Melrose House was designed for Mr. George Heyes by a British architect, W T Vale. The house was in the possession of the family until 1968, when it was purchased by the City Council of Pretoria for use as a museum.
The structure of the house remained unchanged through the years and most of the furniture and decorative objects that belonged to the family were bought with the house. Between 1990 and 1992 major restoration work was done on the house and furnishings, showing Melrose House today as it must have looked in the period 1895-1905. Melrose House offers visitors guided tours by appointment, a clay tennis court, a reference library and a Tea Garden. Temporary exhibitions, antique fairs, talks, workshops for children and adults, and shows are presented on a regular basis. Visiting hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10h00 to 17h00. Closed on Mondays and certain public holidays. The Stables at Melrose House is housed in the stable complex at Melrose House. Light meals, cakes, a variety of teas, coffee and cold drinks are served. Fully licensed.