East Melbourne, Grey Street 037-039

Number 37 was built for William Kelly in 1860 on land 40ft. x 70ft. According to the Rate Books it had three rooms. In 1867 William Kelly registered a notice of intention to build extensions and alterations to the house. It then became five rooms. The land size was reduced to 20ft x 70ft coinciding with the appearance of a similar five roomed house on the excised vacant block (No. 39). There is no notice of intent to build the second house; perhaps it was considered to be part of the extensions to first house. The Rate Books indicate that both were extended to six rooms in 1890. The will of Anna Maria Kelly, William's wife, reveals that by 1885 the couple had separated. She remained living in the house and he moved to Queensland. Anna Maria died owning no real estate. William died in 1913 also owning no real estate. It would seem that he sold the houses in Grey Street when his wife died.
In 1936 the cottages were the subject of an article in the Argus explaining how shabby old cottages could be brought up to date to provide better housing for the low paid worker. The article has before and after illustrations and gives a good description of the work carried out. The architects responsible for the makeover were H.H. and F.B. Kemp. [Argus,11 June 1936, p.15]