The land on which the chancery now stands was originally part of a vast estate owned by the family of José Pedro Ernesto Tornquist, a German-born property developer whose son, Ernesto, was one of the most prominent businessmen in Argentina during his time. The estate was later subdivided, and the corner lot was acquired by Tomás Finochietto and Ana Chammás, immigrants from Genoa who arrived in Argentina at the end of the 19th century. It would then pass on to their children, including , who would later become the family doctor of Argentine President Juan Domingo Perón and his wife, Eva.
