Labassa: A 35-Room Mansion’s Journey from High Society to Communal Home

Built in 1887 and originally named Ontario, Labassa is a 35-room mansion located in Caulfield North, Melbourne. Over the decades, it has evolved from a symbol of high society to a refuge for postwar immigrants and a hub for counterculture.

“It’s not just a building, it’s a story.”
— Author Vicki Shuttleworth, on the Labassa Lives project

A Changing Legacy

Labassa first served as a center of high society before being converted into flats. After World War II, it housed Jewish refugees seeking safety and a new start in Australia. Later, during the 1960s and 1970s, the mansion attracted counterculture residents, drawn by its affordable rents and unique communal atmosphere.

“It was a time of happiness and hope and freedom.”
— Jane Clifton, performer and resident in the early 1970s

Personal Memories

Former resident Rachel Apfelbaum recalled her childhood years living in Labassa after the war, reflecting on her return visit with deep emotion:

“I can’t believe I’m back here after 70 odd years.”

Preservation and Public Life

The National Trust purchased Labassa in 1980 to safeguard its rich history. Today, the mansion is open to the public and operated entirely by volunteers, ensuring that its stories—and the people who lived them—continue to be told.