139-141 George Street, The Rocks
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139–141 George Street are heritage-listed former
terrace house A terrace, terraced house ( UK), or townhouse ( US) is a type of medium-density housing which first started in 16th century Europe with a row of joined houses sharing side walls. In the United States and Canada these are sometimes known as row ...
s and now shops located at 139–141 George Street in the inner city
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
suburb of The Rocks in the
City of Sydney The City of Sydney is the Local government in Australia, local government area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established by Act of Parliament ...
local government area of
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, Australia. It was built from 1881 to 1882. It is also known as three storey stone building. The property is owned by
Property NSW Property and Development NSW is a statutory body of the Government of New South Wales that manages the State's significant property portfolio and its places. Formed on 1 July 2016, Property NSW encompasses the entities of the former Government P ...
, an
agency Agency may refer to: Organizations * Institution, governmental or others ** Advertising agency or marketing agency, a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients ** Employment agency, a business that s ...
of the
Government of New South Wales The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the executive state government of New South Wales, Australia. The government comprises 11 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. Th ...
. It was added to the
New South Wales State Heritage Register The New South Wales State Heritage Register, also known as NSW State Heritage Register, is a heritage list of places in the state of New South Wales, Australia, that are protected by New South Wales legislation, generally covered by the Heritag ...
on 10 May 2002.


