Samson's Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samson's Cottage |
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Samson's Cottage, pictured in 2019, operating as retail outlets.
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| Location | 75-75.5 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1883– |
| Built for | William Cormack |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Samson's Cottage | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1597 |
| Type | Shop |
| Category | Commercial |
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Samson's Cottage is a special old building in Sydney, Australia. It was built starting in 1883 for a person named William Cormack. Over many years, this building has been home to different businesses. It has been a place where clothes were washed (a Chinese laundry), a place to see art (an art gallery), and even a shop selling old items (an antique shop).
You can find Samson's Cottage at 75-75.5 George Street in a historic area called The Rocks. This area is part of the City of Sydney. The building is currently owned by Property NSW, which is a government group in New South Wales. Because it's so important, Samson's Cottage was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 10, 2002. This means it's protected and its history is valued.
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The Story of Samson's Cottage
The land where Samson's Cottage stands has a long history. Around 1790, this area was planned to be part of the second stage of Sydney Hospital. Later, a person named William Balmain was given permission to use this land. By 1807, he had given the property back to the government.
In 1837, William Carr and George John Rogers became the people in charge of the property. In 1838, Sir George Gipps, who was the governor, officially gave the land to Carr and Rogers.
Early Buildings and Owners
In 1839, Frederic Wright Unwin became the owner. Then, in 1843, he sold a part of the land to William Samson, who worked with ships. William Samson built a two-story house at the back of the land in 1844. This house had three rooms and was made of stone and brick, with a roof covered in wooden shingles.
In 1853, Samson built a single-story shop facing George Street. This shop had three rooms and was made of wood and brick, also with a shingle roof. By 1858, the house belonging to William and Martha Samson was considered quite "large."
Changes and New Construction
In 1882, Martha Samson sold the land to William Cope and Cunningham Archibald Atchison. They then sold the cottage and shop to Alexander William Cormack, who was an importer. Before 1882, the shop was rented by people who sold fruit and groceries.
In 1882-1883, the old shop on George Street was taken down. In 1883, Cormack built a new, taller building. It was three stories high and had two shops facing George Street. It also had rooms for rent on the upper floors. This new building was made of brick with an iron roof. It was split into two separate parts, numbered 75 and 75.5, each with nine rooms. Until 1900, these shops were rented by people like tobacco sellers, hairdressers, candy makers, and shoemakers.
Chinese Community and Archaeology
Around 1916, the building at 75.5 George Street was rented by Hong On Jang. He was a shipping provider, which meant he helped connect supplies with ships visiting Sydney. He was seen as an important person in the Chinese community. Hong On Jang also offered rooms to his countrymen, first on Harrington Street and then at 75.5 George Street from 1916 to 1924.
An interesting event happened in 1908. Eight Chinese travelers were found hiding on a ship called the S.S. Courtfield. They had letters addressed to Hong On Jang, asking him to house them. Chinese merchants in Sydney worked together to help these men return to China. This event did not harm Hong On Jang's good name.
In 1990, archaeologists dug up the backyard of 75.5 George Street. They found many objects that showed Chinese people lived there in the early 1900s. This was a rare discovery in Sydney. They found many Chinese ceramic items, like storage jars and rice bowls, that were not meant to be sold outside of China. They also found European ceramics, glass alcohol bottles, and small glass vials that might have held medicine.
The archaeologists also found animal bones, mostly fish, but also sheep, pig, rabbit, and cattle. The discovery of a "sand-pot," used for cooking rice and stews, suggests that the people living there kept their traditional Chinese diet of fish and rice. This "sand-pot" is very rarely found outside of China. It also suggests that people shared meals, which was a way to build strong bonds in the household.
Hong On Jang's lease ended in 1924, and after that, European tenants rented the building.
Later Uses of the Building
In 1944, 75 George Street became a Chinese laundry and a home. The laundry would dry clothes out the back, near Kendall Lane. From 1946 to 1947, a person named Soo Tim ran the laundry. In 1947, the business was sold to Henry James. Even though it's not known if Henry James was Chinese or European, the sign "Chinese Laundry" stayed on the windows. Henry James ran the business until 1974.
In 1975, George Auchinachie, who sold old items, took over the space. He called his shop "Chinese Laundry Antiques," keeping a nod to the building's past.
