The Mitre Tavern, Bank Place, C.1940
The great city was founded on August 30 1835, less than two years later one could have stood on the corner of Collins and Queen Streets and, through the gum trees, looked upon the site where the Mitre Tavern now stands.
Sir Charles Ebden, previously an eminent citizen of Sydney attended a land sale in June 1837 and bought allotments 5,6 and 7 of Block 14 which gave him frontage of 3 chains in Collins Street and which embraced the Mitre Tavern site, all this for the princely sum of £136.
Two years later, Sir Charles sold the land. The Bank of Australia bought a part and the rest was subdivided. In that subdivision provision was made for what is now Bank Place.
On one of the lots facing this lane a private home was built, the owner is no longer known but the two-story structure is now called the Mitre Tavern and is (as documented by the Melbourne City Council) the oldest building in Melbourne.
In 1868 Mr Henry Thompson became the first of many publicans at the Mitre Tavern with his successful application for a Liquor License. Under a succession of licensees it has remained a Tavern for nearly 140 plus years.