| Historical notes: | STATEMENT OF COUNTRY
The Factory and Dwelling (Gloucester Street) is located on the lands of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation (AIATSIS, 1996; Karskens, 2008). The Gadigal are one of the many coastal Sydney clans, known as the Gadhungal (saltwater people), that have called today’s Sydney Harbour home for thousands of generations (Placemaking NSW, 2025). The Rocks sits on the sandstone outcrops and cliffs overlooking Warrane (Sydney Cove) and Meeliawul (Campbell’s Cove). Cultural practices, including fishing, diving and gathering shellfish, were shaped by the Gadigal’s proximity to the water.
The natural vegetation and sandstone outcrops of The Rocks were cleared and quarried from 1788, with colonists establishing camps here in the colony’s earliest days. The sandstone quarried from The Rocks forms the walls of many of Sydney’s earliest colonial structures. While these land modifications destroyed much evidence of Gadigal life in The Rocks, archaeological remains demonstrating their long occupation continue to be uncovered (Placemaking NSW, 2025). The Gadigal have continued to maintain their deep connection to the land, skies and waters of this Country (Placemaking NSW, 2025).
FROG HOLLOW
Originally populated with wattle and daub huts which over time became weatherboard or rubble stone dwellings and then terrace housing, The Rocks grew organically to house the convict population, with narrow lanes and stairs hewn into the sandstone to provide pedestrian access around the houses. Along the waterfront public and private wharves were established, and at the foot of The Rocks was the first hospital and the gaol (Karsens, 2008). Throughout the 19th century, the convict encampments transformed into low-quality housing for the working class. By 1833, the block bound by Gloucester, Essex and Harrington Streets was haphazardly subdivided and occupied by a variety of dwellings (City of Sydney, 1833, Section 63).
The topography dictated the pattern of development, with the slope between Gloucester and Harrington Streets preventing buildings from fronting Gloucester Street at the northern end of the block (Robertson and Hindmarsh, 2008). The area between the streets became Frog Hollow - an L-shaped row of 13 low-quality tenanted dwellings. The dwellings did not have street access but by 1880 were accessed via a timber stair constructed from Essex Street. The houses were constructed to a generally identical plan of a single ground floor room with fireplace and single second storey room with staircase along the back wall, and were described as "squat, rat-ridden and unwholesome" (The Australasian, 1901). By 1900, Frog Hollow was under the ownership of Peter Francis Hart.
At the turn of the century, The Rocks was viewed undesirably in the minds of the wealthy who had moved out of the busy, working inner city. When the bubonic plague outbreak occurred in 1900, the inhabitants of The Rocks were blamed for its spread, and the drastic decision was made to resume the whole of the area (Karskens, 2008). The dwellings in Frog Hollow were condemned in this resumption, and Frog Hollow was demolished between November 1901 and April 1905 (Robertson and Hindmarsh, 2008).
FACTORY AND WORKERS DWELLING
Drawings for a 'factory and dwelling' at 120 Gloucester Street were prepared by the Government Architects Branch under the jurisdiction of George McRae on 28 February 1909. The building was designed in a federation free style pioneered in Australia by the office of the NSW Government Architect and influenced by the arts and crafts movement. The architectural style of the urban renewal in The Rocks generally was influenced by international trends, with London County Council's renewal project providing inspiration alongside the Cite Ouvrier in Paris. Also influential was the concept of the English Garden Factory. Although this aspect of design does not survive, at about the time of the building's completion Essex Street was closed to traffic and a stepped garden, lawns and sawn sandstone handrails and edging were installed to create an urban garden which provided an uncluttered setting for the buildings on both sides of Essex Street. Portions of the sawn sandstone handrail pillars remain (Robertson and Hindmarsh, 2008).
The designing of a factory was unusual for the Government Architects Branch, with only a small portion of the new building stock in the urban renewal project being factories - the rest comprised commercial buildings and workers housing. By 1911 the factory at 120 Gloucester Street had been constructed. The design prioritised workers health with natural lighting, fireproof construction using steel columns and beams, and a staff dining room. This type of structure using steel was not common but the Government Architects Branch had access to steel and was willing to test it as a 'fireproof' alternative. The lower levels of the building were provided with ventilation by means of shafts incorporated into the chimney breast which drew hot and stale air up to the roof (Robertson and Hindmarsh, 2008).
USES
Mr Chung Lun was the initial occupant of the building, a soft-goods warehouseman. Mr Lun, who had previously had a business at 28-30 Essex Street, operated a ladies and children's clothing factory at 120 Gloucester Street, employing 18 women as well as men and boys. The Rocks had long been associated with Chinese merchants and businesses, with the first Chinese shops opening in the area in the mid-1850s. The factory operated until 1926, with Mr Lun surviving an opium raid by police and charges of receiving stolen goods during his time in Gloucester Street. With Mr Lun moving operations to Campbell Street in 1927, the factory was converted for use as refreshment rooms, ran by Ella Beatrice Steward.
On the 30 September 1966, a series of alterations and additions were approved to the building, with an estimated cost of $4,000. This included the removal of the existing basement to ground level stair, ceramic tiling to the Essex Street faade, repair of basement doors and windows, filling in of some internal doors and installation of vinyl tiling. The works were signed off as completed in March 1967 (City of Sydney Council, 1966). In c.1990 the building was used as a site office for nearby apartment building construction, and in 1997 a series of repair and maintenance works were undertaken by builder R.E Charles Constructions Pty Ltd. (Robertson and Hindmarsh, 2008).
COMBINING WITH 117-119 HARRINGTON STREET
In 2006 works were undertaken involving the conversion of the building to connect with the neighbouring Bushells Building (SHR 01534) at 117-119 Harrington Street. This followed an original 2003 development application which was revised in 2005 due to the deteriorated conditions of its interiors. As part of this project, the building was gutted back to its masonry walls and all interior timbers replaced. In addition, the roof top laundry and chimneys were also removed along with the replacement of the roof structure. The parapet along the east side of the building adjoining 117-119 Harrington St was demolished so that the terrace area of the penthouse at 117-119 Harrington St could be extended over part of the roof area of 120 Gloucester St.
120 Gloucester Street continues to be occupied by offices, as part of the 99-year lease held by Terraform over 117-119 Harrington Street. There are three commercial tenancies which occupy the building. |