Raphael Mackeller Stores facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raphael Mackeller Stores |
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Raphael Mackeller Stores, 4-6 Kendall Lane, The Rocks NSW. Foreground of building on left.
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| Location | 4-6 Kendall Lane, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1853–1854 |
| Architectural style(s) | Colonial |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Coach House; The Rocks Toy Museum; Unwin's Coach House; The Coachhouse | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1539 |
| Type | Coach House/ Station |
| Category | Transport - Land |
| Builders | Built for Joseph George Raphael |
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The Raphael Mackeller Stores is a very old building in The Rocks, a historic part of Sydney, Australia. It was built between 1853 and 1854. This building was once used as a store and workshop. Today, it is a museum.
It is also known by other names like The Rocks Toy Museum and Unwin's Coach House. The building is owned by Property NSW, which is part of the Government of New South Wales. Because it is so old and important, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002. This means it is protected for future generations.
Contents
History of the Raphael Mackeller Stores
The Raphael Mackeller Stores were first built as places to store goods. They might have also been used as stables for horses. Later, people used them for making small things. In the 1980s, the buildings became empty for a few years. Even today, you can still see some old machines inside from when they were used for manufacturing or storage.
Even though it's often called "The Coach House," it's unlikely it was ever used for coaches. The doorways and the lane are too narrow for a horse and cart to turn easily.
Who Owned the Land?
The land where the stores stand was first given to Captain John Piper in 1828. This was done by Governor Ralph Darling. The land was meant for the Sydney Hospital's future plans. But the hospital didn't need it. So, in 1807, the land went back to the NSW Government.
Later, in 1839, a man named Frederick Wright Unwin got the land. He divided it up in 1841.
Building the Stores
Shops and houses facing George Street started to be built in 1843 by Unwin. The building at 85 George Street was finished in 1844. The one at 79 George Street was done in 1845.
Dr. Frederick Mackellar bought these four buildings in 1853. The Mackeller Store, behind 79-81 George Street, was built in 1853-1854. It was an extension of an earlier store called the Raphael Store.
The Raphael Store was built in 1853 behind 77 George Street. It was likely built for Joseph George Raphael. He was a merchant, a publican, and even a member of the NSW Parliament. This store was built around an older cottage called Samson's Cottage. The two parts, Raphael and Mackeller Stores, look very similar. This suggests the owners worked together, or maybe they even used the same builder.
Past Businesses and Uses
For most of its history, different people rented the Raphael Mackeller Stores. Many of these businesses were run by Chinese merchants. For example:
- In 1860, Nom, Hing & Co., who were Chinese merchants, rented the space.
- In 1864, Henry Murray, a grocer, was a tenant.
- From 1866 to 1868, Chin Long was the storekeeper.
Later, a company called Stanton Catchlove & Co. moved in. They started at 2 Kendall Lane in 1930. They made things like sheep dip (a product for cleaning sheep) and soft soap. By 1936, they had taken over 4 Kendall Lane as well. They also sold supplies for ships. Stanton Catchlove moved out in 1986.
Modern Museum Uses
By 2005, the Raphael Mackeller Stores had become The Rocks Toy Museum. The building was carefully fixed up between 1988 and 1990 to make it suitable for a museum. In 2005, it changed again. It was turned into The Rocks Discovery Museum, which opened in December 2005. More work was done then to preserve the building and tell its story.
What the Raphael Mackeller Stores Look Like
The Raphael Mackeller Stores, sometimes called the Coach House, is a narrow stone building. It faces Kendall Lane. It was built behind other properties on George Street, like numbers 77, 79, and 81. Today, it's seen as a separate building.
The building is made of sandstone and has three floors. The first part was built in 1853. The second part was added to the south in 1853-1854. You can see where the two parts join by a line on the walls.
The stone walls have six openings on the first and second floors for loading goods. There are three on the ground floor and one on Kendall Lane. The doors are strong and have wooden beams above them. At the roof level, there are two "cat head beams." These are wooden beams that stick out. They have a pulley system above the loading doors. This was used to lift heavy items. The roof is made of corrugated iron and has pointed ends made of sandstone.
Old Machines Inside
The building still has some old machines from its past as a workshop. These machines show how people used to make things.
Lineshafting and Motor Drive
On the ground floor, there's a long metal rod called a lineshaft. It's about 4 meters long and hangs high on the wall. It has five wooden wheels, called pulleys, that used to have leather belts around them. These belts would connect to other machines.
The largest pulley was connected to an electric motor. This motor made the lineshaft spin. The smallest pulley was connected to a mixing machine on the floor above. The other pulleys connected to other machines that made sheep dip and soft soap.