History

The site was originally part of the first hospital complex from 1788, the 1790 portable hospital was constructed here after the arrival of the Second Fleet. When the
Sydney Hospital Sydney Hospital, historically known as the Rum Hospital, is a major hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Macquarie Street in the Sydney central business district. It is the oldest hospital in Australia, dating back to 1788, and has been at ...
moved to Macquarie Street in 1816 the vacant land was set aside as a government quarry. In the general survey of the town undertaken in the 1830s, the site was classified as Lot 7 of City Section 84 and comprised an area of 1 rood 15 perches. In January 1841 the allotment was officially granted to the trustees, executrix and executors of the estate of
Samuel Terry Samuel Terry (c. 1776 – 22 February 1838) was an English man who was penal transportation, transported to Australia as a criminal, where he became a wealthy landowner, merchant and philanthropist. His extreme wealth made him by far the ric ...
. Terry's interest in the property dates from at least when an area of "26 rods" on the "west side of George Street" with a description that approximates that of the George Street half of Lot 7 of City Section 84 was leased by the government to Terry for 21 years. Terry was an
emancipist An emancipist was a convict sentenced and transported under the convict system to Australia, who had been given a conditional or absolute pardon. The term was also used to refer to those convicts whose sentences had expired, and might sometimes ...
, he arrived in Sydney in 1801 convicted of theft under a seven-year sentence. By the time of the expiration of his sentence he was established as a merchant in
Parramatta Parramatta (; ) is a suburb (Australia), suburb and major commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney. Parramatta is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD, on the banks of the Parramatta River. It is co ...
and in 1809 was the owner of a farm on the
Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River (Dharug language, Dharug: Dyarubbin) is a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle ...
. He moved to Sydney in 1810 where he opened a public house in
Pitt Street Pitt Street is a major street in the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. The street runs through the entire city centre from Circular Quay in the north to Waterloo, although today's street is in two disjointed sect ...
and married Rosetta Marsh, a woman of considerable business acumen. During
Governor Macquarie Major General Lachlan Macquarie, CB (; ; 31 January 1762 – 1 July 1824) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Scotland. Macquarie served as the fifth Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821, and had a leading role ...
's administration the Terry's business interests prospered where "he held more than a fifth of the toal value of mortgages registered in the colony". He became known as the "
Botany Bay Botany Bay (Dharawal language, Dharawal: ''Kamay'') is an open oceanic embayment, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, south of the Sydney central business district. Its source is the confluence of the Georges River at Taren Point a ...
Rothschild", at the time of his death in 1838 he left a personal estate of £250 000, an annual rental income from his Sydney properties of £10 000 and "land property which defies description". On the site of 139–141 George Street, Terry constructed a terrace of three buildings (today's 139–143 George Street) on his allotment. They were evidently completed in the mid to late 1820s, and they appear on the Hoddle, Larmer and Mitchell "Map of Sydney" of 1831. The few available images of the buildings suggest a substantial structure of three stories with a prominent breakout capped by a closed pediment. The terraces were constructed for general retail outlets, as they are today. From the mid 1840s tenants of the premises are listed in street directories and council rate assessments. The first of these is for the years 1842–1845 when Isaac Moore, dealer, traded from premises with a street address of no. 663 Lower George Street. Isaac Moore, incidentally, was also the licensed publican of the adjoining Patent Slip Hotel around this time. Between 1849 and the mid 1850s the tenants were the Downes family (John and Eliza) who operated a clothing store (described as a "slop warehouse" and 'general outfitter'). Toward the end of the 1850s, in 1857 the building was leased by Andrew Bogle who operated a boarding house. Bogle was succeeded by Mrs Ballantyne in 1858 who with John Ballantyne for the period 1859 to 1861 leased the premises as a drapery store. The property was held by Samuel Terry's widow and principal trustee, Rosetta, until her death in 1858. For a short period after this her real property was controlled by Mrs Rebecca Fox until June 1860 when the estate was partitioned. The beneficiary of this part of the estate was William Whaley Billyard, the crown solicitor of New South Wales. Shortly after, Billyard sold the property to William Reilly for £1,762. (Reilly also acquired title to the neighbouring Russell Hotel site at the same time). Coincidental with the commencement of Reilly's ownership, street directory entries from 1863 for the premises ceased, but as the building was extant this may suggest it was either left vacant (as stated in a Council rate assessment return for 1863) or, conceivably, became part of the operation of the hotel on the Russell Hotel site, the Patent Slip, for a period. By 1866 the building had been demolished and from 1867 the street directories and rate assessments list the address as "vacant land". In June 1877 the property was transferred back into the ownership of William Whaley Billyard. In July 1881 the property was transferred into the ownership of Leo Ferdinand Sachs (further details on Sachs are not known). At the same time Sachs entered into the first of a number of mortgages made in the early 1880s, the last of which was discharged in 1886. These mortgages may have been used by Sachs to erect the extant building, which was under construction in 1882 and completed by the end of that year. The new premises provided a pair of shops fronting George Street with the street addresses of No. 139 and 141. The first tenant was William Howes, a tailor and clothier, occupant of both No. 139 and 141 in 1885. Ownership was then transferred in June 1885 to auctioneers Edmund Compton Batt and John Mitchell Purves. Batt and Purves' interest in the property was short lived and after securing two tenants in August 1886 Thomas Cripps, confectioner, for no. 141 and Thomas Selig, pawnbroker, for no. 139 (although actually tenanted by Joseph Selig, tailor and clothier)) sold the property to the Earl of Carnarvon, whose financial interests in Australia were managed by the financier and politician Sir
William Patrick Manning Sir William Patrick Manning (18 November 1845 – 20 April 1915) was an Australian financier and politician. Early life Manning was born at Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, to baker John Manning and Margaret ...
(1845-1915). Selig continued to lease no. 139 until 1887, while Cripps' lease of no. 141 ceased during 1889. In February 1888 Thomas Stephen Small purchased the property and retained ownership until the government resumption of 1900. During these twelve years of Small's freehold ownership, No. 139 George Street was principally used as a restaurant and neighbouring no.141 had mixed uses as a chemist, butcher and confectionary. The use of the upper floors at this time would seem to have been for accommodation associated with the restaurant operations. A photograph of the neighbouring The Fortune of War Hotel of around 1906 includes a glimpse of the shopfront and awning of No. 139 George Street with advertising for rooms. The plague outbreak in January 1900 prompted the government to resume the entire Rocks and
Millers Point Millers Point is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the north-western edge of the Sydney central business district, adjacent to The Rocks and is part of the local government area of the City o ...
area. To administer the resumed area a number of government authorities were established, The Rocks was administered by the
Sydney Harbour Trust The Sydney Harbour Trust began operations on 1 November 1900 with responsibility for the Navigation Department and Marine Board of Sydney Harbour. The Trust, as governed by an act of the New South Wales Parliament consisted of three commissioner ...
and its successor the
Maritime Services Board The Maritime Services Board was a statutory authority of the Government of New South Wales responsible for marine safety, regulation of commercial and recreational boating, and oversight of port operations. History The Maritime Services Board (M ...
until 1970. Initially under
Government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...
ownership the respective premises continued to function in a similar manner as to when the properties were held in freehold title. No. 139 for example continued as a restaurant although operated by a succession of different proprietors (with a short interim between 1909 and 1910 when it was leased by Isaac Levy, clothier). No. 141 continued to be leased from 1900 until 1913 by F. G. Erler, chemist. Following Erler in 1914 was F. A. Benson who initially traded as a chemist until 1923 and between 1924 and 1928 as an accountant. From 1929 up to the 1950s the premises were leased by John George Peek, chemist. During 1930s Peek also entered into a lease of the adjoining premises at No. 139, trading as an optometrist. In November 1987, the proprietors of the Russell Hotel (Russell Hotel Pty. Ltd.) acquired the lease of the two upper floors of No. 139–141 George Street as part of a scheme to amalgamate the trading operations of the Fortune of War (No. 137 George Street) and the Russell Hotel (No. 143 George Street). The ground floor shops however of No. 139–141 George Street continued to operate under separate lease arrangements. In 1985, for example, No. 139 was leased by Rentoul Pty. Ltd. trading as the Sheepskin Shop, and No. 141 was leased by Dinallo's Fruit Shop. Commencing in the late 1970s and continuing through the 1980s the then
Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority The Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority was an agency of the Government of New South Wales from 1970 to 1999. Its predecessor was the Sydney Cove Authority. It was established on 12 January 1970 under the ''Sydney Cove Redevelopment Act 1968'' to ...
(SCRA) undertook a programme of restoration and reconstruction of the premises at no. 139–141 George Street. These alterations also included the construction of the premises at the rear of 139–141 George Street, known as 30–32 Nurses Walk. Contemporary with the SCRA alterations, further alterations and additions were undertaken over the 1980s. This work was prepared for the proprietors of The Russell Hotel by Ron Vickery architect, and included in 1984 a new development at 30–32 Nurses Walk, which was completed in the mid 1980s and provided the additional rooms and connections with the neighbouring premises under the joint The Russell Hotel lease.


