Shop and Residence

Item details


Name of item:	Shop and Residence
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Retail and Wholesale
Category:	Shop
Location:	Lat: -33.8600885272 Long: 151.2083857010
Primary address:	123-125 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	16		DP	773812

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
123-125 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:


	This pair of shops and residence 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.. Numbers 123 to 125 are associated with Thomas Playfair, Mayor of Sydney in 1885. Playfair was involved in the profitable marine trade and invested in property in the local area, of which 121 George Street is one such property. Significant aspects of the building include the architectural form and detail including the original/recreated shopfronts. Internally, the remaining original layout and other features including joinery, fireplaces and stairs etc which contribute to the significance of the pair.
	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


Designer/Maker:	Built for Thomas Playfair
Construction years:	1882-1882
Physical description:	Three late Victorian two storey shops, built c. 1880 of stuccoed brick. Unusual plainly moulded Romanesque style windows of three bays to the first floor. Two of the shops retain their original shopfronts, while the third has been altered. (National Trust 1977) No's 123 and 125 George Street are near-identical buildings, the timber shop front of 123 being new and a copy of 125 (original). No's 123 & 125 are connected internally and operate as one shop. The interior layout is original except for openings between rooms. Most ceilings are modern, original joinery generally remains. The decorative sheet metal parapet wall is a 'replica' (c1970s?) of the damaged original masonry parapet. No. 121 is an original shop front of a different type to 123 & 125 Style: Victorian Free Classical; Storeys: 2; Facade: Brick & stone walls; Roof Cladding: Corrugated iron; Floor Frame: Timber
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Archaeology Assessment Condition: Partly disturbed. Assessment Basis: Floors level with George Street, terraced up to former level of Nurses Walk. Recent building techniques (Bakehouse Place).
	Date condition updated:27 Apr 01


Current use:	Shops
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lot, Shops and residence

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).

William Davis's tenements extended across the land granted to him in 1836. His town grant of 12 perches on October 29th, 1843 remained vacant except for houses to the rear of the property. Davis erected a shop to the George Street frontage of north corner of his 1836 Town grant in c1830. This brick walled and shingle roofed shop was added to in 1842 by a similar building to the northern side (extending into land grant of 1834) In 1845 the Sydney Municipal Rate Books described the two single storey shops as having two rooms and the northern premises boundaries being 13 feet wide and 68 feet deep (no. 123) and the other (No. 125) being 14 feet wide and 28 feet deep. Both shops were 'in bad repair' (SCRA 1978: HP/07).

The tenements to the rear of 123 were described in 1863 as 'old, ruinous and unhealthy'. Davis's will of 1843 gave J Edwards the title to property of the 1834 grant plus part of the 1836 grant. J Edwards conveyed the property to Henry Byrns in 1863. In 1870 W Hooper, a greengrocer occupied No.123 and T Barry, bootmaker occupied No.125. The shops continued as a greengrocer, J Paddon and a bootmaker, J McAuley, until September 1881 when they and the rear buildings were pulled down. Thomas Playfair purchased the properties from H Byrns and in 1882 erected two two-storey four roomed shops out of brick and stone walls and iron roof on the sites of No. 123 and 125. J Paddon continued as a fruiterer in the new shop No. 123 and C W Danielson, bootmaker in the other. Shop No. 125 became an outfitter and importer outlet in 1885. Thomas Playfair continued as landlord until the NSW Government resumed the property in 1900. (SCRA 1978: HP/07)

Archaeology notes: Hospital (See also: AR038-039; AR045; AR057-058; AR061-067; AR069-070; AR073-074; AR078-079; AR084-085; AR126; AR129; AR131-132; AR149). Granted to William Davis (See also: AM015-016; AM020-023; AR069-070; AR111-112; AR122; AR143) as 12 perches on 29 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	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.	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.	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]	This pair of shops and residence 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). Numbers 123 to 125 George Street were built in 1882 as commercial premises as part of the business precinct lining the harbour-side of The Rocks, and are associated with the evolving pattern of urban fabric in the area.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Numbers 123 to 125 are associated with Thomas Playfair, Mayor of Sydney in 1885. Playfair was involved in the profitable marine trade and invested in property in the local area, of which 121 George Street is one such property.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The buildings’ facades are fine examples of the Victorian Free Classical style, executed to give a sense of decorum to what would otherwise have been simple commercial / residential structures. The buildings have streetscape value as two buildings in a group of three that were designed to appear as one property. The buildings’ scale and alignment to the street are typical of that found along the business precinct of George Street in The Rocks area. The street façades have remained relatively intact since they were constructed in 1882.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The buildings have had a continuous commercial use since they were built in 1882. They have been used as fruit shops, ham and beef shops, smallgoods shops, a wine depot, a bookmaker’s, importers’ offices, outfitters, and, in 1933, No 123 was used by a pest extermination company. The site retains elements of combined shops and residences, once common throughout both The Rocks and Sydney in general.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The fabric, although somewhat modified, has the ability to yield information on the configuration of late Victorian commercial/residential buildings and aspects of the way of life of the people who inhabited them.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The site has high potential to reveal further subsurface archaeological deposits associated with the early European occupation of the site and the surrounding area.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The buildings at 123 and 125 George street are expressive of the close weaving of the social fabric of The Rocks area in the nineteenth century, and demonstrate the close links between the residential and commercial activities of the community.
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 historical and archaeological assessment prior to archaeological investigation is recommended. Conserve significant original features, retain original form. Reinstate the original parapet wall.

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		01583	10 May 02	85	2865

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
SCA Register 1979-1998	1998	B056, AR068	Sydney Cove Authority (SCA)		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism		2007	Done Art & Design	View detail
Written			Grants index.
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Done Art & Design	View detail
Written	Croker A	1977	National Trust Classification Card - 121-125 George Street (Part of George Street Business Precinct)
Written	Graham Brooks and Associates Pty Ltd	2006	123 and 125 George Street, The Rocks, Conservation Management Plan
Written	Maitland, Neil Colin	1983	George Street, The Rocks: A Streetscape Conservation Study
Written	SCRA	1978	Building Data Sheet HP/07

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:	5053199

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