Young Street Terraces facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Young Street Terraces |
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The terrace houses pictured in 2019
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| Location | 36-42 Young Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1874–1875 |
| Architect | Joseph Paul Walker (attrib.) |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian filigree |
| Official name: Young Street Terraces; Sydney Hospital Nurses Annex; Nurses quarters; Government Offices | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 974 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Government and Administration |
| Builders | Joseph Paul Walker |
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The Young Street Terraces are a group of old buildings in the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. They were built between 1874 and 1875 and were designed by Joseph Paul Walker. These buildings have been used for many different things over the years, including government offices and homes for nurses.
Today, the Young Street Terraces are still used as offices. They are also known as the Sydney Hospital Nurses Annex, Nurses Quarters, or Government Offices. Because of their important history, they were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means they are protected as a special heritage site.
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What is the History of Young Street Terraces?
The land where the Young Street Terraces stand was once part of the large area around the first government house in Sydney. In 1851, this land was given to the Sydney Council, which then divided it into smaller pieces to sell.
A builder named J. W. Walker bought some of these pieces of land in 1874. He then built the terrace houses around 1874-1875. At first, he rented them out as offices to government groups like the Mining Board and the Department of Lands. From 1876 to 1881, a mining museum even opened in two rooms on the ground floor of one of the buildings.
In 1881, Walker sold the property. The government continued to use the buildings for different departments, including the Public Works Department, until 1936.
How Were the Terraces Used by Nurses?
From 1937 to 1982, the Young Street Terraces became temporary homes for nurses from Sydney Hospital. The old offices were changed into living spaces for them. In 1961, the back of the property was turned into a car park.
After 1982, Sydney Hospital no longer used the buildings, and they were empty for a while. In the late 1990s, the buildings were updated to become modern offices. Today, they continue to be used for offices, including for groups like the Sydney Festival and the NSW Historic Houses Trust.
What Do the Young Street Terraces Look Like?
The Young Street Terraces are located in the northern part of Sydney's main business area. They are built in a style called Victorian filigree. This style often includes decorative ironwork, like on balconies.
The building has four separate units, each with three floors and a basement. All the floors are connected inside. The buildings are mostly made of brick with wooden floors. The basements are made of sandstone and soft brick. The roof is made of corrugated steel. The verandahs and balcony railings are made of cast iron, which is a type of metal.
What Changes Have Been Made?
Over time, some parts of the original building were changed, like adding bathrooms and kitchens at the back. These additions have since been removed. The buildings have been updated to include modern office features and services for the people who work there. However, many of the original details inside, like the doors, windows, and fireplaces, are still there.
Why Are the Young Street Terraces Important?
The Young Street Terraces are very important because they are some of the only buildings left that show how the area developed after the first government house was built. They were part of the early growth of this area, which later became a major government center in the 1800s.
These buildings look simpler than the grander government buildings built later in the 19th century. This shows how ideas about public buildings changed over time. Along with the Phillip Street Terraces, they represent a type of residential building that is now rare in the busy Sydney city center. Even though some changes have been made to the buildings, you can still see that they were originally designed as homes.
The Young Street Terraces were officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, recognizing their historical value.
See also
- Australian residential architectural styles
