Captain Tench Arcade

Item details


Name of item:	Captain Tench Arcade
Other name/s:	Captain Tench Arcade (since 1985)
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Retail and Wholesale
Category:	Shop
Location:	Lat: -33.8598712045 Long: 151.2084245420
Primary address:	111-115 George Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000
Parish:	St Philip
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Sydney
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	13		DP	773812

Boundary:

Eora

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
111-115 George Street	The Rocks	Sydney	St Philip	Cumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Place Management NSW	State Government

Statement of significance:


	Captain Tench Arcade 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. Captain Tench Arcade is part of the earliest business street in Australia. It retains its 1920s façade though the shop front was reconfigured in 1985 to provide an arcade through to Nurse's Walk, many of the original elements were reused. It is valued by the regional and tourist community as a retail focus in The Rocks and it continues the traditional retail use of the site. Captain Tench arcade are well scaled buildings and good examples of their style and type. The provide a positive contribution to the historic George St retail precinct in The Rocks, and the reconfiguration of the arcade in 1985 was sympathetically carried out and in no way detracts form the streetscape or the architectural feel of the original buildings. The well designed street facades are good examples of the Federation Style with Art Nouveau Motifs. The site has significant research potential as an archaeological resource, the underfloor deposits appear to remain undisturbed from the demolition of the 1862 buildings. Evidence may still exist which has the potential to inform about previous developments on the site including the 1862 building and even structures erected or land use before this on the site. (MacLaren North 2007)
	Date significance updated: 30 Mar 11
	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:	Kell/Rigby - 1985 additions to rear
Construction years:	1920-1920
Physical description:	Style: Art Nouveau Motifs; Storeys: Two; Facade: Brick walls; Roof Cladding: Iron; Floor Frame: Timber, Tiled Arcade floor,
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Archaeology Assessment Condition: Partly disturbed. Assessment Basis: Modern building techniques.
	Date condition updated:27 Apr 01
Modifications and dates:	In 1920 the 3 existing shops on the site were demolished, and two new shops built with residences above. In 1985 an arcade was constructed into the frontage of this property to allow access to Nurses Walk, creating three shops, two facing George Street and one in Nurses Walk. Maximum use was made of the materials from the existing building in carrying out the work. The upper levels were used as the refurbished and renovated Rocks Push Restaurant.


Current use:	Shops, arcade and restaurant
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lots, Shops and residences

History

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 (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).

This land was part of the first hospital complex serving the early colony. The second brick ward/store was erected on this site. (SCRA 1978: HP/11-13)

After the hospital moved in 1816 the land remained vacant. William Charles was granted the land in 1842 when he divided it into three lots, however he appears to have control of it from the 1830s (SCRA 1978: HP/11-13)

A brick building was initially built on the southern portion of the site in 1832 by Elizabeth Charles. Charles' land was formally subdivided in 1842 but appears to have been effectively used as three separate lots before that. These lots were developed as follows:
Lot 111 (northern lot) vacant until 1845 when a single storey timber house was built, demolished 1861.
Lot 113 (middle lot) vacant until 1841 when a two storey brick house was built, demolished 1861.
Lot 115 (southern lot) vacant until 1832 when a two storey brick house was built, demolished 1862 (SCRA 1978: HP/11-13)

In 1862, Elizabeth Charles (William's wife) replaced the existing buildings with new three storey brick walled slate roofed shops and dwellings on all three lots, and they continued to be tenanted by various small business uses. The Charles family retained ownership of the original grant until 1900 when it was resumed by the NSW Government under the Observatory Hill Resumption Act. During 1920 the land granted to William Charles was cleared of buildings, and by the end of that year two new shop frontages were erected to replace the three previous ones (SCRA 1978: HP/11-13)

Little information exists regarding the buildings located on this site between 1862 and the construction of the existing building in the 1920s. Dove's 1880 plan of the area indicates that each lot had a building of roughly similar scale, with a two storey frontage to George Street and a single storey rear portion. Two bird's eye views show a range of two storey buildings in this location but it is unknown as to how accurate these portrayals are. No photographs have been located which directly show this site before the construction of the present building. However, an extract from an 1879 photo of the area does show portions of the roofs of the three buildings (MacLaren North 2007).

This photo indicates that the three buildings were narrow terrace-style buildings. All are two storeys and appear to be constructed in rendered brick. Roofs are steeply pitched and may have been slate. All buildings appear to be identical. By the 1920s, these buildings had been replaced with the current building (MacLaren North 2007).

The existing building at 111-115 George Street was constructed in 1920, following the demolition of three commercial buildings which had been on site since 1862. The building originally consisted of a wide, two storey structure divided into two shopfronts on the ground floor and additional space on the first floor. It appears access to the first floor was via internal staircase(s) and may have been divided into 2 areas, as with the ground floor. The building had a timber veranda over the footpath, suspended from the first storey masonry (MacLaren North 2007).

