The Story
Prior to the building of the Log cabin, the area around where the log cabin now stands was largely forested. In 1894 that all changed when, in response to a global recession that resulted in a great deal of unemployment, an Act of Parliament was passed. It made areas of land available, including the Mooroolbark Village Settlement which threw open the land between Olinda and Kalorama for selection by unemployed men in the city of Melbourne. As you can see from the map below, J. Waddell selected the land on which the Log Cabin now stands and worked it as a berry farm until 1908.
It was 1926 when a surface of crushed rock was placed on the new road across the mountain, which was later renamed the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, and finally linking Montrose to Olinda and providing direct access to Upper Ferntree Gully. The road opened the Dandenongs to tourism, land sales and business opportunities. 1926 was a year of enterprise and change.
- Mt. Dandenong Post Office moved from next to the school to the corner of the new Main Road and Helen Road.
- The township of Mt. Dandenong North was given the new name of Kalorama, and
- Agnes Portelli, née Anstey, saw the opportunity for a warm and welcoming place where people could rest, take tea and enjoy the mountain setting.
- The photo on the left shows Agnes Portelli (centre) and Evelyn Earney (left) c1940
Agnes commissioned Jack Dodd to construct the Tea House. He was a noted axeman, builder and the son of George Dodd, an original co-founder of the Olinda township in the 1890s. He built a small rectangular building with verandahs on three sides under a low-pitched roof.
The original building used solid horizontal logs, notched together at the corners and seamed with local clay. No nails were used. The fireplace stones came from an old creek bed on the Basin–Olinda Road. The logs were treated twice a year with equal parts of boiled oil, kerosene and vinegar. The earth floor was covered with flour bags and coconut matting. Jack also built the chairs and tables from rough timber.
| 1901 | J Waddell is granted a 10-acre selection, including the site of the log cabin |
| 1901-1908 | Worked as a berry farm |
| 1926 | Tourist Road of crushed rock links Olinda to Montrose |
| 1926 | Jack Dodd builds the Log Cabin for Agnes Portelli to take advantage of the new road |
| 1926-1945 | Agnes and her niece Evelyn Earney run the cabin as a cafe |
| 1945 | Agnes Portelli dies |
| 1970s | Cabin is extended with northwest corner being cut off and moved further northwest and the frontage extended |
| 1980s | Operates as a BYO restaurant with Australian floor shows each weekend |
| 1990s | Becomes Kelly’s Bar and Kitchen |
Tea House Memories
The Log Cabin Tea House was well placed to serve the needs of locals, walkers, guest house patrons and day trippers in cars.
Agnes Portelli (nee Anstey) ran the Tea House with the help of family and locals until her death in 1945. Her niece, Evelyn Anstey, worked at the Tea Rooms from a young age. The menu consisted of scones with jam & cream, cakes, slices and sandwiches, all served with a pot of tea.
The Log Cabin Tea House was also a popular venue for fundraising events, celebrations, property auctions and hosted regular ‘Australian’ shows during the 1980s. Celebrated Olinda artist/author Peg Maltby also moved her popular Fairyland Dioramas from her studio in Sunset Avenue to the Log Cabin.
Today
Today, Kelly’s Bar and kitchen is one of the most recognisable establishments on Mount Dandenong and today’s hosts Caroline, Dave and Tom Gelbert together with owners David Buchler and Victor Sallay continue the tradition of providing fine hospitality for locals and tourists alike.
Gallery
The commemorative booklet can be viewed below