Harts Buildings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harts Buildings |
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The unique crenellated top of Harts Pub, part of Harts Buildings, in 2010.
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| Location | 10-14 Essex Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1890–1899 |
| Architectural style(s) | Federation Arts and Crafts |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Harts Buildings; Hart's Buildings | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1550 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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The Harts Buildings is a special heritage-listed building in The Rocks, a suburb in Sydney, Australia. It used to be homes but is now a hotel and pub. You can find it at 10-14 Essex Street.
These buildings were constructed between 1890 and 1899. They are also known as Hart's Buildings. Today, the property is owned by Property NSW, which is part of the Government of New South Wales. Harts Buildings was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002, meaning it's officially recognized as an important historical place.
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History of Harts Buildings
For many years, the area around Cumberland, Gloucester, and Essex Streets in The Rocks was home to many houses and shops. Most people living here were working-class families.
Early Land Ownership
The land where Harts Buildings stands was first given to Elizabeth Thompson in 1839. Later, in 1843, the land was sold to Mr. N. Bray. He might have started building on the site around this time.
In 1875, William Daley bought the land. The site changed hands a few more times. In 1880, a builder named Peter Francis Hart became the owner. The buildings we see today were likely built by him.
Construction and Changes
Old maps show that new buildings were put up between 1887 and 1895. It's thought they were built in 1892. These new buildings faced Essex Street and stepped down the hill. This was different from earlier buildings on the site.
The buildings were designed to fit the rocky land. They were built right up to the street, without front gardens. This was common in The Rocks because land was valuable.
Government Ownership
In 1900, the government took over the buildings under the Darling Harbour Resumption Act. This meant the Sydney Harbour Trust became responsible for them. Even with new owners, the buildings kept their original look for many years.
Around 1911, buildings nearby on Gloucester Street were pulled down. This made way for new homes and roads, especially as the Sydney Harbour Bridge was being planned.
Famous Resident
A special plaque inside Harts Buildings tells us that Margaret Fulton, a very famous cookery author, lived there with her family. She lived in the buildings between 1954 and 1968. After she left, the buildings were empty for a while. In the 1980s, they were used as a temporary office for a nearby construction project.
What Harts Buildings Looks Like
Harts Buildings is made up of three, two-storey houses. They are built from brick covered in stucco (a type of plaster). They are located on Essex Street, near the intersection with Gloucester Street.
Architectural Style
The buildings have a simple Federation Arts and Crafts style. This means they have clean lines and not too much decoration. You can see this in the cornice (a decorative molding at the top), the string course (a horizontal band), and the unique crenellated top. The crenellated top looks a bit like the battlements of a castle. The chimneys also add to this style.
Inside, the houses originally had a typical layout for terrace homes. There was an entry hallway leading to stairs. Some of these stairs went all the way to the roof for maintenance access.
Building Materials
- Style: Federation Arts & Crafts
- Storeys: Two
- Facade: Brick (covered in stucco)
- Internal Walls: Finished with lime plaster
- Roof Cladding: Corrugated iron
- Floor Frame: Timber
- Roof Frame: Timber
Condition of the Buildings
As of 2001, the buildings were in good condition. They have been changed quite a bit over the years, especially recently. For example, some of the open spaces at the back have been filled in. The houses have traditional layouts but are unique because they fit the unusual shape of the land.
Why Harts Buildings is Important
Harts Buildings and its site are very important to the history and culture of New South Wales. They are also important because they are part of The Rocks area, which is historically significant itself.
Historical Importance
Harts Buildings shows us what life was like in The Rocks in the late 1800s. Along with other nearby old buildings like the Butchery Buildings and Lilyvale Cottage, they help us understand how the area grew from 1840 to 1900. These buildings were built as homes to be rented out. They kept their original purpose for almost 100 years. The way they were built shows how builders made the most of the land, even with its unusual shape and rocky hills.
Later, the buildings changed from homes to part of a hotel complex. This shows how The Rocks area itself changed from a residential neighborhood to a place for tourists and businesses.
Connection to People
The buildings are connected to Peter Hart, the builder who constructed them. They are also linked to many people who lived there, including the famous cookery writer Margaret Fulton. She lived in part of the building in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The buildings have also been managed by important government groups like the Sydney Harbour Trust and Property NSW. Now, they are part of a hotel, showing how the area has become a popular spot for visitors.
Architectural Beauty and Design
Harts Buildings are good examples of late 19th-century terrace houses built around 1892. They have simple, classic details that were common at the time.
They stand out because of their location on a corner. Their modest size is different from many of the larger buildings around them. Together with the Butchery Buildings and Lilyvale Cottage, they form a group of old buildings that show the historic character of The Rocks. They are some of the only 19th-century buildings left in this part of Sydney.
The way the buildings are designed shows how builders adapted to the rocky land and steep slopes of The Rocks. They were built right up to the street, which was a common way to build in the late 1800s as the area became more crowded.
Social Importance
Harts Buildings was part of a close-knit working-class neighborhood. The changes to the buildings show how the area has evolved. Today, they are part of a busy commercial and tourist area, a popular place for both locals and visitors.
Educational Value
Harts Buildings is mostly still in its original form. Even with some changes, it helps us understand what homes were like in the 1890s. The buildings clearly show how terrace houses were built to fit the rocky landscape of The Rocks. With the nearby Butchery Buildings and Lilyvale Cottage, they teach us about the architecture and daily life in New South Wales between 1840 and 1900.
Rarity and Uniqueness
While there are other old houses in The Rocks, Harts Buildings is quite rare because of its unique crenellated top. It also clearly shows how buildings were built directly onto the rocky ledges of The Rocks. The way the buildings step down Essex Street and have a cut rock base along Gloucester Street shows this.
Harts Buildings is one of the few small 19th-century residential buildings left in its area. It forms an important group with the Butchery Buildings, Lilyvale, and other terraces on Cumberland Street.
Example of a Building Type
Even with some changes, Harts Buildings still looks much like it did when it was built. It gives us a good idea of what late 19th-century terrace houses were like.
Images for kids
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The distinctive crenellated parapet of the Harts Pub, part of Harts Buildings, pictured in 2010.
