Alfred Thomas Bushell, founder of Bushells, was born 25th May 1833. The Bushells family were heavily involved in the tea business, Alfred being a Tea Dealer who employed 50 men and 45 boys, whilst his wife Agnes was the sister of the founder of Brooke Bond, the English Tea Company.

Following the death of his wife, Agnes in the early 1880's, Alfred travelled to Brisbane and by 1883 was trading in Brisbane selling both tea and coffee from a shop. Some years later, two of Alfred's sons started selling tea in Sydney trading as Bushell and Company - the Tea Men. The Sydney business was expanded from selling tea on a roadside stall to selling tea wholesale. In 1899 the business expanded further when a branch was opened in Melbourne.