The people who called Susannah Place home

The people who called Susannah Place home

The People who called Susannah Place home

Who owned Susannah Place? Who lived at 58, 60, 62 and 64 Gloucester Street? No. 58 No. 60 No. 62 No. 64 Susannah Place plaque, Susannah Place Museum, The Rocks, Sydney. Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums

Who owned Susannah Place?

The four houses now known as Susannah Place were owned by Edward and Mary Riley. They lived in No 62 and rented the other three out. In 1853 when Edward died, Mary became the owner and continued living in No 62 until her death in 1874. As an owner and resident for nearly 30 years Mary Riley provided a constant and stable presence, unlike the common practice in The Rocks of absentee landlords. In her will Mary left houses 62 and 64 to her granddaughter Mary Ann Finnigan and the other two houses 58 and 60 to the Church of England. Mary Ann and husband John ran the grocer’s shop at No 64 briefly but by 1886 they had moved to Granville.

The ownership of Susannah Place did not change again until 1901 when the state government resumed The Rocks, Millers Point and areas of Darling Harbour following the outbreak of bubonic plague in Sydney. The area was placed under the control of the Sydney Harbour Trust (SHT). Although the Harbour Trust was primarily established to modernise the wharves of the Port of Sydney, the results were more far reaching with hundreds of ‘slum’ buildings demolished, streets realigned and new model-workers tenements constructed for waterfront workers. The SHT also became the landlord of the thousands of tenants who lived in the area, including the Susannah Place tenants. In 1936 the Sydney Harbour Trust was replaced by the Maritime Services Board (MSB). Many of the Susannah Place tenants recalled the MSB as good landlords who maintained the houses well and regularly repainted and renewed the wallpaper throughout the houses.

Taken before the level of Gloucester Street was altered, this photograph shows some of the rubble from the demolition of buildings across the road from Susannah Place. The corner shop (No 64) has a striped curtain hanging over the window and painted above the front door is the name of the shopkeeper ‘H. Youngein’ and a Siren soap advertisement. Photo: Gloucester Street, near Cumberland Place, 15 Oct 1910. Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW: PXE921 Vol2 No20

In 1970 the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) became the landlord of 25 hectares of The Rocks. Its charter was to redevelop the area with offices, shops, hotels and high and low-rise housing. This development scheme was strongly opposed by local residents who formed the Rocks Residents Action Group. Faced with higher rents, increased pressure from SCRA to vacate their homes and poor property maintenance, the residents enlisted the support of the NSW Builders’ Labourers’ Federation (BLF). A ‘green ban’ was declared by the BLF on all demolition and new construction work in the area. In 1973 an alternative ‘People’s Plan’ was proposed that advocated the preservation of the historic buildings in the area. By the end of 1973 a compromise had been reached and the green ban was lifted. However, while the historic buildings were saved the strong community was weakened as more and more tenants left the area.

By the mid 1970s Ellen and Dennis Marshall in No 62 were the only tenants left at Susannah Place. They became the unofficial caretakers of the four houses, spending their own modest income on repairs to halt the progress of what Ellen called ‘demolition by neglect’. To deter squatters and vandalism Ellen made curtains for the empty houses, put pot plants out the front and kept the gardens tidy.

In 1988, signifying a change of direction from development to the preservation of the areas’ historic buildings, SCRA dropped the word redevelopment from its title, becoming the Sydney Cove Authority. In 1987 a joint conservation project between the owners Sydney Cove Authority (now the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority) and the Historic Houses Trust was established. Susannah Place Museum opened to the public in 1993.

Jack Andersen took this photograph of his parents Martin and Girlie Andersen in the backyard of No 58. Four generations of the Andersen family called Susannah Place home. Courtesy Jack Andersen

Who lived at 58, 60, 62 and 64 Gloucester Street?

Between 1844 and 1990 over 100 families lived at 58 – 64 Gloucester Street, The Rocks. Some people lived in the houses for many years, others stayed only a few years before moving on. People were constantly moving in and out of houses in The Rocks area – across the road, around the corner or just a few doors down. Connections between the tight-knit working class community are many: families are related through marriage, children went to school together, men worked alongside each other on the wharves. From 1845 to 1935 a grocer shop operated from the front room of No 64 supplying household groceries to the local neighbourhood.

