121 George Street, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 121 George Street, The Rocks |
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121 George Street, The Rocks is located at the extreme right of the image, being one of the terrace houses rendered in light green
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| Location | 121 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1880 |
| Built for | Thomas Playfair |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Free Classical |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Shop and Residence - Bakers Oven; Baker's Oven - Shop and residence | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1588 |
| Type | Shop |
| Category | Retail and Wholesale |
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121 George Street, The Rocks is a special old building in The Rocks, a historic area in Sydney, Australia. It was built in 1880 for a man named Thomas Playfair. This building used to be a home with shops, and it's also known as the Baker's Oven - Shop and residence. Today, it's owned by Property NSW, which is part of the Government of New South Wales. Because it's so important to history, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.
A Look Back in Time
The very first big building on the western side of George Street was a hospital, built in July 1788. It was thought to be "well clear of town" back then. By 1802, the hospital had three parts. The land where 121 George Street now stands was part of the hospital's yard and gardens.
Early Days: William Davis's Land
When the hospital moved, the land became available for people to build on. A man named William Davis, who arrived in Australia in 1800, claimed the spot where 123-125 George Street now is. He was a blacksmith.
William Davis and his wife, Catherine, did well in the new colony. By 1816, when the hospital closed, Davis was a successful pub owner and had land. He got official ownership of his land in 1834. Davis passed away that same year.
His nephew, John Davis, took over the George Street property. He built a house behind it. The front part of the land on George Street stayed empty for a long time. Later, Henry Byrnes bought the property around 1877. He rented out the shops to people like a greengrocer and a shoemaker. These shops were taken down in 1881.
Thomas Playfair's Big Plans
Thomas Playfair came to Sydney in 1859 as a sailor. He decided to stay and became a butcher. By 1862, he had his own butcher shop. He sold meat to ships in Sydney Cove and became very successful.
Playfair also got involved in local government. He was elected to the Sydney City Council in 1875 and even became the Mayor of Sydney in 1885. He also served in the state government. As he became richer, Playfair started buying land and buildings in The Rocks.
In 1880, Thomas Playfair bought the land at 121 George Street. He also bought the two blocks next to it. He built a two-storey shop with a home above it at No. 121. In 1882, he built two more shops at 123 and 125 George Street. He made the front of No. 121 look the same as the new shops, so they all looked like one big building. Playfair owned the property until the NSW Government took it over in 1900.
The Government Takes Over
In 1900, there was a health scare in Sydney because of the bubonic plague. The first cases were found in The Rocks. Because of this, the government decided to take control of almost all the properties in The Rocks and Darling Harbour. This included 121 George Street. The government then created the Sydney Harbour Trust in 1902 to manage the area.
Even though the government took over, many of the shop owners stayed. Later, different government groups managed the area, like the Maritime Services Board and the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority. In the 1970s, there were plans to knock down buildings like 121-125 George Street. But people protested, and many historic buildings were saved. Today, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority looks after and protects this important area.
What the Building Looks Like
No. 121 George Street is a two-storey building used for businesses. It looks like it's part of a group of three shops with the same front design. Actually, No. 121 was built first, but its front was changed to match the other two when they were built in 1882.
The front of the building is in a style called Victorian Free Classical. This style was often used for shops to make them look fancy and important. It has decorative plasterwork on the walls.
- Style: Victorian Free Classical
- Storeys: 2
- Roof: Made of corrugated iron
- Floors: Timber with vinyl and carpet
- Ceilings: Plasterboard or timber boards
Building Condition
The outside and inside of the building are in good shape. It's important to keep the roof well-maintained so the building stays dry.
Changes Over Time
- 1882: The front of the building was changed to match 123 and 125 George Street.
- 1922: A new part was added at the back. It had a hipped roof and was used as a bakery with a big oven.
- Around 1977: The building was updated a lot. The bakery part was changed into a living room and bathroom for people to live in. It has been changed more since then to be a cafe and sandwich shop.
- 1982: The street awning (the cover over the footpath) was rebuilt, and the top part of the wall (the parapet) was fixed.
- 1980s: The front of the building was restored to its original look.
Why This Building is Special
No. 121 George Street is a great example of a business building from the Victorian era. It was built in 1880 by Thomas Playfair as an investment and has always been used for businesses. The building can teach us about old building methods and how people lived.
The old bakery, built in 1922, is a rare find. It shows us the tools and skills used for baking long ago. Even though some parts are gone, you can still see parts of the brick oven and the tools used with it. This building is a key part of The Rocks' history, showing how the area grew, especially because of its close link to the harbour.
The Shop and Residence - Bakers Oven was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002 because it meets several important rules:
A Glimpse into the Past
This building, built in 1880, shows how businesses grew in The Rocks, especially near the harbour. It's connected to how the area changed over time. It has been used as a business since it was built. It also shows how shops and homes were often combined in The Rocks and other parts of Sydney.
Important People Connected to the Building
No. 121 George Street is linked to Thomas Playfair, who was the Mayor of Sydney in 1885. He was a butcher who bought many properties in The Rocks, including this one. The building is also connected to William Davis, an Irish convict who helped the Catholic Church get started in Sydney.
Its Unique Look
The front of the building is a beautiful example of the Victorian Free Classical style. It was designed to make a simple shop and home look grand. It also helps the building look like one big property with the two next door. Its size and how it sits on the street are typical of the business area along George Street in The Rocks. The front has stayed mostly the same since 1882.
A Place for Everyone
This building has always been a place of business since 1880. It has been a hairdresser's, a tobacco shop, a bakery, and a small shop. Since 1977, it has been a sandwich shop called The Baker's Oven. It shows how shops and homes were often together in The Rocks and Sydney.
What We Can Learn From It
Even with changes, the building can tell us about how commercial and residential buildings were set up in the late Victorian era. It also shows us how people lived back then. Parts of the old baker's oven are still there, including the brick oven and old baking tools. The ground under the building might also hold clues about early European life in the area.
Rare Finds and Hidden Stories
The ground under the site might have old things from when Europeans first settled there. The parts of the baker's oven that are still there are rare examples of an old brick oven and its tools.
A Typical Building of Its Time
No. 121 George Street is a good example of the buildings found in The Rocks from the 1800s. It's a Victorian business property built in the Free Classical Style, and it has always been used for shops since 1880. Its size and how it lines up with the street are typical of the businesses along George Street. This building is part of the rich history of The Rocks, which is loved by locals and visitors. It shows how closely connected homes and businesses were in The Rocks in the 1800s.
