113-115 Gloucester Street, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 113-115 Gloucester Street, The Rocks |
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113-115 Gloucester Street, pictured in 2019. Long's Lane is located to the right of 113 Gloucester Street, at right of image.
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| Location | 113-115 Gloucester Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1881 |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Terrace; Longs Lane Terraces/Precinct | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1601 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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113-115 Gloucester Street, The Rocks is a special old house in The Rocks, a historic area in Sydney, Australia. It's a type of building called a terrace house, which means it's one of several houses joined together in a row. This building is part of the Long's Lane Precinct, a group of old buildings and lanes. It was built in 1881 and is now owned by Property NSW, a government group. This house is so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which protects special places.
History of the Gloucester Street Houses
This area has been used for a very long time! Maps from the early 1800s show buildings here. By 1822, there was a small building on this exact spot.
Early Owners and Buildings
In 1839, a former convict named William Long was given the land. He had arrived in Sydney in 1815. By 1829, William Long was a successful businessman, selling wine and spirits. He also owned pubs.
Before William Long officially owned the land, his wife, Mary Long, had inherited part of it in 1825. Early maps show just one building, but by 1831, another building appeared on the corner of Gloucester Street and Long's Lane.
By 1845, there were three small houses on the site. Each had two rooms and a shingled roof (made of wooden tiles). By 1848, these houses were described as being in "bad repair," meaning they were falling apart.
New Houses Built in the 1880s
Around 1881-1882, the old, damaged houses were pulled down. In their place, two new, two-storey terrace houses were built. These new houses had five rooms each (later six) and slate roofs. These are the houses you see today! They also had small buildings and yards at the back.
The houses were always rented out to people. One interesting person who lived at No. 113 was Joseph Law, also known as Joseph Ah Chong. He was a Chinese interpreter who worked for the government. He lived there from 1885 to 1902 with his wife, Margaret Gratrix, and their many children (they had up to 18!).
Government Ownership and Changes
In 1900, the NSW Government took over the area, including these houses. This happened after an outbreak of bubonic plague in Sydney. The government wanted to clean up and improve the area. Even though The Rocks became known for the plague, only a few people from The Rocks actually died from it.
Over the years, many buildings in The Rocks were demolished for big projects. For example, some were removed for the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the 1920s. Later, in the 1950s, more houses were pulled down for the Cahill Expressway.
The houses at 113-115 Gloucester Street continued to be rented out by the government until the mid-1980s. Around this time, the back parts of the houses were removed, and the buildings were boarded up. People without homes, called squatters, lived there, and the houses were damaged. By the 1990s, they were in very bad shape.
Restoration and Modern Use
From 1994 to 1995, a lot of work was done to fix up the houses. They made them strong again, restored the front, fixed the roofs, and put in new floors. They also rebuilt parts like the joinery (wooden fittings) and plastering, making them look like they did originally. New back sections were built, but with modern kitchens and bathrooms inside.
Today, these houses are rented out to people again. Other buildings in the Long's Lane Precinct were also restored, and this work won an award in 1998 for excellent urban design.
About the Houses
113-115 Gloucester Street is part of a group of old houses, yards, and lanes in The Rocks. These houses are good examples of a "Victorian terrace" from the 1880s, a common style in Sydney back then. A big feature is the large verandah (a covered porch) facing Gloucester Street.
An interesting fact about these houses is that their walls don't always meet at perfect right angles. This is because they were built to perfectly fit the shape of the land they were on.
- Style: Late Victorian terrace
- Storeys: 2 (two floors)
- Roof: Originally made of slate
Condition and Changes Over Time
The houses have been studied by experts. In 1994, some digging was done to learn about the history of the site. They found things from 1881 up to the 1930s in the kitchen areas.
Here are some of the changes that have happened:
- 1989: The back parts of the houses were taken down.
- 1920s: Doors, windows, and possibly electricity were added or replaced.
- 1992-1997: The whole Long's Lane area, including these houses, was carefully restored.
Why These Houses Are Special
These two houses and their land are very important to the history and science of New South Wales. They are also important because they are part of The Rocks area, which is special on its own.
Historical Importance
The houses at 113-115 Gloucester Street help us understand how The Rocks changed in the 1800s and early 1900s. The Long's Lane area is rare because it still has its old lanes and backyards. These houses show how people lived in Sydney during the 1880s when the area was growing fast. Their story, from being run-down to being restored, shows how people's views on protecting old buildings have changed.
Connection to People
These houses are connected to William Long and his family, who owned the land. They are also linked to the many families who lived there over the years. Joseph Law, the Chinese interpreter, lived at No. 113 from 1885 to 1902. This makes the house important for understanding the history of Chinese people in Australia and how different cultures connected.
Beautiful Design
The houses are a good example of the Victorian terrace style from the 1880s. Because of the restoration work in the 1990s, we can now see how they originally looked. They add a lot to the look of Gloucester Street, fitting in with other old terrace houses nearby. They are a key part of the Long's Lane Precinct, which is a beautiful collection of 19th and early 20th-century buildings, lanes, and yards.
Community and Culture
Because they are part of The Rocks, these houses are valued by people interested in Sydney's history. No. 113 Gloucester Street is especially important to the Chinese Australian community because Joseph Law, a Chinese interpreter, lived there.
Learning from the Past
The land under 113-115 Gloucester Street can teach us a lot about early European settlement in Sydney, even before the 1830s. Digging up the site has given us valuable information about life in The Rocks a long time ago. The restoration work itself was very careful and traditional, showing how old buildings can be brought back to life.
Unique Features of Long's Lane Precinct
While 113-115 Gloucester Street itself isn't unique, the whole Long's Lane Precinct is very rare. It's a special group of 19th and early 20th-century buildings, lanes, and backyards that you won't find anywhere else in Sydney or New South Wales. It shows what The Rocks looked like in the 1800s, with its old lanes and yards still intact.
