Raphael Mackeller Stores facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raphael Mackeller Stores
Raphael Mackeller Stores, 4–6 Kendall Lane, The Rocks NSW. Foreground of building on left.
Location	4–6 Kendall Lane, The Rocks, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1853–1854
Architectural style(s)	Colonial
Owner	Property NSW
New South Wales Heritage Register
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 special old building in The Rocks, a historic part of Sydney, Australia. It was built a long time ago, between 1853 and 1854, for a person named Joseph George Raphael.

This building has had many names over the years, including The Rocks Toy Museum, Unwin's Coach House, and just The Coachhouse. Today, it's owned by Property NSW, which is part of the Government of New South Wales. Because it's so old and important, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 10, 2002.

A Look Back: The History of the Stores

The Raphael Mackeller Stores were first built to be storage areas. They might have also been used as stables for horses. Later, people used them for making small things. The buildings were empty for several years in the 1980s.

Today, you can still find some old machines inside. These machines show what the building was used for in the past. Even though it's sometimes called "The Coach House," it's unlikely horses and coaches could easily get in. The doorways and the lane are too narrow!

How the Buildings Came to Be

The Raphael Mackeller Stores are actually two narrow stone buildings. They face Kendall Lane and are located behind other properties on George Street North.

The land where the stores stand was first given to Captain John Piper in 1828. Later, Frederick Wright Unwin owned the land. He divided it up in 1841.

Construction of shops and houses on George Street started in 1843. Dr. Frederick Mackellar bought some of these properties in 1853. He then built the Mackeller Store part of the building in 1853-1854. This was an extension of the Raphael Store.

The Raphael Store was built in 1853. It was probably for Joseph George Raphael, who owned the property next door. He was a merchant and even a member of the NSW Parliament. Both parts of the building look very similar, suggesting they might have had the same builder.

Who Used the Stores?

For most of their history, different businesses rented the Raphael Mackeller Stores. Many Chinese merchants used the buildings in the 1860s.

Later, a company called Stanton Catchlove & Co. moved in. They started making things like sheep dip (a product for sheep) and soft soap. They also ran a ship's chandlery, which sold supplies to ships. Stanton Catchlove moved out in 1986.

What the Stores Are Today

In 2005, the Raphael Mackeller Stores became The Rocks Toy Museum. People worked hard to fix up the building for this new use. Later in 2005, it changed again. It was converted into The Rocks Discovery Museum, which opened in December 2005. More work was done to preserve the building and tell its story.

Exploring the Building: Description

The Raphael Mackeller Stores is a narrow, three-story building made of sandstone. It faces Kendall Lane. It's often called "The Coach House" or Nos. 2 & 4 Kendall Lane.

The building was likely built as a store and stables between 1853 and 1854. It was later used for small factories. It was empty for a while in the 1980s. You can still see some old machines inside from its manufacturing days.

How It Was Built

The building was constructed in two main parts. 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 outside walls.

The sandstone walls have six large 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. Two special beams, called "cat head beams," stick out from the roof level. They have a pulley system for lifting things. The roof is made of corrugated iron and has sandstone ends.

Old Machines and Tools

Powering Machines: The Lineshaft

On the ground floor, there's an old system called a lineshaft. It's a long metal rod with pulleys. This shaft used to power other machines in the building. An electric motor would turn the lineshaft, and then belts would connect the lineshaft's pulleys to other machines. This was common in small factories before every machine had its own motor.

The lineshaft has five pulleys, some made of wood. The largest pulley connected to the motor. Other pulleys sent power to different machines, like a soap mixer. This system was probably installed around 1928 or 1930.

Mixing Things Up: The 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 with spinning blades inside. A belt from the lineshaft below would make the blades turn. The mixer could be tilted to pour out the soap.

This mixer was likely installed around 1930. It looks like a "mass-produced" mixer, similar to a food mixer. It's still in good condition, even though it's very dirty and missing its drive belt.

Lifting Heavy Loads: The Winch and Pulley

On the top floor, there's a large, hand-powered winch. It's bolted to the floor and faces the loading doorway over Kendall Lane. A steel cable from the winch goes out over a pulley on an outside beam, called a "catshead beam." At the end of the cable is a hook.

This winch was used to lift heavy items from the lane up to the different floors. It could also lower things down. It was a very important tool for moving goods in and out of the store.

The winch was made by "BROWN LENOX & Co, LONDON." It has gears that allow two people to turn handles to lift loads. There's also a brake to control how fast loads are lowered. This winch is very old, probably about 100 years old, and is still in its original spot.

Building Style and Condition

• Style: Colonial (an old Australian building style)
• Stories: Three floors
• Outside: Sandstone walls
• Roof: Slate on wooden beams
• Floors: Stone on the ground floor, wood on the upper floors

The building has had major repair and preservation work done around 1988-1990 and again in 2005. This work helped turn it into The Rocks Discovery Museum.

Why It's Important: Heritage Listing

The Raphael Mackeller Stores is a very important historical site in New South Wales. It's special because:

• It shows us history: It's a rare example of an old store with workshops above, built in Sydney in the 1850s. It shows how industries worked in The Rocks area for over 50 years.
• It's linked to important people: It's connected to people like Frederick Mackellar, Joseph George Raphael, and Frederic Wright Unwin. These people were important in developing the George Street and Kendall Lane area.
• It looks great: It's a beautiful, well-preserved colonial sandstone building from the 1850s. It helps us imagine what Kendall Lane looked like long ago.
• It's valued by the community: People recognize its importance. It's listed on the State Heritage Register and was also recognized by the National Trust.
• It teaches us about the past: The way it was built shows us building methods from the 1850s. The old machines inside, like the lineshaft, soap mixer, and winch, teach us about old factory technology and how people worked. The winch, especially, is a rare example of how small stores used to lift heavy goods.
• It represents its time: It's a great example of early commercial stores built in Sydney during the first 100 years of European settlement. It helps tell the story of The Rocks and Sydney's early economy.

See also

• Australian non-residential architectural styles