The Rocks, New South Wales

The Rocks is a suburb, tourist precinct, and historic area of Sydney's city centre. It is on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, and immediately north-west of the Sydney CBD.

Boundaries

The formal boundaries of the suburb named The Rocks cover the western side of Sydney Cove east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge approaches. In the north it extends to the southern base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in the east to the shoreline of Circular Quay and George Street, in the south to Jamison Street (thus including the area known as Church Hill), and in the west to southern approaches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Western Distributor overpass.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

File:Unidentified street at The Rocks.jpg

A dwelling in an unidentified street at The Rocks, 1910s.

File:City of Sydney The Rocks Subdivision 1907.jpg

City Freeholds, George and Harrington Streets, 1907

The Rocks was established shortly after the colony's formation in 1788. It was known as Tallawoladah by the Cadigal people.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> The original buildings were first traditional vernacular houses, of wattle and daub, with thatched roofs, and later of local sandstone, from which the area derives its name.<ref name=":0" /> From the earliest history of the settlement, the area had a reputation as a slum and the arriving convicts' side of town, often frequented by visiting sailors and prostitutes.<ref name=":0" /> After November 1790, many of the inhabitants were also Aboriginal. In 1823, the district had a population of about 1,200. During the late nineteenth century, the area was dominated by a gang known as the Rocks Push. It maintained this rough reputation until approximately the 1870s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

By the early 20th century many of the area's historic buildings were in serious decay. In 1900, bubonic plague broke out, and the state government resumed areas around The Rocks and Darling Harbour, with the intention of demolishing them and rebuilding them.<ref name=":0" /> More than 3,800 houses, buildings and wharves were inspected and hundreds demolished, but the continuation of these plans were brought to a halt due to the outbreak of World War I.<ref>How plague almost demolished historic Sydney, Australian Geographic, 16 August 2010.</ref> During the 1920s, several hundred buildings were demolished during the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

File:Sydney The Rocks.jpg

Campbell's Cove

File:The rocks new south wales...jpg

ASN Co building, Hickson Road

Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority, with the intention of demolishing most of the original buildings, re-developing them as high-density residential dwellings. In February 1971 a group of local residents formed the Rocks Residents Group to oppose the plans.<ref name=":0" /> They felt that the new dwellings would result in increased rents, which would force out the traditional residents of the area. The residents' group requested a green ban from the Builder's Labourers Federation, who had become increasingly active in preventing controversial developments over the previous four years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Sirius Apartments 135 BLG ScreenRes.jpg

Sirius Building, a residential public housing development

By 1973 the union had imposed the ban, and after discussions with the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority, a 'People's Plan' was developed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By October 1973, it appeared that the redevelopment would proceed as originally planned, using non-union labour.Template:Citation needed For two weeks, demonstrations by local residents and unionists followed, with numerous arrests being made.Template:Citation needed Liberal Premier Robert Askin was in the midst of an election campaign, and used the protests as a means of conveying his law and order message to voters.Template:Citation needed However, the green ban stayed in place until 1975 when the state union leadership was overthrown and was ultimately successful, as can be seen in the buildings that survive today. Instead of demolishing The Rocks, renovations transformed the area into a commercial and tourist precinct.<ref name=":0" />

Today the Rocks is a partly gentrified area, but still contains a significant proportion of Housing Commission properties, and there is still a significant problem of urban poverty and street crime in this district.Template:Citation needed As housing stock becomes dilapidated, government policy is to sell the now extremely valuable public housing units to private owners, in the expectation that they will restore the properties. The Sirius Building and the associated "Save Our Sirius" protest group was formed to protest relocation of its residents.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Church Hill

"Church Hill" is located in the southern part of The Rocks, sometimes identified as the northern part of the Sydney central business district.<ref name="Church Hill">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is so named because the earliest churches in Australia were formed on this site, including St Patrick's (Roman Catholic),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> St Philip's (Anglican)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Scots Church (Presbyterian)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The significance of Church Hill dates back to the time of Governor Arthur Phillip, who mandated compulsory Sunday church attendance for all convicts, until they rebelled and burned down the area's first church in 1798.<ref name="Church Hill"/>

