Brennand and Brooks built the house for John Glew (sometimes Glue) in 1855. An advertisement in the Argus of that year called for tenders for "40 feet Palings (pallisade), and 205 feet Fencing, in FitzRoy street east, East Melbourne" (Hotham Street was originally called Fitzroy Street). This possibly fits with the rather flexible land measurements given in the Rate Books.

On the western side of Berry Street there used to stand a large red brick building known as the Servants’ Training Institute. It came into being when, as the Geelong Advertiser of 21 April 1879 reported: It has become apparent to the ladies who have visited the industrial school girls placed in service that an institution for training these girls as domestic servants would be of great advantage.