historical walking tours

Preservation the glebe Historical Walking Tour

Front Cover Image: Road, early 20th century (Photograph: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW) the glebe

In 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip granted 400 acres lebe (from the Latin glaeba, (162 hectares) to the Anglican Church for the new meaning a clod of earth) is a colony’s chaplain, the Rev Richard Johnson. The piece of land which has been Glebe Point area became fashionable in the 19th given to the church. century, while the southern part of Glebe became a working class district.

Glebe fell into decline in the early 20th century, but by the 1960s there was a renewed appreciation of its charms. Glebe became one of the first suburbs in to Please allow experience “gentrification”, as its architectural heritage, 1½ hours for this tour. combined with proximity to the city and There are many coffee University, made it fashionable again. This tour will shops and pubs along the explore a district which has not only a fascinating built route. Start at the corner of Road and Glebe environment but a long history of bohemian lifestyle, Point Road. On your left is activism and intellectual pursuits. University Hall (1).

Sydney’s history is all around us. Our walking tours will lead you on a journey of discovery from early Aboriginal life through to contemporary Sydney.

Clover Moore MP Lord Mayor of Sydney

George Hudson Timber Company, , 1908 (Max Solling Collection)

Historical Walking Tours — Preservation / 01. Dawes Point Walsh Bay Tar–ra

Bennelong Point Dubbagullee TOWNS PL

HICKSON RD

LOWER FORT ST HICKSON RD HICKSON WINDMILL ST Sydney Cove Warrane ARGYLE ST

Observatory Hill

CUMBERLAND ST

ALFRED ST

KENT ST KENT Circular Quay Farm Cove

HARRINGTON ST REIBY PL Wahganmuggalee HICKSON RD HICKSON

GEORGE ST

YOUNG ST

LOFTUS ST PHILLIP ST

PITT ST Darling Harbour Tumbalong GROSVENOR ST DALLEY ST Royal BRIDGE ST Botanic Gardens

PIRRAMA RD

BENT ST Johnstons Bay BOND ST SPRING ST Woolloomooloo Bay MARGARET ST CURTIN PL DARLING ISLAND RD PHILLIP LANE O’CONNELL ST MACQUARIE ST BLIGH ST Wynyard HUNTER ST PIRRAMA RD

ERSKINE ST WYLDE ST CARRINGTON ST

ASH ST HARVEY JohnST St LN YORK Square Star BARRACK ST ST NEOT AVE BOWMAN ST MARTIN PL COWPER WHARF RDWY City JOHN ST

SUSSEX ST SUSSEX MCDONALD LN

KENT ST KENT CLARENCE ST CLARENCE

GEORGE ST

PITT ST YORK ST YORK TE AS R MOUNT ST CHALLIS AVE

M D KING ST Elizabeth Bay

Y R Pyrmont R I JONES ST

R V E Bay ROCKWALL LN A The Domain

U Q DISTRIBUTOR WESTERN CASTLEREAGH ST ELIZABETH ST ROCKWALL CRES B ART GALLERY RD IL EDWARD ST UNION ST L MILLER ST Y A R

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Harbourside ONSLOW PL V H MANNING ST S MACLEAY ST E

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Darling O E C St James A Sydney MARKET ST VICTORIA ST W

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E F Victoria Convention DRUITT ST Rushcutters Bay PARK ST COLLEGE ST RILEY ST EARL ST GRIFFIN PL ST SUSSEX EDWARD ST Blackwattle Bay 20 ALLEN ST

EDWARD LN EGLINTON RD WILLIAM ST 19 PYRMONT BRIDGE RD PITT ST

ALEXANDRA ST KENT Jubilee 17 COOK ST Town Hall ALLEN ST Park Darling BATHURST ST WARD AVE ROSLYN GARDENS WILLIAM ST Harbour AVENUE RD DARLINGHURST RD

