Unwin's Stores facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Unwin's Stores |
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Restored building housing the former Unwin's Stores, pictured in 2014
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| Location | 77-85 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1843–1846 |
| Architectural style(s) | Colonial Georgian |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Unwin's Stores; (Unwins) | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1613 |
| Type | Other - Retail & Wholesale |
| Category | Retail and Wholesale |
| Builders | Frederick Wright Unwin (built for) |
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The Unwin's Stores, also known as Unwins, are a group of historic shops in The Rocks, Sydney. They are located at 77-85 George Street. These buildings were once shops with homes above them.
They were built between 1843 and 1846 for Frederick Wright Unwin. Today, the NSW Government owns the property through Property NSW. The Unwin's Stores were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002. This means they are important to the history and culture of New South Wales.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Unwin's Stores
Frederic Wright Unwin built these stores from 1843 to 1846. Each part of the three-story building had a home, a kitchen, and a shop. The land where Unwin's Stores now stand was once part of Sydney's very first hospital and its gardens.
The site at 77 George Street was first given to William Carr and George John Rogers in 1838. The land for 79-85 George Street was given to John Piper in 1828.
Early Businesses and Occupants
Over the years, many different businesses called Unwin's Stores home. Before 1869, there were clothiers and merchants. Later, the buildings housed hotels like the "Brecknock Arms" and "Steam Packet Hotel."
Number 79 George Street was once the 'American Hotel' in 1855. It also had doctors' surgeries and importers. At 81 George Street, you could find hairdressers and a boarding house. It also became hotels like the 'Plimsoll Hotel'. Number 83 George Street had watchmakers and a post office. At 85 George Street, there was a nautical instrument maker and a tobacconist.
Chinese Businesses at Unwin's Stores
Unwin's Stores have a long history with the Chinese community in Sydney. The first Chinese businesses leased parts of the buildings starting in 1861. These included merchants like Nom, Hing & Co. and Sun Kung Wor.
Tin War & Co., a Chinese importing business, leased 79 George Street for 20 years, from 1877 to 1897. The manager, Jasper Ung Quoy, was a well-known businessman. He was asked to share his experiences about Chinese life in Sydney. He wanted Chinese people to be seen as hardworking and honest, just like Europeans.
Other Chinese businesses also operated here. Sun, Yee, Lee & Co. and Gee Ick & Co. were importers at 85 George Street.
King Nam Jang: A Family Business
In 1913, King Nam Jang, a grocery business, leased 85 George Street. It was started by Lo King Nam, who came to NSW from China in 1877 when he was 16. He became one of the first Chinese people to become an Australian citizen in 1882. His family, the Cumines family, still uses his adopted European surname today.
Lo King Nam's business provided fresh food and supplies to ships traveling between Australia and China. It was a family business, and they became very well known in The Rocks area. Dolly Bonnette, an old resident of The Rocks, remembered King Nam Jang as a store that mainly served Chinese customers. She used to play with the daughters of "Mr and Mrs King" (Lo King Nam and his wife) behind the store.
King Nam Jang also offered temporary housing for newly arrived Chinese men. They would stay there until they could move further inland to join relatives or work in market gardens. These men often used ladders to access their rooms in the basement from Kendall Lane. This way of living showed how Chinese migrants adapted to their new environment.
The workers at King Nam Jang sometimes helped the Australian government. They acted as interpreters for the Department of Immigration. During World War II, the NSW Government even paid the Cumines family to house Chinese refugees from New Guinea at King Nam Jang.
King Nam Jang was in business for almost 90 years. Lo King Nam's grandson, Henry Cumines, was born at 85 George Street in 1921. He helped in the store and later became a successful businessman.
Other Chinese Businesses
Kong Chong, who owned a Chinese laundry, leased 81 George Street in 1917. This business was listed for many years.
Archaeological History
The land where Unwin's Stores stands has a long history. The site of 77-79 George Street was leased as early as 1800. The land for 81-85 George Street was once part of the original Sydney Hospital grounds and the Surgeon's quarters.
What Unwin's Stores Look Like
Unwin's Stores are a row of buildings made from sandstone. They were originally built as shops with homes above them. Frederic Wright Unwin built these five sandstone buildings between 1843 and 1846.
They were built during a time when the economy was not strong, before gold was discovered in Australia. This means their style, called Colonial Georgian, looks simple and strong.