Description

The building is a large three storey building of dressed
sandstone Sandstone is a Clastic rock#Sedimentary clastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of grain size, sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate mineral, silicate grains, Cementation (geology), cemented together by another mineral. Sand ...
in the
Classical Revival Neoclassicism, also spelled Neo-classicism, emerged as a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassic ...
manner built . The upper floor windows have fine detailing in the carved stone surrounds, and the whole building is topped by a high
parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an upward extension of a wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/brea ...
with a large central
pediment Pediments are a form of gable in classical architecture, usually of a triangular shape. Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the cornice (an elaborated lintel), or entablature if supported by columns.Summerson, 130 In an ...
. The shopfronts have been much altered.National Trust 1977 Style: Front facade 'Neo-classical'; Storeys: Three; Facade: Brick walls; Internal Walls: Brick; Roof Cladding: Iron; Floor Frame: Timber No. 139–141 George Street is a double storey sandstone masonry built commercial premises constructed . The premises are currently leased as retain outlets (ground floor - Rockhounds and the Sheepskin Shop) and as hotel accommodation (first and second floors) which is part of The Russell Hotel operation. The rear of the premises is a modern building which adjoins a laneway now known as Nurses Walk.Clive Lucas Stapleton; 1999


Condition

As at 27 April 2001, Archaeology Assessment Condition: Mostly disturbed. Assessment Basis: Cellars under No. 139. Recent renovation. Floors terraced into hill slope. The work involved the assessment of underfloor deposits at this site during renovations. No evidence was found of structures pre-dating 1881, although it should be stressed that not all archaeological deposits were removed from the site. Investigation: Watching Brief.


