Completed in 1857, the building has been used by various governmental departments, including the Belfast Board of Works, the Inland Revenue, and an Income Tax Office.

[1] Designed in 1847 by English architect Charles Lanyon, work on the actual building didn't begin until some seven year later under construction firm D. & J. Fulton who finished in 1857 at a cost of £30,000.

In 1861 the building's forecourt was raised to allow greater basement space and a Westward facing entrance was added.

Further changes were again carried out in 1926 when the interior of the central and Southern blocks were removed, a second floor was added above them and the building's original chimneys and Eastern entrance's portico were demolished.

[1] In 2022, Investment firm Straidorn Properties, headed by Co Antrim businessman Neil McKibbin, purchased and fully refurbished the building.