Fitzroy Terrace

Item details


Name of item:	Fitzroy Terrace
Other name/s:	Fitzroy Crescant
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Terrace
Location:	Lat: -33.8902642323 Long: 151.2040616560
Primary address:	6-18 Pitt Street, Redfern, NSW 2016
Parish:	Alexandria
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Sydney
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1	DP	547126
LOT	2	DP	547126
LOT	1	DP	74000
LOT	1	DP	74000
LOT	2	DP	74000
LOT	3	DP	74000
LOT	4	DP	74000
LOT	5	DP	74000

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
6-18 Pitt Street	Redfern	Sydney	Alexandria	Cumberland	Primary Address
James Street (cnr)	Redfern	Sydney	Alexandria	Cumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private	30 Mar 99
	Private	30 Mar 99
	Private
	Private
Terence and Patricia Burkitt	Private	30 Mar 99

Statement of significance:


	Fitzroy Terrace has historical significance as it stands on part of what was Dr. William Redfern's Estate. The Estate gave its name to the suburb of Redfern which developed around it and Fitzroy Terrace is representative of that development. The building is the work of James Hume an important architect practising in Sydney in the 1840's. Fitzroy Terrace has social and cultural significance as 'purposely built' accommodation for the commercial and professional middle classes of the mid 19th century and has research potential for mid 19th century architecture within Australia . It an extremely rare, if not unique example, of its kind and of the work of Hume.
	Date significance updated: 06 Apr 05
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	James Hume
Physical description:	Fitzroy Terrace is a colonial Georgian breakfront terrace of seven two storey houses designed by the architect James Hume in 1846. It is built in stuccoed brick lined out in imitation of ashlar with the central terrace of three stones projecting forward with a gable roof. The gable attic is lit by a semicircular fanlight to the rear and a pivoting sash window to the front. The veranda to the ground floor is supported on simple timber chamfered posts with wide boarded veranda divisions. Most of the veranda roofs have been reinstated in timber shingles, the main roofs have been partially reinstated in slate the rest being of corrugated iron or terracotta tile. The building is simply detailed with the original six panel sash windows, six panel entrance doors with semi circular fanlights over French doors with margin glazing, opening out to the front garden in the centre terrace only. Internally the two up, two down houses retain their original simple cedar joinery, fire place surrounds, stairway and panel doors. Original access to the servants room above the kitchen was by way of a trap door. Externally the houses are set back from Pitt Street, with tiled paths, cast iron picket fences and stone retaining walls. To the rear the separate skillion roofed kitchens have long since been joined to the main buildings by boarded timber links. Above the kitchen is a small storage room lit by a four pane pivoting window. Most houses still retain their out houses fronting the rear lane. Numerous extensions have in the past been made to the rear of the houses. In the case of No. 6 Pitt Street a very unsympathetic extension spoils the harmony of the rear elevation. 18 Pitt Street: The front garden, with the exception of its framing cast iron picket fence, stone retaining walls and tiled paths and a c.50-year old frangipani tree, hardly existed 15 years ago, when the subject elm tree, another planting, was installed by the then owners. The existing garden is generally sympathetic in form and content to the age of the terrace. The owner noted that photographs from 15 years ago showed nothing there then. The owner also noted twoold Port Jackson fig trees (Ficus rubiginosa) in the rear garden, which are getting large and causing problems (John Allen, pers.comm., 2/2013).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Fitzroy Terrace have survived due to Redfern's social decline during the early 20th century. The building is in good condition, partially restored with potential for complete restoration.
	Date condition updated:07 Feb 02
Modifications and dates:	Seperate ownership has resulted in alterations. The terrace was originally painted an ochre colour and the window frames a soft green. The front doors combined these two colours. Shudders were originally fixed to the ground floor windows and were probably painted a dark green. The verandah enclosures have recently been corrected but generally changes have been confined to the rear of the buildings. 3/2013: 18 Pitt Street - elm tree (c.15 years old) removed due to poor health.


