Darling House, Millers Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Darling House |
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| Location | 8–12 Trinity Avenue, Dawes Point, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | c. 1835–1842 |
| Architectural style(s) | Georgian-style Old Colonial |
| Official name: Building | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 842 |
| Type | Historic site |
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Darling House is a very old and important building in Millers Point, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It's now a special home for seniors. The house is located at 8–12 Trinity Avenue and is owned by Dr Shane Moran. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's protected because of its history.
This beautiful sandstone building was built in the Georgian style, which was popular in the early days of Australian settlement. Parts of it were built around 1833 to 1835, and the main house was finished in 1842. The name "Darling House" comes from Governor Darling, who first granted the land. The house is special because it shows us what life was like in early colonial Australia. It's also one of the few old houses in the area that still has its large gardens.
Contents
- A Look Back at Dawes Point
- What Darling House Looks Like
- Why Darling House is Important
- See also
- Images for kids
A Look Back at Dawes Point
Dawes Point is one of the oldest places in Australia where Europeans settled. It was also a busy area for ships and port activities. Darling House has been recently updated and is now a nursing home.
Early Days and Aboriginal History
Before Europeans arrived, the Aboriginal people called this area Tar-ra and Tullagalla. It was home to the Cadigal (or Gadigal) tribe. Later, it was named after Lieutenant William Dawes, an astronomer with the First Fleet in 1788.
Dawes Point is important because it was the site of Sydney's first guns in 1788. It also had Sydney's first cemetery and port facilities. This area is often called Dawes Point or The Rocks.
European activity started here in 1788. Early maps show no buildings until later. Lieutenant William Dawes built an observatory here in 1788. By 1812, there was a wind-powered mill. This mill was sold to John Leighton in 1814. Because of the windmills, this part of Sydney Harbour became known as Dawes Point.
The area was rocky, so it wasn't easy to build houses. But by 1823, people started quarrying stone here. This helped create roads like Argyle and Kent Streets, making the area more accessible. As steam mills became popular, the old windmills were no longer needed. The area then focused on shipping, with many wharves and warehouses. Wealthy merchants and wharf owners began moving to Millers Point and Dawes Point. Lower Fort Street became known for its "respectable dwelling houses."
The First Building (around 1833–1835)
The land where Darling House stands was first given to Susanna Ward in 1823. In 1831, it went to Susanna Elizabeth Douglas. Before any buildings, the site was a sandstone quarry. The stone for the house probably came from this quarry.
The first building on the site was likely a stone house built between 1830 and 1835. We know this because when the land was sold in 1837, it mentioned that buildings were already there. The cost of the land also went up a lot, suggesting buildings were present. The current sandstone house was built over this original building around 1842. Darling House still has some of the original foundations and stonework from the early 1830s.
Building Darling House (around 1840)
The sandstone building we know as Darling House was built by Joseph Farris in the early 1840s. This was a time of economic difficulty in Sydney. It was a large house with eight rooms. Most houses in Dawes Point at the time only had two or four rooms. Farris wanted to build a stylish stone house to fit in with the other grand homes on Lower Fort Street.
The success of shipping and other businesses in the area led to the construction of grand buildings. Sections of Dawes Point became known as wealthy areas. Darling House was built to house the growing number of workers. These workers were connected to the busy wharves along the Dawes Point shoreline. The wharves were growing because of wool exports to England and the whaling industry.
When it was built, the house had a large hallway inside. On the ground floor, there was a dining/living room and two bedrooms. Upstairs, there were four bedrooms. A stone kitchen and breakfast room were at the back.
In the 1860s, verandas were added to the house. The upstairs windows were changed into French doors. These changes were important for Australian architecture. They showed how buildings adapted to the local climate. English houses didn't offer much protection from the sun. But French doors and verandas allowed more air to flow through the house. This helped keep the house cool during hot Australian summers.
Joseph Henry Farris (1807–1859)
Joseph Henry Farris was born in England in 1807. He came to Australia in 1830 as a free settler. Farris quickly became a successful businessman. He was a boat builder, a publican (someone who owns a pub), and a Sergeant in the water police. He was well-known in Sydney and even visited Government House.
In 1832, Farris built the first boat ever made in Australia. He was also famous for owning pubs like the Whalers Arms Hotel. It seems Farris never lived in Darling House himself. He built it as a business venture, along with three other commercial homes. The house was rented out to middle-class people for about 60 years. These residents included artists, musicians, teachers, and police officers.
Famous People Who Lived in Darling House (1842–1900)
The first advertisement to rent the house was on October 12, 1842. It described the house as a "first-rate stone dwelling House" with eight rooms.
Some notable residents included Mr. Canham, a musician. In 1844, he advertised music lessons (violin and flute) from Darling House. He also offered to play at balls and parties with his band.
Mr. John B. Edmonds, a famous book collector and seller, also lived here around 1844. He sold "one of the most splendid collections of Books" from his home.
Doctor Leopold Sachs lived in Darling House from 1861 to 1876. He was a well-known surgeon and doctor in Sydney. He was famous for giving free medical advice to the poor.
Mrs. Rosa Strange lived here in the late 1870s and 1880s. She was a school teacher and ran a school nearby. Her husband, Frederick Strange, was a famous naturalist who went on expeditions with zoologist John Gould.
George Baird Shaw, a Scottish painter and engraver, lived in Darling House around 1857. While living there, he published a detailed engraving of the Lord Bishop of Sydney.
