93 George Street, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 93 George Street, The Rocks |
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The Zia Pina Pizzeria shop, pictured in 2019.
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| Location | 93 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Italianate |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Shop, Zia Pina Pizzeria; Built as part of ASN Co Hotel; Zia Pina Pizzeria | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1591 |
| Type | Shop |
| Category | Retail and Wholesale |
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93 George Street, The Rocks is a historic building in The Rocks, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was built in 1891 and used to be a home. Today, it is a shop known as Zia Pina Pizzeria. This building is very important because of its long history and unique design. It is owned by Property NSW, a government agency in New South Wales. The building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002, meaning it is officially protected for its historical value.
A Look Back in Time
Early Days and First Settlers
The land where 93 George Street stands has a very long history. Soon after the First Fleet arrived in 1788, a house was built here. This was the home of the Assistant Surgeon, close to the colony's first hospital.
Francis Greenway's Home
When a bigger hospital was built in 1816, the Assistant Surgeon no longer needed the house. Around that time, Francis Greenway moved in. He was a famous architect who had been sent to Australia as a convict. Greenway worked for the government and lived in the house as part of his job. He stayed there until at least 1834. After he passed away in 1837, the land went back to the government.
New Owners and Builders
In 1838, a lawyer and merchant named Frederic Wright Unwin was given the land. He owned a lot of property in Sydney. In 1839, Unwin leased part of the land to Michael Gannon, a carpenter. Gannon had also arrived in Australia as a convict but later became a successful builder.
Gannon's lease required him to build several strong, three-story houses along George Street. By 1844, he had built many buildings on the land. These included the New York Hotel at 91 George Street and a three-story building at 93 George Street. He also built other shops and a laneway, now called Greenway Lane. This setup, with buildings around a central yard, was common in The Rocks back then.
Changing Businesses and Uses
In 1845, the New York Hotel was described as a "stone and shingle 3 storey hotel of 15 rooms." The building at 93 George Street was a "shop with 6 rooms." The New York Hotel operated until 1861. The building at 93 George Street was first a seaman's boarding house.
Michael Gannon died around 1846. In the early 1860s, the uses of both buildings changed. 93 George Street became a green grocer, selling fruits and vegetables. 91 George Street was used as a warehouse. By 1866, 91 George Street became a hotel again, called the Italian Hotel.
Over the years, 93 George Street had many different tenants. It was a shop, a fruiterer's, and even a boarding house. Chinese merchants, Sun Lee Kee & Co., were tenants in 1869. Mrs. Honorah Lawrence ran a green grocer's shop there from 1877 to 1888.
A Dangerous Building
By 1890, the building at 93 George Street was in very bad shape. The City Building Surveyor, George MacRae, reported that it was "in a ruinous condition and dangerous to the public." He noted that the walls were falling apart, the floors were rotting, and there were many cracks.
The owner's agent, John Lord, said they planned to fix the building. However, the Board decided the building was too dangerous and ordered it to be "taken down forthwith." This meant it had to be demolished right away.
Rebuilding and New Life
Although we don't know the exact date, 93 George Street was demolished and rebuilt soon after 1890. It was rebuilt as a two-story shop with a cellar. The building next door, 91 George Street, was also heavily rebuilt at the same time. This is why both buildings share similar decorations.
In 1891, both buildings were likely under construction. By 1892, 93 George Street was occupied by O'Neill & Co, a clothing outfitter. They stayed until 1907, when it became refreshment rooms.
After a plague outbreak in Sydney in 1900, the government took over many properties in The Rocks, including this one. In 1976, the shop at 93 George Street was renovated. It then opened as the Zia Pina Pizzeria, which it remains today.
Building Features
This building is designed in the Victorian Italianate style. It has two stories and is made of brick, covered with cement. It has a unique garland decoration below its roofline.
The shopfront has been changed a few times. In 1928, Tooth & Co. altered it. In 1983, as part of work on the hotel next door, the 1928 shopfront was removed. A new shopfront, designed to look like one from the 1890s, was built.
Condition and Changes
The building's foundation is mostly disturbed from its long history. There are cellars below the ground floor. The facade, or front of the building, was changed around 1891, then again in 1928, and finally in 1983.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Zia Pina Pizza Shop and its site are very important to the history and culture of New South Wales. It is valued for its beauty, history, and scientific potential. It also adds to the special character of The Rocks area, which is famous for its heritage.
Historical Importance
The site of 93 George Street has been continuously used by Europeans since 1788. This makes it historically significant. The way the buildings and Greenway Lane are laid out shows how towns were planned in The Rocks around the 1840s. The current building at 93 George Street was built in 1890 because the old one was condemned. This shows how people tried to improve city health and safety in the 19th century.
Connections to Important People
This site is important because of its connection to the First Fleet. It was the home of the Assistant Surgeon from about 1788. It is also linked to Francis Greenway, the first colonial architect, who lived there between 1815 and around 1834. The original buildings were built by Michael Gannon, a former convict who became a successful builder in The Rocks. He is a good example of how pardoned convicts could build new lives in New South Wales.
Architectural Beauty
91 and 93 George Street together are a great example of the Victorian Italianate style. They share unique garland decorations. 93 George Street helps create the uniform look of the smaller shops along George Street in The Rocks. Both buildings add to the visual variety of the street. They also contribute to the charm of Greenway Lane, one of the historic pedestrian laneways in The Rocks.
Social Significance
These buildings are socially important because of their long history. They contribute to The Rocks area, which is Australia's most famous heritage precinct. Many community groups and heritage organizations recognize their value.
Archaeological Potential
The site is scientifically important because it might hold clues about earlier buildings and road surfaces. Digging here could reveal information about the 1788 structure lived in by the Assistant Surgeon and Francis Greenway.
Rarity and Representation
The building is rare because it is part of a surviving Victorian Italianate-style hotel and shop in The Rocks. It also represents many other Victorian-era retail shops in The Rocks, showing their common design, size, and uses over time.
