On 30 April 1868 architect Geo R Johnson advertised for tenders for the ‘erection of bluestone basement to villa residence’. The successful tender was soon chosen and on 11 May Charles Rippon advised the City Council that John Pigdon, builder of Faraday Street, Carlton would build for him foundations for a house.

Geo R Johnson invited a second round of tenders on 2 Dec 1868 for ‘erection of 13-roomed brick and stone villa residence.’ Pigdon was the successful tenderer again and on 15 December 1868 Charles Rippon notified the Council that Pigdon would ‘complete house’ for him. Among Johnson’s better known works are the North Melbourne Town Hall (1875), the Meat Market in North Melbourne (1880).

Charles Rippon, a solicitor, arrived in Melbourne with his wife and twelve children in January 1855. He quickly advertised that he would apply to be admitted to practise as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria, and in doing so gave a few details of his earlier life in England:- ‘formerly of No. 190 Blackfriar's road, in the county of Surrey, in England, gentleman, an attorney of her Majesty's Courts of Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer of Pleas at Westminster, also an attorney and solicitor of her Majesty's Court of Bankruptcy at London, and a solicitor of her Majesty's High Court of Chancery in England, but now of Perry-street, Collingwood.’

By 1857 he had moved to Sydenham House, Johnston Street, Fitzroy, where his daughters opened a school for young ladies. In 1875, listed under Shrewsbury House, Hotham Street, East Melbourne, The Argus advertised that ‘Miss Rippon, assisted by professors RECEIVES a limited number of YOUNG LADIES, to board and educate.’

By 1877 the Rate Books have John Curtain listed as owner. Curtain was a member of the Legislative Assembly and represented Carlton and from this time the house was known as Carlton House. Almost from the moment he took it over the house was regularly advertised for sale or rent when it was described as ‘Containing 14 spacious rooms, with over a quarter acre of land laid out in garden and shrubbery.’

During his ownership he had as his tenant Molesworth Greene who lived there in 1879-80. He was an early pioneer and pastoralist, and In the words of the Australian Dictionary of Biography: ‘In 1842 he went with his parents to Port Phillip in the Sarah which his father had chartered for his household, hunters, two race-horses, two bulls and a cow, a library and a prefabricated house; they arrived in December. Woodlands, some miles from Melbourne, was chosen as the site for the family's new home.’ It is now a historic park administered by Parks Victoria.

In 1854 Molesworth Greene married Emma, sister of Rolf Boldrewood, author of the classic, Robbery under Arms. He went on to acquire a large portfolio of land-holdings all over the state, including Greystones near Bacchus Marsh where he built a handsome bluestone mansion homestead.

James Goodall Francis was listed as owner of Carlton House from 1881-83 and then for another two years after his death it was held by his executors. He too was a Member of the Legislative Assembly as was his tenant, the Hon Graham Berry. Berry was fiercely protectionist and radical in most of his views. At this time he was premier of Victoria and infamous for his tough piece of gamesmanship known as Black Wednesday, the mass dismissal of numerous public servants of all ranks from judges down, which took place on 8 January 1878. He was married twice and was the father of 17 children.

Francis' next tenant was Sir Arthur Nicolson, tenth baronet who had succeeded his father, the ninth baronet, in 1879. He was a commissioner of the International Exhibition held in Melbourne in 1888 among other public roles. He left Melbourne in 1891 for Midlothian, Scotland to look after his estates there.

By 1886 Dr George Rothwell Adam was the owner of Carlton House and its history became a little more settled. According to probate papers for JG Francis Adam paid £5500 for the house including £2500 borrowings. Adam and his wife and family lived here until 1917 when they moved to South Yarra. He was a leading obstetrician with a position at the Women’s Hospital. He advertised his hours for private practice as 12 to 2.30 p.m. at his consulting rooms at 153 Collins-street east, and at his private address — Carlton House, Hotham-street. East Melbourne from 8.30 to 9.30 a.m, and from 6 to 7.30 p.m.

In October 1916, signalling East Melbourne’s changing demographic, the house was advertised for sale ‘To Professional Men, Or Admirably Suitable for Flats’. It was then tenanted as a boarding house for a few years. One of the tenants during this time was Abraham Talbot-Simonds.  In his 80s he was still an enthusiastic skater, both ice and roller, a sport he fell in love with in 1868 when he attended the opening of George Coppin's rink at the Apollo Hall, Bourke street. 

John Patrick Noonan bought the house in 1927. He lived there with his wife, Emma, until his death in 1936.  Emma continued to live there until her own death in 1947.  John had been born in Tasmania and had spent most of his life there as a hotel keeper before retiring to the mainland. 

In the early 1950s the house became the home of the Art Training Institute which promised:- 
To foster and develop ARTISTIC TALENT, and for the noble purpose of keeping alive the Flame of Creativeness which burns in so many Australian breasts, The Australian Writers and Artists' Federation has made it possible for a panel of leading professional artists to give you these scientifically prepared Tests and expert Criticism absolutely free of charge and without obligation. Send for the elaborate book "Art Ability Tests"- it will lead you to a wonderful opportunity to obtain an impartial and instructive Analysis of your chances of success in Commercial Art.