Terrace

Item details


Name of item:	Terrace
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Terrace
Location:	Lat: -33.8568103370 Long: 151.2067085490
Primary address:	47, 49, 51, 53 Lower Fort Street, Millers Point, NSW 2000
Parish:	St Philip
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	104	DP	1143231
LOT	3	DP	1155113
LOT	1	DP	1155133
LOT	2	DP	1155133

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
47, 49, 51, 53 Lower Fort Street	Millers Point	Sydney	St Philip	Cumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private	08 Mar 21
	Private	08 Mar 21
	Private	08 Mar 21
	Private

Statement of significance:


	This is a group of three storey Victorian Italianate terraces, representing a quality streetscape element. It is part of the Millers Point Conservation Area, an intact residential and maritime precinct. It contains residential buildings and civic spaces dating from the 1830's and is an important example of C19th adaptation of the landscape. Number 51 Lower Fort Street is an important part of the Millers Point Conservation Area and Millers Point and Dawes Point Village Precinct which have been identified as having State heritage significance. The subject site provides important evidence of the complex historical layering of the Millers Point and Dawes Point area, illustrating the nineteenth-century pattern of settlement traceable to maritime and commercial activities, the redevelopment of the area by the Sydney Harbour Trust (SHT) after the outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1900, and the subsequent long-term use of large residences for multi-tenant boarding houses. It is also an example of late nineteenth century speculative terrace development which retains important evidence of its original 1885 layout, fabric and detailing as well as its twentieth century use for multi-tenant residential accommodation. Number 51 Lower Fort Street and the Palermo Terrace of which it is part are substantial representative examples of the Late Victorian Italianate architectural style and period, sharing many features with other terrace houses built during this era throughout Sydney. The aesthetic significance of the Terrace, and number 51 in particular, is notably enhanced by the extent to which the subject property retains so much of its original/early character, fabric and detailing, both externally and internally. The property's aesthetic and landmark significance is also enhanced by its unique relationship to its Millers Point setting through its architectural character and elevated siting. Palermo Terrace, of which 51 Lower Fort Street is a part, is an important residential streetscape/townscape element of the precinct and has social significance within the context of the Millers Point and the Millers Point and Dawes Point Village Precinct arising from its 112-year use as a boarding house and its contribution to workers and community housing in the area. The subject property has research potential for above-ground archaeological remains related to the structure of the terrace building but little for below-ground archaeological remains related to earlier site occupation, due to previous excavation and disturbance. It also provides a number of architectural research opportunities for investigation of original features (such as interior decoration, use of materials and construction techniques) that have been removed from similar residences of this style and period. The subject property has been assessed as having State level heritage significance as part of the Palermo Terrace and is located within heritage conservation areas of State level heritage significance.
	Date significance updated: 30 Apr 18
	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


Physical description:	Three storey, six bedroom Victorian Italianate terrace house with iron lace balustrading and friezes and brackets. Top floor has two double hung sash windows and incised motifs, middle floor has two french doors opening onto balcony, and ground floor has two sash windows and front door with fanlight above. Steps to basement lead from front porch. Storeys: 3 Construction: Painted rendered masonry. Corrugated galvanised iron roofing. Timber with iron lace balcony, cast iron central column. Style: Victorian Italianate
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	External: Good
Modifications and dates:	External: Timber handrail added. Fenestration altered.


Current use:	Residence
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lto

History

Historical notes:

ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION
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).

Prior to European settlement the Millers Point area was part of the wider Cadigal territory, in which the clan fished, hunted and gathered shellfish from the nearby mudflats. Shellfish residue was deposited in middens, in the area known to the early Europeans as Cockle Bay; the middens were later utilised by the Europeans in lime kilns for building purposes. The Millers Point area was known to the Cadigal as Coodye, and Dawes Point as Tar-ra/Tarra (Sydney City Council, 2019).

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).

Millers Point:
Millers Point is one of the earliest areas of European settlement in Australia, and a focus for maritime activities.

This building is one of a group of late nineteenth century terraces. First tenanted by Department of Housing in 1992.

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.	Changing the environment-
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	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes and gardens of domestic accommodation-
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.	Worker's Dwellings-
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.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
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-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1900-1950-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1950-2000-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1850-1900-

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Review a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
CMP-Endorse	Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement	51 Lower Fort Street, Millers Point		Feb 12 2016
CMP-Endorse	Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement	47 Lower Fort Street CMP		May 3 2016
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

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		00906	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register
Local Environmental Plan	CSH Local Environmental Plan 4		07 Apr 00

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Department of Housing s170 Register	1998		Brooks & Associates		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	GML Heritage	2016	51 Lower Fort Street, Millers Point - Conservation Management Plan
Written	GML Heritage	2016	47 Lower Fort Street, Millers Point - Conservation Management Plan

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:	5045649

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