| 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).
The subject land appears to have been largely undeveloped until the 1870s. The street now known as 'Playfair St' was not shown on a plan of the area dated 1868. Since the mid 1870s the street has been known by a number of names:
- New George St, c.1873 - 1876;
- Little Gloucester St, c.1877 - 1886;
- Harrington St, 1923-1953; and
- Playfair St, from 1953.
The 1868 plan shows a laneway cuts through the south eastern portion of the block, accessing the properties fronting George St and a large building connected to Flour mills located opposite the site. The Argyle Stores occupy the south western section of the block.
The land on the western side of Playfair St was part of Lot 2 of Section 85 granted to William Carr and John Rogers on 26 October 1838. This land included the southern portion of the site, land now occupied by Nos. 21-31 Playfair St. In 1839 the land granted to Carr and Rogers was sold to Frederick Wright Unwin. Unwin commenced his Bonded Stores in the same year. In 1842 Unwin leased the northern section of his property and continued to develop the southern portion of his site.
In 1870 part of Unwin's land was acquired by William Whaley Billyard who by the end of 1871 consolidated this with a grant made on 26 September 1871. This land was sold two years later to Robert Pemberton Richardson of Sydney, an auctioneer. A Certificate of Title dated December 187431, shows the land, including the subject sites, extending east from Gloucester St with small frontage to George St North. Richardson had by this time subdivided the land, part of DP 143 and offered the thirty one allotments for sale at auction on 11 December 1874. The lots were advertised as Freehold City Allotments about Little Gloucester St and Mill St.
The plan shows the irregularly shaped allotments on the western side of Little Gloucester
St, generally with 15 feet frontages. The two end allotments, Lots 21 and 31 being a little wider. Lots 4 to 31 were advertised as being suitable as sites 'for residences for small capitalists'.
The sale of the subject sites were recorded on the Certificate of Title as follows:
Lot 21 (Nos. 29-31 Playfair St) John Nicholson of Sydney, 6 Jan 1875
Lots 22 & 23 (Nos. 25-27 Playfair St) Bartholomew Higgins of Sydney, Policeman, 6 Jan 1875
Lot 24 (No. 23 Playfair St) John Kearney of Sydney, Policeman, 6 Jan 1875
Lots 25 & 26 (Nos. 19-21 Playfair St) John Murphy of Sydney, Publican, 18 Jan 1875
Lot 27 (No.17 Playfair St) John Murphy of Sydney, Publican, 15 Sept 1876
Lot 28 (Part Nos.13-15 Playfair St) William George of Sydney, Labourer, 2 Apr 1875
Lot 29 (Part Nos.13-15 Playfair St) Magnus George of Sydney, 14 Oct 1876
Most of these purchasers retained ownership until 1901, when the land was resumed. However, in 1876, Nicholson sold approximately half of Lot 21 (facing Little Gloucester St) to Enoch Rees, a stonemason of Sydney. Two years later it was again transferred to Michael O'Flaherty, a Coal merchant of Pyrmont. Nicholson retained the western portion of the original allotment until 1898. Lots 28-31 were purchased by Thomas Playfair and by 1879, only these lots remained undeveloped.
New George St (now Playfair St) was first listed in the Sands Directory in 1873. In 1875 no residents were listed, however, in the following year a terrace of five houses, probably on Lots 22-26 (Nos. 19-27) had been built and occupied. A sewer plan dated 28th Aug 1875 indicates five buildings on the site, in the area between the Argyle Bond to the south and Mill to the east. In 1876 it would appear that Enoch Rees built a pair of two storey houses, Nos. 29 and 31, after his purchase of the eastern half of the allotment from Nicholson. In 1877 the Sands Directory notes No. 7 Little Gloucester St (now No. 17 Playfair St) was 'in course of erection'. It would appear that the single house on Lot 27 (No. 17 Playfair St) was constructed by John Murphy shortly after his purchase of that block in late 1876. By 1882 a total of 19 houses had been constructed on Lots 21 to 27, with eight fronting Little Gloucester St, eight to Gloucester Walk and three in between. The largest developer was John Murphy who erected nine houses on his three allotments, by using the rear yards of Nos. 17-21 Playfair St. It seems unlikely that the three separate purchasers of the land now occupied by Nos. 19-27 Playfair St would have combined to construct the row. It is possible that the terrace was constructed by a speculative venture prior to their purchase, however, the sale of land by Richardson made no reference to buildings on the property. In c. 1880 the row was noted as 'Tara Terrace', however, the derivation of the name and connection is not clear.
