7 interesting facts you may not know about Wesley Place

Wesley Place combines art, history and technology creating a character-filled precinct full of wonder.

It’s home to some of Melbourne’s most important ecclesiastical buildings, including Wesley Church, the Manse, School House, Caretaker's Cottage and Nicholas Hall, with some of the city’s finest examples of the Gothic Revival architecture. 

Here are seven interesting facts you may not know about Wesley Place.

1. Did you know that the olive tree at Wesley Place’s Urban Park is one of the oldest living olive trees in Australia? Yes, this remarkable tree is over 143 years old and even has its own listing in Melbourne’s exceptional tree register. Visit our Urban Park to bask in the shade of this ancient tree.
   
   
2. The ‘Axionome’ artwork on the east façade of 150 Lonsdale Street is a data map conceptualised by Stanislava Pinchuk. The artwork correlates the daily temperature in Melbourne’s CBD to the historical average for that day over the last 30 years, a nod to the current discourse around climate change. The artwork takes inspiration from the movement of the sun and the moon, while paying homage to former tenants of the building, Bureau of Meteorology, who will be providing the data powering this piece.
   
   
3. Wesley Church was designed by Joseph Reed, who also designed Melbourne Town Hall. His gothic architecture was originally criticised for being too ornate, but the design went ahead, paving the way for the architecture we see in the city today.
    
4. Wesley Place was awarded a 6-star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. But did you know that the building’s sustainable features extend beyond its energy efficiency? For example, the use of recycled materials in the construction process also help to reduce waste and support a circular economy.
   
   
5. Built in 1859, the Manse was part of the church complex designed by Joseph Reed. Originally the minister’s residence, it was later used for the Wesley Central Mission’s programs. In the early to mid-twentieth century it was known as Wesley House and was a rest home for older women. In the early 2000s, it housed the offices of The Big Issue magazine, that helps empower homeless people to positively change their lives. Now it is pouring coffee and serving delicious brunch and lunch options for the community to enjoy.
   
   
6. Caretakers Cottage at Wesley Place was named amongst the best bars in the world at the Australian Bar Awards 2022. It won Best Bar of the Year (Vic) and Best Bar Team of the Year (Australia). These awards are a testament to the exceptional hospitality the team offers, and the wonderful venue they have created at Wesley Place.
   
   
7. During the development of Wesley Place, more than 100,000 artefacts were recovered which tell stories of the diverse cultural groups and rapidly changing socio-economic and urban landscape of Melbourne. This includes, dressmaker’s pins, remnants of chamber pots, Chinese porcelain figurines, and even a whale’s tooth which certainly capture the richness of the city at this time.

Interested in learning more about Wesley Place? Visit our website to learn more about the site’s fascinating history.

To keep up to date with what’s happening here at Wesley Place, sign up to our newsletter at: https://www.wesleyplace.com.au/sign-up