Labassa: The Melbourne mansion that sheltered film stars and post-war refugees

Tucked away at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Caulfield North, the mansion known as Labassa holds the memories of hundreds who passed through its grand rooms — from silent film stars and socialites to families who arrived in Melbourne with little more than hope after World War II.

For Rachel Apfelbaum, who lived there as a child, stepping back inside rekindled vivid memories. "It's hard to fathom that we actually lived in this magnificent place," she said, recalling afternoons spent sliding down the banister with her cousin.

The house began modestly, but in 1887 millionaire Alexander Robertson bought the property with a bold ambition to create "the most magnificent house in Melbourne." Renamed Ontario, the residence became a lavish 35-room showpiece, set within 6 hectares of manicured gardens complete with tennis courts, stables and a conservatory — a stage for the city’s high society.

In 1904, Ontario was purchased by John Boyd Watson II, the son of a gold mining millionaire. He renamed it Labassa, and the mansion continued to host grand dinner parties and elite gatherings. Following Watson’s death in 1911, the estate was subdivided and, by the mid-1930s, contained at least 10 flats.

Caretakers James and Emily Brearley were employed during this period; Emily tended to the delicate furnishings and the people who lived there, remaining at Labassa for 43 years and remembered fondly by those who knew her. Even after the conversion to flats, Labassa’s opulent drawing and dining rooms were preserved, providing a backdrop for extravagant parties.

Ornate ceilings, intricate marblework and a sweeping staircase attracted a glamorous crowd of tenants, including socialites, war heroes and movie star Louise Lovely — also known as Nellie Cowen — who lived there during the 1920s and 1930s. Between 1945 and 1961, approximately 25,000 Jewish refugees migrated to Australia; about 9,000 arrived in Melbourne.

At Labassa, flats were created upstairs to provide safe homes for a fortunate few among these new arrivals. For those families, the mansion’s grandeur offered an unlikely refuge as they began rebuilding their lives.

Today, the house at the end of the cul-de-sac remains a hidden monument to Melbourne’s layered history — a place where high society and hardship once shared the same staircase, and where the stories of its residents continue to echo through its halls.