| Historical notes: | STATEMENT OF COUNTRY
History House is on Gadigal land (AIATSIS 1996). Located opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Domain, the area is part of a broader network of coastal Country around Wahganmuggalee (Farm Cove) where the Gadigal traditionally fished, gathered shellfish, camped and held ceremony (Sydney Banari, 2013).
Throughout the early colonial period, Aboriginal families continued to live, work and move through the Domain and surrounding foreshore, using it as a base from which to engage with the growing town and to maintain cultural practices. The area also served as a point of sustained cultural resilience and interaction with well documented Aboriginal presence in the 19th century, including groups travelling from elsewhere in NSW who camped near today’s Art Gallery of NSW and visited the city for trade, performance and community connection (Sydney Banari, 2013). In 2022, an art installation by Judy Watson of Waanyi County was installed in the Royal Botanic Gardens. The artwork, Bara, reimagines shell hooks as a monumental artwork overlooking the harbour, and demonstrates that Gadigal cultural identity and connection to Country continue as active, present day practices (City of Sydney, 2022).
Throughout the early colonial period, Aboriginal families continued to live, work and move through the Domain and surrounding foreshore, using it as a base from which to engage with the growing town and to maintain cultural practices. The area also served as a point of sustained cultural resilience and interaction with well documented Aboriginal presence in the 19th century, including groups travelling from elsewhere in NSW who camped near today's Art Gallery of NSW and visited the city for trade, performance and community connection (Sydney Banari, 2013).
SYDNEY AND THE DOMAIN
After the demolition of the First Government House in the 1840s, the Domain's western side was subdivided into building allotments. The land on which History House now stands was allotment 19 and was offered for sale in 1847. It remained unsold until 1849 and passed through several owners reflecting the rising land values due to Sydney's gold rush era expansion (Design 5, 2016).
The creation of Macquarie Street opened up a previously underdeveloped part of the city where government could control development along the southern boundary of the Government Domain. While the eastern side quickly became civic, with many major public buildings, the western side developed as a residential area, often occupied by government officials who worked nearby or households combining both office and residence. By the 1820s, the west side was lined with houses which were both large and small but by the 1840s, many older cottages were replaced by more impressive residences. Macquarie Street was extended northwards after the construction of the new Government House and between Bent and Bridge Street became highly desirable due to the uninterrupted views of the Domain, Government House, the Botanic Gardens and the harbour (all once seen from History House), attracting many of NSW's most prominent families (Design 5, 2016: State Records NSW, 1823).
GEORGE OAKES
George Oakes (1813 - 1881) was a pastoralist, landowner and influential politician in 19th century, colonial NSW. Born in Parramatta, he was the eldest son of missionary Rev. Francis Oakes and Rebecca Small and is known to have pursued agricultural and pastoral interests . He established his long-term base in Parramatta where he became an active figure in local and civic affairs and District Council activities (Rutledge, 1974).
Oakes became the representative for Parramatta in the Legislative Council in 1848 and later served in the Legislative Assembly from 1856 to 1860. He was an outspoken member of the Anti-transportation League, an organisation opposed to penal transportation to Australia and participated in major political debates of the period (Parliament, NSW).
In 1872, he was elected for East Sydney and broadened his influence through significant civic appointments, including becoming director of the Australian Gaslight Company, councillor of the Agricultural Society of NSW. He also became representative commissioner for NSW at the Philadelphia and Paris Exhibitions, later serving as commissioner for the 1880 Melbourne Exhibition. He was reappointed to the Legislative Council in 1879. During much of this period, he resided at the townhouse designed for him by his nephew by marriage, architect George Allen Mansfield, at 133 Macquarie Street (History House) (Design 5, 2016: Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS), 2025).
GEORGE ALLEN MANSFIELD
George Allen Mansfield (1834 - 1908) is considered one of NSW's most influential 19th century architects. Born in Sydney, Mansfield began his architectural career in 1851, apprentice to architect John Frederick Hilly, designer of prominent houses such as Greycliffe and Stickland House. He entered a partnership with Hilly in 1855 and then later practised as part of Mansfield Brothers (Glebe Society, 2012-2016: RAHS, 205: McHardy, 2023).
