Shop and Residence

Item details


Name of item:	Shop and Residence
Other name/s:	Beach Culture (current), Dorian Scott (former)
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Retail and Wholesale
Category:	Shop
Location:	Lat: -33.8596867706 Long: 151.2084434380
Primary address:	105 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
PART LOT	12		DP	773812

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
105 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:


	The shop and residence, and site, at 105 George Street, 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. 105 George Street is a reconstructed, typical example of a simple 19th century shop and residence. The building has been used for commercial purposes for more than 150 years. The building makes an important contribution to the surrounding 19th century commercial precinct and contributes to the character of the surrounding area of The Rocks.
	Date significance updated: 31 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


Builder/Maker:	Unknown (1851) - SCRA/Co-Wyn Construction (1985 addition)
Construction years:	1851-1851
Physical description:	No.105 George Street is an example of a simple late Georgian building of three storeys, somewhat lower than the adjacent buildings. Built in 1853, it has a timber shopfront (which appears to be original), two twelve pane windows on the first floor and two small six pane windows on the second floor. The simple projecting sills providing minimal decoration. A six panel door to one side leads to the offices upstairs. (National Trust 1977) Style: Georgian (Original) - Post Modern Victorian (1985 addition); Storeys: 3 + basement (1851) - two (1985); Facade: Brick walls; Roof Cladding: Corrugated Iron; Floor Frame: Timber
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	1984-85: Due to structural problems in the upper floors, the George Street façade was reconstructed in its 1851 configuration, using documentary and physical evidence. The original bricks were reused as were other items where possible. Reused items include first floor window joinery and stone sills on George Street façade. 1985: Rear addition constructed. SD 18/10/99 Archaeology Assessment Condition: Partly disturbed. Assessment Basis: Floors above level of George Street, but below level of Nurses Walk.
	Date condition updated:23 Jul 01
Modifications and dates:	1984-85: Due to structural problems, the George Street façade was reconstructed in its 1851 configuration, using documentary and physical evidence. The original bricks were reused as were other items where possible. Reused items include first floor window joinery and stone sills on George Street façade. 1985: Rear addition constructed. SD 18/10/99


Current use:	Shop
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lot, housing and shops

History

Historical notes:

This portion of land was part of Sydney's hospital garden between 1780 and 1816. Elizabeth Broughton was registered as claimant for this allotment No.11 in 1834 and in 1840 she was granted the property. During 1841 she subdivided the grant into four parts and advertised them for auction. The land remained vacant, serving as a passageway to Harrington Place until 1851, when Isaac Stansfield erected a shop on the site. The Municipal Council of Sydney Rate Books of 1858 listed George Thorne as the owner. The property was described as a shop and dwelling with stone and brick walls and a timber shingled roof. It was three storeys high with a basement and had six rooms.

Thomas Playfair occupied the shop from 1861 until 1869, when he moved his butchery two doors north. The shop remained vacant while G Thorne installed a slate roof to the building and in 1870 the 'American Hotel' commenced operations with John Kelly as licensee. However, during 1872 the 'American Hotel' relocated to the corner of Argyle and George Streets, and the 'Union Hotel' commenced operations. In 1875 the Sands Directory listed Michael Cross as the occupant, retailing dairy products. In 1879 the shop functioned as a hotel again, named the 'Sydney & Newcastle', with Joseph Spora the manager. Six years later, Louis Dupont became the manager and changed the hotel's name to 'Messageries des Maritimes'. Joseph Emmanuel became the licensee during 1886 and remained so until 1892, when the hotel was converted into a bird and animal shop run by dealer H Sames. (SCRA 1978: HP/16)

By 1896 the site was being used as a grocer’s and it continued in this use until 1920. It continued to be used for commercial/retail uses throughout the 1930s including by a confectioner and a dressmaker. Throughout this period of use the upper floor appears generally to have been used as a residence, with a separate entrance, and for short periods was used as a second commercial tenancy. Commercial use continued into the 1980s, including a period of use as an architect’s office from the early 1970s until the reconstruction of the site in 1985.

105 George Street was completely demolished and reconstructed in 1985 due to structural instability. Due to this, there is almost no original fabric left on site to analyse. While documentation used in the planning of the reconstruction indicates certain components from the original building façade were reused in the reconstruction, these represent minor elements of the entire building.

Archaeology notes: Part of Hospital grounds (See also: AR038-039; AR045; AR057-058; AR061-063; AR065-070; AR073-074; AR078-079; AR084-085; AR126; AR129; AR131-132; AR149). Granted to Elizabeth Broughton (See also: AR063; AR065), of Lachlan Vale, as trustee of the will of William Broughton on 30 April 1840. In November 1841, land was vacant with passageway across it.

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	Retailing-
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.	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.	Housing in shop-based accommodation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Visiting heritage places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Tourism-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going shopping downtown-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	105 George Street is important for its part in the development of this area of The Rocks as a commercial precinct in the 19th century. This area was the commercial hub of Sydney in the mid 19th century and has continued to serve as a major commercial precinct for nearly 200 years.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	105 George Street is a simple but aesthetically pleasing reconstruction of a 19th century commercial building which is generally true to its original design. The building makes an important contribution to the surrounding 19th century commercial streetscape.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	As the building at 105 George Street is a reconstruction with almost no original fabric, it has little potential to provide insight into any particular aspect of the building’s design or construction. The site has limited archaeological potential which may contribute to an understanding of the late 18th and early 19th century hospital uses of the surrounding precinct.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The building at 105 George Street is a reconstructed typical example of a 19th century shop and residence. It is one of a number of similar buildings in The Rocks precinct. While it makes an important contribution to the streetscape and the precinct, the building itself does not have any unique characteristics.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	105 George Street is a typical example of a simple early Victorian multistorey shop and residence building that was common throughout Sydney in the 19th century. Numerous more original examples of this style of building exist throughout Sydney. As a contributory element to The Rocks precinct, it is important in demonstrating the development of The Rocks as a commercial precinct in the mid 19th century.
Integrity/Intactness:	Archaeological potential: partly disturbed Due to structural problems in the upper floors, the George Street façade was reconstructed (1984-85) to the 1851 configuration, using documentary and physical evidence. The original bricks were reused as were other items where possible. Reused items include first floor window joinery and stone sills on George Street façade. The rear addition was also constructed at this time. SD 18/10/99
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.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
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		01582	10 May 02	85	2865

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
SCA Register 1979-1998	1998	B049, AR064	Sydney Cove Authority (SCA)		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Map			ML Map M2/811.1714/1841/1.
Management Plan	Glendenning & King, Architects	1983	Feasibility Study and report on 105 George Street, Sydney
Written	MacLaren North, Heritage Consultant	2007	Conservation Management Plan, 105 George Street, The Rocks
Written	Maitland, Neil Colin	1983	George Street, The Rocks: A Streetscape Conservation Study
Written	SCRA	1978	Building Data Sheet HP/16

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:	5053198

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