- Style: Georgian
- Stories: Three floors plus a basement
- Outside: Sandstone
- Roof: Corrugated iron (originally shingles)
- Floors: Timber (hardwood)
Archaeologists have found signs of older buildings in the courtyard behind the stores.
Condition of the Buildings
As of 2001, the site was partly disturbed by past changes. However, the basements under the buildings and the courtyard areas still hold important historical information. Experts believe the site has high archaeological potential, meaning it could reveal more about the past.
Changes Over Time
Number 81 George Street had some changes around 1910.
Why Unwin's Stores are Important
Unwin's Stores and their site are very important to the history and science of New South Wales. They are also a key part of The Rocks area, which is historically significant itself.
These buildings are a great example of 19th-century shops on George Street North. They show how the city's trade and businesses grew in the mid-1800s. The buildings were used for storage, maritime businesses, homes, hotels, and other small shops. They help us understand what early commercial areas looked like. Even with changes, they still show the original layout from 1841.
The buildings and their old walls show how things were built in the 1840s. The site can help us learn more about how Sydney, Australia's first big city, grew and changed.
Importance to Chinese Australian Heritage
Unwin's Stores are very important for understanding Chinese Australian heritage. Chinese people have occupied these buildings since 1861. Because the stores are close to Circular Quay and The Rocks' Chinatown, Chinese merchants found them to be a great spot for business.
Businesses like Tin War & Co. and King Nam Jang were important parts of the Chinese community here. The Cumines family, who ran King Nam Jang, have lived in Australia for five generations. Their story shows the long history of Chinese families in Australia.
The buildings also show how Chinese migrants adapted to life in Australia. The way they used their basements and served mainly Chinese customers shows how they created their own spaces in a new country.
Historical Connections
Unwin's Stores have strong links to many important parts of Sydney's history:
- The first hospital and Surgeon-General's Residence around 1800.
- Frederic W. Unwin, who built the stores.
- The Chinese community, who lived and worked there for many years.
- The early growth of Sydney Cove and Sydney's first business area.
- The continued use of the buildings as small shops even today.
Unwin's Stores were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002 because they meet several important standards:
The place shows the history of New South Wales. This row of shops might be the longest continuously used shops in Australia. The yards show the early land division from 1841. It has a strong connection to this historic part of Sydney, especially George Street in The Rocks.
The stores are very important for Australian Chinese history. Chinese people have been using these buildings since 1861. Their location near Circular Quay and Chinatown made them a good place for Chinese businesses and for serving ships.
The place is linked to important people or groups in New South Wales history. Unwin's Stores are important because of their long connection with the Chinese community since 1861. The manager of Tin War & Co., Jasper Ung Quoy, was an important figure who spoke about the Chinese-European relationship in Australia.
85 George Street is also strongly linked to the Cumines family. Lo King Nam started King Nam Jang there in 1913, and it became a home for family members. The way the family used the basement and served only Chinese customers shows the challenges Chinese migrants faced.
The place shows special design or building skills in New South Wales. The courtyards show how early commercial buildings were built, with cellars, fireplaces, and covered paths. The different types of stonework and brickwork used in the buildings show the construction methods from the 1840s and later changes.
The place has a strong connection with a community or cultural group for social or cultural reasons. The Unwin's Stores are very important to the Australian Chinese community. The buildings show the long history of Chinese migrants living and working there since 1861. The changes made to 85 George Street's backyard, as remembered by Dolly Bonnette, show how difficult it was for the Chinese community to be accepted by the European community.
85 George Street is also socially important for the Cumines Family and for the Chinese migrants and World War II refugees who stayed at King Nam Jang.
The place can provide information to help us understand the history of New South Wales. The courtyards show early building methods using stone for cellars and walls, and brick for stores. Later changes show how new parts were added to the original walls.
Archaeological digs have found some Chinese objects from the time Chinese people lived there. Any future building work in the backyards, especially at 85 George Street, could find more Chinese artifacts. This would help us learn more about Chinese history in The Rocks and NSW.
The place is rare or unique in New South Wales. The continuous occupation of a building by Chinese businesses, like King Nam Jang at 85 George Street, is quite rare in Sydney. Another example is 50-54 Dixon Street in Haymarket, which has been owned by Chinese societies since 1917.
The place shows the main features of a type of cultural or natural place in New South Wales. Unwin's Stores are a good example of a building or group of buildings that have been used by Chinese businesses for a very long time.
Images for kids
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Restored building housing the former Unwin's Stores, pictured in 2014
