[3] The eastern end of Lenah Valley was first settled near the older area of Mount Stuart, when the first land grants were issued for agricultural purposes in 1817.

The Newlands manor house was built in the late 1830s and had surrounding agricultural interest such as orchards.

[4] In 1839, Lady Jane Franklin purchased 130 acres (53 ha) of land in Lenah Valley with the intent of building a museum and botanical garden, which she named Ancanthe, Ancient Greek for "blooming valley".

[5] Built at her own expense in the Greek revivalist style with convict labour, the sandstone museum opened to the public on the 26th October, 1843.

Businesses include Calvary Hospital, the Pura Milk factory (formerly Tasmaid and during the 1960s and early-1970s known as "Baker's Milk"), a brickworks (no longer producing, with the land currently being redeveloped for residential purposes) and a number of private services providers.