Current use:	residences
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farm estate, residences

History

Historical notes:

Redfern's natural landscape was defined by sand hills and swamps. The Carrahdigang, more widely known as the Cadigal people, valued the area for its abundant supply of food.

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 (Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani).

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 (Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani).

The name Redfern originates from an early land grant to William Redfern in 1817. It was previously known as Roberts Farm and Boxley's Swamp. (Murray, 2009, 5). William Redfern (1774?-1833) was a surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy and was aboard HMS Standard when its crew took part in the revolt in 1797 known as the Mutiny of the Nore. Because he had advised the men to be more united, he was included among leaders who were court-martialled. Although sentenced to death, he was reprieved because of his youth and in 1801 arrived in Sydney as a convict. He served on Norfolk Island as an assistant surgeon. In 1803 he was pardoned, but remained on the island until 1808, when he returned to Sydney and was appointed assistant surgeon after being examined in medicine and surgery by Surgeons Jamison, Harris and Bohan.

In 1816 he took charge of the new Sydney Hospital, but maintained a private practice. In 1814 he reported on conditions on convict transport ships and his recommendation that all have a surgeon on board whose duties were to superintend the health of convicts was put into practice.

He resigned from Government service in 1819 when not appointed to succeed D'Arcy Wentworth as principal surgeon. Despite his valuable service, many were contemptuous of him as he was an emancipist, although he had the friendship of Governor Macquarie. In 1818 Redfern received a grant of 1300 acres in Airds (in today's Campbelltown area) and later received more land in the area and by his death in 1823 he owned, by grant and purchase, over 23,000 acres in NSW.

In 1817 he had been granted 100 acres in the area of the present suburb of Redfern. The boundaries were approximately the present-day Cleveland, Regent, Redfern and Elizabeth Streets. The commodious home Redfern built on his land was considered to be a country house, surrounded by flower and kitchen gardens. His neighbours were John Baptist (at the 40 acre Darling Nursery in today's Chippendale) and Captain Cleveland, an officer of the 73rd regiment, remembered by today's street of that name, and before its demolition, by Cleveland House, his home (Pollen & Healy, 1988, 219-220).

The passing of the Sydney Slaughterhouses Act in 1849 brought other businesses to the district. This act banned abattoirs and noxious trades from the city. Tanners, wool scourers and wool-washers, fellmongers, boiling down works and abattoirs had 10 years to move their businesses outside city boundaries. Many of the trades moved to Redfern and Waterloo - attracted by the water. The sand hills still existed but by the late 1850s Redfern was a flourishing suburb housing 6500 people.

The Municipalities Act of 1858 gave districts the option of municipal incorporation. Public meetings were held and after a flurry of petitions Redfern Municipality was proclaimed on August 11, 1859, the fourth in Sydney to be formed under the Act. Redfern Town Hall opened in 1870 and the Albert Cricket Ground in 1864. Redfern Post Office came in 1882.

The majority of houses in Redfern in the 1850s were of timber. From the 1850s market gardeners congregated in Alexandria south of McEvoy Street, around Shea's Creek and Bourke Road (Murray, 2009, 5).

When Sydney's original railway terminus was built in the Cleveland Paddocks, which extended from Devonshire and Cleveland Streets to Chippendale, the station's name was chosen to honour William Redfern. The station was built of iron and the first stationmaster was a Mr Fielding. In 1874 the station was replaced by a brick and stone structure, covering two platforms. At that time the present Redfern station was known as Eveleigh, after a lovely old home standing on the western side of the railway line.

When Central Station was built, on the site of the Devonshire Street cemetery, the name of Eveleigh Station was changed to Redfern. The name Eveleigh was retained for the huge railway workshops, just beyond the station, on the site of the original Hutchinson Estate.

All that remains of the Cleveland Paddocks is Prince Alfred Park, where the exhibition building was erected in 1870 for an inter-colonial exhibition opened by Governor Belmore, after whom Belmore Park was named, on 30/8/1870.

