Fitzroy Terrace, Redfern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fitzroy Terrace |
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6 Pitt Street, part of Fitzroy Terrace, 6-18 Pitt Street, Redfern, New South Wales
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| Location | 6-18 Pitt Street, Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Architect | James Hume |
| Official name: Fitzroy Terrace; Fitzroy Crescant | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 83 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Fitzroy Terrace is a group of historic homes located at 6-18 Pitt Street in Redfern, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was designed by architect James Hume. These homes are also known as Fitzroy Crescent. They are privately owned and were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because of their important history and design.
Contents
Discovering Redfern's Past
Early Days of Redfern
The area we now call Redfern was once a natural landscape of sand hills and swamps. The Cadigal people, who are the traditional owners of this land, valued it for its rich supply of food.
The name Redfern comes from an early land grant given to William Redfern in 1817. Before that, the area was known by other names like Roberts Farm.
William Redfern's Story
William Redfern (1774–1833) was a surgeon's assistant in the Royal Navy. He was involved in a protest by sailors in 1797. Because he advised the men, he was included among the leaders who faced a military trial. He was sentenced to death but was pardoned due to his young age.
In 1801, he arrived in Sydney as a convict. He worked as an assistant surgeon on Norfolk Island. In 1803, he received a full pardon. He returned to Sydney in 1808 and became an assistant surgeon after showing his medical skills.
In 1816, he took charge of the new Sydney Hospital. He also had his own private medical practice. He suggested that all ships carrying convicts should have a surgeon on board to look after the prisoners' health. This important idea was put into practice.
William Redfern left government service in 1819. Even though he had done valuable work, some people looked down on him because he had been a convict. However, Governor Macquarie was his friend.
In 1818, Redfern received a large land grant of about 526 hectares (1,300 acres) in the Campbelltown area. By the time he died in 1823, he owned over 9,300 hectares (23,000 acres) in New South Wales.
Redfern's Land and Early Homes
In 1817, William Redfern was granted about 40 hectares (100 acres) in the area that is now Redfern. This land was roughly bordered by today's Cleveland, Regent, Redfern, and Elizabeth Streets.
Redfern built a comfortable country house on his land, surrounded by beautiful gardens. His neighbours included John Baptist, who had a plant nursery, and Captain Cleveland, an army officer.
Redfern's Growth and Industry
In 1849, a new law called the Sydney Slaughterhouses Act was passed. This law made certain businesses, like tanneries and meat processing plants, move out of the city. Many of these businesses moved to Redfern and Waterloo because they needed access to water.
By the late 1850s, Redfern was a busy suburb with 6,500 people. Most houses were made of timber back then.
In 1858, a law allowed districts to form their own local governments. Redfern Municipality was officially created on 11 August 1859. The Redfern Town Hall opened in 1870, and the Albert Cricket Ground opened in 1864. The Redfern Post Office started in 1882.
Redfern and the Railways
Sydney's first railway station was built in an area known as the Cleveland Paddocks. This station was named Redfern to honour William Redfern. In 1874, a new brick and stone station replaced the original one.
When the main Central railway station was built later, the name of the old Redfern station was changed to Redfern railway station. The name Eveleigh was kept for the large railway workshops nearby.
Redfern's Changing Face
In 1879, Redfern saw the first double-decker tram in Sydney. It travelled from the old Redfern station to the city centre.
By the 1870s, Chinese market gardeners began to lease land in the area. They soon became very important in the market gardening trade.
The Eveleigh railway workshops became one of the biggest employers in New South Wales by 1886. By the end of the 19th century, Redfern was a working-class suburb with many factories. These factories, along with breweries like Reschs, attracted many new people.
The Syrian and Lebanese communities began settling in Redfern and Surry Hills in the 1880s. Today, Redfern still has a diverse population, including many people from Lebanon and a large Aboriginal community.
In the 1940s, a large part of Sydney's industrial activity was located near Redfern station. Even though Redfern is still a busy inner-city suburb, some of its services have changed over the years.
Fitzroy Terrace: A Historic Home
The Land's Journey
Fitzroy Terrace stands on land that was first granted in 1794. This land was later sold to different owners. Eventually, it was owned by Mrs. Sarah Wills, who married George Howe, the editor of the Sydney Gazette. Her eldest daughter married Dr. William Redfern.
Dr. Redfern combined his wife's land with his own, and Governor Macquarie issued a new land grant in 1816. This 40-hectare (100-acre) estate gave its name to the suburb of Redfern that grew around it.
