Dame Nellie Melba was recognised as the greatest soprano of her time in a career which spanned over 30 years. It was to Coombe Cottage she regularly returned to enjoy its rejuvenating properties. She added a swimming pool, and tennis court, extended the gardens, and built stables, servants' quarters and garages. The inscription on the clock tower of the garage East, West, Hame's Best ' is a reminder of the family's Scottish heritage, and is remembered on the label of all Coombe Farm wines.                     A BRIEF HISTORY         Dame Nellie Melba's Australian heritage began and ended at Coldstream in the Yarra Valley. She was born in 1861, the daughter of David Mitchell and although christened Helen Porter Mitchell was always known as Nellie.  David Mitchell was  a stonemason from Scotland arriving in 1852.  He developed the Cave Hill limestone deposits in Lilydale (still in operation today), and built some of Melbourne's most renowned buildings, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Royal  Exhibition Buildings and the Scots Church. He also had a passion for the wine  industry and was a grape grower, wine merchant and exporter in the early 1900's  with cellars in Richmond. This passion was reignited by the planting of a 60ha  vineyard in 1999 under the leadership of Pamela, Lady Vestey and her sons Lord Vestey and Mark Vestey.       David Mitchell, stonemason from Scotland, arrived in Australia in 1852. He developed the Cave Hill limestone deposits in Lilydale (still in operation today) and built some of Melbourne’s most renowned buildings, including Scots Church in Collins Street, The Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton, and the original Presbyterian Ladies College building. Vineyard owner and Winemaker in the Yarra Valley – he purchased St.Hubert’s vineyard from the original owner Hubert de Castella. He was the father of ten children, including Helen Porter Mitchell known as Nellie, later Dame Nellie Melba.       Nellie Mitchell married Charles Armstrong in 1882 and their son George was born in 1883. Taking the stage name Melba, after her home town of Melbourne, Nellie made her concert debut in Brussels in 1887. She became the leading soprano of her time and established herself as the prima donna at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. On one of her return trips to Australia in 1909, she purchased a property in Coldstream and called it Coombe Cottage, after the name of a house where she had stayed whilst singing at Covent Garden. She retired in 1928, and died in 1931. Dame Nellie was buried in Lilydale Cemetery.       George Armstrong farmed at Coombe Farm and was an accomplished horseman and polo player. He married Evie Doyle concert violinist and singer in 1913 and in 1918 their daughter Pamela was born.       Pamela, Lady Vestey, widow of William Vestey, Killed at Salerno, Italy in 1944, owner of Coombe Cottage and Coombe Farm, and with her sons, Sam and Mark are the creators of Coombe Farm Vineyards. Lord Vestey and the Hon. Mark Vestey were international polo players and with their wives Celia and Rosie have interests in the UK and Australia in racehorses and polo teams.  One of these teams is called Coombe Wines. They are the Directors of the Vestey Group, UK, which has extensive farming interests.                                   11 ST. HUBERTS RD COLDSTREAM, VICTORIA. AUSTRALIA. 3770           Ph. +61 (0)3 9739 1131          Fax. +61 (0)3 9739 1154