Building renamed after pioneering Monash businesswoman Jessie Tait

Published on 05 September 2018

Council has officially named the second building at the Eastern Innovation Business Centre (EIBC) the Jessie Tait Building in honour of Mrs Jessica Tait, a pioneering businesswoman in Mount Waverley in the early 1900s.

It is the first building to be named after a woman in Monash.

Mrs Tait opened the first shop on land in Mount Waverley (now the north corner of The Highway and Stephenson’s Roads) in the early 1900s.

The shop sold sewing items, stationery, postcards, sweets, newspapers and knick-knacks. The shop was located some distance from the family homestead “Waimarie”.

After Jessie’s death in 1928 the shop remained open until 1944 and was managed by her daughters Blair and Lillie.

“I am very proud that we will name this building after Mrs Jessie Tait, one of our significant women of Monash,” Mayor Paul Klisaris said.

“It is a fitting tribute because Jessie Tait embodied the innovation and vision that our EIBC seeks to encourage.”

Background on the EIBC

Monash Council built the EIBC using $4.75 million of Federal Government funding from the Regional Development Australia Fund. The State Government also provided $245,000 towards the project from its $50 million Living Victoria Fund.

The EIBC is focused on accelerating the commercialisation of innovative ideas and the professional services that support them.