Redfern was the scene of the maiden trip of the first double-decker tram in 1879. It travelled between the old Redfern station to the corner of Hunter and Elizabeth Streets in the city (Pollen & Healy, 1988, 220).

In 1885 the Sands Sydney Directory listed 54 market gardens. While many were worked by European-Australians, by the 1870s Chinese market gardeners had acquired leases in the district and a decade later were dominating the trade.

The Eveleigh complex in 1886 became one of the largest employers in the state. Redfern was an industrial working class suburb by the end of the 19th century. Reschs brewery and other factories attracted migrants. The Syrian/Lebanese community began settling around Redfern and Surry Hills by the 1880s (Murray, 2009, 5).

Redfern at the end of the 19th century was characterised by its many gardens, but at the turn of the century industry was taking over the area. At that time, many businessmen in the area were from Syria, such as George Dan, who established his business in 1890; Stanton and Aziz Melick, in 1888; and Anthony & Simon Coorey, in the 1890s. Like other inner-city suburbs, the area still has a high migrant population, including many now from Lebanon, as well as a large Aboriginal population. There is still industry in the area among the high density residential occupation (Pollen & Healy, 1988, 220).

In the 1940s 73 per cent of all industrial activity in Sydney was concentrated within a radius of 3.5 miles from Redfern Station.

Many of its services have disappeared or been substantially downgraded over the last couple of decades, even though Redfern is still a densely populated inner city suburb (Murray, 2009, 5).

Fitzroy Terrace:
"Fitzroy Terrace" stands on part of 30 acres of land which was first granted by Lieut. Governor Grose to Williams Robert on 8.1.1794, on the condition that he cultivate and improve the land. The land was then sold to John Boxley in 1800 and Thomas Laycock in 1805 for (Pounds)70. Mr. Laycock sold it to Mrs. Sarah Wills for (Pounds)100 on the same day. Mrs. Wills was later widowed and married George Howe, editor of the Sydney Gazette in 1811. Her eldest daughter married Dr. William Redfern. Dr. Redfern owned an adjoining 70 acres which he consolidated with his wife's 30 acres in a new grant issued by Governor Macquarie in 1816.

Redfern was transported to Australia as a mutineer in 1800. He was pardoned in 1803 and rose to have the largest private practice in the colony which included both the Macquaries and the Macarthurs. Although an emancipist he was appointed to the magistracy by Governor Macquarie and was one of the first directors of the Bank of New South Wales. His Sydney estate of 100 acres gave its name to the suburb of Redfern which developed around it. He was the first person to receive an Australian medical qualification, the first teacher of Australian medical students and the instigator of important reforms on board the convict transports. He returned to Scotland in 1828.

Redfern's grant of 100 acres was subdivided and advertise for sale in allotments of between 2 and 5 acres in 1834. (The Australian 7.3.1834). In 1842 the agent for the Redfern estate had the property surveyed and divided into allotments. Lots 10 and 12, Section 2 were sold to Mr. John Alexander who was responsible for developing the land. The Sydney Morning Herald advertised "Fitzroy Terrace, on 12.8.1846 in the following way

- "TO BE LET". The two storey Houses lately erected in Upper Pitt Street, Redfern contains four good rooms each with detached kitchen, pantry and servant's room. These houses are slated, and are very substantially built. There is a plentiful supply of water and every convenience for a respectable family. Each house has a large backyard and garden ground behind, with ground in front for a flower plot. Rent moderate. Apply to Mr. Alexander, 700 George Street or to Mr. James Hume, 113 King Street."

As Governor Fitzroy arrived in Sydney just after completion of the terrace it was probably named after him, and from the evidence contained in the advertisement, it was the work of James Hume an important architect practising in Sydney in the 1840's.