The northern half of the building was used throughout the 1970s and early 1980s by a restaurant known as 'The Rocks Push' and 'The Old Push'. Photographs from the early 1980s suggest that the rear yard of the building was enclosed by a sandstone wall and used as seating for the restaurant (MacLaren North 2007).

In 1985 the building was extensively remodelled. This involved the reconstruction of the ground floor shopfronts to provide an arcade style passage through the building with an internal light well, as well as the removal of the original rear skillions, the construction of a new extension connected to the northern ground floor tenancy and the construction of a new external stair case at the rear to access the first floor tenancy (MacLaren North 2007)

No plans have been located which show the building in its pre-1985 configuration (MacLaren North 2007)

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	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	(none)-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	(none)-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Retailing-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Developing discrete retail and commercial areas-
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 of urban amenity-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	Operating public hospitals-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	Caring for the sick in hospitals-
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.	(none)-
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.	Housing in shop-based 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.	Housing (inner city)-
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 ordinary families-
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	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Early land grants-
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	Changing land uses - from suburban to urban-
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	Resuming private lands for public purposes-
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	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
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	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
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	19th century suburban developments-
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	20th century Suburban Developments-
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-
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	Suburban Consolidation-
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	Commercial store, shop-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Colonial government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - administration of land-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Captain Tench Arcade 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 (see item no. 4500458). Captain Tench Arcade is part of the earliest business street in Australia and the continuing use of the buildings as shops continues this tradition. This land was part of the first hospital complex serving the early colony. The second brick ward/store was erected on this site. It has historic and social significance by the strong associations with the early grants and subsequent developments on this site and within The Rocks generally. The building provides evidence of endeavours to encourage planned development after The Rocks had been resumed by the Government in the early 20th Century. This site is important as a State significant example of the 20th century use of The Rocks as a commercial precinct. The building continues the pattern of use on this site which was established in the 1830s and contributes to the surrounding commercial precinct. The construction of this building in 1920 by the NSW Government after the resumption of The Rocks and its reconstruction in 1985 are indicative of the Government’s commitment to enhance The Rocks as an important commercial and recreational precinct. (MacLaren North 2007)
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	This site does not meet the threshold for this criterion. While the site has been named after Captain Watkin Tench, an important figure in early colonial history, this name was not applied to the site until 1985 to commemorate his historic importance however there are no known historical associations between Tench and this site. This site has no other known historical associations with any particular individuals of note. (MacLaren North 2007) The site is associated with the first hospital complex and gardens which stood here from 1788-1815.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Captain Tench arcade are well scaled buildings and good examples of their style and type. They provide a positive contribution to the historic George St retail precinct in The Rocks. The reconfiguration of the arcade in 1985 was sympathetically carried out and in no way detracts form the streetscape or the architectural feel of the original buildings. The well designed street facades are good examples of the Federation Style with Art Nouveau Motifs. (MacLaren North 2007)
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Captain Tench Arcade has historic and social significance by the strong associations with early land grants and the subsequent developments on the site and in The Rocks generally. It is valued by the regional and tourist community as a retail focus in The Rocks and it continues the traditional retail use of the site. (MacLaren North 2007)
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The site has significant research potential as an archaeological resource, the underfloor deposits appear to remain undisturbed from the demolition of the 1862 buildings. Evidence may still exist which has the potential to inform about previous developments on the site including the 1862 building and even structures erected or land use before this on the site. (MacLaren North 2007)
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	This building is an uncommon example of a 1920s building in a precinct which is largely 19th century in character. It meets this criterion at a local level. (MacLaren North 2007)
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The place is not considered to meet this criterion as it is typical of small scale commercial buildings constructed throughout Sydney in the 1920s, however it is unusual within the context of The Rocks. (MacLaren North 2007)
Integrity/Intactness:	Underfloor deposits may remain
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.

Recommended management:


	Above ground archaeological remains: An archaeological watching brief or monitoring program is recommended. Below ground archaeological remains: An historical and archaeological assessment prior to archaeological investigation is recommended.

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		01537	10 May 02	85	2865

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
SCA Register 1979-1998	1998	B054, AR066	Sydney Cove Authority (SCA)		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Management Plan			Grants index
Map			ML Map M2/811.1714/1841/1.
Written	MacLaren North	2007	Conservation Management Plan, 111-115 George Street, The Rocks (Captain Tench Arcade)
Written	Maitland, Neil Colin	1983	George Street, The Rocks - A Streetscape Conservation Strategy: 163-172
Written	SCRA	1978	Building Data Sheets, HP/11, HP/12 & HP/13
Oral History	W Johnson	2000	Information regarding Sydney Harbour Trust's commercial activities

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:	5053152

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