Terraces

Item details


Name of item:	Terraces
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Terrace
Location:	Lat: -33.8575133192 Long: 151.2084703480
Primary address:	29-31 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	9		DP	258607

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
29-31 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 pair of houses at 29-31 George Street is a fine example of the Victorian terrace housing associated with the merchant class in residence in The Rocks in the middle of the nineteenth century. Distinguished by the starkness of their finely finished stone work and their restrained detailing, the houses contribute to the aesthetic diversity of north George Street and the historic character of The Rocks. 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.
	Date significance updated: 01 Apr 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:	1866-1866
Physical description:	Style: Early Victorian; Storeys: 2 plus attic; Facade: Stone; Roof Cladding: Asbestos Cement Roof shingles; Floor Frame: Timber
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Archaeology Assessment Condition: Partly disturbed. Assessment Basis: Floors level with George Street. Stone quarried out at rear.
	Date condition updated:03 May 01
Modifications and dates:	1978-9: Restoration and renovation of 29-31 George Street by the SCRA at a cost of $56,000. External: The bathroom and laundry were demolished. The fence and gate dividing the courtyards and the fence on the western boundary of No. 31 were demolished. Render from the bottom of 6 courses of brickwork on the southern facade of the Mercantile Hotel was also removed. The electrical cupboards, gas meters and TV antennae were removed. Two new stones were inserted in the eastern façade. Brickwork was repaired. The rear (kitchen) chimney was dismantled and rebuilt to match the existing. All rafters, battens, etc. were inspected for soundness. The roof sheeting was replaced with a.c. shingles, and rotting or decayed timbers were replaced. Internal: All pipes and conduit were removed from . All light fittings, blinds, curtains and miscellaneous nails, tacks hooks, etc. were removed from walls, ceilings and floors. Internal walls to Rooms 4, 10,19 & 25 were demolished to ease access to adjoining rooms.


Current use:	Offices
Former use:	Aboriginal land, Residence/shop/commercial

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).

Bounded by Gloucester and George Street this land was granted to Robert Campbell snr. in October 1834. Campbell had leased the land from the Crown since approximately 1805.
In 1848, Robert Campbell Jnr; George Campbell (both sons of Robert Campbell, Snr) and Arthur Jeffreys (son-in-law to Robert Campbell, Snr) were given the authority to dispose of land in Robert Campbell, Snr. 's estate which was no longer required by the family. In 1851, Arthur Jeffreys conveyed Lot 4 of the Campbell sub-division to William Reilly for the sum of 120 pounds.
The site was not developed until 1866 when Reilly built a pair of houses on the land, each having a frontage of 30 feet. In 1867 the unoccupied houses, containing six rooms, were described as being of two storeys and attic, with stone walls (the stone possibly quarried on the site) and shingled roofs. Reilly's tenants, from 1867 to 1873, included an accountant, clergyman, and other professional gentlemen. Situated on the upper side of north George Street, the occupants of the houses enjoyed harbour views prior to the construction of the warehouses on the lower side of George Street.
In July 1873, Reilly sold the land and dwellings to Thomas Wilton Eady, a leather merchant for the sum of 1400 pounds. It appeared that Eady erected a large shed to the rear of the allotments. From 1874 to 1887 Eady lived at 29 George St. and from here carried out his leather merchandising business. For the same period, James McCarthy a warehouseman and bootmaker, occupied No.31.
From 1888 Eady's houses were managed as boarding houses. In 1890, the buildings were roofed in corrugated iron. In 1900 the Observatory Hill Resumption Act was gazetted and in February 1903 Eady's trustees released to the King and to the Minister for Public Works the two houses for the sum of 2500 pounds. (SCRA 1979: AP/04)
In 1978-9 SCRA carried out extensive restoration and renovation works at a cost of $56,000.

[Archaeological History - Lease to Robert Campbell (See also: AM026-027; AM029-030; AM163; AR013; AR016-017; AR026; AR028-031; AR041; AR052; AR149-151; AR155) by 1807. Granted to Robert Campbell, 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)-
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.	Terrace-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	This pair of fine large houses are associated with the merchant class in residence in The Rocks in the middle of the nineteenth century. The occupants, situated on the upper side of north George Street, enjoyed harbour views prior to the construction of the warehouses on the lower side of George Street.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The pair of houses at 29-31 George Street are a fine example of Victorian terrace housing, distinguished by the starkness of their finely finished stone work and their restrained detailing. The houses contribute to the aesthetic diversity of north George Street and the historic character of The Rocks.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The pair of houses at 29-31 George Street have social value for their contribution to the aesthetic diversity of north George Street and the historic character of The Rocks.
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
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		01608	10 May 02	85	2865

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
SCA Register 1979-1998	1998	B025, AR025	Sydney Cove Authority (SCA)		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	Graham Brooks & Associates	2004	Conservation Management Plan, 29-31 George St
Management Plan	Grants index.
Written	Higginbotham, Kass & Walker	1991	The Rocks and Millers Point Archaeological Management Plan
Written	SCRA	1979	Building Data Sheet, AP/04
Written	Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority,	1979	Report: 29-31 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney (restoration work)

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:	5053225

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