The c. 1880 Percy Dove plan shows the configuration of the buildings. The two storey buildings facing Little Gloucester St, including Nos. 9-17 (now Nos. 19-27) noted as 'Tara Terrace', are constructed to the street alignment with single storey room/annexes and open yards to the rear. The three single storey buildings are shown at the rear of Nos. 17-21 (noted as Nos. 7-11 on the plan). The buildings constructed on the Gloucester St frontage, now interpreted in Foundation Park are also shown.
The allotment to the north of these buildings, now Nos. 13-15 Playfair St, remained undeveloped. Two sheds are shown abutting the single storey building at the rear of No. 17 and on the north eastern boundary. By 1880 Murphy had also constructed another house immediately behind No. 7 Little Gloucester St (No. 17 Playfair St), accessed via a passage, the opening of which is still discernable at the southern end of the ground floor facade of the building. In 1880 the Sydney City Council Assessment Books described the individual houses on Little Gloucester St (now Playfair St) as follows:
No. 7 (Lot 27, No. 17 Playfair St) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 3 floors 6 rooms
1 off (Lot 27) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 2 floors 4 rooms
No. 9 (Lot 26, No. 19) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 2 floors 4 rooms
No. 11 (Lot 25, No. 21 Playfair St) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 2 floors 4 rooms
No. 13 (Lot 24, No. 23 Playfair St) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 3 floors 5 room
No. 15 (Lot 23, No. 25 Playfair St) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 3 floors 6 rooms
No. 17 (Lot 22, No. 27 Playfair St) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 3 floors 6 rooms
No. 19 (part Lot 21, No. 29 Playfair St) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 2 floors 5 rooms
No. 21 (part Lot 21, No. 31 Playfair St) Brick walls, Shingled roof, 2 floors 5 rooms
In 1883 Thomas Playfair commenced construction of two tenements known as Nos. 3-5
Gloucester St (Nos. 13-15 Playfair St). The building was first rated in June 1884 and in 1891, Nos. 3-5 Playfair St (Nos. 13-15) were described as two storey houses of five rooms constructed with brick and cement walls and iron roof. No. 1 Playfair St occupied by Thomas Playfair was described as wood walls and iron roof with sheds and yards.
The sequence of construction of the subject buildings, based on Sands and title search can therefore be summarised as follows:
?? Nos. 19 - 27 'Tara Terrace' 1875;
?? Nos. 29 - 31, 1876;
?? No. 17, 1877.
The five houses comprising 'Tara Terrace', the first buildings built on the site, were constructed as typical Victorian workers' terraces. Each terrace was built on sandstone foundation walls with two rooms at both ground and first floor levels. Nos. 29 and 31 were constructed as a pair with similar style and finish to Tara Terrace, No. 17 was originally very similar to the Tara Terrace dwellings in style and detail.
The Sands Directory indicates that at least three of the houses at the western end of the original allotments, along the Gloucester St alignment, had been constructed and occupied by 1877. By 1879 seven houses had been built, described as Erin Terrace. These were also occupied by a number of tradesmen, including mariners, carpenter and tailor. By 1882 the street numbers had changed to accommodate another three houses, and the Assessment Books note that all were constructed of brick with iron roofs. All but two were three storeys with five or six rooms (the other two were single storey with three rooms).
The houses generally appear to have been developed for the rental market. From the start only one of the properties, No. 13 Little Gloucester St (No. 23 Playfair St) was occupied by the owner, John Kearney. By 1879 all of the houses were occupied by tenants who generally remained in occupation for a few years at the most. The Sands Directory indicates that these tenants were varied, ranging from a printer to shipwrights and an engineer. The terraces constructed along the Gloucester St alignment (now Gloucester Walk) were also generally constructed for the rental market with only two owner occupiers. In 1879 the occupants included two master mariners, a carpenter and a tailor.
