Tilia Europaea is the botanical name for the Linden tree, a large ornamental species from the Northern Hemisphere. Moses Michaelis (1820 - 1902) who became known by the German form of his name Moritz, named this substantial home he built in 1870 after the Linden tree, in memory of his home town of LŸdge in Germany.

In celebration of Linden's family of origin, six artists have been invited to respond to the building's early history. Working in forms as diverse as embroidery, sound, drawing, ceramic and sculpture, Kim Donaldson, Stephen Gallagher, Andrew McQualter, Harry Nankin, Carl Priestly and David Ray evoke the real and imagined history of the Michaelis family.

Moritz and his wife Rahel arrived in Australia in 1853 and eventually settled in St Kilda, not only a prestigious suburb but close to the sea, where on doctor's orders, Moritz swam every day for well over a decade.

With the optimism of a prosperous immigrant - generous and scrupulous to a fault and oblivious to the forthcoming Shoah (the Holocaust) - Melbourne was indeed Marvellous.

Designed by architect Alfred Kursteiner in the popular Italianate style, Linden displays both colonial and contemporary European features and once stood in extensive gardens laid out by celebrated landscape designer, William Guilfoyle.

The Michaelis family lived at Linden until 1962 when it was sold and converted into a guesthouse. In 1984 Linden was purchased by the City of St Kilda for use as an arts precinct. Linden's history mirrors the changing demography of St Kilda.

Registered by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) under Class B in 1958, Linden is included on the Historic Buildings Register, the Register of the National Estate and is deemed of State significance.