On the shale ridges, heavily timbered woodlands contained several varieties of eucalypts while the swamplands and tidal mudflats had mangroves, swamp oaks (Casuarina glauca) and blackwattles (Callicoma serratifolia) after which the bay is named.

A shift in demographics occurred, with younger professionals and technical and administrative people servicing the corporate city wanting to live close by.

[3][1] Monteith was constructed after 1890 as the home of John Henry (known as 'John') Cotter, his wife Margaret and family (they had six sons) who moved in after 1894 and continued to occupy the house until the 1930s when the land was subdivided.

[4][1] Four of their sons had died, two in World War I in Palestine (metallurgist, John, and "Tibby") and two (Lands Department cartographer, William and Tax Officer worker and athlete, Norman) through accidents.

The house was a happy family home with many celebration dinners held in its time, mostly connected with "Tibby", the youngest son, and his cricket tours.

A biography of him, Tibby Cotter: fast bowler, larrikin, Anzac, by Max Bonnell and Andrew Sproul, was published in 2012.

Structures not covered by the initial Permanent Conservation Order, such as the former Stables, were demolished as part of the redevelopment of the Allen Street and former Sydney College of Arts grounds.

[1] During its use as offices attached to a teaching facility only superficial maintenance was carried out by the NSW Department of Public Works & Services (DPWS).

[1] A heritage study in 1995 recommended retention of the remaining garden / rear yard curtilage, with no greater site coverage in buildings than then existing.

It also recommended retention of the College lecture/administration building to the west, noting it provided useful living space on site, possibly in excess of what the then planning controls' would allow.

[1] In August 1998, shortly after his purchase of the property, Mr Scott submitted a section 60 application to modify the existing multiple toilets on the first floor, create a large living area on the ground floor and kitchen fit out, repair the front verandah and repair exterior joinery.

[6] In 2002 approval was given to construct a new swimming pool and fence over the existing rear triple garage in a part of the site already highly altered (in levels, design and with at least one tree removed).

Both actions will help mask the garage from view from the house/garden, which of itself is considered beneficial to some understanding of the former garden/yard's character, albeit truncated by development further west.

[6][1] Monteith is a large two-storey brick residence situated on a rectangular land parcel on the western side of Glebe Point Road.

A small front garden faces Glebe Point Road, with mature trees and shrubs on the northern side of the house particularly.

[1] The house is sited close to Cotter Lane on the southern side of the lot, effectively "urbanising" this boundary space.

[1] A larger rear yard area remains but has been much modified over the years with additions, removals of stables block and other structures.

[1] As at 20 March 2012, (re 2002 rear swimming pool and pavilion approval) no archaeological impacts are foreseen, given the high level of site disturbance by previous redevelopment since 1971, particularly excavation.

[6][1] The former Stables and other structures not covered by the PCO were demolished as part of the redevelopment of the Allen Street and former Sydney College of Arts grounds.

It has aesthetic significance as a fine example of its style and for the contribution it and its grounds make to the streetscape of Glebe Point Road.