Mr. Webber, the first owner of the building, when he notified the council of his intention to build gave the description 'house', however it appears that the building was used as a shop with residence above from the beginning. It was known then as Webber Bros & Co.
In 1874 the property was advertised for sale as a 'two story building, containing six rooms, bath, large store at back, and three stall stable. / On the ground floor are shop l8 x l8, parlour 10 x 10, kitchen 10 x 10, each fitted with gas, registered grates, and marble mantelpieces / On the upper story are parlour l8 x l8; bedroom l8 x 12; do. 10 x 10; each fitted with gasaliers and marble mantelpieces. / Store at rear, weatherboard, iron roof, 40 x 20. And Three stall stable attached to store. The ground on which the above premises are erected consists of a Government quarter acre allotment, and has a frontago of 66ft to Gipps street, by a depth of 165ft.'
The contents were sold at the same time including groceries, wines and spirits, dray, horse and circular saw. It seems he had trouble selling the property as Webber advertised it to let two months later.
In 1882 Oscar Green became the owner and remained so until his death in 1904 when the property was again sold. It was then known as the East Melbourne Tea Warehouse and the sale notice gives a clearer description of the layout of the various buildings on the land,'solidly-built two-story stone and brick building of shop and 5 rooms, in perfect order, with detached W.B. store, 3-stall stable, and dance-room, all sewered.' Additonal notes state 'The buildings being on the eastern half of the land, leaving the western half, 33ft. x 165ft., available for building on'.
In 1910 Mrs. Catherine Kennedy, then owner of the premises, subdivided the land and built the two neighbouring houses, Nos. 21 and 23. The Kennedy family sold the freehold and business in 1939 to Mr. T. Berry.
The property has always been the site of a licensed grocer except for a brief period between 1877 and 1881 when Bedggood & Co. operated a boot factory there. During this time Charles Barthing, bootmaker, ran a dance hall behind and got into a great deal of trouble with the neighbours complaining of loud noise. He was taken to court on at least one occasion. See the link below for full details.
In 1889 it seems that the East Melbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade occupied the premises at the rear of the shop. On 25 August around 500 fireman assembled outside in Gipps Street to pay their respects to the Captain of the Brigade, James Kilgour Parsons, 33, who had died while fighting a spectacular fire which destroyed the Bijou Theatre in Bourke Street. See Winston Burchett for full account.