117-117a Gloucester Street, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 117-117a Gloucester Street, The Rocks |
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117-117a Gloucester Street, pictured in 2019.
Houses to the left (south) of the image were demolished to make way for the Cahill Expressway. |
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| Location | 117-117a Gloucester Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1912–1915 |
| Architect | W. Foggitt |
| Architectural style(s) | Australian Federation |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Tenements; Longs Lane Terraces/Precinct (Long's) | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1598 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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The buildings at 117-117a Gloucester Street, The Rocks are a pair of historic terrace houses. They are located in a special area called the Long's Lane Precinct in The Rocks, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. These houses were designed by W. Foggitt and built between 1912 and 1915. They are also known as part of the Longs Lane Terraces. The government agency Property NSW owns them. These houses are so important that they were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.
Contents
History of the Gloucester Street Houses
This area of The Rocks has a long history. In 1839, a man named John Terry Hughes was given the land where these houses now stand. Later, in 1848, William Todd bought the land for others.
Early Buildings and Land Use
Maps from the early 1800s show an L-shaped building on the land. This building was taken down by 1850. A single-story iron building with two rooms was built there next. It was owned by Richard Wilde, a publican (someone who owns a pub). Different people lived in this iron building between 1861 and 1871.
The exact spot where 117-117a Gloucester Street is now was mostly empty. It had an iron shed for a while. Later, this shed was replaced by two shops with four rooms. These shops were later used as stables for horses. In 1872, Richard Wilde had to sell the property. Robert Read Hickson became the new owner.
Even with the stables, the land was mostly empty for many years. In 1887, maps showed a large yard, likely part of stables owned by Patrick Mahoney. He rented the house from 1882 to 1902.
Government Takes Over and Builds New Homes
Around 1900, there was a serious health issue in Sydney. The government took over The Rocks area to stop the spread of sickness. Some old buildings were pulled down. From 1912, the NSW Housing Board started building new homes on the empty land.
The Housing Board was a new government group. It was the first in New South Wales to build public housing. Public housing means homes built by the government for people to rent. The Board looked at ideas from other countries for building homes. They built about 30 homes in The Rocks, including 117 Gloucester Street. These new homes were built by J. H. Thompson, following designs by the Board's architect, W. Foggitt. Charles Smith was the first person to live at No. 117 in 1915.
Changes Over Time
Most of the Housing Board's original buildings were later demolished. This happened to make way for the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the 1920s. More buildings were removed in the 1950s for the Cahill Expressway, a big road. Only a few buildings from that time remain, including 117 Gloucester Street.
People continued to live in No. 117 through the 1970s. The last tenant moved out in the 1980s. After that, people without permission lived in the building. During this time, many parts of the house were damaged or stolen.
Between 1994 and 1995, a lot of work was done to fix and restore the building. Workers made it stable, fixed the front and roof, and put in new floors. They also rebuilt parts like wooden fittings and plaster walls. Today, the house is divided into two separate homes. These homes are rented out to people.
What the Houses Look Like
117-117A Gloucester Street is part of the Long's Lane Precinct. This area has many old houses, backyards, and small laneways from the 1800s and early 1900s. 117 Gloucester Street is the only remaining example on Gloucester Street of the homes built by the NSW Government Housing Board.
Architectural Style and Features
The building still has most of its original design and details. It shows the Edwardian / Australian Federation architectural style. It has three stories and an iron roof.
One interesting thing about the design is the use of reinforced concrete. This strong material was used for the main structure. Cement was also used for decorative parts like skirtings (baseboards) and cornices (decorative moldings). This was an early use of these building methods.
Condition and Restoration
As of 2001, the building was in good condition after restoration. Before the restoration, archaeological digs were done in some parts of the building. These digs helped uncover information about how people lived there in the past.
Major restoration work happened between 1992 and 1997. This work helped save the Long's Lane precinct, including these houses.
Why These Houses Are Important
117-117a Gloucester Street is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's officially recognized as a very important historical site.
Historical Importance
These houses are important because they show how the Long's Lane area has changed over time. This area is special because it has many old homes, laneways, and backyards from the 1800s and early 1900s.
117 Gloucester Street is also important because it's one of the few remaining buildings from a big public housing project. This project was built by the NSW Housing Board. This Board was the first government group in New South Wales created just to build and manage public housing. Their work shows how the government started to play a bigger role in helping people in the early 1900s.
The story of the houses falling into disrepair and being occupied by squatters also tells us about how The Rocks changed. The government's decision to restore the building for homes shows how much people cared about saving heritage in the area.
Design and Beauty
117 Gloucester Street is a great example of the Edwardian / Australian Federation architectural style. It shows how this style was used for new types of buildings in the early 1900s. The design was inspired by public housing in Europe. But it also has Australian features like verandahs (porches) and flat roof terraces. It even has Australian designs like the waratah flower in its plaster vents.
The building looks great on Gloucester Street. It fits well with other historic terrace houses nearby. It adds a lot to the overall look of the Long's Lane Precinct.
Research Value
These houses are valuable for learning about how homes, especially public housing, developed in New South Wales. The archaeological finds at 117 Gloucester Street help us understand what life was like in The Rocks a long time ago.
The restoration work itself was also important. It showed how to carefully restore old buildings based on original materials.
Rarity and Uniqueness
117 Gloucester Street is one of the few buildings left from a much larger development. Most of the other buildings were pulled down. Along with a few others, it's one of the very few public housing buildings built by the NSW Housing Board that still exist.
The Long's Lane Precinct is also very special. It's probably unique in Sydney and New South Wales. It's a rare collection of 19th and early 20th century buildings with their original laneways and backyards.
Example of a Type of Place
117 Gloucester Street is a good example of early 20th century tenement housing. It's part of the Long's Lane precinct, which is an important area. This precinct shows what a 19th-century townscape in The Rocks looked like, with its intact backyards and laneways.