Building Fitzroy Terrace
Redfern's large estate was divided into smaller blocks and put up for sale in 1834. In 1842, the land was surveyed and divided into allotments. Lots 10 and 12 were sold to Mr. John Alexander, who developed the land.
The Sydney Morning Herald advertised Fitzroy Terrace on 12 August 1846. The advertisement described the houses as two-storey homes with four rooms, a separate kitchen, pantry, and servant's room. They were well-built and had a good water supply, large backyards, and space for a front garden.
It is believed that Fitzroy Terrace was named after Governor Fitzroy, who arrived in Sydney shortly after the homes were finished. The advertisement also shows that James Hume, an important architect in Sydney during the 1840s, designed the terrace.
James Hume's Architectural Legacy
James Hume designed several important buildings, including churches in Wollongong and Goulburn, and the Sydney Synagogue. He also worked on St. Andrew's Cathedral.
Fitzroy Terrace might be the only building designed by Hume that is still standing today. Its design shows influences from the Regency style, making it a very rare example of its kind and of Hume's work.
Early residents of Fitzroy Terrace in the 1840s, 1850s, and 1860s were mostly middle-class professionals, such as lawyers, accountants, and engineers.
Gardens of Fitzroy Terrace
The front gardens of Fitzroy Terrace homes have cast iron fences, stone walls, and tiled paths. At 18 Pitt Street, a frangipani tree and an elm tree were planted in the garden. The rear gardens also have old Port Jackson fig trees.
What Fitzroy Terrace Looks Like
Fitzroy Terrace is a group of seven two-storey homes. They were designed by James Hume in 1846 in the colonial Georgian style. The buildings are made of brick covered in stucco, made to look like stone blocks. The middle three houses stick out slightly and have a pointed roof.
The ground floor has a verandah supported by simple wooden posts. Many of the verandah roofs have been replaced with timber shingles. The main roofs are partly slate, with other parts made of corrugated iron or terracotta tiles.
The homes have simple details, including original six-panel windows and six-panel entrance doors. The central homes have French doors with glass panels that open to the front garden. Inside, the houses have two rooms upstairs and two downstairs. They still have their original wooden doors, fireplaces, and stairways. Servants used to access a room above the kitchen through a trap door.
The houses are set back from Pitt Street, with tiled paths and iron fences. At the back, the separate kitchen buildings have been connected to the main houses. Most houses still have their outdoor toilets facing the back lane. Over the years, many additions have been made to the back of the houses.
Condition and Changes
How the Buildings Are Today
Fitzroy Terrace has survived well, partly because Redfern experienced less new development in the early 20th century. The buildings are in good condition, and some have been partly restored. There is potential for them to be fully restored.
Homes No. 16 and No. 18 have been nicely restored. The other homes are in reasonable condition. Using the same roofing materials and colours across all the terraces could make the whole building look even better.
Modifications Over Time
Because each house is owned separately, some changes have been made over the years. Originally, the terrace was painted an earthy yellow colour, and the window frames were a soft green. The front doors combined these two colours. Shutters were once on the ground floor windows, likely painted dark green.
Recently, the verandah enclosures have been corrected. Most changes have happened at the back of the buildings. For example, an elm tree at 18 Pitt Street was removed in March 2013 because it was not healthy.
Why Fitzroy Terrace is Important
Historical Significance
Fitzroy Terrace is historically important because it stands on land that was part of Dr. William Redfern's estate. This estate gave its name to the suburb of Redfern. Fitzroy Terrace represents the early development of this area. It was designed by James Hume, a key architect in Sydney in the 1840s.
Architectural and Social Value
Fitzroy Terrace is also important because it was built specifically for the middle-class families of the mid-19th century, like lawyers and engineers. It shows what homes were like for these groups.
The building is a rare example of its kind and of James Hume's work. It helps us understand 19th-century architecture in Australia.
Heritage Listing Reasons
Fitzroy Terrace was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 for several reasons:
- Historical Pattern: It shows the history of land grants and how the suburb of Redfern developed.
- Important People: It is linked to architect James Hume, Dr. William Redfern (who the suburb is named after), and Governor Fitzroy.
- Aesthetic Value: It is a beautiful building that helps keep the historic look of Redfern's streets.
- Social Connection: It shows how homes were built for the professional middle class in the mid-19th century.
- Research Potential: It can teach us a lot about 19th-century architecture in Australia and the work of James Hume.
- Rarity: It is a rare example of a colonial Georgian terrace designed by James Hume.
- Representative Example: It shows the main features of Georgian houses designed by Hume and early urban development for a specific social group.