Rosaleen Norton, also known as the Witch of Kings Cross, lived in Darling House when it was a boarding house in the early 1900s. She became known for her unique drawings.
The house originally had problems with bad smells from nearby toilets. The smell was so bad that people had to close the back doors and windows. After Joseph Farris died in 1859, his wife Elizabeth lived in the house. She rented out rooms and kept an aviary (bird enclosure) and goats on the property.
The Plague Outbreak (1900)
The Bubonic Plague hit The Rocks and Dawes Point in December 1900. The first case was a carter named Arthur Payne. The New South Wales Government used this as a chance to redevelop the area. They started a quarantine and cleaning operation.
The Sydney Harbour Trust was formed in 1901. It had wide powers to rebuild, reclaim land, and manage Sydney's port facilities. The Trust took over almost all properties in The Rocks, Dawes Point, and Darling Harbour between 1900 and 1902. This was to clean up the area and stop the plague.
Darling House After 1901
On December 29, 1900, the Sydney Harbour Trust announced it would take over Darling House. This happened in 1901. Darling House was lucky to survive. Many houses in the area were considered unhealthy and were torn down.
After the Sydney Harbour Trust took over, Darling House was quickly turned into a boarding house. The State Government of New South Wales leased out the rooms. In 1948-49, Darling House became a warehouse. Most of the inside walls were removed to allow vehicles to access the back of the house. After that, various companies leased the house. The last commercial tenant was Lep Transport, who even installed a petrol tank. After they left, the property was empty and fell into disrepair.
The southern part of the site was mostly empty for a long time. Local residents from the early 1900s remember it being used as an outdoor cinema and a plasterer's workshop. Around 1918, the site was leased to Charles Rasmussen & Co. They made and repaired barrels and used the site as a store and laundry. At that time, a small brick building with two rooms stood on the land.
Caraher's Stairs
In 1857, Caraher's Stairs were built next to Darling House. These stairs helped local residents get up to Princes Street (where the Sydney Harbour Bridge is now). They were named after Owen Joseph Caraher, a local soap merchant. The stairs were a busy pathway, connecting Dawes Point to central Sydney.
The stairs were used so much that people complained about them being dirty. In 1900, a local committee wrote a letter asking for the stairs to be cleaned daily. They said the stairs were "almost impassable to ladies who wish to keep their dresses clean."
In 1933, the stairs were demolished to make way for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Small parts of the stairway still remain at the northern edge of Darling House. You can still see a piece of the original sandstone wall. The brickwork on the building also shows where the stairs used to be.
Becoming The Rocks Cottage Nursing Home (1994)
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In 1994, Darling House was extensively renovated. A new building was added on the southern part of the land. The goal was to turn the house into an aged care facility. This project was a community effort. It was supported by the community from its opening on October 4, 1994, until 2015.
In 2014, the New South Wales Government decided to sell many government-owned houses in Dawes Point. In 2015, the government also decided to raise the rent on Darling House. This led to the aged care facility closing and the property being sold.
Dr. Shane Moran's Purchase and Restoration (2016)
In February 2016, Dr. Shane Moran bought the empty and run-down Darling House for $7.7 million. He had also helped restore another historic Sydney property, Swifts, Darling Point. Dr. Moran planned to restore Darling House to its original Georgian style. He wanted to turn it into a high-quality seniors' living facility.
The Chairman of the Millers Point Resident Action Group, Mr. John McInerney, was upset about the sale. He felt the government had sold a community facility, making it too expensive for most local residents.
The property underwent a major restoration from 2016 to 2019. The goal was to keep the historic building's original look. It also aimed to make it a modern, luxury home for seniors. The work included replacing the slate roof and installing new cedar woodwork. Original marble fireplaces and old stained-glass windows were also restored. The building was updated with modern technology.
During the restoration, a rare fire insurance mark from the Sydney Fire Insurance Company (around 1844) was found. These marks were displayed on properties to show they were insured against fire. This was important because there were no public fire brigades back then. The mark showed a golden fleece, a symbol of safety and security. This symbol has now been adopted as the emblem for Darling House.
What Darling House Looks Like
Darling House is a two-story house made of sandstone. It has been newly renovated. With a new building next door, it is now a special assisted living facility. It has nine independent suites.
Five french doors open onto a second-story balcony. This balcony has a metal balustrade and veranda posts. The roof is made of corrugated iron and painted with wide stripes. The lower story has four sash windows and an entrance door with a fanlight.
- Stories: 2 (plus attics)
- Construction: Sandstone, Welsh slate roof (newly replaced), cast iron and painted metal balustrading, timber joinery, stained glass windows, heritage marble fireplaces, parquetry flooring.
- Style: Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Late Twentieth Century.
Why Darling House is Important
As of November 23, 2000, Darling House is a mix of old and new construction within a historic setting. It is part of the Millers Point Conservation Area. This area is a well-preserved residential and maritime precinct. It has buildings and public spaces from the 1830s. Darling House shows how buildings were adapted in the 19th century. The building was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Darling House is important for its national, state, and local history. It was on the (now closed) Register of the National Estate. It is also on the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the Sydney Local Environment Plan. Darling House is considered a "crown jewel" of Dawes Point. It is included in other heritage listings for the Millers Point/Dawes Point area.
See also
- Australian residential architectural styles
- Juniper Hall, Paddington
Images for kids
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Darling House facade
