The house was built in 1912 for Charles Tait by builders, Morley & Whelan, to the design of architects, Klingender & Alsop. Table Talk gave a glowing account of its features: A new house which is being built in East Melbourne is causing quite a lot of comment because, apparently, it has no chimneys, and has such lovely balconies and verandahs. It really does not boast chimneys, for it is being built American fashion, to be warmed by hot water pipes, so that one fire serves, to heat the whole house. The spacious balconies are designed as some small compensation for no garden room. Everything of a labor-saving character is being installed. The Taits called their house ‘Gnaroo’. This is an aboriginal word for ‘wood-duck’ and is perhaps in recognition of the number of these ducks that have made their home in the Fitzroy Gardens, just across the road. Charles Tait was one of the five Tait brothers who were all concert, film and theatrical entrepreneurs. The Australian Dictionary of Biography gives a brief account of Charles’ life: Charles, born on 15 November 1868, left school aged 11 and earned pocket money as an usher at Saturday-night concerts in the Exhibition Building, the Athenaeum Hall and the Melbourne Town Hall. In 1884 he started work as a messenger-boy at Allan & Co.'s musical warehouse. His brilliance as an organizer ensured a series of promotions. He travelled overseas with George Clark Allan in 1893 and became manager of Allan's store in 1896. On 21 June 1899 Charles married Elizabeth Jane Veitch at St John's Anglican Church, Heidelberg; they were to have two daughters and two sons. … In 1902 John, Nevin and Frank founded J. & N. Tait, concert promoters. Charles, while remaining with Allan's, guided the business. He is now remembered as the director of the world’s first full length feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906). Surviving fragments of the film have been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World register. Charles died in 1933 and his wife, Elizabeth in 1946, but their daughter, Cecil Antonia continued to live there until 1949 when the house was put up for auction. However it was withdrawn from sale as it was compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth Government for the Post Master General’s (PMG) department. It was converted to offices and was used by the PMG until c1968. It was then demolished. The land remained vacant for over ten years when a block of apartments designed by architect Peter McIntyre, was built on the site.