Graeme Skinner in his thesis 'Toward a General History of Australian Musical Composition: First National Music, 1788-c.1860' (2011) describes Rolfe as 'a Sydney [New South Wales] music retailer'.

The Sydney, New South Wales newspaper, Australasian Chronicle (12 May 1841): 2 observes, 'Mr. Rolfe, of Hunter street, has, we perceive, published the music of the new and original little burletta entitled the "Sham Catalani" [The Mock Catalani]; from the celebrity the piece has already gained no doubt the publisher of the music will meet with encouragement.' The music and words of three of the songs from The Mock Catalani were reviewed in the Australasian Chronicle (14 May 1842): 2. In advertisements published in subsequent issues of the Australasian Chronicle in May 1842 Rolfe's address is given as 4 Regent Terrace, Hunter Street [Sydney, New South Wales].