The following tenants list has been compiled from public records such as electoral rolls and City of Sydney Council Rate Assessment Books. Most of these official records usually list the chief tenant; most commonly a male. Children were not listed and women do not appear on electoral roles until 1902 when they achieved the right to vote. Sometimes names remained on electoral rolls after residents had moved out.

Other records such as birth, death and marriage records as well as newspaper notices have given us additional information. Since the museum opened in 1993 former tenants and their descendants have generously shared their family histories with us including the extended family arrangements that were common throughout both the 19th and 20th centuries. Some tenants like the Hughes family in No 58 took in lodgers; mostly waterside workers, to help pay the rent. For nearly six years Alfred Henry Miller and his wife Eliza ran a boarding house at No 62.

This list is continually being updated and corrected by further research. If you are a former resident or a descendant (or think you might be) we would love to hear from you at: citycurators@sydneylivingmuseums.com.au

Amelia Stewart, c1900, Sydney Living Museums collection. Amelia Stewart and husband Peter ran the grocer shop at No 64 from 1901 to 1903.

A note:

The street numbers have changed multiple times since Susannah Place was built in 1844. In 1890 the house numbers changed to the current numbers: 58, 60, 62 and 64.

  • 1853 house numbers change to 17, 19, 21 and 23
  • 1858 house numbers change to 64, 66, 68 and 70
  • 1881 house numbers change to 38, 40, 42 and 44

'A new and complete wharf, street and building plan directory of the city of Sydney', 1880. Nos 38-44 at top left, to right of Cribbs Lane, show the location of Susannah Place. Sydney Living Museums

No. 58

Front door number of 58 Gloucester Street. Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums 1845–55 James & Mary Hill + 7 children 1857 Thomas Martin 1858 William Murray (Licenced lodging house) 1861 John Rule 1865–66 William & Mary McCarthy 1867 Mary McCarthy 1868 Hugh McCarthy 1870- 1871 Eugene McCarthy 1873–82 John and Mary Rule + 3 children 1883 Henry Moorehausen (Moorehouse) 1884-85 John Rule & Mary Rule (nee Deegan) + 3 children 1886 Mary Rule 1887–91 George & Martha Lindon (nee Rule) + children George, Martha, Mary 1891- 1899 George Lindon + children George, Martha & Mary 1901 William Rule 1902 John Moran 1904 John McCarthy 1906–14 William & Mary Akehurst + 2 children 1913 John Henry Mullen 1915–28 Thomas & Lena Pearl Hughes +children Charles, Frederick, Bertha & Iris 1916–17 Christian Swanson (lodger) 1915–16 & 1925–30 John Eric Johnson (lodger) 1915, 1917 Robert John Brunyee 1915–17 Annie O’Toole 1925–26 William Jones 1926 Annie & Sydney White 1931 Jane E Aubin 1931–32 Mrs Rene McSherry 1932 John Gallagher 1933 Mrs Edmondson 1934–49 John and Adelaide ‘Ada’ Gallagher 1944 Leslie & Florence Gallagher & 1 child 1949–51, 1953 Emily Curtis 1949–64 Arnt ‘Martin’ & Mary ‘Girlie’ Andersen + 2 sons 1950–54 Jack & Shirly Andersen 1963 Gordon Gallagher 1964–74 Ernie Andersen 1968 Ernie & Pamela Andersen + 1 child 1974 Last tenants Ernie Andersen & son David

No. 60

Front door number, 60 Gloucester Street, Susannah Place Museum Photo © Haley Richardson and Stuart Miller for Sydney Living Museums 1845–46 Francis & Ellen Cunninghame+ 4 children 1847–48 Bridget Norton 1848–51 Robert Grace & Matilda Grace (nee Watts)+ 2 children 1853–55 Joseph Hume 1857 Henry Whitehall 1858 John Jones 1861 Denis Baragray 1865 William Thomas Merchant (Lodging house) 1867–68 James Hogan 1870 Mrs Parsonage 1871 John Rule 1873 James and Mary Ann Warlow 1875–84 William & Bridget Merchant + 6 children 1884 William Marsh 1885–93 Robert Bell & Mary Jane Bell (nee Merchant) + 5 children 1894 Alfred H Miller 1895–96 James Moodie 1897–1904 Denis & Mary McClafferty + 5 children 1906–08 David & Alice Hogan 1906 Charles Smith 1908–09 Henry & Mary Clark 1909, 1913–17 Alice Herbert 1909–13 William & Mary Sharp 1909–10 George and Lizzie Sayce (sublet from William & Mary Sharp) 1910–17 Mary Herbert 1913 Sydney James, Caroline Morton 1919 John Jenkins 1920–22 Elizabeth Ritchie, Annie Poynter + sons Leslie and Cyril 1922–31 Margaret Doyle, Thomas McNamara 1935–46 Peter Theodor (lease in name only) tenants were Rose, Emmanuel & Athas ‘Arthur’ Sarantides 1947 Dimitrios & Maria Passaris 1949–50 Robert Bede Craig, Bessie Naylor & son Raymond Naylor 1951–52 Raymond & Joan Naylor (nee Sutton 1953–68 Esther Maud Moran & son Walter 1955 Raymond & Ken Hunt 1968 Last tenant Walter Moran 1970 -1974 Des Howard uses the yard to manufacture pottery