Heritage listing

As at 31 March 2011, this pair of shops and residences and site are of State heritage significance for their historical and scientific cultural values. The site and building are also of State heritage significance for their contribution to The Rocks area which is of State Heritage significance in its own right. It is a rare example of a late nineteenth century decorative sandstone façade in the Classical Revival style a set within a streetscape, George Street North, which is the most intact nineteenth and early twentieth century streetscape in the City. The building and site demonstrate longevity of European use that is historically associated with the early colonial development in Sydney in being part of the general hospital site (1788-1816) and part of a stone terrace of three constructed for Samuel Terry (c.1830s). The subsequent use of the site as retail/commercial shops with upper floor boarding rooms is closely associated with the later economic and social development of The Rocks area as a place of residence and travellers. The building is included on key heritage registers maintained by government and community groups and these recognise the heritage values of the item individually and as part of the historic Rocks precinct. The site is also of local heritage significance owing to its potential to reveal evidence of earlier site uses and structures. Shops and Residences – stone was listed on the
New South Wales State Heritage Register The New South Wales State Heritage Register, also known as NSW State Heritage Register, is a heritage list of places in the state of New South Wales, Australia, that are protected by New South Wales legislation, generally covered by the Heritag ...
on 10 May 2002 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales. The item meets this criterion at a state level owing to the longevity of European use of the site, which is associated with the early colonial development in Sydney in being part of the general hospital site (1788–1816) and part of a stone terrace of three constructed for Samuel Terry (s). The subsequent continuous use of the site as retail/commercial shops with upper floor boarding rooms is closely associated with the later economic and social development of The Rocks area as a place of residence and travellers. The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history. The site is associated with Samuel Terry and his wife Rosetta. Terry was a successful emancipist merchant, landowner and became known as "The Botany Bay Rothschild". Between 1817 and 1820 he held more than a fifth of the total value of mortgages registered in the colony, a higher proportion than that of the
Bank of New South Wales The Bank of New South Wales (BNSW), also known as The Wales, was the first bank in Australia. It was established in 1817 in Sydney. During the 19th century, the bank opened branches throughout Australia and New Zealand, expanding into Oceania ...
. He was also one of the largest shareholders in the bank, but when he stood for election as director in 1818, 1819 and 1820 he was unsuccessful; when elected in 1822 he was refused his seat on the pretext that, as an expiree, he was not "unconditionally free". When again elected to the board of the Bank of New South Wales in August 1828 by 308 votes to 83 he took office only until December. By that time he had become a leading philanthropist, contributing to the
Benevolent Society The Benevolent Society, founded by Edward Smith Hall in 1813, is Australia's first and oldest charity. The society is an independent, not-for-profit organization whose main goals include helping families, older Australians and people with disabil ...
, Auxiliary
Bible Society A Bible society is a non-profit organization, usually nondenominational in makeup, devoted to translating, publishing, and distributing the Bible at affordable prices. In recent years they also are increasingly involved in advocating its credi ...
, Sydney Public Grammar school, and later to Sydney College, on whose committees he served actively. He supported the Wesleyans and became a trustee for them in 1822. In the late 1820s Terry was firmly established as a public figure, though still often censured for his methods and for his material success. He became increasingly identified with the political aspirations of the emancipists and at times their spokesman: for example, as treasurer of the committee formed in 1821 to defend their rights. In 1827, 1830 and 1831 he was a leader in organizing petitions for trial by jury and a house of assembly, and also in expressing patriotic feeling through Australia Day celebrations; he was in the chair at the fortieth anniversary dinner in 1828 and again in 1831 as first president of the "Australian Society for the Promotion of the Growth and Cultivation of Colonial Produce and Manufactures". In 1826 he became president of a Masonic Lodge and was prominent in its activities in the following years of his life. Despite criticisms and snubs he had attained a position of public eminence and often of public responsibility. When Terry died on 22 February 1838, three years after a paralytic seizure, he was buried with Masonic honours and the band of the 50th Regiment led the procession. The funeral, described as the grandest seen in the colony, may be taken as the summation of his life's striving. He left a personal estate of £250,000, an income of over £10,000 a year from Sydney rentals, and landed property that defies assessment. His will was eventually published by the government as a public document. His wife lived until 5 September 1858. The family sold to the government the land now occupied by
Martin Place Martin Place is a pedestrian mall in the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia. Martin Place has been described as the "civic heart" of Sydney.
and the
General Post Office, Sydney The General Post Office (abbreviation GPO, commonly known as the Sydney GPO) is a heritage- listed landmark building located in Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The original building was constructed in two stages beginning in ...
. The Terrys, Samuel and Rosetta, may be seen in retrospect as two able, single-minded early colonists who resolved to reverse their unfavourable, brutalizing early fortunesand succeeded. The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. The item meets this criterion at a state level as an important extant example of a late nineteenth century commercial building in the Classical Revival architectural style with its decorative sandstone façade set within the streetscape of George Street North, which is the most intact nineteenth and early twentieth century streetscape in the City. The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. The item meets this criterion at a state level owing to its inclusion on key heritage registers maintained by government and community groups which recognise the heritage values of the item individually and as part of the historic Rocks precinct. The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The item meets this criterion at a local level owing the potential of the site to reveal evidence of earlier site uses and structures. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The item meets this criterion at a local level owing the rarity of the decorative sandstone façade and setting with the heritage streetscape of George Street North. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales. The item meets this criterion at a local level in being a representative example of a late nineteenth century commercial premises built in the economic boom of the 1880s.


See also

*
Australian residential architectural styles Australian residential architectural styles have evolved significantly over time, from the early days of structures made from relatively cheap and imported corrugated galvanised iron, corrugated iron (which can still be seen in the roofing of ...
*
Fortune of War Hotel The Fortune of War Hotel is a heritage-listed pub located at 137 George Street, in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by the Tooth & Co. resid ...
* Rusell Hotel


References


Bibliography

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Attribution


External links

* * {{The Rocks historical attractions, state=collapsed New South Wales State Heritage Register sites located in The Rocks Houses in The Rocks, New South Wales Terraced houses in Sydney Retail buildings in New South Wales Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register 1882 establishments in Australia Houses completed in 1882 New South Wales places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate Victorian architecture in Sydney George Street, Sydney