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Undercliffe Cottage
Argyle Place, Millers Point 16.jpg
Undercliffe Cottage, pictured in 2019.
Location 50 Argyle Place, Millers Point, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Built c. 1850s
Architectural style(s) Victorian Georgian
Official name: Undercliffe Cottage (former); Undercliff Cottage; Grimes Cottage
Type State heritage (built)
Designated 2 April 1999
Reference no. 929
Type Cottage
Category Residential buildings (private)
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Undercliffe Cottage is a special old house in Millers Point, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It is located at 50 Argyle Place. This cottage is also known as Undercliff Cottage or Grimes Cottage. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical building. It was added to this list on April 2, 1999.

A Look Back: Cottage History

Millers Point is one of the oldest places where Europeans settled in Australia. It was a busy area for ships and sea activities. Argyle Place, a park-like area, started being built by Governor Macquarie. It was fully formed around 1865.

Early Owners and Important People

The first person to own Undercliffe Cottage was Captain George Grimes. He was a mariner, which means he worked on ships. Later, in 1900, the house was part of the property of James Merriman.

In 1958, an architect named John Fisher helped make people notice the historical importance of the Rocks area. He worked with artist Cedric Flower to paint the cottage. This helped save many old buildings in the area.

Recent Times

The NSW Department of Housing rented out the house starting in 1982. In 2015, the Government of New South Wales sold the house for A$4.23 million.

What Undercliffe Cottage Looks Like

Undercliffe Cottage is built in the late Victorian Georgian style. It has four bedrooms and a special roof called a hipped slate roof. This roof extends over the verandah, which is like a covered porch. The walls are covered in stucco, a type of plaster.

Key Features

The house has two main floors, plus an attic at the top. It looks balanced and even, which is called a symmetrical facade. It has large windows with stone sills. The front of the house has a cast iron fence and posts on the verandah. There is also an arched fan light above the front door. The house is in good condition and faces Argyle Place.

Changes Over Time

Old pictures show that the cottage has changed a bit over the years. A painting from the 1850s shows different columns on the verandah. Some parts of the verandah were added later, between 1885 and 1900. Photos from the late 1850s also show dormer windows at the back of the house.

Why Undercliffe Cottage is Important

Undercliffe Cottage is a detached Georgian house built around the 1850s. It is an important part of the street view on Argyle Place.

It is also part of the Millers Point Conservation Area. This area is a well-preserved neighborhood with homes and public spaces from the 1830s. It shows how the landscape was used and changed in the 19th century.

Undercliffe Cottage was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it is protected for its historical value.

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