A pair of two storey balcony houses. The cartouche on the building's parapet once gave a date of 1913. The date has now been removed but was possibly when the existing facade with cast iron balcony was created. The original form would most likely have had no balcony and a timber verandah to the ground floor.
The houses were built by David Lumsden for himself. He occupied one, and his father, Robert, the other. They were each described in the Rate Books as having five rooms. David was a builder and carpenter and owner of a timber yard in Flinders Street. In 1870 he built four houses in Gipps Street, opposite Darling Square and moved, with his father, into one of them. The Grey Street houses were sold. The advertisement in the Argus described them as
'Nos. 5 and 6 Grey-street, Opposite the Cricket-ground Reserve, between Simpson and Powlett Street ... with the two brick houses ... containing respectively four and five rooms besides detached kitchens and out buildings, nice flower gardens in front, and fruit garden at back, all enclosed.'
John Goulson Burtt became the new owner. Burtt was MLA for North Melbourne for many years. At his death in 1901 he was described as "the oldest remaining pioneer of the eight hours movement". He was a prominent member of the temperance movement. He died at the age of 93.
1859-70: David Lumsden, builder, carpenter, timber merchant, o/o
c.1875-76: John Goulson Burtt, MLA, owner
c.1890: W.G. Brooks, o/o
City of Melbourne i-Heritage database: http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/BuildingandPlanning/Planning/heritagepla...