139-141 George Street, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 139-141 George Street, The Rocks |
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| Location | 139-141 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1881–1882 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classical Revival |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Shops and Residences - stone; three storey stone building | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1595 |
| Type | Shop |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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139-141 George Street is a special building in The Rocks, a historic area in Sydney, Australia. It used to be terrace houses, which are like townhouses joined together. Now, it has shops on the ground floor. This building was constructed between 1881 and 1882. It's also known as the "three storey stone building" because of its look.
The building is owned by Property NSW, which is a part of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
The Story of 139-141 George Street
Early Days: From Hospital to Quarry
The land where this building stands has a long history. In 1788, it was part of Sydney's very first hospital. After the Second Fleet arrived in 1790, a portable hospital was built here.
When the Sydney Hospital moved to a new location in 1816, this land became a government quarry. A quarry is a place where stone is dug out of the ground.
Samuel Terry's Land
In the 1830s, the land was officially given to the family of Samuel Terry. Samuel Terry was a very interesting person. He arrived in Sydney in 1801 as an "emancipist." This means he was a former prisoner who had served his sentence and was now free.
Even though he started with nothing, Samuel Terry became a very successful businessman. He was a merchant and owned a farm. He opened a public house (like a pub) in Sydney. He and his wife, Rosetta, were very good at business. People even called him the "Botany Bay Rothschild" because he became so rich, like the famous Rothschild banking family. When he passed away in 1838, he owned a huge amount of land and money.
The First Buildings on the Site
Around the mid-1820s, Samuel Terry built a row of three buildings on this land. These were the first terrace houses here. They were big, three-story buildings.
These buildings were used as shops, just like today. From the 1840s, we know who rented the shops.
- From 1842 to 1845, a dealer named Isaac Moore had a shop here. He also ran the hotel next door.
- In the late 1840s and early 1850s, the Downes family ran a clothing store.
- Later, in the late 1850s, the building became a boarding house, which is like a guesthouse.
- From 1859 to 1861, it was a drapery store, selling fabrics and clothes.
Changes in Ownership and Demolition
Samuel Terry's wife, Rosetta, owned the property until she passed away in 1858. After some changes, the land was sold to William Reilly in 1860.
By 1866, the original buildings built by Samuel Terry were torn down. For a few years, the land was empty.
The Current Building is Built
In 1877, the land was sold back to William Whaley Billyard. Then, in 1881, it was sold to Leo Ferdinand Sachs. Sachs likely used loans to build the current building, which was finished by the end of 1882.
The new building had two shops facing George Street, known as No. 139 and No. 141.
- In 1885, William Howes, a tailor, rented both shops.
- Later, in 1886, No. 141 was a confectionary (sweet shop) run by Thomas Cripps. No. 139 was a pawnbroker's shop.
The building changed owners a few more times. From 1888 to 1900, Thomas Stephen Small owned it. During this time, No. 139 was mostly a restaurant, and No. 141 had different uses, like a chemist, butcher, and sweet shop. The upper floors were likely used for people staying at the restaurant.
Government Ownership and Modern Use
In 1900, there was a serious outbreak of the plague in Sydney. Because of this, the government took over a large area, including The Rocks and Millers Point. The Sydney Harbour Trust and later the Maritime Services Board managed this area.
Under government ownership, the shops continued to operate.
- No. 139 remained a restaurant with different owners over the years.
- No. 141 was a chemist's shop for many years, run by F. G. Erler and then F. A. Benson. Later, John George Peek, a chemist, leased it until the 1950s. He also leased No. 139 as an optometrist (eye doctor).
In 1987, the owners of the Russell Hotel took over the lease of the two upper floors of 139-141 George Street. They wanted to connect it with their other hotels nearby. However, the ground floor shops continued to be rented out separately. For example, in 1985, No. 139 was a Sheepskin Shop, and No. 141 was Dinallo's Fruit Shop.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) worked to restore and rebuild parts of the building. They also built a new section at the back, known as 30-32 Nurses Walk. This new part added more rooms and connected the building to The Russell Hotel.
What the Building Looks Like
This building is a large, three-story structure made of finely cut sandstone. It was built around 1882 in a style called Classical Revival. This style uses elements from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
The windows on the upper floors have beautiful carved stone details around them. The very top of the building has a high parapet (a low wall) with a large central pediment (a triangular shape, like on a temple). The shopfronts on the ground floor have been changed many times over the years.
The building's front is in a "Neo-classical" style. It has three stories and brick walls inside. The roof is made of iron, and the floors are timber.
Today, the ground floor of 139-141 George Street has shops like Rockhounds and the Sheepskin Shop. The first and second floors are used as hotel rooms, which are part of The Russell Hotel. A newer building is at the back, next to a lane called Nurses Walk.
Building Condition and Archaeology
As of 2001, the building was mostly disturbed from an archaeological point of view. This means that a lot of the original ground underneath has been changed. During renovations, archaeologists looked at the areas under the floors. They didn't find any evidence of structures older than 1881, but they also didn't remove all the old soil.
Why This Building is Important
This building and its site are very important to the history and culture of New South Wales. It's also a key part of The Rocks area, which is important on its own.
A Rare and Old Building
This building is special because it's a rare example of a late 1800s building with a fancy sandstone front in the Classical Revival style. It's located on George Street North, which is one of the best-preserved streets from the 1800s and early 1900s in Sydney.
The site has been used by Europeans for a very long time. It was part of the first hospital from 1788 to 1816. Then, in the 1830s, Samuel Terry built his stone terrace houses here. The building has continued to be used as shops and places for people to stay (like boarding rooms). This shows how The Rocks area grew as a place for residents and visitors.
Connected to Important People
The site is strongly linked to Samuel Terry and his wife, Rosetta. Samuel Terry was an amazing success story. He was a former prisoner who became a very rich merchant and landowner. He was known as "The Botany Bay Rothschild" because of his wealth. He was also a leader in helping other former prisoners and worked to improve society. He supported charities and schools. His funeral was described as the grandest ever seen in the colony at the time.
Samuel and Rosetta Terry show how determined early colonists could overcome challenges and become very successful.
Beautiful Architecture
The building is important for its beautiful design. It's a great example of a late 1800s commercial building in the Classical Revival style, with its decorative sandstone front. It adds to the historic look of George Street North.
Community Value
This building is listed on important heritage registers by the government and community groups. This shows that people recognize its value, both as an individual building and as part of the historic Rocks area.
Hidden History
The site also has the potential to teach us more about earlier uses and buildings that were here before. This makes it important for local history.
Unique Features
The decorative sandstone front of the building is quite rare, especially within the historic streetscape of George Street North.
A Typical Example of its Time
Finally, this building is a good example of a commercial building built in the 1880s, a time when Sydney was experiencing a big economic boom.
Images for kids
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Rear of the former terrace houses located at 139-141 George Street, pictured in 2019. The walkway is The Nurses Walk.