From 1867 to 1879, Mansfield served as architect to the Council of Education, which placed him in charge of State school design. Many of these schools, such as those at Crown Street, Cleveland Street and Sussex Street, retain his characteristic design language and reflect the large scale expansion of public education during this period (McHardy, 2023).
A major figure in the professionalisation of architecture in NSW, Mansfield was a founding member and first president of the Institute of Architects of NSW, serving 1871 - 1876, and later again 1902 - 1904. In 1873, he became the first Australian born Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). It's known that he submitted the design for History House to the RIBA, reflecting his pride in this project (Design 5, 2016).
Mansfield's other works include high profile institutional, commercial and civic projects. His principal works include the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, buildings for the Australian Gaslight Company at Darling Harbour (of which Oakes was Director), the Australian Mutual Provident (AMP) Society building (demolished), the Australia Hotel (demolished), the Macleay Museum, Parramatta Town Hall, and many high profile estates and regional bank buildings across NSW (City of Sydney Council, accessed 2026: Glebe Society, 2012-2016: McHardy, 2023).
He contributed significantly to the built environment of inner Sydney, Glebe and Parramatta in particular. He was an Alderman for the Borough of Glebe from 1867 - 1878 and participated in public life as a militia lieutenant and commissioner for peace (Heritage NSW, 2008).
By his passing in 1908, Mansfield had established a lasting legacy as an architect whose work shaped public education, civic and commercial development in NSW and whose leadership helped define architecture as a profession in NSW (McHardy, 2023).
CONSTRUCTION OF 133 MACQUARIE STREET
The allotment that History House stands on was first sold in 1849 to Joseph Nottingham Palmer. Between 1849 and 1857, the land changed hands several times and was eventually sold to Dr William Bland. No house existed on the site during this period. In 1857, Bland sold the allotment to Geoge Oaks for (Pounds)1,770. Oakes was slow to develop his plans for the site and it remained vacant throughout the 1850s and 1860s (Design 5, 2016).
In December 1871, Oakes commissioned his nephew Mansfield to design a townhouse. The original front elevation drawing still survives dated to this month. It is likely the house was completed in 1872.
By 1879, when he was reappointed to the Legislative Council, Oakes began to occupy the house more occasionally and it became the premises of the Reform Club, of which Oakes was a founding member (Design 5, 2016).
OTHER OWNERS AND USE 1881-1970
After Oakes' sudden death in 1881, the ownership passed to his son, Dr Arthur Oakes. The house was leased to notable figures and organisations including the Hon. W. A. Brodribb MLA (1882-84), the Warrigal Club (1887-89) and was a boarding house (1892-1922), consistent with adaptions of Macquarie Street townhouses during this time into boarding and medical uses (Design 5, 2016).
Between 1922-1969, the property acted as medical consulting rooms. In 1922, the property was purchased by Dr George Armstrong. In 1927, distinguished surgeon Dr George Bell purchased the house and used it as a surgery and residence. By the late 1960s, the property became known as 'Wickham House' and was occupied by a syndicate of doctors (Design 5, 2016).
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS) was founded in 1901 in Sydney as Australia's first historical organisation, established to promote the study and appreciation of the State's history. In 1906 they published their first journal (RAHS, 2025).
In its earlier decades, RAHS met in a series of borrowed venues until 1941 when it acquired a former wool store in Young Street, Sydney (RAHS, 2025). Redevelopment pressures meant RAHS had to relocate in the late 1950s. Through an exchange arrangement facilitated by the AMP Society, RAHS was able to acquire the property at 133 Macquarie Street. It moved into the building in 1970 after extensive conservation and some adaptive works to make the townhouse suitable for its use. It was officially opened as 'History House' in November 1971 (RAHS, 2025).
Since moving to History House, RAHS has continued to function as a leading historical organisation, supporting research, publications, public programs and a Statewide network of local historical societies. This network allows the organisation to focus on local histories, filling gaps other State organisations may not cover. It's library, now holding over 60,000 items, much of which is held at History House, remains a significant research resource (RAHS, 2025). |