Melbourne Morning
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Opened 1892, the Block Arcade is a heritage shopping arcade in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Melbourne's Golden Mile heritage walk runs through the arcade. Nineteenth century shoppers flocked to the Block Arcade to experience a new shopping experience. The arcade was styled after popular European shopping arcades in Paris and Milan.
The Block Arcade is where this lovely eatery is located. Representing some of central Melbourne's most charming late 19th century history, the Block Arcade site was purchased for 18 pounds in 1891 and a small tea room was set-up for the Victorian Ladies Work Association. Named after its founder Lady Hopetoun, The Hopetoun Tea Rooms continues the proud tradition of quality, combining old world charm with the heritage of fine food amidst the tranquil beauty of the fully restored Block Arcade."
With mosaic-tile flooring, a glass canopy and carved stone, the Block Arcade is one of the finest examples of a 19th-century shopping arcade on the planet. Connecting Collins Street to Little Collins and Elizabeth streets, the heritage shopping arcade was built between 1891 and 1893, its design modelled on Milan's grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The boutiques and cafes taking up residence in the Block have retained the arcade’s richly decorated uniform design, ensuring a seamless shopping experience from the colour-coordinated plant holders and paintwork to the heritage lighting and translucent glass ceiling.