Osborne House historical timeline
“Corio” Dr Jenny Murray-Jones
Osborne House resides on Wadawurrung Country that has been cared for by generations of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners for over 60,000 years.
June 1857 Melbourne architects Webb and Taylor call for tenders for the construction of a house for Robert Muirhead, Esq
1858 Osborne House is completed. The stables are completed later in the year.
Osborne House circa 1870s.
J Class submarine crew at Osborne House in the 1920s.
15 March 1862 Robert Muirhead dies at the age of 48 and is buried in an elaborate sandstone tomb at Eastern Cemetery, Geelong.
1917 – 1919 Red Cross Rest Home for war-worn nurses opens at Osborne House.
1864 – 1900 The property is leased to John Lang Currie in 1865, who oversees major improvements to the property. The interior and exterior appearance of the building change dramatically in 1869.
1919 – 1924 Osborne House and grounds are used by the Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service as the Flotilla Headquarters for the six J-class.
1900 Osborne House is bought by the State of Victoria for use as the Premier’s country home, but it is never used for this purpose. 1905 The Geelong Harbor Trust purchases Osborne House from the Victorian Government for £6000.
25 November 1937 The Shire of Corio purchases Osborne House from the Geelong Harbor Trust for an upset price of £4500.
1858 Osborne House appears in Geelong’s Villamanta Ward rate book for 1857- 1858 valued £100.
Sketch of Osborne House by local artist Winnie Trigg.
4 | geelongaustralia.com.au
1 March 1913 – Australia’s first Royal Australian Naval College is opened at Osborne House.
26 January 1938 The Shire of Corio holds the first meeting in their new headquarters.
1915 During World War One, a Military Convalescent Hospital is established at Osborne House.
1941 – 1945 During World War Two, Osborne House is occupied by the Department of Defence as an army training centre.
