Old Pyrmont Cottages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Pyrmont Cottages |
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Old Pyrmont Cottages 1, 3 and 5 Cross Street, Pyrmont, NSW
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| Location | 1, 3, 5 Cross Street, Pyrmont, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1879–1895 |
| Owner | Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) |
| Official name: Old Pyrmont Cottages; Cross & Scott Street Terraces | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 25 August 2017 |
| Reference no. | 1986 |
| Type | Cottage |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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The Old Pyrmont Cottages are a group of historic homes located at 1, 3, and 5 Cross Street in Pyrmont, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. These cottages were built between 1879 and 1895. They are also known as the Cross & Scott Street Terraces. Today, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority owns them. These special cottages were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 25, 2017, because of their important history.
Contents
A Glimpse into Pyrmont's Past
First Peoples of Pyrmont
For a long time, people thought the Gadigal clan of the Eora Nation were the original Indigenous people of the Pyrmont area. The Eora Nation included about 29 clan groups around Sydney. Even though European settlement greatly impacted the Gadigal people, their descendants still live in Sydney today.
New research suggests that another group, possibly called the Gommerigal, lived around Darling Harbour and Pyrmont. Early records from the 1790s mention the "Gomerrigal" as a nearby tribe. This group likely used the land around Darling Harbour, including Pyrmont, which they probably called Pirrama.
Life Before European Settlement
Pyrmont was a great place for Aboriginal people. It had natural springs with fresh water, rock shelters, sandy beaches, and good fishing spots. One important spring was called Tinker's Well. It was a natural pool in sandstone, where fresh water trickled out.
Early settlers found signs of Aboriginal life near Tinker's Well, like many mussel shells. This shows it was likely an Aboriginal campsite. Even though much of Pyrmont was changed by industry, Aboriginal people continued to visit the area well into the 1800s.
Early European Settlement
European settlers began to receive land grants in the late 1700s, ignoring Indigenous ownership. Surgeon John Harris received most of the Pyrmont peninsula. However, the land where the Old Pyrmont Cottages stand was granted to Thomas Jones in 1795.
Later, in 1799, John Macarthur bought this land. He is believed to have named the area "Pyrmont" in 1806. He chose the name after a spa town in Germany, inspired by the fresh water spring, Tinker's Well. Macarthur even tried making salt and built a windmill there.
Pyrmont's Growth and Industry
After Macarthur's death, his son Edward started dividing the land for sale in the 1830s. However, an economic downturn meant many plots, including the cottage sites, didn't sell. Pyrmont became more known for stone quarrying and waterfront industries.
The first Pyrmont Bridge opened in 1858, improving access to Sydney. But Pyrmont's population didn't grow much until the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) opened in 1879. This led to a population boom, peaking around 20,000 people by 1901.
The land for the Old Pyrmont Cottages was leased in 1854. By 1879, some of the cottages were built. The last one was finished in 1895. It seems that people who leased the land built their own simple homes. They used available materials and adapted the buildings over time to fit their needs. This was a common way for working-class families to live in inner-city Sydney back then.
Pyrmont's Modern History
Changes in the 1900s
In the early 1900s, the cottages remained rented homes. However, railway expansions led to some nearby houses being torn down. By the 1950s, many buildings in the area were in poor condition. There was pressure to demolish the Old Pyrmont Cottages too, first for industrial use, then for new housing.
In 1981, the City Council planned to clear the old houses for new developments. This led to a unique period in the cottages' history.
The Pyrmont Squats
In the 1970s, many inner-city homes were marked for demolition to make way for new roads. This made residents angry and led to protests. While many road plans were stopped, some houses became empty. These empty homes were soon occupied by "squatters." Squatters are people who live in unoccupied buildings without formal permission or paying rent.
The idea of using empty properties to house those without homes became a movement. Some city council members even supported the squatters, especially in areas like Pyrmont where industries were leaving and buildings were empty.
In 1978, all tenants in the Old Pyrmont Cottages block were evicted for a new project. But when the project paused, squatters moved in quickly. They stayed there until 1994, even after a court ruling against them in 1984.
Squatters and Preservation
The squatters played a key role in saving the cottages. They kept the buildings maintained and weatherproof. Their stories show how they decorated the cottages with murals and shared facilities. They also formed community groups, like the Pyrmont Self-Help Housing Co-operative.