The area gained greater prominence as Church Hill on Wednesday 1 October 1800, when incoming Governor Philip Gidley King had the foundation stone laid for St Philip's Church, which subsequently he proclaimed one of Australia's first two parishes in 1802 (the other being St John's in Parramatta).<ref name="Church Hill"/>

The site where St Patrick's Church currently stands is where the Roman Catholic Eucharist was first preserved in Australia, in May 1818. Celebrations for the bicentenary of this occasion were held in St Patrick's Church on Sunday 6 May 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Heritage listings

File:103 George Street, The Rocks 1.jpg

103 George Street, a three-storey Victorian Regency terrace constructed in 1856

The Rocks has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Template:Div col

• Argyle Street: Argyle Cut<ref name=nswshr-1523>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 12–20 Argyle Street: Argyle Stores<ref name=nswshr-1524>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 39–43 Argyle Street: British Seamen's Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1532>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 45–47 Argyle Street: Gannon House<ref name=nswshr-1548>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 1–7 Atherden Street: Playfair's Terrace<ref name=nswshr-1570>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 2–4 Atherden Street: Avery Terrace<ref name=nswshr-1529>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• Circular Quay Concourse, Circular Quay East and West: Sydney Cove railings<ref name=nswshr-1572>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 7–27 Circular Quay West: Campbell's Stores<ref name=nswshr-1536>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• Cumberland Place: Cumberland Place and Steps<ref name=nswshr-1542>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• Cumberland Street: Argyle Bridge<ref name=nswshr-1522>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 96–98 Cumberland Street: Glenmore Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1549>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 100–104 Cumberland Street: Australian Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1528>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 106–128 Cumberland Street: Cumberland Street Archaeological Site<ref name=nswshr-1845>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 130, 132–134, 136–138 and 140–142 Cumberland Street: Long's Lane Precinct<ref name=nswshr-1600>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref><ref name=nswshr-1606>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref><ref name=nswshr-1592>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref><ref name=nswshr-1599>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 176 Cumberland Street: Lilyvale<ref name=nswshr-1558>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 178–180 Cumberland Street: Butchery Building<ref name=nswshr-1593>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 182 Cumberland Street: 182 Cumberland Street<ref name=nswshr-1581>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 182.5–188 Cumberland Street: 182.5–188 Cumberland Street<ref name=nswshr-1607>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 212–218 Cumberland Street: Lawson House<ref name=nswshr-1557>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 10–14 Essex Street: Harts Buildings<ref name=nswshr-1550>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 25–27 George Street: Mercantile Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1560>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 29–31 George Street: 29–31 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1608>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 33–41 George Street: Sergeant Major's Row<ref name=nswshr-1579>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 36–64 George Street: Old Mining Museum Building<ref name=nswshr-1555>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 43–45 George Street: Merchant's House<ref name=nswshr-1561>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 47 George Street: Union Bond Store<ref name=nswshr-1612>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 53–65 George Street: Harrington's Buildings<ref name=nswshr-1566>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 68–84 George Street: Metcalfe Bond Stores<ref name=nswshr-1562>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 69 George Street: Observer Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1565>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 73 George Street: Old Ambulance Station<ref name=nswshr-1589>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 75–75.5 George Street: Samson's Cottage<ref name=nswshr-1597>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 77–85 George Street: Unwin's Stores<ref name=nswshr-1613>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 86–88 George Street: Old Bushells Factory<ref name=nswshr-1535>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 87–89 George Street: Orient Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1567>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 91 George Street: ASN Hotel Building<ref name=nswshr-1527>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 93 George Street: 93 George Street, The Rocks<ref name=nswshr-1591>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 95–99 George Street: 95–99 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1596>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 98–100 George Street: Mariners' Church<ref name=nswshr-1559>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 101 George Street: 101 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1580>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 102–104 George Street: Old Coroner's Court<ref name=nswshr-1541>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 103 George Street: 103 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1587>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 105 George Street: 105 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1582>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 106–108 George Street: Sydney Sailors' Home<ref name=nswshr-1576>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 107–109 