East Melbourne, Burchett Lane 25, 27

This cottage was once the stables belonging to the property at 20 George Street, and was for many years after the subdivision known as 20a George Street and could be accessed by a footpath from George Street. This is now blocked off and access is from Burchett Lane off Hotham Street. For the early part of the cottage’s story see the history of 16-20 George Street (link below). 

The cottage was purchased by the Trustees of the Watchtower Bible Tract Society, sometimes known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, in 1917, along with the two houses at 16-20 George Street.  The houses were sold off in the early 1920s leaving only the old stables in the hands of the Society.  It became known as The Tabernacle and was the Society’s headquarters in Melbourne.  

By about 1933 its usage as a meeting place ceased and the building became a printing works for the Society, as well as providing accommodation for up to four people.

On 17 January 1941 the government declared the organisation illegal because of its attitude to the war.  Its members maintained a strict neutrality, refusing to bear arms or support the war effort in any capacity. They refused to salute the flag and spoke out against other religions. 

This led to an immediate raid by Commonwealth and State police who on arrival were apparently met by the four occupants of the house and a sheep. The police found a considerable amount of printed material in several languages and a large number of phonograph records. Also five loudspeakers used to broadcast the records from cars as they toured the streets of Melbourne. The occupants of the house were evicted as was the sheep, which was later reported to be an Airedale watchdog. Two policemen remained on guard to ensure no one entered. 

The 1943 Rate Books list the Commonwealth Investigation Branch as the tenant of the building with Trust Watchtower Bible Tract Society still recorded as the owner. It seems that for the rest of the war the property was out of bounds for its owners. A note pinned to the door a sad reminder: ‘Milkman – No milk until further notice, thanks’. 

After the war tenants were allowed back in, some perhaps were connected to the church such as Ann Young Mouritz and Harold Vivian Mouritz, listed in the electoral roll of 1955 as ‘missionary’ and ‘minister’ respectively. The printing works meantime had ceased operation, partly because the bulk of the printing was already happening in Sydney. 

In 1973 the property was sold and the new owner was Dick Thompson who took a series of photos of the interior at the time he first moved in.