| Historical notes: | The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters.
With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney.
(Information sourced from Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani )
The building is within the area that was part of the original grant to the first Surry Hills landowner - Captain Joseph Foveaux, who was assigned 105 acres in 1793 and subsequently increased his holdings to encompass most of Surry Hills. By 1800, John Palmer - farmer and grazier, had acquired more than 200 acres of Surry Hills and become Commissary General. However by 1814, Palmer had fallen into financial trouble and lost his position in the colony, resulting in his estate being divided and sold at public auction. Edwards Riley attempted to reassemble the Palmer Estate during the 1820s, although after his suicide in 1825 the holdings were once again subdivided according to Meehan’s original plan and sold to the public. The economic boom of the 1830s acted as the necessary catalyst for residential development in Surry Hills with the original allotments being initially subdivided into villa estates. With much of the Riley Estate still locked up in a legal battle, the early development in Surry Hills focused on the lands around Albion and Bourke Streets. It wasn’t until the gold rush boom of the 1850s that the Riley Estate finally become available, and provided substantial land for the development of workers housing locally employed by the breweries and other industries. The church complex was constructed c1886.
HIS report by Urbis (April 2012) suggests the site was vacant before 1865 and was taken by a school building in 1886. The school was demolished and the church was erected during1885-1900 (further research suggest the church was started for construction in 1886 by Church of England). The 1900 survey map suggests the front hall and rear hall were built at the same time and the footprint of the church has not been since changed. The rectory building dates from c1880, earlier than the church hall.
No major alterations were recorded in City’s Archives. The planning records of 1980 and 1992 suggest the church hall “being used for commercial purpose since 1956”. However, an archival record suggests the church was leased to Reform Church in 1965. In 1980, an application was approved for converting the hall into a flat containing 3 units. It is understood the mezzanine level had been added prior to the conversion. The windows on the south, east and west elevation were enlarged in 1980s during residential conversion. The application in 1992 changed its use to offices but the rear hall remains as a flat unit. The 1980 photo shows the church hall had been painted or lime washed white. |