The house was designed by EC Choinier in 1904 for Ohlsson's Breweries. The first occupant was Robert Kantor, their manager, who had been extensively involved in provisioning the Imperial Military Railways during the war. Thirsty soldiers gave a major impetus to local breweries including Ohlsson's which bought Thoma Breweries in Braamfontein in 1902 and by 1906 had built a much bigger plant, LION Breweries.