The houses were built for two different owners: No 137 was built for Thomas C Wight, printer; and No 139 was built for Alexander Hutchinson. The two men notified the City Council of their intention to build on the same day: 14 February 1859. They chose James Stubbings as builder. Alexander Hutchinson moved around the corner to 87 Grey Street c.1877 when Mrs Catherine Carroll, widow, bought No 139. She lived there with her son, William, and later William's wife, Margaret, and two children, Margaret (Madge) and William. Mrs Carroll acquired No 137 in the early 1880s. It was initially rented out but later became home to members of her daughter-in-law's family, the Kellys. The family lived in the houses until Madge's death in 1967.
At some point the houses had new additions to the front concealing what was presumably a simple and typical 1850s facade. In 1887 The Age advertised the following: John N. Kelly, architect and Licensed surveyor, 53 Chancery-lane, invites Tenders for Additions and Alterations to two Cottages, Simpson-street, East Melbourne.
Whether the ad applied to these cottages is uncertain.
They were demolished c.1874 and replaced by a pair of new two storey units.