55 Victoria Street, Potts Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 55 Victoria Street |
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55 Victoria Street, Potts Point, New South Wales
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| Location | 55 Victoria Street, Potts Point, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1875 |
| Official name: Terrace | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 68 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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55 Victoria Street is a historic building in Potts Point, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was built in 1875 and has been used as a home, a boarding house, and a hostel for women. Today, it is a protected heritage site, meaning it's an important part of history that needs to be looked after. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Contents
A Look Back at 55 Victoria Street's History
The First People of Sydney
The land where 55 Victoria Street stands was originally home to the Eora people. This was the name given to the Aboriginal groups living around Sydney's coast. Specifically, the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora people were the traditional owners of this area. They spoke a language that might have been called "Eora" or a dialect of the Dharug language.
When Europeans arrived in Sydney, the Cadigal and Wangal people faced many challenges. However, their descendants still live in Sydney today. Since the 1930s, many Aboriginal people from all over New South Wales have moved to Sydney suburbs like Pyrmont and Redfern.
How Potts Point Was Settled
In the 1830s, the area from Potts Point to Kings Cross was known as Darlinghurst. It was likely named after Governor Ralph Darling's wife, Eliza. The rocky hill stretching from Potts Point was called Eastern or Woolloomooloo Hill.
Early Sydney was very crowded and not very clean. Important citizens wanted better places to live. Woolloomooloo Hill was perfect because it was close to town and had amazing views. You could see from the Blue Mountains all the way to the heads of Sydney Harbour.
In 1828, Governor Darling decided to divide Woolloomooloo Hill into large plots of land. These were for big houses with huge gardens. He gave these plots to important people in the colony. The first plots were given out in 1828.
The Governor wanted these new homes to be special. He had "villa conditions" that said only one large house could be built on each plot. These houses had to be well-designed and surrounded by beautiful gardens. By the mid-1830s, many "white" villas stood proudly on Woolloomooloo Hill. They looked very pretty from the harbour and the town.
Building 55 Victoria Street
55 Victoria Street was built in the 1870s. It was part of a larger piece of land that Governor Ralph Darling gave to John Busby in 1831. John Busby was a surveyor and engineer. He was one of 13 people who received land on Woolloomooloo Hill. They all agreed to build a big house within three years. This is how the area, which was once rocky and empty, became filled with grand villas by the mid-1830s.
Busby's land stretched from "Woloomoloo Bay" to "Woloomoloo Road." His neighbors included important judges and the Colonial Architect, Ambrose Hallen. Hallen helped plan Victoria Street and Brougham Street. This plan divided the large land grants into smaller plots. This is why the area is so densely built up today.
In the 1850s, the area still had mostly grand villas on large estates. But by the 1870s, when 55 Victoria Street was built, things were changing. Number 55 was built on a narrow, steep piece of land. The area to the north still had large gardens and bushland. People even called it the "Regent's Park of Sydney."
The suburbs of Woolloomooloo and Darlinghurst were growing quickly around the wharves. But the northern part of Woolloomooloo Hill and Potts Point still had large estates.
The land for 55 Victoria Street was originally part of John Busby's grant. Over the years, it changed hands many times. In 1875, Charles Elouis became the owner. The three-story building was likely built around 1877, between 1875 and 1882.
One of the earliest pictures of 55 Victoria Street, taken around 1882, shows the building looking light in color. The McElhone Steps, which are next to the building today, were not there yet.
Charles Elouis lived at 55 Victoria Street for many years, from 1877 to 1880 and again from 1896 to 1906. After he passed away, his wife Alice lived there until 1913. In the early 1900s, the building still looked light-colored. But by 1931, it had changed to the stone colors common in Sydney.
In 1931, the Catholic Women's Association used the building as a hostel. Alice Elouis was still alive but living elsewhere. In 1932, it became a boarding house called Rosmoyne Flats. Later owners also continued to use it as a boarding house and flats.
In 1970, a company bought the building to redevelop the area. This led to a big fight over saving old buildings and protecting the rights of people living there. The National Trust of Australia (NSW) got involved to help protect the building. In 1981, 55 Victoria Street received a permanent protection order. This meant it could not be easily torn down or changed.
Before 1970, the building was mostly in its original condition. However, between 1970 and 1981, some parts were damaged. When restoration work began, some original details were lost. For example, the verandas, windows, and doors were replaced with modern materials that didn't match the original design. The back verandas were removed and not replaced.
Research in 2001 showed that the building was painted cream-brown in the early 1980s. In 1990, it was painted cream and green with gold trim. Today, it has a plain color scheme.
What 55 Victoria Street Looks Like
55 Victoria Street, Potts Point, is a three-story building. It stands right next to the McElhone Steps at the northern end of Victoria Street.
Why 55 Victoria Street Is Important
55 Victoria Street was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it is recognized as a place of historical importance and is protected for future generations.
