32-36 and 38-40 Gloucester Street facades, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 32-36 and 38-40 Gloucester Street facades, The Rocks |
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32-36 and 38-40 Gloucester Street facades, The Rocks, New South Wales
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| Location |
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| Built | 1885 |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Italianate |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Terrace; Part of development known as 40 Gloucester Street | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1604; 1605 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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The 32-36 and 38-40 Gloucester Street facades are historic building fronts in The Rocks, a famous area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. These facades are what's left of old houses built in 1885. They are considered very important because of their history and design. Today, they are owned by Property NSW, a government agency. These facades were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002, meaning they are officially protected.
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History of Gloucester Street Facades
The area where these facades stand was first mapped in 1807. The earliest building here was a small, four-room stone house with a shingled roof, built around 1857. A sea captain named David Whitebrow and his wife lived there. They rented it at first, then bought it around 1867. The Whitebrow family owned the property until 1901. That's when the government took ownership of it.
More changes happened over time. By 1882, a new three-storey brick building with a slate roof was built. This building was divided into three separate homes. These homes were rented out until about 1980.
Changes to the Buildings Over Time
In 1985-1986, a big office building was planned for No. 40 Gloucester Street. Instead of tearing down everything, the fronts (facades) of Nos. 26-40 Gloucester Street were kept. This work finished in mid-1986. The original street level was brought back, and sandstone was used for the footpath. Stairs were also built from Gloucester Street to Cambridge Street. This was done to keep the traditional look of lanes and stairs in The Rocks.
Another part of the site, Nos. 38-40, also has an interesting past. In 1851, there were two small stone houses here. One of them, No. 38, was pulled down between 1867 and 1869. The land stayed empty until 1883. No. 40 was also demolished around 1880.
By 1884, new tenants were living there. This means a new building had been constructed. It was a three-storey brick house with an iron roof, divided into two units. In the 1890s, these places were used as boarding houses. They were rented out until the early 1980s. In 1985, the front of the building was kept, and the sloped roof was put back. The rest of the building was removed to make way for the office complex at 40 Gloucester Street.
What the Facades Look Like
The facades show different styles from the Victorian era.
32-36 Gloucester Street
The facade at Nos. 32-36 Gloucester Street is a simple, Mid-Victorian style. It matches the height and window style of the nearby buildings at Nos. 24-26 and 28-30 Gloucester Street. The windows are "double hung," meaning they have two sashes that slide up and down. Each window has four glass panes.
How it Changed
- In the early 1900s, Nos. 22-24 Gloucester Street were pulled down.
- Between 1985 and 1986, the facades of Nos. 26-40 Gloucester Street were kept. This was part of building the new office complex at No. 40 Gloucester Street.
- The building at Nos. 42-44 Gloucester Street was demolished. In its place, a new two-storey building was built. It was designed to look similar to the old buildings.
- The original street level was restored, and the footpath was paved with sandstone.
- New stairs were built from Gloucester Street to Cambridge Street. This kept the traditional look of The Rocks.
38-40 Gloucester Street
Nos. 38-40 Gloucester Street is a two-storey building with a basement. It's built in the late Victorian Italianate style and covered in stucco (a type of plaster). Its most noticeable features are the tall, decorated arched doorways and arched windows. These windows have simple "keystones," which are wedge-shaped stones at the top of the arch.
The ground floor windows are double hung, with one pane of glass in the top part and two in the bottom. The upper floor windows are also double hung, but they have four panes of glass. This building was originally three storeys tall.
How it Changed
- In 1983, the facades of Nos. 26-40 Gloucester Street were kept. This was a very expensive part of the new office complex project.
- The building at Nos. 42-44 Gloucester Street was demolished. A new two-storey building was built in its place, designed to fit in with the older style.
- The original street level was brought back, and the footpath was paved with sandstone.
- New stairs were built from Gloucester Street to Cambridge Street. This continued the tradition of lanes and stairs in The Rocks.
Why These Facades Are Important
The facades at 32-36 and 38-40 Gloucester Street are very important to the history and culture of New South Wales. They help us understand how buildings and the area have changed over time.
32-36 Gloucester Street
- A Look into the Past: This facade shows us what street levels were like before a big road change in 1911. It also shows how terrace houses were designed in Australia during the Victorian era. The building was first built to be rented out around the 1850s. It was changed in the 1880s for the same reason.
- Government's Role: The government took over the property in 1900. It was used for working-class housing. In the 1980s, it was redeveloped. The decision to keep only the facade shows how people thought about saving old buildings back then. This approach, called "facade-ism," focused on the look of the building rather than the whole structure.
- Architectural Style: The facade still looks very much like it did in the Victorian period. It fits well with the other old buildings on Gloucester Street. Even though it's now part of an office building, its appearance reminds us of its past as a home. It looks great next to the other old terraces.
- Community Action: The facades on Gloucester Street were saved because of a movement called the "Green Bans." This was when community groups and workers protested against tearing down historic buildings. After the government took over the area, these homes were rented by working-class families. The government also set fair rents, which helped many people stay in their homes for a long time.
- Learning from the Past: While most of the original building was removed in 1986, the facade itself can still teach us things. The National Trust (a heritage organization) believes it can help us learn more about how terrace house facades developed in New South Wales.
- Unique Design: These facades are part of a unique design, even though they fit the common architectural style of their time.
- Good Example: The facade is a good example of the architectural style of terrace houses. Its design has been studied by the National Trust.
38-40 Gloucester Street
- Long History: This facade also has a long history, with people living on this site since the 1850s. It's part of a row of terrace house facades on Gloucester Street that still look much like they did when they were built.
- Showing Change: Like its neighbours, this facade helps tell the story of The Rocks over time. It shows how the NSW Government made changes, like the 1980s redevelopment. The fact that the facade was kept shows how attitudes towards saving old buildings have changed. It also shows how community action can influence government decisions.
- Victorian Design: The facade gives us clues about street levels before a big change in 1911. It also shows the design of Victorian-era terrace houses in Australia. The building was first built to be rented out around 1883. The government took it over in 1900, and it was used for working-class housing. In the 1980s, it was redeveloped, and keeping just the facade was a common way to "conserve" buildings back then.
- Architectural Beauty: The facade still looks very original and detailed. It fits perfectly with the Victorian look of Gloucester Street. Even though it's now offices, it reminds people of its past as a home and adds to the beauty of the street. It also looks great with the nearby terraces.
- Community Impact: The facades on Gloucester Street were saved because of the "Green Bans" movement. After the government took over, these homes were rented by working-class families. The government helped by setting fair rents, which made it affordable for many tenants to stay in their homes for years.
- Research Potential: Even though the original houses behind the facade were mostly removed in 1986, the facade itself is still important for research. The National Trust thinks it can help us learn more about how terrace house facades developed in New South Wales.
- Special and Representative: These surviving facades are unique in their design, even though they fit the style of their time. They are also a good example of the architectural style of terraces, and their design has been studied by the National Trust.
Images for kids
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32-36 and 38-40 Gloucester Street facades, The Rocks