WILMOT ST Kings Cross ROSLYN ST

YURONG ST RILEY ST TAYLOR ST CENTRAL ST Wentworth Park FARRELL AVE FORSYTH ST ALBION PL STANLEY ST VICTORIA RD BURTON ST FIG ST FRANCIS ST 16 LIVERPOOL ST ELIZABETH ST KINGS CROSS RD 14 CASTLEREAGH ST MAXWELL ROAD CRAIGEND ST BELLEVUE ST CLAPTON PL NEW SOUTH HEAD RD BRIDGE RD WENTWORTH11 PARK RD MANSFIELD ST DARGHAN ST Museum SEALE ST BOURKE ST

FERRY RD BAYVIEW ST HARBOUR ST World DARLING ST QUARRY ST Exhibition LOMBARD ST Square VICTORIA ST ARCADIA RD OXFORD ST NIMROD ST BELL ST GLEBE POINT RD JONES ST SURREY STREET HARBOUR ST 10 WATTLE ST PIER ST PIER S WOMERAH AVENUE TLE T LIVERPOOL ST 15 LIT GOULBURN ST

13 RILEY ST POPLAR TOXTETH RD COLBOURNE AVE NITHSDALE ST LYNDHURST ST MCLACHLAN AVE PALMER ST BARCOM AVE GOTTENHAM ST Paddy’s ST NIELD AVE HACKETT ST 12 CROWN ST BULWARA RD Markets WAINE ST

ROSEBANK ST TALFOURD ST WENTWORTH ST BURTON ST SUSSEX ST SUSSEX BOYCE ST ST DIXON WILLIAM HENRY ST MARLBOROUGH GEORGE ST

ST JOHNS RD DR DARLING WIGRAM RD HAY ST CAMPBELL ST GOULBURN ST WOOLLEY ST PHILLIP ST WENTWORTH AVE BOUNDARY ST HAY ST FORBES ST MINOGUEHarold CRES Park GLENMORE RD BROUGHTON ST Capitol GLENMORE RD HEREFORD ST 08 Square Taylor VICTORIA ST MACARTHUR ST ST QUAY Square MACDONALS ST 07 FOSTER ST BARLOWPARKER ST ST CAMPBELL ST

09 COMMONWEALTHST

GLEBE ST ST SMITH JAROCIN AVE 06 DARLINGHURST RD 05 THOMAS ST RESERVOIR ST

MARY ANN ST BROWN ST ULTIMO RD ST OCEAN 03 COWPER ST JONES ST Belmore Park TAYLOR ST MITCHELLCAMPBELL ST ST VALENTINE ST EDDY AVE ST JOHNS RD BRIDGE RD WESTMORELAND ST DERWENT ST ANN ST GURNER ST CASCADE ST 04 MT VERNON ST HARRIS ST ROSS ST LODGE ST GLEBE POINT RD Central

BAY ST BAY PITT ST

ELIZABETH ST GLENMORE RD

FOREST ST THOMAS ST WATTLE ST

RILEY ST

FLINDERS ST FLINDERS CHISHOLM ST CHISHOLM MARY ST NAPIER ST CATHERINE ST Central Station ALBION ST BOURKE ST FITZROY ST 02 GEORGE ST OXFORD ST BELMORE ST BROADWAY KIPPAX ST 01 BELLEVUE ST ALBION AVE PADDINGTON ST

CORBEN ST PARRAMATTA RD LEE ST ARUNDEL ST SOUTH DOWLING ST KNOX ST FOVEAUX ST ORMOND ST GRAFTON ST CHURCH ST NICHOLS ST

RANDLE ST GREENS RD KENSINGTON ST KENSINGTON COOPER ST HUTCHINSON WATERLOO ST

Sydney University Victoria DEVONSHIRE ST SELWYN ST WILLIAM ST HOLT ST HOLT Park OCONNOR ST RENNY ST BENNETT ST JOSEPHSON ST WELLINGTON LACEY ST

ROSE ST REGENT ST ARTHUR ST PROSPECT ST MYRTLESHEPHERD ST QUEEN ST MARSHALL ST PINE ST CROWN ST CHALMERS ST MOORE PARK RD PHELPS ST GORDON ST ELIZABETH ST

