This pair of houses was designed by Ravenscroft and Freeman, architects in 1887 and built for James Ford Born by Seccull and Abbot.  George Ravenscroft appears to have been self-taught, starting out as a carpenter, then a contractor, finally an architect. Born named No 13 Simpson Street Lynton, and No 15 Torquay.

James Ford Born was an early colonist, arriving, with his wife, in Melbourne in January 1840 aboard the John Bull. He purchased some land in Collins Street with some wooden buildings already established and set himself up as a cooper. During the 1860s he was a member of the Fitzroy Council including time as mayor. He then retired. Roughly a year before building the Simpson Street houses he built three houses in Powlett Street, Nos 10-14.  On completion Born moved into Torquay, but died in 1889, only a week after his wife, Mary. 

The two houses remained in his estate, with his son, Alfred, and his family, moving into Torquay at one point.  Alfred died in 1914 and shortly after it appears that the title to the two houses was split with only Torquay remaining in Alfred’s estate for a few more years before it was sold. 

Both houses became rental properties from this time.  One of the more notable tenants was Abraham Kozminsky, founder of the well-known eponymous antiques business, who lived at Torquay from about 1896-1899.