By Jesse Graham
THE home of Coldstream’s Dame Nellie Melba will be opened up until the start of next month, with tours offering a once in a lifetime view of rooms never before opened to the public.
Coombe – The Melba Estate is running tours of Melba’s private home, Coombe Cottage, until 2 September, giving visitors the chance to see the private rooms of the famed opera singer.
Though the estate itself was opened to the public in 2014, with a restaurant, art gallery and cellar door, Coombe Cottage itself has remained off-limits to visitors.
From 6 July, limited places were made available for tours of the gallery, gardens, Melba’s music room, boudoir and bedroom.
Business Development and Melba Estate manager Daniel Johnson said the tours were originally meant to wrap up on 13 August, but more spaces were made available due to the tour’s popularity.
“We’ve had excellent feedback from everyone who’s attended so far – we’ve got cards that we get back in, with people saying how much they enjoyed it … which has been really lovely feedback,” he said.
The tours involve a co-ordinator telling the stories of Melba’s life and celebrity about 100 years ago, seeing the rooms as they were in the singer’s lifetime.
Mr Johnson said that Melba’s “valuable and interesting” private art collection would be on show, as well as letters from the King and Queen and her visitors’ book.
The music room at the estate once hosted celebrities and entertainers, including Charlie Chaplin.
“The rooms themselves are absolutely exquisite,” Mr Johnson said.
“Melba had a fantastic sense of taste and art and the furnishings certainly really show that.”
The tours cost $125 per person, and include the tour and a morning or afternoon tea, with a glass of wine, tea or coffee.
For more information, visit www.coombeyarravalley.com.au.