BUCKLAND ST MEAGHER ST RAINFORD ST OATLEY RD

ARTHUR ST ABERCROMBIE ST ABERCROMBIE Historical Walking Tours — Preservation / 02. DANGAR PL BUCKINGHAM ST DAVIES ST CLEVELAND ST REGENT ST

BALFOUR ST VINE ST BLACKWATTLE CLISDELL ST HUDSON ST CITY RD CLEVELAND ST VINE ST SHEPHERDBOUNDARY ST ST MAZE CRES JAMES ST EDWARD ST ABERCROMBIE ST REGENT ST JAMES ST CALDER RD HUGO ST ANZAC PDE OXFORD ST

IVY LN IVY CAROLINE ST LEWIS ST

IVY ST IVY MISSENDEN RD MISSENDEN

LAWSON ST RENWICK ST LANDER ST GEORGE ST CARILLON AVE WILLIAM ST PITT ST CLEVELAND ST DARLINGTON RD EVELEIGH ST LAWSON SQ Moore Park WELLS ST COOK RD

BURNETT

ELIZABETH ST

Redfern AVE DRIVER REDFERN ST

KING ST GREAT BUCKINGHAM ST

CODRINGTON ST CODRINGTON CLEVELAND ST LANG RD ABERCROMBIE ST TURNER ST BOURKE ST

GIBBONS ST MARGARET WILSON ST ROSEHILL ST ALBERT ST

CORNWALLIS ST

COPE ST

DOUGLAS ST REGENT ST PHILLIP ST

CHALMERS ST LANG RD LOCOMOTIVE ST BAPTIST ST

CENTRAL AVE BURREN ST BURREN RAGLAN ST Macdonaldtown HENDERSON RD

ERSKINVILLE RD SOUTH DOWLING ST Centennial Park

BOTANY RD BOTANY PITT ST PITT

BEAUMONT ST

ST ST GEORGE

ALBERT WALKER ST

WYNDHAM ST WYNDHAM

GARDEN ST GARDEN WELLINGTON ST

GERARD ST GERARD

KINGSCLEAR RD KINGSCLEAR REEVE ST

NEWTON ST NEWTON ALEXANDER ST ALEXANDER

CHARLES ST CHARLES RAILWAY PDE ST PHILLIPS KELLICK ST

ALLEN AVE PARK ST PARK ST

CLARA ST CLARA RENWICK

COPE ST COPE ROBERTSON RD JENNINGS ST ST JOHN ST

SWANSON DIBBS ST LACHLAN ST Erskinville SUTTOR ST COPELAND ST PARK RD PARK POWER AVE DACEY AVE

FOX AVE MCEVOY ST

ELIZABETH ST

ROCHFORD ST FOUNTAIN ST ST PITT

MALCOLM ST ST BRENNAN POWELL ST

GEORGE ST

BRIDGE ST LOVERIDGE

VICTORIA ST ASHMORE ST ST GEORGE ELLIOT AVE ALISON RD

ASHMORE ST ALLEN ST BELMONT ST

MITCHELL RDHARLEY ST LAWRENCE ST AVE STOKES O’DEA AVE O’DEA AVE ANZAC PDE

MACDONALD ST MCCAULEY ST MCCAULEY

MCEVOY ST BOWDEN ST MANDIBLE ST BOURKE ST

FLORA ST TODMAN AVE ELIZABETH ST

EVE ST

LAWRENCE ST

COULSON ST BELMONT ST EUSTON LANE

BOURKE RD

CONCORD ST

HUNTLEY ST JOYNTON AVE ALISON RD BOTANY RD BOTANY MADDOX ST SYDNEY PARK RD

St Peters EUSTON ROAD

DONCASTER AVE

O’RIORDAN ST

KING ST

HUNTLEY ST ANZAC PDE

TODMAN AVE

BURROWS RD

Sydney Park EPSOM RD LENHALT ST Royal Randwick Racecourse

COLLINS ST LINK RD

EPSOM RD PRINCES HWY ALISON RD

CAMPBELL RD DALMENY AVE

EUSTON ROAD

SOUTH DOWLING ST BOURKE RD

ROTHSCHILD AVE MORELY AVE

ROSEBERRY AVE

BURROWS RD

DALMENY AVE

HARCOURT PDE

GARDENERS RD PDE ANZAC

BOTANY RD O’RIORDAN ST RICKETTY ST

KENT RD

GARDENERS RD DALMENY AVE DALMENY PRESERVATION the glebe Historical Walking Tour

01 University Hall 03 elsie

This was originally the University Hotel. Now University There are now more than 300 refuges in Australia for Hall, it is home to students from the nearby University women and children escaping domestic violence. The of Sydney. Outside is a fountain commemorating the opening of “Elsie” in 1974 marked the beginning of the 50th anniversary of Glebe Municipality in 1909. If you refuge movement. The feminist writer Anne Summers face from the fountain, on the low wall was instrumental in finding the site. She remembers: just above ground level you will see a memorial to the There were a pair of little