What Samson's Cottage Looks Like
Numbers 75-75.5 George Street are two shops built in the late Victorian style. They have fancy, well-designed fronts (called facades) with decorative plasterwork. There's a cornice (a decorative molding) and a parapet (a low wall) at the top. A small triangle-shaped decoration (a pediment) with the year 1883 sits above the parapet, between the two shops.
Tall, flat columns (called pilasters) decorated with Corinthian capitals and cornices go all the way up the front of the building. These pilasters separate the shops from the buildings next door and also divide the two shops from each other.
The building has three stories plus a basement. The roof is covered with iron, and the floors are made of timber. Parts of an older building from the 1840s, like brick side walls, were included when the new building was constructed in 1992.
Condition of the Building
As of 1999, the building was in good condition. It still had many important original parts. The ground beneath the building has been partly dug up in some areas, especially the basements. However, there are still parts of older buildings and ground layers that remain untouched. This means there's still a chance to find more historical information through archaeological digs.
Updates and Changes
The building has had some updates over the years:
- 1997: Changes were made to 75.5 George Street.
- 1998: Changes were made to 75 George Street.
Why Samson's Cottage is Important
Samson's Cottage and its land are very important to the history and science of New South Wales. The building is also important because it's part of The Rocks area, which is historically significant on its own.
This area has been lived in by Europeans since they first arrived in Australia. The site of Samson's Cottage has been used almost continuously as shops with homes or lodging rooms since it was built in the Victorian era. It includes parts of an older building from the 1840s. This shows how cities developed over time. It also shows how early settlers, even those without a lot of money, could slowly buy and build on land before the big economic boom of the late 1850s.
The building's design, split into two parts, shows how Sydney grew denser. The way the 1880s building used the 1840s building for support also shows the building methods of that time.
Since the site has been used by both Europeans and Chinese people for about 200 years, the ground underneath the building can still hold archaeological clues about its past.
Samson's Cottage is also very important for Chinese culture. This is because Hong On Jang used it as a boarding house for Chinese travelers and workers in the early 1900s. The archaeological dig in 1990 found many Chinese objects in the backyard, including ceramics not meant for export. This was a rare and important discovery in Sydney.
From 1944 to 1974, 75 George Street was a Chinese laundry. This was a common job for Chinese people who decided to stay in Australia.
Samson's Cottage was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002 because it met several important requirements:
- It shows how New South Wales's history unfolded.
- It has been used as shops and homes almost continuously since the Victorian era.
- It shows how older buildings from the 1840s were included in newer ones, illustrating how urban areas developed.
- It demonstrates how early settlers could slowly develop land.
- Its two-part design shows how Sydney grew more crowded.
- The archaeological finds from the 1990 dig, especially the unique Chinese items like the "sand-pot," are very rare in Sydney. These items show that traditional Chinese diets and social customs, like sharing meals, were kept alive.
- The discovery of alcohol bottles suggests Chinese residents might have adopted some Australian social habits, though it mainly shows they had access to more goods.
- It is linked to important people or groups in New South Wales history.
- 75.5 George Street is connected to Hong On Jang, a Chinese merchant and shipping provider. He provided lodging for his countrymen and was involved in helping Chinese travelers. As a merchant, he was an important link between suppliers and ships and likely interacted often with the European community.
- It shows great design or technical skill.
- The front of the building on George Street is a beautiful example of Victorian design. It's a rare and important part of the streetscape.
- It fits well with the other buildings of different ages on George Street North.
- It has a special connection with a community or cultural group.
- The artifacts found in the backyard show the social importance of 75.5 George Street to the Chinese community. The rare Chinese ceramics found suggest that traditional customs, like sharing meals, were practiced there to build social bonds.
- It was also important as a boarding house, providing a place to stay for Chinese workers and travelers in The Rocks area.
- It can provide information about New South Wales's history.
- The way the 1880s building used the 1840s building for support teaches us about construction methods of that time.
- Since the site has been used for two centuries, the ground underneath could still hold archaeological evidence of earlier times.
- The archaeological finds from Samson's Cottage can help future research on Chinese households in Australia.
- It has rare or uncommon historical aspects.
- The collection of Chinese items found during the archaeological dig is very rare in Sydney. Some items, like the "sand-pot," are rarely found outside of China.
- It represents important types of historical places.
- 75.5 George Street is a good example of a boarding house set up for Chinese travelers who came to Sydney to work.
- 70 George Street, used as a Chinese laundry from 1944 to 1974, represents one of the common jobs taken up by Chinese people who decided to stay in Australia. Other jobs included market gardening, selling goods, and cooking.
