The Rattray St building that partially collapsed yesterday was built in 1875 by Henry Hardy, who also built the Crown Hotel next door and the former ODT building in Dowling St.
Dunedin archivist David Murray nominated it as a historic place in 2009, but the nomination has not yet been processed by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
Mr Murray noted it was built as a three-storey Victorian-style warehouse, which also has a bluestone basement, for wine merchant William Barron, of Banks, Barron and Co and was long known as Barron's Building.
It was later known as Thomson's Building.
Latterly, it has been most famous as the home of the Dragon Cafe, which has been there since 1958.
For a few decades earlier (since 1943) it was the Hasty Tasty Cafe.
A butcher had been resident at some point, and lawyers, architects, dressmakers and musicians had all had rooms on the upper floors.
Because the building was built pre-1900, under the Historic Places Act, any demolition work beyond public safety work would require an archaeological authority from the historic places trust.
