The house first appears in the rate books in 1864 and is described as having five rooms. In 1868 it appears as six rooms. Joachimi owned and occupied the house until 1870 when he sold to Daniel B. Pritchard who in turn sold it two years later to R.D. Pitt. Pitt sold to William Woodall in 1882 who was still the owner in 1890. About the turn of the twentieth century the Parkinson family occupied the house, during which time the daughter, Kate, met and later married artist, Norman Lindsay.

Thomas Padley, the builder of the house, was later a member of the Hotham City Council for one year, and was also a grocer (Padley and Sons). Padley was an assisted immigrant to Australia from England, where he worked as a plasterer. Gustave Joachimi was Padley's son-in-law, his wife being Elizabeth Mary Purser Padley.

Joachimi was a German immigrant who worked as an architect for the Public Works Department and later taught at the Artisans' School of Design.