cottages that appeared to Aboriginal boxer Dave Sands. On it is written: “Erected be in perfect condition. One of them had a woman’s by Tom Lamings Gymnasium, also Glebe supporters name, Elsie, which seemed to be perfect and that, sort and admirers who knew him as he was.” Dave Sands of, inadvertently became the first of a tradition amongst was the Empire Middleweight champion and seemed women’s refuges in Australia, of naming them after destined for a successful career, but died in a car women. The cottages, owned by the Anglican Church, accident 1952. He is one of a handful of Australians were unoccupied so the women of the Elsie collective in the World Boxing Hall of Fame in Los Angeles. To moved in, claiming squatter rights. A visit by Social the right of the Sands Memorial is the stone marking Security Minister Bill Hayden shortly after it opened led the original western boundary of the , to Elsie receiving commonwealth funding. bearing the name of Lt-Gen Richard Bourke, Governor of NSW 1831–37. Continue along Westmoreland Street, tree-lined with single-story workers’ cottages on either side. Then turn left into St Johns Road. Continue uphill along Parramatta Road, then turn right into On your left at the corner of Mt Vernon Street is Glebe Town Hall Derwent Street. On the right is a War Memorial outside Glebe (04), 160 St Johns Road. Public School (02).

04 Glebe Town Hall 02 School War Memorial

The Italian-style Town Glebe Public School opened in 1858. The oldest Hall was built in stages building on the site dates from 1862. This war from 1880 to 1891. It was memorial lists ex-students who served in World War I, designed by Ambrose with the dead on the black tablet in front. A bust of a Thornley Jnr, who was also Glebe Town Hall, 1930s digger rests on top of a column. Today, Glebe Public responsible for Bellevue (Photograph: City of Sydney Archives) School hosts Glebe Markets each weekend. (18). Glebe was a separate municipality from 1859 until 1949, when the City of Sydney expanded to take over The Glebe and seven other suburban municipalities. In 1968, the City lost most of the areas it had acquired, and The Glebe became a part of Leichhardt Municipality. Glebe was returned to the City in 2003, and the former Town Hall is now a Council Neighbourhood Service Centre. Around the corner at 41 Lodge Street is the former Town Clerk’s House.

05 Retrace your steps along St Johns Road to . Along the way you will see on your left the Federation style Fire to Station (05), 73 St Johns Road. On your right is the St John’s Parish Hall (06), corner Derwent Street, designed by Edward 07 Halloran and built in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Note the decorative use of coloured bricks, and the terracotta plaque bearing the Queen’s portrait. The words “Record Reign” on the plaque have led to the hall being called “Record Reign Hall”. At the corner of Glebe Point Road, on your left is St John’s, Bishopthorpe (07), 132 St John’s Road.

War Memorial at Glebe Public School, 1954 (Photograph: City of Sydney Archives)

Walk up Catherine Street and then right into Westmoreland Street. On the right is the site of the first women’s refuge, Elsie (03), 73 Westmoreland Street.

