The original house built for W.T. Trollope, solicitor, was single storey. The Rate Books up until 1867 give his name as the owner and occupier, and then the owner becomes T.W. Trollope, also a solicitor, until 1881. During the latter's ownership the house was rented out. It would appear that the two owners were in fact one and the same. Other members of W.T. Trollope's family according to his will were his wife, Annie, his son, Henry Clayton and his two daughters, Mary Matilda Mudge and Elizabeth Agnes Hill. Charles Short, a journalist with the Argus newspaper, became the owner in 1882; followed by Henry Goldspink from 1883-1887. The house during this time remained tenanted.

Charles Taylor appears as the ratepayer in 1888 and remained so until 1890 when his wife, Rosamond, became the owner. She, along with her mother, Jane Scott, conducted an artists' studio at the house, which, according to her death notice (1909) in the Argus, was then known as 'Rolyat'. According to Dorothy Johnson, art conservator, a Miss Scott was among NGV art students in 1869, when Eugene von Guerard was teacher. Charles Taylor's will made in 1907, only a few months before he died, makes curious reading. He gives his address as 'Beaumaris', 116 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. He owned no land and left his estate in equal shares to Janet Spence, spinster, of the same address and various hospitals. In 1890 Charles would have been 66 and Rosamond 42. Perhaps Charles had become chronically ill and it was thought more convenient to move him into rental accommodation next door with a nurse. Rosamond, meanwhile retained ownership of Rolyat and a number of other properties, which she left to her mother and other members of her family. The couple had no children.

In 1932 a second storey was added to the house for the then owner, Mrs. J. Wood of Rockley Road, South Yarra. W.J. Silverwood of Highett Street, Highett was the architect, and C.J. Chincher P/L, 27 Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick was the builder.

John Longstaff, artist, moved in shortly after, and died there in 1941. He was followed by another artist, William Rowell, who died there in 1946.

The house is now part of the East Melbourne Fertility Clinic founded by Bertram Wainer in 1972.