[2] It was designed by Louis Bowser Cumpston in what was described by its heritage assessment as "a fine example of the Federation Arts and Crafts style, composed of interlocking octagonal forms with elliptical arched windows".

[4][5] Over time it has also been known as the Esplanade Kiosk, the Esplanade Tearooms for most of the 1940s and 1950s, the Silver Dragon Restaurant and Steak House (late 1960s), Annabella's Nightclub (1977–1980), the Salvation Army youth drop-in centre The Converted Duke (1982–1985), as well as the Florence Hummerston Day Care Centre (1985–1998).

[1] In November 2012, the Western Australian government confirmed the kiosk would be reconstructed on an island at the Elizabeth Quay project.

The cost included a A$7 million compensation payout to the operator of the Grand Palace Chinese restaurant who had a 44-year lease on the building.

[13] In June 2017, the government confirmed the final total cost for the relocation was A$16 million after it was revealed the compensation payout was much higher than originally stated.