During this time, people started to appreciate the historical value of old buildings. The "Cross St Group," which included the Old Pyrmont Cottages, was added to a heritage register in 1982. Experts argued that the cottages were important examples of 19th-century housing and should be saved.
Artistic Connections
The cottages have also been linked to art. Artist Sali Herman painted the Scott Street terraces in his 1949 work "Near the Docks." John Santry, another artist, grew up at 8 Scott Street. Some squatters were artists too, like Toby Zoates, who lived at 6 Scott Street and made films there. His animated film, "The Thief of Sydney," was first shown at the cottages while they were still squatted.
A New Chapter for the Cottages
In 1994, the squatters were rehoused. The cottages were then given to the City West Development Corporation. In 1995, it was decided to sell most of the cottages on the block, but to keep the Old Pyrmont Cottages (6 & 8 Scott Street and 1, 3, and 5 Cross Street).
These remaining cottages were redeveloped and leased as a craft centre. This recognized their past connections to creative activities. In 1997, a modern extension was built to connect four of the five cottages. This created six studios, one residential studio, and a shared workshop.
The cottages were leased to the Centre for Contemporary Craft in 1998. Today, "Culture at Work," a community arts charity, uses the cottages. They offer workshops and an artist-in-residency program, continuing the cottages' artistic legacy.
What the Cottages Look Like
The Old Pyrmont Cottages date from 1879-1895. They are five former single-story houses grouped around a corner in Pyrmont. Three are on Cross Street (Nos 1, 3, and 5), and two are on Scott Street (Nos 6 and 8).
One cottage (1 Cross Street) is still a home. The other four are connected and used as a community arts centre. Their backyards have been combined into one open space.
- No 6 Scott Street was built in 1879. It's a brick cottage with a hipped roof. It has two double-hung windows and a front door. It used to have a timber shingle roof, but now it's corrugated iron.
- No 8 Scott Street was built in 1895. It's also brick with an iron roof, located on a corner. It has a central doorway with windows on either side. It's now connected to No 6 Scott Street by a covered walkway.
- Nos 3 and 5 Cross Street are single-story brick cottages covered in weatherboards. They have a central window and front door, with a curved veranda roof. Their back sections have been replaced by a single extension that connects both houses.
- No 1 Cross Street is a typical worker's cottage from the Victorian Georgian style, first recorded in 1882. It's a freestanding weatherboard house with a gable iron roof and a timber veranda. It's attached to No 3 Cross Street but is a separate home.
All five cottages now have corrugated steel roofs. Inside, the original brick walls are plastered and painted. Some floors still show checkerboard paint from when they were used by squatters. The newer parts that connect the cottages have ripple iron walls and ceilings.
Condition of the Cottages
As of 2016, the buildings are partly original. They show how simple homes were built in the 1870s. The buildings are in good condition. There's also a chance to find out more about early Pyrmont life from what's hidden underground.
Why the Cottages are Special
The Old Pyrmont Cottages are very important to New South Wales history. They are special for many reasons:
- Historical Significance: They are a rare example of working-class homes built in inner Sydney in the late 1800s. They show how ordinary people lived before the 1970s. They are also important because they were part of the "Pyrmont Squat," one of Sydney's longest-lasting and best-documented squatting movements. This makes them part of the history of saving old buildings in Australia.
- Artistic Connections: The cottages are linked to many artists who lived there or painted them. This includes the famous artist Sali Herman, whose 1949 painting "Near the Dock" shows one of the cottage street views. Other artists like John Santry and Toby Zoates also have connections to the cottages. Their current use as a community art centre continues this creative link.
- Rarity: These cottages are rare because they are one of the few surviving groups of small, working-class homes from the late 19th century in inner Sydney. Most others have been torn down. They are also rare for their role in the squatting movement and their many artistic connections.
- Community Importance: The cottages have local social importance. When their future was uncertain in the early 1990s, many local community groups fought to save them.
- Educational Value: The cottages can teach us about building techniques and materials used for simple homes around 1880. They also offer a glimpse into the working-class lifestyle of Pyrmont.
- Representative Example: They are a good example of the Victorian Georgian style, which was common for single-story worker's housing in the late 1800s.
The Old Pyrmont Cottages were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 25, 2017.