Historical Walking Tours — Preservation / 03. PRESERVATION the glebe Historical Walking Tour

07 St John’s Bishopthorpe 09 Reuss Houses and The Abbey

The local Anglican parish was created in 1856, with Ferdinand Reuss trained as a civil engineer in the The Rev William Macquarie Cowper (1810–1902), British firm of Robert Stevenson, the great lighthouse the first Australian-born Anglican clergyman and a engineer and grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson. godson of Governor Macquarie, as the incumbent. Of After some time in the USA, Reuss came to Australia Romanesque design in Pyrmont sandstone, St John’s during the 1851 gold rush, eventually setting up an Bishopthorpe opened on the north-west corner in architecture practice in Sydney. He built houses on 1870. It was designed by (1817–83), land he bought on either side of Pyrmont Bridge one of the leading architects in NSW, assisted by John Road and rented out most of them. He lived in The Horbury Hunt (1838–1904). Blacket also designed Hermitage at 154 Bridge Road from 1866 until his the church furniture and pulpit. His son Cyril Blacket death in 1896. Reussdale (No. 160) is perhaps the added the choir, vestry and porch in 1909 and a bell earliest example of High Victorian domestic design tower in 1911. in Glebe. It has recently been restored. No. 177 is also attributed to him. The Abbey at No. 158 was a Presbyterian church built to a design by the American- born architect Thomas Rowe on Broadway in the 1870s, then moved stone by stone to its present site in the 1920s. It has most recently been a restaurant.

Retrace your steps along Bridge Road, cross over Glebe Point Road, and continue along Bridge Road into Lyndhurst Street. Turn left into Darghan Street. On your right is Lyndhurst (10), 61 Darghan Street.

St Johns (Photograph: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW) 10 Lyndhurst Turn left into Glebe Point Road and walk to the corner of Bridge Road. On your left is Foley Park (08). This Regency villa was built for Dr James Bowman, Principal Surgeon of Sydney Hospital (1819–1836) 08 Foley Park and the son-in-law of James Macarthur. , who also designed Toxteth Park (16), completed Lyndhurst in 1837. It later became the Catholic St Mary College, while the grounds, which had covered 36 The Rest Park Wireless House was opened in 1934 to acres (14.6 hectares), were subdivided in 1878 and allow locals to listen to the radio. It has recently been 1885. It was threatened with demolition in 1972 when restored and today it is an internet wireless hotspot. an expressway through Glebe was proposed. After a Also note the impressive War Memorial facing Glebe long public campaign, including a Builders’ Labourers Point Road, flanked by the busts of a soldier and sailor. Federation “green ban”, the proposal was abandoned. The best view is from the rear in Darghan Lane. Continue down Bridge Road to the Reuss Houses and The Abbey (09), 154–160 Bridge Road.

Wireless House in Foley Park, 2010 (Photograph: Paul Patterson / City of Sydney) Lyndhurst, c1880 (Photograph: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW)

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Continue along Lyndhurst Street to Bellevue Road. The stairs on the Continue up Glebe Point Road. On your left at 186 Glebe Point Road corner of Bellevue Road lead to Wentworth Park (11). A bird’s eye is Benledi House, formerly the Homoeopathic Hospital (12). view of Wentworth Park is afforded along Bellevue Street. Retrace your steps back to Glebe Point Road and turn right. On your left at the corner of Hereford Street is the former Valhalla Cinema 13 Homoeopathic Hospital (12), 166D Glebe Point Road.