This lineshaft was likely put in around 1928 or 1930. It was used by Stanton Catchlove for many years. The motor that powered it was a "C & W" electric motor. It could change its speed.
Soap Mixer
On the middle floor, there's a small mixing machine. Stanton Catchlove & Co. used it to make liquid soap. It has a metal drum, like a big bucket, with mixing blades inside. These blades would spin to mix the soap.
A leather belt from the lineshaft on the ground floor powered this mixer. The operator could slide the belt onto a pulley to make the blades spin, or onto another pulley to stop them. The mixer could spin its blades at different speeds.
This mixer was probably installed around 1930. It doesn't have a brand name, but it looks like a factory-made machine. It's still mostly in good condition, even though it's very dirty and missing its drive belt.
Winch and Catshead Pulley
On the top floor, there's a large hand-powered winch. It's bolted to the floor near the top loading doorway. A steel cable is wrapped around the winch. The cable goes out through a hole above the door and over a pulley on the "catshead" beam outside. It has a hook at the end.
This winch was used to lift heavy items from the lane up to the upper floors, or to lower them down. The winch was made by "BROWN LENOX & Co, LONDON." It has two large handles that two people could turn. It also has gears that could be changed to lift even heavier loads, but more slowly.
There's a brake on the winch to control how fast the load is lowered. There was also a part to lock the drum in place, but it's broken. The floor under the winch is extra strong. The winch is very old, probably about 100 years old. It has been in this exact spot since it was first put in.
Building Details
- Style: Colonial (a style from early Australian history)
- Storeys: Three floors
- Walls: Made of sandstone blocks
- Roof: Slate on wooden beams
- Floors: Stone on the ground floor, and wooden boards on the upper floors.
Condition of the Building
The building has had major repair work done around 1988-1990. More work was done in 2005 to turn it into The Rocks Discovery Museum.
Changes Over Time
- Around 1988-1990: Some sandstone was replaced. New shop fronts and doors were added. The roof and ceilings were repaired. Floors were made stronger with steel beams.
- 2005: More work was done to change the building into The Rocks Discovery Museum.
Why the Raphael Mackeller Stores are Important
The Raphael Mackeller Stores are a "heritage-listed" site. This means they are important to the history and culture of New South Wales. Here's why:
Historical Importance
The stores show us what Sydney was like a long time ago. They are a rare example of old stores with workshops above them from the 1850s. They show how The Rocks area was a busy place for business and light manufacturing for over 50 years. The building helps us understand what Sydney was like in the mid to late 1800s.
Important People
The stores are connected to important people who helped develop the George Street North area:
- Frederick Mackellar: A doctor and surgeon. His son, Sir Charles Mackellar, was a long-term politician, and his granddaughter was the famous poet Dorothea Mackellar.
- Joseph George Raphael: A merchant, a shipping agent, and a member of the NSW Parliament.
- Frederic Wright Unwin: He owned the land and helped develop the area.
Design and Beauty
The Raphael Mackeller Stores are a beautiful example of a colonial sandstone building. It's still very much like it was when it was built. It shows the original look, size, and materials from the 1850s. The inside of the building also still shows its original design, which helps us understand its industrial past. The old "catshead beams" and pulley are rare examples that are still in their original place.
Community Value
The Raphael Mackeller Stores are an important part of The Rocks area. They add to its special character. People value these stores highly. This is shown by them being listed on the State Heritage Register and other important lists. This means they are important to the wider community.
Research Potential
The way the Raphael Mackeller Stores were built shows us how buildings were made in the 1850s. They used strong wood for floors and beams, and sandstone blocks for walls. The shared wall between the two parts of the building also shows how they used existing walls when possible.
- The Lineshaft: This old machine shows how small factories worked from about 1900 to 1940. Back then, electric motors were expensive. So, one motor would power a main shaft, and belts from that shaft would power many different machines. This lineshaft is special because of its wooden pulleys. It shows that small-scale manufacturing happened here for over 50 years.
- The Soap Mixer: This mixer is a specific reminder of the soap-making activities that happened in the building. It's the only machine left that was powered by the lineshaft.
- The Winch and Catshead Pulley: These are very important. They show how a typical small, multi-story store would lift heavy goods. They are rare examples of winches from the late 1800s and early 1900s that are still in their original working location. They helped these stores operate.
What Makes it Special?
The Raphael Mackeller Stores are not unique, but they are a good example of early commercial stores built in Sydney. Along with other old stores like the Union Bond Store and Argyle Stores, they help tell the story of The Rocks area. They show Sydney's early history of trade and how the economy of the young colony grew.
