Playfair's Terrace

Item details


Name of item:	Playfair's Terrace
Other name/s:	Playfairs
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Terrace
Location:	Lat: -33.8579694244 Long: 151.2083543360
Primary address:	1-7 Atherden 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	6		DP	258607

Boundary:

The listing boundary is comprised of the lot boundary (6/258607) and also the sandstone steps/paving which extend from the front door onto Atherden Street and the adjoining lot boundary (7/264080).

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
1-7 Atherden 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:


	Playfair's Terrace 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. Nos 1-7 Atherden Street, together with Avery Terrace at Nos 2-4 Atherden Street are well scaled buildings and good examples of their size and type. The terraces, and the escarpment at the end of Atherden Street, provide a fine intimate street space and sense of enclosure. The buildings and the enclosed street space make an important contribution to the heritage significance of The Rocks Conservation Area. (National Trust 1976, AHC 1980)
	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


Construction years:	1880-1880
Physical description:	A continuous row of four two storey Victorian terraces, each of two bays and built of stuccoed brick with a simple parapet above a projecting cornice. The hipped roof behind is of iron (formerly slate), intersected by the partition parapets. There is no visible division between the houses on the façade which has rectangular openings with top corners rounded and simple corbelled sills. Windows to front are four pane while those at the rear are twelve. (National Trust Register 1976) Style: Victorian; Storeys: 2; Roof Cladding: Corrugated Iron; Floor Frame: Timber
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Generally fair condition. See Building Maintenance Inspection for No 1 Atherton Place prepared by SHFA Property October 1999. Archaeology Assessment Condition: Partly disturbed. Assessment Basis: Floors level with street. Sandstone quarried up to Gloucester Street frontage.
	Date condition updated:17 Jan 00


Current use:	Dwellings
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lot

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).

In 1834, Robert Campbell snr. was granted this section of land above his water front property. Campbell sold the land to Frederick Wright Unwin in 1841 and in 1847 Unwin reconveyed the property to the Trustees of Campbell's property. In 1848, Joshua Frey Josephson brought the parcel of land containing 25.25 perches and, in 1852, he conveyed the property to 'George Atherden of Campbell's Wharf in Sydney, aforesaid Wharfinger'. On the eastern portion of this parcel of land George Atherden erected four stone cottages. On the other half of the land, stables were erected and by 1879 they were demolished. In 1880 G Atherden trustees, Robert Campbell Close and Charles Campbell conveyed the vacant land, lot 6, to Thomas Playfair of Sydney, a Rocks Butcher, for 494 pounds.

In 1880, Thomas Playfair erected four terrace houses on lot 6. The dwellings are described as being of two storeys with four rooms, and were constructed of brick and cement walls with the roof clad in slate. In 1882 the annual assessed income was 42 pounds. At the beginning of 1882 Playfair's tenants in these dwellings were George Moore, Thomas Dixon, Mr Smith and William R. Scott. By 1889 a further roof was added at the rear of each tenement. In 1896 T Playfair's terraces were managed by Mr. Jessie Walker and Alfred Playfair as trustees and benefactors of T Playfair's will. In 1902 the rooves were 'Corrugated Iron' and in September of 1902 Alfred Donald Playfair, Accountant, released the property to the King and Minister for Public Works. In 1921 the adjoining terraces were demolished and in 1923 Harrington Street was connected to George Street.
(SCRA Building Data Sheets AP/09)

[Archaeological History - Granted to Robert Campbell (See also: AM026-027; AM029-030; AM163; AR013; AR016-017; AR025-026; AR028-031; AR052; AR149-151; AR155), 16 October 1834.]

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	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
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.	(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.	A Picturesque Residential Suburb-
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-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Playfair's Terrace 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).
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Nos 1-7 Atherden Street, together with Avery Terrace at Nos 2-4 Atherden Street (Listing No 4500005) are well scaled buildings and good examples of their size and type. The terraces, and the escarpment at the end of Atherden Street, provide a fine intimate street space and sense of enclosure. The buildings and the enclosed street space make an important contribution to the heritage significance of The Rocks Conservation Area. (National Trust 1976, AHC 1980)
Integrity/Intactness:	Archaeology partly disturbed.
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 archaeological watching brief or monitoring program is recommended.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
CMP-Endorse	Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement	Playfair Terrace 1-7 Atherden Street		Apr 19 2016
CMP-Endorse	Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement	CMP for Playfair's Terrace		Jul 25 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		01570	10 May 02	85	2865

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
SCA Register 1979-1998	1998	B004, AR041	Sydney Cove Authority (SCA)		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Management Plan			Grants index.
Written	Australian Heritage Commission	1980	Register of the National Estate: 1-7, 2-4 Atherden Street, The Rocks
Written	Croker A	1976	National Trust Classification Sheet: 1-7 & 2-4 Atherden Street
Written	SCRA	1979	Building Data Sheet AP/09

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5053186

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