The History of Durham Hall, Surry Hills John Walter Ross Cover photographs: Top: Durham Hall, 1984 Lower left: 203-205 Albion Street Lower right: 197-201 Albion Street Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Timeline for Durham Hall ........................................................................................................................ 9 Timeline for Durham Hall grounds ........................................................................................................ 11 Timeline for 197-201 Albion Street ....................................................................................................... 11 Timeline for 203-205 Albion Street ....................................................................................................... 12 Early history of Surry Hills – 1788-1835 ................................................................................................ 13 Early settlers...................................................................................................................................... 13 The site of Durham Hall .................................................................................................................... 13 William Hill and Mary Johnson ......................................................................................................... 14 George Hill’s early life ....................................................................................................................... 15 George Hill’s residence – 1835-1889 .................................................................................................... 17 Durham Hall is built ........................................................................................................................... 17 203-205 Albion Street ....................................................................................................................... 18 197-201 Albion Street ....................................................................................................................... 18 A city magistrate ............................................................................................................................... 19 Early government in New South Wales ............................................................................................ 20 City Councillor and Mayor................................................................................................................. 21 Legislative Council career ................................................................................................................. 22 Public benefactor .............................................................................................................................. 22 Man of public affairs ......................................................................................................................... 23 Patron of sports and the arts ............................................................................................................ 24 End of an era at Durham Hall ............................................................................................................ 25 Boarding House – 1889-1899 ................................................................................................................ 27 Hell hath no fury ............................................................................................................................... 27 Boarding house life goes on .............................................................................................................. 29 Charles Anderson’s residence – 1899-1924 .......................................................................................... 31 Pioneer of the felt hat ....................................................................................................................... 31 End of Durham Hall as a residence ................................................................................................... 32 Industries behind Durham Hall – 1902-1983 ........................................................................................ 33 Federal Hat Mills ............................................................................................................................... 33 The scandal of the Six Hatters ........................................................................................................... 34 United Felt Hats ................................................................................................................................ 36 Felt & Textiles of Australia ................................................................................................................ 37 Concordia Club – 1925-1939 ................................................................................................................. 39 Germans in Australia ......................................................................................................................... 39 Skittles and dancing in Durham Hall ................................................................................................. 39 Another World War closes the Club ................................................................................................. 42 Booker T Washington Club – 1943-1945 .............................................................................................. 45 Overpaid, oversexed and over here .................................................................................................. 45 Jim Crow doesn’t live here ................................................................................................................ 46 The Booker T. Washington Club at Durham Hall .............................................................................. 46 American Red Cross takes over the Booker T. .................................................................................. 47 Jazz livens up Durham Hall ................................................................................................................ 49 African American cultural influences ................................................................................................ 50 British Navy takes over the Club ....................................................................................................... 52 The Commonwealth Bank – 1946-1979 ................................................................................................ 53 Commonwealth Employment Service............................................................................................... 53 The Commonwealth Bank is created ................................................................................................ 53 A storehouse for the bank ................................................................................................................ 54 Marval Industries storehouse ........................................................................................................... 55 Durham Hall returns to its former glory – 1981-1983 .......................................................................... 57 The Heritage Council is formed ......................................................................................................... 57 Hugh Fraser helps to save Durham Hall ............................................................................................ 57 Durham Hall is restored and Durham Village is built ........................................................................ 58 Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia – 1984-present ............................................................... 61 Pathology and the RCPA ................................................................................................................... 61 Garden restoration ........................................................................................................................... 63 197-201 Albion Street Houses .............................................................................................................. 65 A corner fruit shop ............................................................................................................................ 65 The houses narrowly avoid demolition ............................................................................................ 65 Phillip Luker publishing ..................................................................................................................... 67 203-5 Albion Street Cottages ................................................................................................................ 69 The cottages are restored ................................................................................................................. 69 Fine Italian dining comes to Surry Hills ............................................................................................. 70 Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia ..................................................................................... 71 Reference Notes ................................................................................................................................... 73 Table of Figures ....................................................................................................................................