It was built and decorated between 1882 and 1884 for Anna Maria McEvoy and her husband, William Greenlaw who was the General Manager of the Colonial Bank of Australasia in Melbourne.
The Yarra separated the Greenlaw's Villa Alba from the working class terrace houses located on the other side of the river in Abbottsford and Collingwood.
The Paterson Bros. decorated Villa Alba in Kew along with other notable public buildings such as The Royal Exhibition Building, the Ballroom and Private Apartments at Government House, Melbourne Town Hall, the Parliamentary Library and the Prahran Public Library.
[4] In 1999, after passing through the hands of several hospitals and becoming surplus to requirements, Villa Alba was sold to the Society of Jesus for the use of Xavier College.
In a deal financed by the Victorian Department of Infrastructure in 2004 the Museum obtained title to the house and original block.
At the same time, Xavier College was given the right to lease the Eastern part of the original land for passive use by the students of its Early Learning Centre.