No. 62

Front door number of 62 Gloucester Street. Photo © Haley Richardson and Stuart Miller for Sydney Living Museums 1845 Thomas Hall 1846–74 Edward and Mary Riley (owners of all 4 houses) 1876–77 George Hill 1879–80 Edward & Janet Dudgeon 1882 William Detuerner 1883–86 John & Margaret White 1886-1887 John White 1889–93 Alfred Henry Miller & Eliza Miller (nee Lewis) (Boarding house) 1894 Mrs McClafferty 1897–98 Mrs Fanny Dawes 1900 John Lester 1901–02 Bernard Fisher 1904–06 Richard & Mary Fauld 1908–09 Michael Curran 1908 Chas Pack 1909–15 Arthur William Smith & Elizabeth Smith (nee McKinley) + 6 children 1915- 1931 Elizabeth Smith + 4 children & her brother-in-law Sydney Smith 1921 William Boshell 1921 Alexander Simula 1931–33 Lucy Mary Clayson 1931–33 Rosina & William Howard 1933–42 James & Margaret Thompson & children Patricia, Mercia, Colleen and Ronald 1942 – 1949 James Thompson 1949–52 Albert Thompson & Maureen Thompson (nee Banfield) & son Garry 1952 – 1961 Albert Thompson & Maureen Thompson (nee Banfield) + daughter Gail 1958–62 Noel Banfield 1962–90 Ellen and Dennis Marshall & daughter Jenni 1990 Last tenants Ellen & Dennis Marshall 1990 - 2006 museum caretakers

No. 64

House number on the back gate of 64 Gloucester Street. Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums 1845 John Munro & Priscilla Munro (nee Kelly) 1847–48 Patrick Ryan 1851–55 Joseph Musgrave & Sarah Musgrave (nee Cooper) (grocers)+ 6 children 1857 John Taylor (grocer) 1858–70 Croft Fulstow Hall & Mary Ann Hall (nee Chilcott) (grocers) + 6 children 1871–74 George & Mary Ann McIntyre (grocers) + daughter Cecilia 1875 John Thames [James Thomas] (grocer) 1876–77 John and Mary Anne Finnegan (grocers) 1879–98 George & Sarah Hill (grocers) 1899–1900 James Gallagher (grocer) 1901–03 Peter Stewart & Amelia Stewart (nee Shorter) (grocers) + children Grace, Herbert & Mildred 1904–19 Hugo & Clara Youngein (grocers) children Dolly, James, John and Herbert 1908 Sarah McKinley 1919- 1930 Hugo Youngein (grocer) 1931–35 Robert Snedden & Eliza Snedden (nee Johnstone)(grocers) 1933–34 Robert McMorran 1936 Maude Lillian Hickey 1937–49 Arnt ‘Martin’ & Mary ‘Girlie’ Andersen (nee Gallagher) children Jack and Ernie 1939–46 Leo Francis Brown 1949–54 Mary Carmichael + 7 children 1951–54 John Sneddon Peace 1954–55 Margaret & Maurice Toppenberg 1956–65 Ronald Smith & Beryl Smith (nee Kidd) + children Raymond, Jeffery, Kristine 1959–63 Donald Kidd 1965–70 Norman Philpott & Jean Philpott (nee Kidd) 1976 Last tenant Ronald Smith

About the Author

Anna Cossu Curator Susannah Place Museum, Museum of Sydney, Justice and Police Museum Inspired by wonderful history teachers and after her own foray as a high school teacher, Anna found herself drawn to the world of museums and heritage interpretation. See full profile

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