In September 1865, Patrick Byrne sold subdivision 3 of suburban portion 179 (19.4 perches) to Thomas McWhinney (sometimes McWhinny or McWhinnie) of Brisbane, for the sum of £63.
The cottage at 59 Birley Street is constructed in Flemish bond brick-on-edge ('rat-trap' bond), a form of construction used in other Spring Hill buildings of the 1860s and 1870s (such as Moody's Cottages in Rogers Street).