East Melbourne, Simpson Street 172, 174

A pair of attached double-fronted houses built by Martin Hood for himself in 1862.  Hood was born in Ireland and was a devout member of the Irish Catholic community.  He joined the St Patrick’s Society from his first arrival and was its president on many occasions.  He was also a teetotaller making him an unexpected manager of a brewery.  [For further on Martin Hood’s life see links to obituaries below]. He built a second pair of houses on the neighbouring block in 1870.

Hood lived at No 174 until his death in 1909.  The other house was tenanted.  At the time of his death the inventory of assets compiled as part of his probate described the houses as:- 
172. Brick dwelling. 5 rooms and kitchen, bathroom, washhouse
174. Brick dwelling. 9 rooms. Kitchen, bathroom under one roof (slate) attached to No 172.
All sewered.
Each building is in a very bad state of repair and requires immediate attention. 

After his death the houses remained in his estate until approximately 1937 when Edith Isabel Murray became owner and both houses became rental properties. Charlotte Sweet was the next owner.  

About 1960 the property was bought by Central Neger Properties Pty Ltd and the houses were demolished two years later along with the neighbouring properties at Nos 158 and 162 to make way for the existing small apartment block currently known as Birches.