Argyle Terrace facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Argyle Terrace - Caminetto's Restaurant
Playfair Street, The Rocks, with the Argyle Terrace in the foreground, and the Cleland Bond Store in the background, pictured in 2012.
Location	13-15 Playfair Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1883–1884
Built for	Thomas Playfair
Owner	Property NSW
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Argyle Terrace - Caminetto's Restaurant; Former Harry's Bar and Sorrentos; Argyle Terrace ( Harrys; Caminettos )
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	10 May 2002
Reference no.	1525
Type	Restaurant (food outlet)
Category	Commercial
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The Argyle Terrace - Caminetto's Restaurant is a special old building in The Rocks, a historic part of Sydney, Australia. It used to be a home but is now a restaurant. This building is located at 13-15 Playfair Street. It was built between 1883 and 1884 for a man named Thomas Playfair. It's also known as Former Harry's Bar and Sorrentos. The building is owned by Property NSW, which is part of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002 because of its historical importance.

History of Argyle Terrace

This area was mostly empty land until the 1870s. The street we now call Playfair Street had different names over the years. It was called New George Street, then Little Gloucester Street, and later Harrington Street. Finally, in 1953, it became Playfair Street.

Early Land Ownership

In 1838, the land where the building stands was given to William Carr and John Rogers. A year later, in 1839, it was sold to Frederick Wright Unwin. He started his "Bonded Stores" (warehouses) there. Later, parts of the land were bought and sold by different people.

In 1874, the land was divided into smaller plots for sale. These plots were advertised as "Freehold City Allotments" and were thought to be good for homes for "small capitalists" (people with some money to invest). Lots 28 and 29, which make up the current site, were bought by William George and Magnus George.

Building the Terraces

The land was still empty until Thomas Playfair bought Lots 28-31. In 1883, he started building two homes at what is now 13-15 Playfair Street. These buildings were first listed as completed in June 1884. They were described as two-story houses with five rooms, made of brick and cement, with iron roofs.

These houses were the last ones built in this group of terraces on Playfair Street. They looked a bit fancier than the others. Early photos show they had decorative details like arches over the windows.

Government Takes Over

Most houses in this area were built to be rented out. This continued until 1901. That year, the government took over the land. The Sydney Harbour Trust became responsible for the site. The Trust was set up after a serious illness (the Plague) hit Sydney in 1900. Its main goal was to clean up the area and use it for businesses.

However, the area had many homes mixed with businesses. So, the Trust also became a landlord, managing the houses and their residents. Many homes were old and run-down. The Trust cleaned up and repaired buildings, including the Playfair Street terraces.

Changes Over Time

In 1936, the Maritime Services Board took control. They made big changes to the port area of The Rocks but didn't change the houses much. By the late 1960s, much of Sydney was becoming commercial, and fewer people lived in the city. The Rocks started to look neglected. Many people thought it should be torn down and rebuilt.

By the mid-1970s, only two of the four terraces still had tenants. One tenant, Mr. Thomas Kane, lived at No. 13 Playfair Street with his daughter and grandchildren.

Saving the Buildings

In 1970, the buildings were given to the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA). At first, they planned to demolish these terraces. They even thought about turning the area into a carpark. But after a visit overseas, the SCRA's director saw how old buildings could be fixed up and become valuable.

So, the plan changed! The SCRA decided to keep the terraces. They turned the houses into commercial spaces, like restaurants. They also developed the back area into Foundation Park. This decision was a big step in turning The Rocks into a popular place for tourists. By the late 1970s, Playfair Street became a lively area for shops, restaurants, and pedestrians. In 1971-72, the SCRA restored these terraces specifically for a restaurant.

What Argyle Terrace Looks Like

These terraces, built in 1883, have a slightly more detailed style than other nearby buildings. Their outside walls are covered in stucco (a type of plaster) and painted. They have Italianate features, which means they have decorative elements like horizontal lines (string courses), a wide cornice (a decorative molding at the top of a wall), and arched window tops. There's a parapet (a low wall) at the front facing Playfair Street.

Even with these details, the buildings show what typical worker's housing looked like in that time. They share many features with other terraces on Playfair Street.

Building Details

• Style: Victorian (Worker's housing)
• Storeys: Two
• Outside Walls: Brick and Cement
• Roof: Corrugated iron
• Floor Frame: Timber

Condition of the Building

As of 2004, the ground beneath the building has been partly disturbed. There might still be signs of old outbuildings that were removed in 1917. The dirt under the floors might have been disturbed. It was filled in 1900 to stop rats and dug out in 1972.

