Macquarie Street - The Mansion Era (1819 - c.1900)

Macquarie St today looking south (up the ridge) from History House at #175

Yesterday, I wrote about the early housing on Macquarie Street, using "History House" (#175) as an example. However, as I noted, this was not constructed until 1873, even though Macquarie was Governor from 1810-1822, and had a massive enough ego to name a street after himself during his term in office. Today, I will mention some of the other early residences for which there is evidence.

Two sketches of Hdye Park by John Rae, one in 1842, and the other dated 1847. I have noted the stone house built for D'Arcy Wentworth.

The first stone residence on the street was built for D'Arcy Wentworth in 1819, on a parcel of land adjacent to the race-course (Hyde Park) and in what is now the forecourt of St James, which was not constructed until 1824. I say "residence" because there were government buildings constructed prior to 1819, to whit, "the Rum Hospital" in 1816, and Hyde Park Barracks in 1819. All these institutional buildings were allocated to the eastern side of Macquarie Street, leaving the western side for private residences. D'Arcy was the father of William Charles Wentwoth who carved such a massive public profile for himself in the latter parts of the 19th century. He never lived in this house, but on-sold it, and it eventually became so entwined with St James it is referred to as "The Parsonage". It was demolished in 1888.

Left: Horbury Terrace today, replete with temporary hoarding; Right: Horbury Terrace in 1946 taken by Max Dupain. The original 8 went to the right, meaning that even the building fragment Dupain included is no longer standing.

Another residence for which records are available is the Horbury Terraces. The AHS Green Plaque states These houses, once part of a terrace of eight, were built in 1842, for Ouseley Condell. Their name derives from the second owner, Thomas Holt, a native of Horbury, Yorkshire. Today, there are two left. Rather, there appears to be two left from all external appearances. However, internally it is all one building with just the facade representing a nod to our heritage1, from the 1970s restoration. In my current image, the other 6 terraces stretched to the right up to the Bent Street corner. They are partly obscured because of the hoardings required for the restorative work on the adjacent "Wyoming Tower". I have not been able to determine yet, th demolition date for the other terraces.

Left: Burdekin House c. 1930 Right: More of the streetscape showing Burdekin House and the equally ill-fated "Albany".

Which brings us to Burdekin House, another Macquarie Street resudence constructed in 1842. You may recall my post about the Burdekin Terraces in College Street. Burdekin House was demolished in August 1933, to make way for the redeployment of the St Stephen's in Phillip Street. All this change being required as M artin Place was pushed through to link with Macquarie Street. Burdekin House was not the only building for the high-jump in that concern. It had been described as the finest, most elegant terrace of them all. But it was the Depression. Jack Lang was in charge of the state, amd all this style, and grace, and alegance was against the grain. St Stephen's in Phillip Street, can be seen in the historic image on the right. See the spire st the back on the left?

Burdekin House taken in August 1933, the day before the demolition team descended. Oh what we have lost!

The other great original during Macquarie Street's "mansion ra" stands at 175, and is today occupied by the Royal Australian College of Physicians. However, it is currently totally hessianed-up for restoration. Built in 1848 for John Fairfax, I believe it has the most elegant surviving facade from that era. I will keep an eye on it, and return for photographs at some later date when the covers come off.

John Fairfax's 1848 city pad, now the home of the Royal Australian College of Physicians.

Dotted around my city, as around many cities world-wide, there are plaques which serve citizens well re the history which is under their very nose. The Australian Historical Society has 100 or so "green plaques" here and ther, quite a few in Macquarie Street. The state government wedges its plaques into the pavement. This is a shot of one of many which add to the feel of the street: For the half-century to 1900, Macquarie Street was Sydney's best address. Here the wealthy, the powerful, and the aspiring, lived in grand style, their houses the outward sign of their status.

Patrician Sydney: a state government plaque

Sources: Images were sourced from: State Library NSW NSW State Records Powerhouse Museum, and Historic Houses Some information sources are referenced in the text. Much information was gleaned from the relevant page of the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage.

Theme Day - Stylish

Left: The bell for 133; Right: Mansions between Bent and Bridge Street in 1859 (SL-NSW)

Throughout the 19th century, Macquarie Street, on the eastern most ridge of the city, was regarded as the most fashionable of streets with stylish three and four storey terraces nestling along its western side.

Left: The attic windows on 133; Right: View north somewhere between 1867 and 1877

W. S. Jevons, an English economist, conducted a survey of Sydney housing which concluded that successful merchants, shopkeepers and professional men lived in mansions or villas, naming Macquarie Street as a favoured location. Politicians, and pastoralists established town-houses there. Medical Practitioners, attracted by the nearby Sydney Hospital (1816), also took up residence.

Left: The green plaque and detail at 133; Right: Looking south from Bridge Street during the 1870s

The first (stone) residence was constructd in Macquarie Street in 1819, for D'Arcy Wentworth. It was adjacent to the Hyde Park racecourse, and served for a time as the Parsonage for St James Church. It was demolished in 1888. Burdekin built his fabled, porticoed town-house there in 1842. It was demolished to make way for the connection of Martin Place through from George Street, all the way to Macquarie Street in 1933. Two of the original eight 1842 Horbury Terraces still grace the street, as does the mansion at 145, built for John Fairfax, of Sydney Morning Herald fame. For many years now, this mansion has housed the Royal Australian College of Physicians.

Left and Right: History House at 133 Macquarie Street today

There are not many of the original, stately mansions left. I have chosen to show you the mansion built in 1871 for George Oakes, politician and pastoralist, at 133. It is now known as "History House", and has been the home of the Royal Australian Historical Society since 1971. Its location would have enhanced its reputation, as it is opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the very site where the Garden Palace burnt to the ground in 1881, returning the glorious view of the harbour to these most stylish of town-houses.

Lookin SW across Macquarie Street from the dome of the ill-fated Garden Palace in 1881, shortly before the fire.

This is a contribution to the City Daily Photo Monthly Theme Day. The Theme for June is "Stylish". To see what other CDP bloggers have chosen to represent the theme, click here.