Philip Austin was the son of John Joel Austin and Sarah Ann Stout, Victoria pioneers. As a young man, Philip received the Medal of the Royal Humane Society after risking his life to save Mrs. Hewetson from death by drowning in Cowichan Lake. He married Dorothy Lemming in 1908 after which time he had the house at 721 Lampson built. Philip worked at Soap Works at the time of his marriage in 1908 and was a Councillor in Esquimalt in 1916. They had one daughter, Dorothy P. Austin.

Philip Austin died in Victoria October 28, 1950. Dorothy lived to 82 and died July 16, 1968.