Changes Made Over Time

• 1972: Terraces 13 and 15 were joined together to create a larger space for a restaurant.

Why Argyle Terrace is Heritage-Listed

The Argyle Terrace (Nos. 13-31 Playfair Street) is important because it shows how homes were built in Sydney during the mid-Victorian period. These houses were typical worker's homes built for rent, showing the simple living standards of the time. They were part of an area that became a "slum" (a poor, crowded area) before government efforts improved it.

The houses show many features of worker's terraces built in Sydney during the mid-Victorian era. They are easy for the public to see and visit. The Argyle Terrace also clearly shows how building styles changed. The houses built in 1875-77 were simple, but Nos. 13-15, built in 1883, clearly show the Italianate style.

These buildings, along with the nearby terraces at 17-31 Playfair Street, were part of the very first project by the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority to restore old buildings in The Rocks in the 1970s. The terrace also shows the mix of homes, shops, and businesses that used to be common in The Rocks, especially near the waterfront.

The Argyle Terrace has scientific value because of what might be found under its floors and in the backyard. These findings could tell us about the lives of working-class people and building methods from the late 1800s.

Caminetto's Restaurant and its site are important to the history and culture of New South Wales. The building and site also add to the overall historical importance of The Rocks area itself.

Argyle Terrace - Caminetto's Restaurant was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002 for several reasons:

Important History

The terraces at 13-15 Playfair Street are important because they show how homes were built in the late Victorian period. They were built in areas like The Rocks where people needed homes close to their jobs. They show how land was divided into smaller plots between 1870 and the mid-1880s. These terraces are examples of simple, high-density housing built by developers hoping to make money. The location, with the rock face behind it, shows how hard it was to build in The Rocks due to the hilly land.

These buildings were among the first to be restored by the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority starting in 1972. This project changed how people thought about the history of the area. It also showed a shift from homes being the main use of the area to more businesses and public spaces.

Connection to Important People or Groups

The terraces at 13-15 Playfair Street have been managed by several government groups over time, including the Sydney Harbour Trust and the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority. They are also connected to Thomas Playfair, a local businessman and mayor, who owned the land and built these houses to rent out.

Beautiful Design and Skill

The terraces at 13-15 Playfair Street show how architectural styles changed in the 1880s. Their simple Italianate style at the front is different from the plainer terraces built in the 1870s (Nos. 17-31). Even though parts of the back and some inside walls have been changed, the buildings still feel like their original two-room layout on each floor. They show the simple design expected for rental properties. These terraces stand out on Playfair Street because of their smaller size and location. Along with the nearby Playfair Street Terraces (Nos. 17-31), they show the mid-to-late Victorian development of the area.

Community and Cultural Importance

The terraces at 13-15 have been home to many different tenants and now businesses. They were part of an area that was once a slum but was later improved and brought back to life. This allowed the buildings to continue being part of the social and economic life of The Rocks and Sydney. The buildings are also linked to the work of local community groups and "Green Bans" (protests by workers and environmentalists). These actions helped change opinions about keeping and restoring old buildings in The Rocks. The restoration work in the 1970s was one of the first "restoration" projects by the SCRA.

Potential for Research

The terraces at 13-15, even with some changes, still keep their basic shape and many features of worker's homes from the late Victorian period. With Nos. 17-31 Playfair Street, they show how styles of small homes changed between the 1870s and 1880s. The buildings and site have scientific value because of what might be found under the floors and in the backyards. This could tell us about living conditions and building methods in the late 1800s. Because of their location and current use, they are easy for the public to visit and learn from. The walkways and platforms of Foundation Park and Gloucester Walk also help people appreciate the buildings.

Unique or Rare Aspects

While there are other terraces from the mid-to-late 1800s in The Rocks, these terraces, along with the Atherden Street Terraces, are some of the few groups of simple, Italianate-style rental homes left in The Rocks. Similar examples can be found in other Sydney suburbs like Paddington and Surry Hills. With Nos. 17-31, Nos. 13-15 Playfair Street are the only "residential-sized" buildings left on Playfair Street, which is now mostly larger commercial buildings. They are an important reminder of how the area used to be mostly homes.

Demonstrates Key Characteristics

Even though the back of the buildings has been changed and they are now used for businesses, the terraces are good examples of late 19th-century worker's homes. They were built to be rented out and still keep their basic "home" shape and how they relate to the street.

See Also

• Playfair Street Terraces