Cleland Bond Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cleland Bond Store |
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Playfair Street, The Rocks, with the Cleland Bond Store in the background, and the Argyle Terrace in the foreground, pictured in 2012.
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| Location | 33 Playfair Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1913–1914 |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Cleland Bond Store (part of Argyle Stores); Cleland Store | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1538 |
| Type | Shopping/retail complex |
| Category | Retail and Wholesale |
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The Cleland Bond Store is a historic building located in The Rocks, a famous part of Sydney, Australia. It was built a long time ago, between 1913 and 1914.
Originally, it was a type of warehouse called a bond store. This means it stored goods that had not yet had their taxes (called customs duties) paid. Today, it's a department store and a collection of shops. It's also known as part of the Argyle Stores complex. The building is owned by Property NSW, which is a government agency in New South Wales. It was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002 because of its important history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Cleland Bond Store's History
The land where the Cleland Bond Store stands today has a very long history. It was once part of the garden for Sydney's very first hospital, built in 1788.
Early Land Use
In 1800, the land was leased to William Balmain, a surgeon who arrived with the First Fleet. After he passed away, the lease went to William Gaudry in 1810. Gaudry was a free settler who became a business partner with Henry Kable.
Later, in 1838, the land was given to a group of trustees. These trustees were managing the property for some merchants from London.
From Stables to Store
In 1874, stables were built on the site by Patrick Freehill. But these stables were taken down in 1877. A new 12-foot wide road was created along the southern side of the land.
The land remained empty for a while. In 1900, the government took ownership of the site. Around 1905, a company called Dingle & Co. Ltd. became the tenant, using it as a bond store.
Building the Cleland Bond Store
In 1912, Dingle & Co. wanted more space. So, in 1914, a new four-story warehouse was built for them. This new building was made of brick with an iron roof. It stretched from the existing Argyle Bond to a nearby house. This new part became known as the Cleland Bond Store.
Dingle & Co. eventually closed down in 1933. Thomas McMahon then took over the lease. He was the main tenant until the 1960s, when the building's use started to change.
Changes and Challenges
During its time as a bond store, not many big changes were made to the building. Some electric lights and power points were added in 1935. A stacking machine was installed in 1951 to help move goods. There were also ongoing repairs to the electric lifts.
In 1946, some goods were taken from the Argyle Stores. From the Cleland Bond Store, 400 torch globes were also taken.
Cleland's lease ended in 1965. The building was then taken over by Brambles Bonded and Free Stores. They later rented out the top two floors to other companies. By 1970, the building was empty.
A New Purpose: Conservation and Shops
In 1968, the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) was created. Their first idea was to build new, tall buildings in The Rocks. But people started to care more about saving old buildings. There were protests, which made the SCRA change its plans.
Instead of tearing down old buildings, they decided to adaptively reuse them. This means finding new uses for old buildings while keeping their history. The Rocks was also becoming a popular place for tourists. So, many old warehouses were turned into shops and restaurants.
In 1971, the SCRA asked for ideas to save and change the Cleland Bond Store. They also wanted to restore the nearby terrace houses, which became the Argyle Terrace. The winning idea came from architects Fisher, Jackson and Hudson. This was one of the first big conservation projects for the SCRA.
Work began in December 1971 and finished in February 1973. They removed old walls and added new stairs. They also replaced the old roller shutters at the entrance with strong wooden doors. New gutters, downpipes, and roofing were installed.
More work happened between 1975 and 1980. Ramps were built to connect the Cleland Bond Store to the Argyle Stores. New wooden floors were put in. A concrete ramp was added from Playfair Street, and a new entrance was made to the Argyle Stores.
In the 1990s, the building was renovated again to become a department store. Old shop walls were removed to show off the original brick and timber. New stairs and a lift were added. The ground floor also got a new floor.
The Cleland Bond Store was updated again in 2006-2007. These works even won an award for "Excellence in Construction of Adaptive Re-Use of a Historic Building."
What the Cleland Bond Store Looks Like
The Cleland Bond Store is a four-story building. It's made of strong brick walls and has heavy timber posts and beams inside. It has a simple sloped iron roof with a triangular top section called a gable parapet. This parapet has a large round opening.
The windows on the top floor have wide, semi-circular tops. You enter the store through two large, strong wooden doors in the middle.
Building Condition
As of 2000, the building was in fair condition. There were some small moisture issues on the outside walls.
Archaeological studies show that some parts of the ground beneath the building have been disturbed. However, a large part of the original ground is still untouched. This means it could hold important clues about the past. For example, a box drain from around 1839 was found during works in 1993.
Updates Over Time
- 1971-1972: Conservation work was done. New openings were made, and the old wooden stairs were removed. The floor was opened up to create space for an antique market and other craft businesses.
- 1978-1980: The ground and first floors were updated with new timber floors. A new entrance was made to connect Cleland to the Argyle East Wing.
- 1993: The building was refurbished to create open spaces on all levels. It reopened in November 1995. More air conditioning was added in 1996-1997.
- 1996: Some archaeological digging happened under the floor. Most of the area remains untouched, which is good for future research.
- 2007: The Cleland Bond Store was refurbished again, winning an award for excellence.
Why the Cleland Bond Store is Important
The Cleland Bond Store is very important to the history and science of New South Wales. It's also a key part of The Rocks area, which is famous for its heritage.
Historical Importance
The Cleland Bond Store is part of the larger Argyle Stores. This group of buildings includes some of Sydney's oldest commercial buildings, dating back to around 1826. It also has the earliest building used as a Customs House (where taxes on goods were collected) from 1830 to 1850.
Together, these buildings show how warehouse design and construction changed from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. Even with many changes, the buildings still show their main stages of development. They also show how retail practices have changed over time.
The Argyle Stores, including the Cleland Bond Store, remind us of Sydney's early history. This area was a busy center for shipping and trade in the 1800s. The Cleland Bond Store continued this tradition into the 1900s, showing how important maritime trade remained in The Rocks.
It's also important because it was one of the first historic buildings in New South Wales to be saved and reused for shops and offices by the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority in the 1970s. This shows how early ideas about conservation and saving old buildings developed.
Connections to Important People
The buildings have connections to important people in Australian history. These include John Piper, Mary Reiby, Frederick Unwin, Samuel Terry, and the Tooth brothers. Frederick Unwin was also important in the development of The Rocks area.
Architectural Beauty
The Cleland Bond Store is a strong and well-built example of an Edwardian-style warehouse. As part of the historic Argyle Precinct, its outside appearance adds a lot to the look and feel of The Rocks streets.
Community Value
The Cleland Bond Store is socially important because it's part of the Argyle Stores, a key warehouse complex in The Rocks. The Rocks is one of Australia's most important heritage areas. Many community groups, like the National Trust of Australia (NSW), see it as a significant heritage site. People interested in Sydney's history and heritage also value this place.
Learning from the Past
The building itself is a major source of information about its history. This is especially true because there aren't many old written records. These buildings are thought to be among the first in New South Wales to be reused in a way that respected their historical importance. This makes them a landmark in the history of conservation. They clearly show early ideas about how to save and reuse historic places.
Archaeological digs have found things like a box drain from around 1839. Most of the area under the building is still untouched. This means it could hold even more valuable information for future studies.
A Rare Example
The Cleland Bond Store, as part of the Argyle Stores, is rare. It helps us understand how warehouse design and construction changed over a long period, from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. Not many warehouse complexes in Sydney have such a long history.
A Typical Example
The Cleland Bond Store is a good example of what an early 20th-century warehouse looked like.
