Captain Tench Arcade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Captain Tench Arcade |
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Looking through the Arcade from The Nurses Walk towards George Street, pictured in 2019.
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| Location | 111-115 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1920 |
| Architect | Kell & Rigby (1985 additions to rear) |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Captain Tench Arcade; Captain Tench Arcade (since 1985) | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1537 |
| Type | Shop |
| Category | Retail and Wholesale |
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The Captain Tench Arcade is a special building in The Rocks, a historic area in Sydney, Australia. It has shops, an arcade, and a restaurant. It used to be a home too! This building is located on George Street, which is one of Australia's oldest business streets.
The arcade was built in 1920 and was later changed in 1985 by architects Kell & Rigby. It is owned by Property NSW, a government agency. The Captain Tench Arcade is so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register since 2002. This means it's protected because of its history and unique features.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Captain Tench Arcade
Early Days: From Hospital to Homes
The land where the Captain Tench Arcade stands today has a long history. It was once part of the very first hospital complex in the early colony of Sydney. A brick building, used as a hospital ward and store, was built here.
After the hospital moved in 1816, the land was empty for a while. In the 1830s, a man named William Charles took control of the land. He officially received the land in 1842. His wife, Elizabeth Charles, built a brick house on the southern part of the site in 1832. The land was later divided into three separate sections.
- The northern section (Lot 111) had a small timber house built in 1845.
- The middle section (Lot 113) had a two-storey brick house built in 1841.
- The southern section (Lot 115) had the two-storey brick house built in 1832.
All these early buildings were taken down around 1861-1862.
New Shops and Government Ownership
In 1862, Elizabeth Charles replaced the old buildings with three new, taller shops. These new buildings had three storeys, brick walls, and slate roofs. They were rented out to different small businesses. The Charles family owned this land until 1900.
Then, the NSW Government took over the land. By the end of 1920, the old buildings were cleared away. Two new shop frontages were built to replace the three older ones. This new building is what we mostly see today.
The Rocks Push and Modern Changes
The building at 111–115 George Street was finished in 1920. It was a wide, two-storey building with two shops on the ground floor. The first floor had more space, likely divided into two areas as well. It even had a timber veranda over the footpath.
For many years, especially in the 1970s and early 1980s, the northern part of the building was home to a popular restaurant called "The Rocks Push" or "The Old Push".
In 1985, the building got a big makeover. The ground floor shops were changed to create an arcade, which is like a covered walkway, going through the building. This arcade connects George Street to Nurses Walk. Many of the original parts of the building were reused during this renovation. The upper levels were also updated for the restaurant.
What Does Captain Tench Arcade Look Like?
The Captain Tench Arcade is a two-storey building with brick walls. Its design includes "Art Nouveau Motifs," which means it has fancy, flowing decorative patterns. The roof is made of iron, and the floors inside are timber, with a tiled floor in the arcade area.
Building Condition
As of 2001, parts of the building's underground areas might still hold clues about its past. This is because modern building methods were used, but some older layers beneath the floor might still be there.
Changes Over Time
- 1920: The three old shops were knocked down, and two new shops with homes above them were built.
- 1985: An arcade was added to the front of the building. This created three shops: two facing George Street and one facing Nurses Walk. The upper levels were renovated for The Rocks Push Restaurant.
Why Captain Tench Arcade is Important
The Captain Tench Arcade and its land are very important to the history and culture of New South Wales. It's also a key part of The Rocks area, which is famous for its heritage.
A Piece of Australia's Oldest Business Street
The Captain Tench Arcade is located on one of Australia's very first business streets. It still has its 1920s look, even though the shop fronts were changed in 1985 to add the arcade. Many of the original parts were kept and reused. People who live in the area and tourists value it as a shopping spot in The Rocks. It continues the long tradition of shops being on this site.
Beautiful Design
The buildings are well-designed and are good examples of the "Federation Style" with "Art Nouveau Motifs". This means they show a popular architectural style from the early 1900s with beautiful decorative details. The changes made in 1985 were done carefully, so they don't spoil the historic look of the street or the original buildings.
Clues to the Past
The site has great potential for archaeologists. There might be undisturbed layers of soil and old building parts hidden underground from the 1862 buildings, or even older structures. This could help us learn more about how the area was used in the past.
A Unique Building in The Rocks
While buildings like this were common in Sydney in the 1920s, the Captain Tench Arcade is quite unusual in The Rocks. Most buildings in this area are from the 1800s, making this 1920s building stand out.