The Sands Directory indicates that this situation continued until 1901, when all of the allotments were resumed by the Minister for Public Works and the Sydney Harbour Trust became responsible for the site and buildings. The initial aim of the Trust, which was established as a result of the Plague which hit Sydney in early 1900, was to clean up the resumed areas and redevelop them for commercial use. However, the area within the boundaries of the resumption included many residential properties mixed with the wharves and commercial buildings that the Trust intended to use. The Trust gradually had to accept that it would have to take the role of landlord and manage the newly acquired residential properties and their occupants.
The Trust also soon recognised that not all of the newly acquired property was suitable for commercial purposes and the local topography, steep and rocky in places, would potentially be difficult to develop. In addition, the traditional inhabitants of The Rocks area, such as the wharf labourers, continued to need to live in vicinity to their places of employment. Much of the housing in the area had become dilapidated by this time and demolitions and cleansing operations were undertaken by the Trust, however, repairs to the buildings that were retained, it is assumed such as the subject terraces in Playfair St, and construction of new housing, on land deemed unsuitable for commercial use, was also undertaken from this time.
The building came under the control of the Maritime Services Board in 1936. The MSB made major infrastructure changes in The Rocks area, however, it would appear made little changes to the buildings. Despite the changes in the administration much of the area and fabric remained intact until the late 1960s. Much of the city had by this time been taken over for commercial purposes and resident population subsequently thinned. The Rocks became more derelict and public opinion generally regarded the place as a slum and largely favoured demolition and redevelopment.
Two of the four terraces still tenanted by the mid 1970s were occupied by residents who had lived in the street for several decades, during which it appears that very little renovation or modification had taken place.
The buildings were transferred to the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority in 1970 and with the adjoining terraces at No. 13-15 Playfair St, were originally slated for demolition. Tenders were called and a number of proposals were considered, including the use of a site for a carpark. The decision to demolish the buildings is highlighted by the one Tenancy Card53 relating to the buildings. The card relates to No. 31 Playfair St, at this time tenanted by a Mr W Balmain and his mother Mrs Beashel. The entries date from 22 July 1970, at which time the memo notes, 'proposed Playfair St demolitions Houses Nos. 13 to 31'. A subsequent note, dated 28 July 1970 notes, 'Playfair St proposed demolition of ten houses 13-31 inclusive for carpark'. In the later months of 1970 memos and letters were sent pertaining to the relocation of the present tenants and subsequently notice to quit the premises. The last entry, dated 13 August 1971 alludes to the continuing 'problem' with the existing tenant. Other file notes dated September - November 1970 suggest the imminent demolition of the terrace in Playfair St and relocation of the present tenants. The note dated September 1970 lists the houses and tenants involved and current rental as that time as follows:
No. 13 Mr T Kane three adults, four children $3.60 rental per week
No. 15 vacant
No. 17 vacant
No. 19 vacant
No. 21 vacant
No. 23 vacant
No. 25 Mrs N Macklan plus two children $4.30 rental per week
No. 27 Mrs CE Moran only occupant $3.45 rental per week
No. 29 vacant
No. 31 Mr W Balmain - non-resident, occupied by his mother only. $3.30 per week. Three of the four tenants were to be accommodated in the East Rocks area. Mr Kane was to be relocated to No. 50A Gloucester St, Mrs Macklan to No. 46 Gloucester St and Mrs Moran to No. 63 Harrington St. Each of these apparently expressed satisfaction with their new addresses. Mrs Balmain, was to live with her son at Chester Hill, however, the report outlines her unwillingness to leave. However, by November 1970, two of the tenants had been relocated and the others followed shortly thereafter in 1971.
It was an overseas visit by the SCRA's then Business Manager and Director that brought about a reversal and change of plan. The Director was impressed by the aesthetic and financial returns of refurbishing old and seemingly derelict buildings and on his return called for a reassessment of the situation. It was decided that the terrace would be retained and from this time the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority adapted the remaining houses as commercial premises and developed the rear of the site as Foundation Park. This marked the beginning of the Authority's role in the development of The Rocks as a tourist destination. At the end of the 1970s the character of the area and use and occupation of the buildings was redefined by the refurbishment. (Perumal Murphy Alessi Pty Ltd, Heritage Consultants 2006) |