The building was designed as a drill hall for 'A Company', 5th (Perthshire Highland) Volunteer Battalion, The Black Watch and completed in around 1895.

[2] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to Ireland in May 1918[3] and subsequently being disbanded in 1919.

[2] Shortly before the First World War, the headquarters of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry was also established at the drill hall.

[4] The 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to Gallipoli and ultimately to the Western Front.

[6] A re-organisation of the Territorial Army took place in 1969 and a rifle platoon of Headquarters Company, 51st Highland Volunteers was formed at the Hunter Street drill hall at that time; the rifle platoon was expanded to create 'B (The Black Watch) Company', 1st Battalion, 51st Highland Volunteers also at the Hunter Street drill hall in 1971.