55-59 Harrington Street, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 55-59 Harrington Street, The Rocks |
|
|---|---|
55-59 Harrington Street, The Rocks, New South Wales
|
|
| Location | 55-59 Harrington Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1886– |
| Owner | Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority |
| Official name: Terraces; Stafford Terrace; Stafford Apartments; 75 Harrington Street; Clocktower Devt. | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1610 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
55-59 Harrington Street, The Rocks is a special place in Sydney, Australia. It's a group of buildings that used to be terrace houses, which are homes built in a row. Today, they are modern serviced apartments.
This historic site is located in The Rocks, a famous old part of Sydney. The buildings were first constructed around 1886. They have also been known by other names like Stafford Terrace and Stafford Apartments. The government of New South Wales owns this property. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002 because it's an important part of history.
A Look Back in Time
Early Days and First Buildings
In 1807, the land where these buildings now stand was part of a hospital garden. Later, in 1810, a street called Harrington Street was created. A piece of land on the western side was given to a person named William Lea.
By 1835, there were two buildings on the site. One was a brick house with four rooms. The other was an L-shaped stone house, also with four rooms. Over time, these early buildings started to fall apart.
Stafford Terrace is Built
The Lea family owned the property until about 1885. Around that time, both old buildings were taken down. In their place, a new row of seven two-storey houses was built around 1886. This new row of homes was called Stafford Terrace.
In 1891, John Varley was listed as the owner of the land. The name "Stafford Terrace" first appeared in a directory in 1890. At that time, the houses were numbered 9-21 Harrington Street. The numbers changed in 1924 to 47-59 Harrington Street.
Changes Over the Years
The land and buildings changed owners a few times before 1900. In 1900, the NSW Government took ownership of the land and buildings. This meant the government now owned them. The houses were rented out as homes.
In 1940, the northern part of the building, which included four houses, was taken down. This was done to make space for a growing meatworks factory nearby. The remaining houses continued to be rented until the mid-1970s.
Life for the Residents
Records show that many different people lived in these houses in the late 1800s. After the government took over in 1900, tenants usually stayed for about 6 to 8 years. One resident, Alfred W. Moore, lived at 55 Harrington Street from 1902 to 1919. Another, Leslie Petersen, lived there from 1919 until he passed away in 1962. His wife stayed until 1973.
In the 1930s and 1940s, some of the houses were shared by different families. Tenants often had problems with paying rent. They also asked for repairs because the houses were getting old and rundown. For example, in 1946, a resident complained that a nearby factory was blocking their sunlight.
Modern Redevelopment
In the 1980s, the area was redeveloped. The single-storey parts at the back of the houses were removed. The buildings were also updated with new roofs, floors, stairs, fireplaces, doors, and windows. These new parts were made to look like the original ones.
The terraces were first used as temporary homes for construction workers. Today, they are part of a larger building complex called the Clocktower Development. This complex includes 55 serviced apartments, shops, offices, and a car park. The apartments are now known as the Stafford Apartments and have the address 75 Harrington Street.
What Does It Look Like?
The buildings at 55-59 Harrington Street are two-storey homes. They are made of painted brick. The front of the building has tall, flat columns called pilasters that divide the houses. The top of the building has a curved wall called a parapet, with a carved flower in the middle.
The houses have balconies on the first floor and open porches on the ground floor. The windows are double-hung, meaning they slide up and down. The doors usually have four panels with a plain window above them, called a fanlight. There are also french doors that open onto the first-floor balconies.
It's believed that only the front walls, or facades, of the original terraces were kept when the Stafford Apartments were built. The street numbers in this area have changed over time. The Stafford Apartments are now known as 75 Harrington Street.
Updates to the Buildings
- 1986-1987: The iron roofs were replaced with slate. It's thought that slate was the material used for the original roofs.
Why Is It Important?
The terraces at 55-59 Harrington Street are very important to the history of The Rocks area. They are three of the original seven houses that made up Stafford Terrace. Even though they have been changed over time, they still show how they were originally built and used.
These buildings tell us about the lives of the working and lower-middle classes who lived in The Rocks from the late 1880s to the mid-1970s. They show the typical design of terrace houses built in Sydney during that period.
The restored buildings help to keep the historic feel of The Rocks. They are a great way for tourists and students to learn about the past in the heart of this famous area.
Historical Significance
These terraces are important because they show what residential life was like in The Rocks in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. They are part of the old housing in The Rocks and still show their original layout and how they were used, even with some changes.
Connection to People
The terraces are linked to the everyday lives of the working and lower-middle class people who lived in The Rocks for many decades. These three remaining houses have been a part of The Rocks since the 1880s.
Design and Appearance
The terraces are a key part of the look of The Rocks. They create a special townscape along with other nearby buildings and the Harbour Rocks Hotel. The restored buildings make the street feel more human-sized and add to the historic charm of the area. They show the unique style of The Rocks.
Community Connection
These terraces have been a part of The Rocks since the 1880s. They are connected to the changing groups of people who have lived in the area over time.
Learning from the Past
The stone ramp in front of the terraces reminds us of how the land in The Rocks used to look. The restored terraces show how houses were planned in the late 1800s. They also show us how working-class people lived during that time. They are a valuable place for visitors and locals to learn about history.
Common Design
These terraces are a good example of the "standard" terrace house design. This style was very common in Sydney's inner suburbs in the mid to late 1800s.
