is still owned by Melba’s descendants.

Melba died in 1931 but her contribution to the arts in Australia lives on through the Melba Opera Trust, the Lilydale & District Historical Society and the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum at Lilydale.

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Share Your Information with the Museum!

Email us your info (and images) to:
[email protected]

Our home is the Old Lilydale Court House:
61 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140
Hours of opening:
By appointment only:
Fridays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays to Mondays 11am to 4pm.
Sundays are preferred.
Closed Public Holidays

Nellie Melba Museum

Contact Details:
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
Email: [email protected]

Share your info with us:
[email protected]

Our home is the Old Lilydale Court House:
61 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140
Hours of opening:
By Appointment only:
Fridays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays to Mondays 11am to 4pm.
Sundays are preferred.
Closed Public Holidays

Nellie Melba Museum

Contact Details:
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]

Nellie Melba Museum

Contact Details:
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]

Our home is the Old Lilydale Court House:
61 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140
Hours of opening:
By appointment only:
Fridays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays to Mondays 11am to 4pm.
Sundays are preferred.
Closed Public Holidays

Share Your Information
with Nellie Melba Museum!

Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]