Sacred Sites

The Tea House is one of the most recognisable buildings in Melbourne.

It was constructed in 1889 and started life as a stationer’s warehouse and factory operated by printers Fergusson and Mitchell.

Nahum Barnet, who was a very well known architect in Melbourne during this time, designed the factory.

It was acknowledged as extremely unique and modern because of the 350-timber piles system used as a foundation for the building. It needed the new foundation system because of the swamp-like land it was being built on.

The red brick façade is in line with its Victorian style and despite its lack of height (in comparison to new buildings) it remains an iconic figure in Southbank’s skyline.