Hume designed the Presbyterian Church in Wollongong (1839) and Goulburn (1839) and the Sydney Synagogue. He worked on St. Andrew's Cathedral before Edward Blackett and Burdekin House. He has also been credited with the design of "Lindesay" at Darling Point. Fitzroy Terrace may be the only building by Hume still existence, Fitzroy Terrace owes a great deal to Regency concepts of design and is modelled in a unitary fashion. It an extremely rare, if not unique example, of its kind and of the work of Hume.

The Sands Directory shows the early occupants of Fitzroy Terrace in the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s as belonging to the professional and commercial middle class with occupations listed such as barrister, accountant, clerk, civil engineer
(Source: Robert A. D. Brown, Heritage and Conservation Branch, Department of Environment and Planning,1984).

18 Pitt Street:
The front garden, with the exception of its framing cast iron picket fence, stone retaining walls and tiled paths and a c.50-year old frangipani tree, hardly existed 15 years ago, when the subject elm tree, another planting, was installed by the then owners.

The existing garden is generally sympathetic in form and content to the age of the terrace. The owner noted that photographs from 15 years ago showed nothing there then. The owner also noted two old Port Jackson fig trees (Ficus rubiginosa) in the rear garden, which are getting large and causing problems (John Allen, pers.comm., 2/2013).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Gardens-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Private farming-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Pastoralism-Activities associated with the breeding, raising, processing and distribution of livestock for human use	Agisting and fattening stock for slaughter-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Residential-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Terrace-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	A Picturesque Residential Suburb-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Housing townsfolk - terraces and cottages-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Sub-division of large estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing suburbia-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Applying architectural design to utlilitarian structures-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - colonial Georgian terrace-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with John Alexander, merchant and speculator-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with James Hume, architect and businessman-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Dr William Redfern, Doctor, prominent citizen, farmer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Governor Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, 1846-1865-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Fitzroy terrace has historical significance as it is located on part of a 1794 grant of land which was eventually owned by Dr William Redfern after whom the suburb was named. Fitzroy Terrace was named after Govenor Fitzroy and is what remains of that early development.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Fitzroy Terrace has direct association with architect James Hume and is located on Dr Redferns original land grant after whom the suburb was named. Fitzroy Terrace was named after Govenor Fitzroy who visited Sydney shortly after the buildings completion however it is not known if this was to coincide with Fitzroy's visit.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Fitzroy Terrace is aesthetically significant as it remains in an area of Redfern which retains its varied 19th century streetscape.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Fitzroy Terrace has social and cultural significance as it was built for the commercial and professional middle classes of the mid 19th century. During the 1850's, Redfern and particulary Pitt Street was a select address
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	Fitzroy Terrace has research potential for mid 19th century architecture within Australia and for the architectural works of James Hume.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Fitzroy Terrace is a rare example of colonial Georgian breakfront terrace of seven two storey houses designed by the architect James Hume in 1846
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Fitzroy Terrace is representitive of Georgian houses designed by the architect James Hume and of early urban development aimed at a distinctive social class of person.
Integrity/Intactness:	Terrace No.16 and No.18 have been sympathetically restored and the remaining terraces are in reasonable condition. The integrity of the building as a whole may be enhanced by the use of consistant roofing materials and colour schemes.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) OF THE HERITAGE ACT 1977 Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977. I, the Hon James Griffin MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales do by this Order, effective at the time of publication in the New South Wales Government Gazette: 1. revoke the order made on 9 November 2020 and published in the Government Gazette Number 318 of 13 November 2020; and 2. grant the exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 that are described in the attached Schedule. The Hon James Griffin MP Minister for Environment and Heritage Signed this 2nd day of June 2022. To view the standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 click on the link below.	Jun 17 2022

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00083	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00083	10 Aug 84	123	4134

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Graham Brooks and Associates	2009	14 Pitt Street, Redfern NSW : photographic archival recording
Written	Murray, Dr.Lisa	2009	Redfern: a hive of industry

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5045257
File number:	S90/06156 & HC 32116

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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