[2] The house was built by Coleman in 1829, with three large bedrooms and a total area of 14,500 square feet (1,350 m2).

Following Coleman's departure of Singapore due to an illness, the building was leased off to French hotelier Gaston Dutronquoy, who relocated the London Hotel to the house, and turned the dining room in to the Theatre Royal.

The hotel was frequented by Joseph Conrad during his visits to Singapore.

[3][4] The building was turned into the Hotel de la Paix in 1856, and became the personal residence of Teochew businessman Tan Hiok Nee in the 1880s.

[5] The Singapore government offered to buy the house in 1955 for redevelopment.