This house was designed by Crouch and Wilson and built by John O’Dea for Lawrence Benjamin, a clothier with premises in the ‘Beehive’ building at the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets, opposite the General Post Office. He notified the Council of his intention to build on 6 April 1881 but on 4 February 1882 the house was advertised for sale on account of the owner going overseas.