In the early years this house was at the end of the road, which was known as 'Righthand Gully Road'. Beyond it was a water reserve and a stone quarry. The road was not extended up to Parawa Rd until 1950.

The house was built by Samuel Litheby (sometimes spelt Letheby) and was built in stages. Samuel Litheby arrived in South Australia in 1850 and came down to Torrens Vale (then known as Dairy Flat) not long afterwards. His first wife died before he came to Torrens Vale, and in 1854 Litheby married Maria Mitchell, the widow of Alfred Mitchell and mother of two children. Maria and Samuel had a daughter, Charlotte Maria. Samuel died in 1900 and Maria in 1938. Both were buried in Cockatoo Hill cemetery. The property was inherited by Maria's son George Mitchell, and it remained in the Mitchell family for many years.