George Street: 107–109 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1590>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 110 George Street: Cadman's Cottage<ref name=nswshr-981>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 111–115 George Street: Captain Tench Arcade<ref name=nswshr-1537>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 112–156 George Street: Sydney Cove West Archaeological Precinct<ref name=nswshr-1860>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 117–119 George Street: Julian Ashton Art School<ref name=nswshr-1556>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 121 George Street: 121 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1588>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 123–125 George Street: 123–125 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1583>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 127–129 George Street: Old Police Station<ref name=nswshr-1571>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 131–135 George Street: English, Scottish and Australian Bank<ref name=nswshr-1544>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 137 George Street: Fortune of War Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1547>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 139–141 George Street: 139–141 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1595>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 143–143a George Street: Russell Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1575>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 145 George Street: 145 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1584>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 147 George Street: 147 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1585>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 149–151 George Street: 149–151 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1594>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 153–155 George Street: New York Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1563>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 229 George Street: Brooklyn Hotel<ref name=nswshr-1533>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 231 George Street: 231 George Street<ref name=nswshr-1540>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 233–235 George Street: Johnson's Building<ref name=nswshr-1554>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 26–30 Gloucester Street: View Terrace facades<ref name=nswshr-1614>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 32–36 Gloucester Street: 32–36 and 38–40 Gloucester Street facades<ref name=nswshr-1604>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref><ref name=nswshr-1605>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 46–56 Gloucester Street: 46–56 Gloucester Street<ref name=nswshr-1609>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 58–64 Gloucester Street: Susannah Place<ref name=nswshr-1310>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 66–68, 70–72 Gloucester Street: Baker's Terrace<ref name=nswshr-1530>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref><ref name=nswshr-1531>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 103–111 Gloucester Street: Jobbins Terrace<ref name=nswshr-1553>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 113–115 Gloucester Street: 113–115 Gloucester Street<ref name=nswshr-1601>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 117–117a Gloucester Street: 117–117a Gloucester Street<ref name=nswshr-1598>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 120 Gloucester Street: Model Factory and Dwelling<ref name=nswshr-1552>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 157–169 Gloucester Street and Essex Street: Science House<ref name=nswshr-1578>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 16–18 Grosvenor Street: NSW Housing Board Building, Grosvenor Street<ref name=nswshr-1564>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 24–30 Grosvenor Street: Federation Hall<ref name=nswshr-1546>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 32–34 Grosvenor Street: Royal Naval House<ref name=nswshr-1574>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 28–30 Harrington Street: Reynolds' Cottages<ref name=nswshr-1573>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 32 Harrington Street: 32 Harrington Street<ref name=nswshr-1586>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 34–40 Harrington Street: Evans' Stores<ref name=nswshr-1545>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 42–52 Harrington Street: 42–52 Harrington Street<ref name=nswshr-1611>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 55–59 Harrington Street: 55–59 Harrington Street<ref name=nswshr-1610>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 61–65 Harrington Street: 61–65 Harrington Street<ref name=nswshr-1602>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 67 Harrington Street: 67 Harrington Street<ref name=nswshr-1603>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 71 Harrington Street: 71 Harrington Street<ref name=nswshr-1551>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 117–119 Harrington Street: Accountants House<ref name=nswshr-1521>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 121–127 Harrington Street: Bushells Building<ref name=nswshr-1534>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• Hickson Road: Dawes Point Battery remains<ref name=nswshr-1543>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 1–5 Hickson Road: ASN Co building<ref name=nswshr-1526>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 4–6 Kendall Lane: Raphael Mackeller Stores<ref name=nswshr-1539>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 8 Kendall Lane: Samson's Cottage wall remains<ref name=nswshr-1577>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 13–15 Playfair Street: Argyle Terrace<ref name=nswshr-1525>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 17–31 Playfair Street: Playfair Street Terraces<ref name=nswshr-1569>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 22–26 Playfair Street: Penrhyn House<ref name=nswshr-1568>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>
• 33 Playfair Street: Cleland Bond Store<ref name=nswshr-1538>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>

