Robert R. Rodgers, the first owner, was a sharebroker & land agent of 53 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne The land the houses are built on was previously occupied by a four roomed iron house, with two attics, a kitchen and offices. The houses were built at different times. 173 and 175 first appear in the Rate Books in 1878, and 171 in 1882. By the 1970s all houses had had their cast iron balconies and fences removed and replaced with very plain contemporary iron work. Victorian-style cast iron has been re-instated at 173 and 175, but 171 now has no balcony. The stairwell at 171 bears (or did once?) a mural painted by Melbourne-born artist, Mary Talbot. It is (was) a painting of a young girl's face, with plant-like tendrils for hair.