In 1984 Sir Rupert Hamer agreed to act as its inaugural Chairman.

In 1985 the Mt. Royal Hospital granted a 25- year lease to the Council for the historic house and some land. This lease later passed to Boroondara Council, before being terminated when the management body, the Villa Alba Museum Incorporated, gained title to the house and its original grounds.

By 1996 the committee had resolved to establish a museum and resource centre of nineteenth century interior decoration at Villa Alba.

In 1999 after passing through the hands of several hospitals, Villa Alba was sold by the St Georges and Inner Eastern Healthcare Network to the Society of Jesus for the use of Xavier College.

In a deal brokered by the Department of Infrastructure in 1999 the VAMI obtained title to the original house and block in August 2004. At the same time Xavier was given the right to lease part of the original land put in trust for Mrs Greenlaw in 1862 for passive use by the students of Xavier’s Early Learning Centre which is built on land acquired by Mrs Greenlaw after 1862.