In 1889 the Island Bay foreshore and the land immediately behind it consisted of two large blocks, one owned by Jacob Joseph and one by John Wright. The land was subdivided in 1881 and some was bought by George Henry Baylis who was interested in quarrying rock, gravel and sand. It was, however, Mr Baylis who put Island Bay on the map as a center for beach recreation. 

At the end of 1905 the tram service from the city was extended to the Island Bay terminus, and in 1906 Baylis invested a large sum of money in building the ornate and elaborate ‘Blue Platter Tea Kiosk’ which features so in 1907 'Pelorus Guardian & Miners' Description eminently in photographs of Island Bay beach in the first quarter of the 20th Century. It was not without competition. The ‘Island Bay Hotel’ still operated, ‘Cliff House’ was shortly to open a tearooms and restaurant, and a small tearoom operated in the grocery store at the eastern end of Trent Street, but only the much grander ‘Blue Platter’ operated solely as a Tea Kiosk, though advertisements in 1907 indicate that occasionally dances were also held there. According to the Evening Post 27th May 1907 (Right).

The Blue Platter’ remained a restaurant and tearooms for around 15 years, but eventually the first floor was converted to hotel accommodation, tearooms being kept on the ground floor. By 1927 the entire building was accommodation, and the alterations did not improve the outward appearance. It appears that during this year Mr Baylis offered to sell the tearooms and site to the Council, but his offer was again declined. The building was destroyed by fire on 3rd October 1934 and subsequently demolished, see the following article to learn more.