Population

File:Sydney Rocks market.jpg

Rocks Market

At the Template:CensusAU, 629 people were living in The Rocks. 46.4% of people were born in Australia with the next most common countries of birth including England at 7.6%, China (excluding Special Administrative Regions (SARs) and Taiwan) at 5.1%, New Zealand at 2.7%, the United States of America 2.7%, and India 2.5%. 65.5% of people only spoke English at home with the next most common languages spoken at home including Mandarin 4.9%, Cantonese 4.1%, Spanish 2.7%, Japanese 1.9%, and Italian 1.6%. The most common religious affiliations included No Religion at 39.4%, Catholic at 21.0%, Anglican at 8.4%, and Buddhism at 4.1%; a further 7.9% of respondents for this area elected not to disclose their religious status.<ref name="census2021">Template:Census 2021 AUS</ref>

Culture

File:The-Rocks.jpg

Susannah Place Museum

The close proximity to Circular Quay and the views of the iconic Harbour Bridge, as well as the historic nature of many of the buildings, makes the Rocks very popular with tourists. It features a variety of souvenir and craft shops, as well as many themed and historic pubs. The Rocks Market operates each weekend, with around 100 stalls. During the week, shopping options include galleries exhibiting Australian artists as well as Australian clothing and Australian opal shops. There are numerous historic walks through the area, visiting historical buildings such as Cadmans Cottage and Sydney Observatory, and the Dawes Point Battery, which was the first fortified position in New South Wales.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A passenger boat terminal and the Museum of Contemporary Art is also situated beside the Rocks area. The precinct can also be accessed by rail, as it is within walking distance of Circular Quay station.

Water Polo by the Sea is held there every year by Australian Water Polo with the Australia men's national water polo team take on the International All Stars.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Susannah Place Museum is a historic house museum situated in The Rocks. It is a block of four terrace houses that was built in 1844 and had domestic occupants until 1990. It is a documentation of the urban working class community in The Rocks. The terraces in various states of modernity show the evolution of occupation over 150 years

In popular culture

The Rocks, as it was in 1873, is the setting for the time-slip portion of the novel Playing Beatie Bow.

Gallery

• Christmas night panoramic view at Campbell's Cove
  Christmas night panoramic view at Campbell's Cove
• Harrington Street
  Harrington Street
• Arts Exchange building from Hickson Street
  Arts Exchange building from Hickson Street
• Terrace Houses, Lower Fort Street
  Terrace Houses, Lower Fort Street
• Observer Hotel
  Observer Hotel
• The rear of Cadmans Cottage
  The rear of Cadmans Cottage
• Campbell's Stores
  Campbell's Stores
• Essex and Harrington Street subdivision plan
  Essex and Harrington Street subdivision plan
• Princes Street, showing the first hotel on The Rocks
  Princes Street, showing the first hotel on The Rocks
• Princes Street, looking south
  Princes Street, looking south
• A transverse section showing the bridges over the Argyle Cut, 1832
  A transverse section showing the bridges over the Argyle Cut, 1832
• Argyle Cut, pictured in the 1870s
  Argyle Cut, pictured in the 1870s
• The Argyle Cut, constructed with convict labour
  The Argyle Cut, constructed with convict labour
• Southern approach of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with The Rocks to the left
  Southern approach of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with The Rocks to the left
• Argyle Street
  Argyle Street
• Observatory Hill, lands auction, 1910
  Observatory Hill, lands auction, 1910
• Terrace houses in The Rocks
  Terrace houses in The Rocks
• Sydney Harbour Bridge from The Rocks. The bridge is visible from most areas of the district.
  Sydney Harbour Bridge from The Rocks. The bridge is visible from most areas of the district.
• Playfair's Terrace
  Playfair's Terrace
• The former ES&A Bank branch building (middle) and Old Police Station (right)
  The former ES&A Bank branch building (middle) and Old Police Station (right)

Literature

• Ambrose Pratt: King of the Rocks, novel. Hutchinson, London 1900
• D. Manning Richards. Destiny in Sydney: An epic novel of convicts, Aborigines, and Chinese embroiled in the birth of Sydney, Australia. First book in Sydney series. Washington DC: Aries Books, 2012. Template:ISBN
• Grace Karskens, The Rocks: Life in Early Sydney, Melbourne University Press, 1997.

External links

• The Rocks

Dictionary of Sydney entries

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