11 wentworth park Benledi House was built in the late 19th century Originally a tidal flat known as Black Wattle Cove or and occupied by the Moore family. The Sydney Swamp, its foreshores were used for abattoirs and Homoeopathic Hospital was founded in Redfern in “boiling down works” from the 1830s to the 1860s. 1902 to dispense homoeopathic treatment. This was In 1876, the swamp was filled in to eliminate noxious a popular form of medicine in the 19th century, but its smells. Beginning in 1882, Wentworth Park was built on popularity declined with the introduction of antibiotics the land that had been reclaimed. Across the northern and improved surgical skills. The hospital moved to edge of the park runs the Glebe Railway Viaduct, which Glebe in 1915, where it was increasingly used as a now carries the Sydney Light Rail. Built in 1916, this is general community hospital. Despite its name, it is the longest section of brick arch viaduct on the NSW believed that homoeopathy had effectively ended there system, a major engineering work with the brickwork by 1945. The park on the corner of Wigram Road was sitting on timber piles. Greyhound racing began at previously the site of the Sydney Hospital for Sick Wentworth Park in 1932, with Saturday night “Wenty Children, founded in 1880. It was renamed the Royal Dogs” soon becoming a part of Sydney life. The Alexandra Hospital for Children in 1904, and moved current grandstand was completed in 1987. to Camperdown in 1907. The Sydney Homoeopathic Hospital later took over this building, which was demolished in 1968. The Sydney Homoeopathic Hospital was abruptly closed in 1989. Benledi is now 12 Former Valhalla Cinema part of the Glebe Library.

The Art Deco cinema’s original name, the Astor, Continue up Glebe Point Road. On your right is (14), can be seen on the Hereford Street elevation. In the 357 Glebe Point Road. 1970s, as the New Arts Cinema, it hosted live shows, including the first Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show. It later became a cinema again known as the Valhalla, specialising in independent films and revival showings of classics. In the 80s and 90s its 6-month program calendar seemed to be on every Sydney student share house wall. In 2008 the cinema was converted into offices.

Glebe Point Road, 19th century (Lithograph: City of Sydney)

14 Bidura

Bidura was built about 1860. Blacket is believed to have lived here while he was designing the Great Hall Bidura, the Blacket family residence, 1865 (Image: Mitchell of the . Library, State Library of NSW) Bidura served for many years as a residence for the merchant Fred Perks, and has a fine ballroom. Bidura House has a long association with the Community Services Department and from 1920 until the mid-1960s was used as a residence for state wards, including many Aboriginal children separated from their families. Bidura Children’s Court is situated directly behind Bidura House.

Valhalla, formerly The Astor, 1950s Turn left into Boyce Street, then walk to the corner of (Photograph: Leichhardt Local Studies Library) Mansfield Street to reach Tranby (15), 13 Mansfield Street.

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15 Tranby 17 Sze Yup Chinese

Tranby cottage was built in The was built by immigrants from 1858 before the subdivision the area known as Sze Yup in the province of of the Toxteth Estate. Since , . It is dedicated to Kwun Ti, a 1958 it has been the home Students at Tranby in 1973 warrior and patriot in the era of the Three Kingdoms of the Tranby Aboriginal (Photograph: City of Sydney 220–265 AD, who was famous for his loyalty, physical Cooperative College, Archives) prowess and masculinity. In Australia, immigrant the oldest independent Chinese worshipped him as a wise judge, a guide adult Aboriginal education centre in Australia. With and a protector. There are only four of this an average of 150 students, it seeks to provide self- type in Australia, and the Sze Yup temple is the most determination for Aboriginal Australians. Courses renowned. The central temple was built in 1898. include Applied Aboriginal Studies, Community Principles of Feng Shui are seen in its location on land Development, National Indigenous Legal Advocacy that sloped from the temple to the waters of Rozelle and Business Studies. The Co-operative has also Bay. In 1904 the central temple was flanked by two developed affiliate organisations such as Blackbooks, chapels, the Chapel of Departed Friends and the the Aboriginal Development Unit and the Aboriginal Chapel of Good Fortune. Homeless Persons Hostel.

Continue up Mansfield Street into Avenue Road to reach the site of Toxteth Park, now Saint Scholastica’s College (16), 4 Avenue Road.

