Industry and Manufacturing, Published 13 February 2026
Brisbane’s history is full of hidden gems, and Webster’s Bakery is one of those stories that deserves a spotlight. Founded in 1888 by master baker David Webster, this humble cake and biscuit factory…
Brisbane’s history is full of hidden gems, and Webster’s Bakery is one of those stories that deserves a spotlight. Founded in 1888 by master baker David Webster, this humble cake and biscuit factory grew into a beloved institution that helped shape the city’s early food culture. Long before supermarkets and mass‑produced sweets, families across Brisbane relied on Webster’s for fresh cakes, biscuits, and handmade treats that became part of everyday life. Webster’s early craftsmanship still echoes through the city’s heritage today.
What made Webster’s special wasn’t just the baking, it was the community it created. The bakery’s tea rooms in the CBD became social hubs where locals gathered for conversation, celebration, and comfort. These spaces offered a taste of elegance in a growing colonial town, and they helped define Brisbane’s emerging café culture. Brisbane’s early tea rooms played a bigger role in shaping the city’s identity than most people realise.
Even as the decades passed, Webster’s Bakery remained a constant presence. The business expanded, modernised, and continued to serve Brisbane families for nearly 80 years. Though the original Annerley Road site eventually closed in 1966, a single stone wall still stands today, heritage‑listed and quietly reminding passers‑by of the bakery that once fed a city. The surviving heritage wall is a small but powerful link to Brisbane’s industrial past.
Celebrating Webster’s Bakery isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about recognising the makers, families, and traditions that helped build Brisbane’s character. From hand‑mixed dough to bustling tea rooms, Webster’s story is a reminder that even the simplest treats can leave a lasting legacy. Brisbane’s food heritage continues to evolve, but its foundations are rich with stories like this one.
Wall Location: 151 Annerley Road, Dutton park, Queensland 4102
B&W Image & 1899 Map Public Domain, QLD State Archives
Colourised image - David Webster Tea Room, Brisbane. Ca 1900 - Public Domain, QLD State Archives
Copyright and reuse
We encourage the sharing of history and information, and we support the responsible reuse of our original content.
Written articles. Unless a page says otherwise, our original written content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). You may copy, share, adapt and reuse it, including commercially, as long as you:
- credit “The Dave & Malou Channel” as the source and, where practical, link to the original page;
- link to the licence; and
- indicate any changes you made, without suggesting that we endorse you or your use.
Photographs and other images. Unless a credit or caption says otherwise, photographs and other images on this website, including illustrations, are available under CC BY 4.0 on the same conditions as our written articles. This covers images we created and images supplied by individuals, archives, libraries and families who have given permission for this use. Please check the credit and caption before you reuse an image, because some are not covered:
- Images marked “© The Dave & Malou Channel” must not be reproduced, reused or distributed without our prior written permission.
- For images credited to another person or organisation that are marked © or otherwise reserve their rights, please contact us before reuse so we can help clarify the copyright status and any permission you need. We cannot give permission on behalf of another copyright owner.
- Images labelled “Public Domain” may be used without permission, subject to any legal restrictions and the accuracy of that label.
Video, audio and third-party material. Video and audio are not covered by the licence unless a page says so. Copyright in material supplied by others, such as quotations, extracts and recordings, stays with its owner and is not covered unless we say so. Please contact us before reusing it.
Our name and logo. The name “The Dave & Malou Channel”, our logo and the look of the website are not covered by the licence. Please do not use them in a way that suggests we are connected with, or endorse, you.
Fair dealing. Nothing in our Website Terms limits your right to use material for private study, research, criticism, review, news reporting, or parody and satire, as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
