101 George Street, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 101 George Street, The Rocks |
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101 George Street, The Rocks
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| Location | 101 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1838 |
| Architect | William Reynolds |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Regency |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Shop - Phillip's Foote Restaurant; Phillips Foote Restaurant | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1580 |
| Type | Inn/Tavern |
| Category | Commercial |
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101 George Street, The Rocks is a special building in The Rocks, a historic area in Sydney, Australia. It's currently a restaurant called Phillip's Foote. This building was first built in 1838 by William Reynolds. Over the years, it has been a home, a shop, and now a restaurant. It's so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its history and unique style. The building is owned by Property NSW, which is part of the Government of New South Wales.
History of 101 George Street
Early Days and First Buildings
The land where 101 George Street stands has a long history. Early on, it was near the home of the Assistant Surgeon, a very important person in the first days of the colony. Later, Francis Greenway, a famous architect, lived nearby.
In 1838, William Reynolds, who had arrived in Australia in 1817, built the main building we see today. He had received a special permission to live freely and later a full pardon. He also built other cottages and buildings in the area, helping to create homes during a time when many people needed them.
What Was 101 George Street Used For?
Records from 1845 show that the building on George Street was a two-story brick house with nine rooms. It even had an attic! A map from 1841 shows it was once 'Mr Chapman's Butcher Shop'.
Later, around 1858, William Yeoman, a painter and plumber, owned and lived in the building. From 1869 to 1886, he leased it to Thomas Playfair, who was also a butcher. Thomas Playfair was a very important person in Sydney. He became a city council member in 1875 and even served as mayor in 1885! He helped make George Street wider and set up new places for selling livestock. People remembered him as someone who stayed true to his roots in The Rocks and earned the respect of his neighbours.
From Oyster Saloon to Wine Bar
After Thomas Playfair moved, 101 George Street became an oyster saloon in 1887. An oyster saloon is a place where you can eat fresh oysters. It was managed by Frederick Rossich.
From 1885, the building was owned by John Gill, and then by the State government from 1901. It continued to be an oyster saloon until 1906. Many of the owners during this time came from Dalmatia (which is now part of Croatia) and Italy. They often became Australian citizens.
In 1905, Giuseppe Nardi took over the oyster saloon. By 1906, it was also listed as a wine bar. Giuseppe Nardi had an interesting story: he was one of the survivors of a difficult journey from Europe to New Guinea in 1880. When their ship broke down, they were rescued and brought to New South Wales. Some of these families later settled in a place called New Italy.
Small Businesses and Migrants
After Nardi, other Italian migrants like Giuseppe Meani, Casper Schelling, and Alfret Meynet ran the wine bar until 1920. For many migrants, running a small business like this was a great opportunity. It didn't need a lot of money to start, and families could work together. Living in the shop also made it easier, as they didn't have to worry as much about speaking English all the time. It gave them a way to earn money and avoid harder, more dangerous jobs.
Changes in the Mid-1900s
From 1922, the building was rented by different companies, including manufacturing businesses and a newsagent. In 1943, John J. Cohen rented it to repair musical instruments. His business was called "Harmony House." After he passed away in 1965, his wife continued the lease.
Around this time, the top floor was used by the Merchant Navy Allied War Service Association for events. However, the building started to show its age. By 1965, the top floor was considered unsafe, and by 1967, the roof was in very bad shape, causing electrical problems. Rita Cohen, who ran Harmony House, left the building that same year.
Saving a Historic Building
The building then sat empty for a while. In the early 1970s, the Sydney Cove Authority, which managed the area, thought about knocking it down. However, groups like the "Save the Rocks" committee were working hard to protect historic buildings. An engineer checked the building and said that while it had some cracks, it wasn't in immediate danger of falling down. So, they decided to support it with props instead of demolishing it.
In 1971, there were problems with water leaking from 101 George Street into the next-door building. The City Health Department also ordered that rubbish be removed from the empty building.
Even though it was in poor condition, a manager at the Authority argued that the building should be saved. They said that even if the building itself wasn't super famous, it was an important part of the whole historic area.
The Phillip's Foote Restaurant Opens
In 1973, a company called Dredge & Evans, with architect Philip Cox, wanted to open a wine bar in The Rocks. They decided to rent 101 George Street. They started renovating the building in July 1974. The work was extensive, almost completely rebuilding the front and back walls. They made sure to save and reuse as many original materials as possible.
They also had to fix a problem with the buildings next door, which were leaning against 101 George Street. A special support was needed to keep everything straight. A bar from another demolished building was installed inside.
After spending a lot of money on renovations, Dredge & Evans opened the Phillip's Foote wine bar and restaurant in 1976. It was very popular, serving hundreds of meals a day! They even expanded into the area where another old building, Yeoman's Store, used to be. They also created a new outdoor dining area.
Today, Phillip's Foote is still run by the same company that renovated it.
Design and Appearance
101 George Street is a simple two-story brick building. It was built in 1838 and has been changed over time, but always in a way that respects its original look. It has a classic early Victorian Regency style shopfront, which means the front of the shop has a traditional design.
- Style: Georgian
- Stories: 2, plus an attic and a basement
- Roof: Made of iron sheeting
- Floors: Made of timber
Building Condition
As of 2009, parts of the building's original structure may still be found, especially in the cellars. This means there could be interesting historical findings from when the building was first built.
Why 101 George Street is Important
As of 2011, the Phillip's Foote Restaurant and its site are very important to the history and look of New South Wales. It's also a key part of The Rocks area, which is famous for its heritage.
The simple design of the Phillip's Foote Restaurant adds to the unique and historic look of George Street.
Both the Phillip's Foote building and the Cook House (another building nearby) make the streets like George Street, Suez Canal, Nurses Walk, and Greenway Lane look special.
The Phillip's Foote building is a good example of an old two-story commercial building. It's historically important because it has been used for shops and businesses since it was built in 1838. The renovations done in the 1970s by architect Philip Cox helped bring back the building's early look and tell its story.
101 George Street, The Rocks, was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002 because it meets several important requirements:
- It shows the history of New South Wales: The site has been used since 1788. The building itself, built in 1838, shows how businesses grew in The Rocks. It was used by people connected to shipping, like an oyster saloon and a wine bar. It's also important because it was one of the first buildings to be renovated in the 1970s after the "Green Bans" stopped plans to knock down old buildings in The Rocks.
- It's linked to important people: The building is connected to people like William Reynolds (who built it), William Yeoman (a painter and plumber), and Thomas Playfair (a butcher and important city leader). It also shows the history of European immigrants from Dalmatia and Italy who ran businesses there.
- It looks good and shows creative skill: Even though it was rebuilt in the 1970s, the Phillip's Foote building still has a nice, simple design typical of 19th-century shops. It helps keep the uniform look of the smaller shops in The Rocks. The building also helps define the unique, narrow feel of Suez Canal, Nurses Walk, and Greenway Lane, which remind us of how The Rocks looked long ago.
- It's important to the community: Many people who care about Sydney's history value 101 George Street as part of The Rocks area.
- It can teach us more about history: The site might still hold clues about what the area was like from 1788 onwards, when the Assistant Surgeon's residence was built nearby.
- It's a rare example: This building is special because it was one of the very first places to be renovated and saved in the 1970s. At that time, many people wanted to knock down old buildings in The Rocks for new developments.
- It shows what typical buildings were like: The size and look of the Phillip's Foote building are good examples of what commercial buildings in The Rocks were like in the early 1800s.