16 Toxteth Park

George Allen (1800–1877) was the first solicitor to be trained in Australia. By 1831 he had acquired 96 acres (38.8 hectares) of Glebe land, which became the Toxteth Estate, and commissioned John Verge to build Toxteth Park. His son, (1824–1885) added a third storey, tower and ballroom. In 1901, it was sold to the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, a Benedictine Order, which founded today’s St Scholastica’s College, a Catholic school for girls. It has 700 students in years 7–12, including 80 boarders.

Allen family residence, Toxteth Park, 1890 (Photograph: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW)

You may wish to explore nearby Arcadia Road, which contains some of the most attractive houses in the area. Alternatively, proceed downhill along Avenue Road, right into then left into Edward Street. On your left is the Sze Yup Sze Yup Temple in Edward Street, 1904 (Photograph: Town Chinese Temple (17). and Country Journal, State Library of NSW)

Historical Walking Tours — Preservation / 06. PRESERVATION the glebe Historical Walking Tour

Retrace your steps along Edward Street and Victoria Road, then turn right into Alexandra Road to reach Jubilee Park and 19 Burley Griffin Incinerator Bicentennial Park. You can then take the foreshore walk to Bellevue (18), a Victorian villa on the Point. Built in 1933, this was the smallest of 13 incinerators in 18 Bellevue NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia designed by Walter Burley Griffin, designer of Canberra, Built in 1883, the house was designed by Ambrose and his partner Eric Nicholls. Thornley Junior, who was responsible for many houses Others included those at Architectural drawing showing and shops around Glebe. Overlooking Blackwattle Bay, the Burley Griffen Incinerator at Pyrmont (now demolished) it was one of many mansions around Glebe Point. They Glebe, 1930s (Image: National and Willoughby. Before Library of Australia) gradually disappeared as industry took over the area building the incinerator, in the 20th century. The growth of industry in Glebe, Glebe Council would load garbage onto barges at the especially along the foreshores, had been encouraged Council depot in Forsyth Street, tow it 10 kilometres by the development of wharfage in Rozelle and out to sea and dump it. This resulted in beaches being Blackwattle Bays. By 1945 there were 158 factories in polluted by refuse carried in by the currents. Griffin and Glebe, and they employed 4,496 workers. Bellevue has Nicholls promoted their incinerators as hygienic, efficient now been restored for community use and houses the and aesthetically pleasing. The incinerator building has Blackwattle Cafe. been preserved for community uses and forms a striking architectural feature along the Glebe foreshore walk. Look out for the interpretive signs.

Walk along Taylor Street, past Glebe High School to Pyrmont Bridge Road. You can turn right to reach Glebe Light Rail Station and end your tour, or you can make your way back to the tour starting point through what was once the Glebe Estate, owned by the Anglican Church (some streets are named after Anglican bishops) until it was sold to the Commonwealth Government in 1974. It eventually passed to the NSW Housing Commission to be used for public housing. Alternatively, turn left and walk to the Fish Market (20).

20 Fish Market

Bellevue House, late 19th century (Photograph: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW) In 1966, the Sydney Fish Market was relocated from Haymarket to this site. There was major reconstruction Continue along the foreshore walk to the Burley Griffin and expansion in the 1980s, with the former John Fairfax Incinerator (19) at the rear of the park near Forsyth Street. Limited bulk paper store becoming the location of a computerised auction room. The Fish Market today is open to the public and incorporates a working fishing port, wholesale fish market, fresh food retail market, food and beverage outlets and a seafood cooking school.

Sydney Fish Markets, 1999 (Photograph: City of Sydney Archives)

Council Depot at the end of Forsyth Street in Your tour ends here. Across Bank Street is the Fish Market Light Glebe, incorporating the former Glebe Destructor Rail Station. You can also connect here with “Port”, the City of (Photograph: City of Sydney Archives) Sydney’s walking tour of Pyrmont.

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Discover more of historic Sydney with the other walking tour brochures in this series.

More information can be found at the City’s website: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/history or call the City of Sydney on 9265 9333 We welcome your feedback: [email protected]

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This brochure was prepared by the History Program at the City of Sydney. 6th edition, November 2011. HWT 9