HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

ES AND A BANK

365 GEORGE STREET SYDNEY

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

..

ES AND A BANK

365 GEORGE STREET SYDNEY

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

NOVEMBER 2008

CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT FOR

TANNER ARCHITECTS

CONTENTS OF THE REPORT

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 04

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK ................................................................................................................ 07 2.1 The Project. ............................................................................................................................ 08 2.2 The Site .................................................................................................................................. 09 2.3 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 09 2.4 Authorship and Client ............................................................................................................. 1 0 2.5 Conventions ........................................................................................................................... 10

3.0 LANDSCAPE AND ENViRONMENT ..................................................................................... 11

4.0 SMALL SHOPS: 1788-1857 .................................................................................................. 13 4.1 "Staffordshire Warehouse": 1788-1822 ................................................................................. 14 4.2 Two Tenements: 1822-1836 .................................................................................................. 15 4.3 Subdivision: 1836-1857 .......................................................................................................... 17

5.0 FARRELL'S BUILDINGS ...................................................................................................... 19 5.1 Small Businesses ................................................................................................................... 20 5.2 Farrell's Chambers ...................... , ........................................... , ........................................... , .. 24

6.0 THE ESA BANK: 1857-2008 ................................................................................................. 27 6.1 Edmund Blackettand Beyond: 1857-1890 ............................................................................. 28 6.2 William Wardell and Beyond: 1890-1926 .............................................................................. .41 6.3 Robertson and Marks: 1926-1975 ......................................................................................... .44 6.4 Peddle, Thorp and Walker: 1975 - 2008 ............................................................................... 56

7.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................................... 57 7.1 Status of the Site .................................................................................................................... 58 7.2 Archaeological Profile ............................................................................................................ 58 7.3 Impacts ............................................................................ '" ..... , .............................................. 60 7.4 Potential Archaeological Resource ........................................................................................ 60 7.5 Cultural Significance .............................................................................................................. 61 7.6 Strategies ............................................................................................................................... 61

8.0 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 62

/

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: 365 GEORGE STREET SYDNEY

This report provides an historical analysis of the site of 365 George Street Sydney and the building that currently occupies that land. The purpose of the work is to inform a revised conservation plan for the building, the former ESA Bank building at the corner of King and George Streets Sydney.

The site was occupied by the first years of the nineteenth century. By 1822 the George Street frontage was occupied by aT-shaped building referred to as a "Staffordshire warehouse" meaning that it sold crockery. The cottage was described as set well back from the street, old with a shingled roof covered in moss. A second building was located in the north-western corner of the allotment. It was a long narrow structure, its use unknown. The Crown Grant for this property was issued in 1827 to John Payne. It was sold in the 1830s to Roger Murphy who forfeited it through default on a mortgage to Samuel Terry. He sold it to John Hosking in 1838. It changed hands again on several occasions before being subdivided in 1856. The George Street frontage was sold to the ESA bank and the King Street frontage to a wine and spirit merchant, Thomas Farrell.

Farrell replaced the buildings on King Street in the 1860s with three new commercial buildings that remained in use until the end of the nineteenth century. They were leased to a variety of small businesses and Farrell used one for his own business. In 1895 a three-storey terrace known as Farrell's Chambers replaced these buildings. This occupied the site until its demolition in 1926.

The old crockery warehouse on George Street was demolished to make way for a bank. The English, Scottish and Australian Bank was designed by Edmund Blackett and was built between 1857 and 1858. It encompassed a basement level, ground and two floors above.

There is little evidence of change to the building until 1890. In that year two additional floors were added, a tower to the south-eastern corner of the building and there were internal changes to the building. These works were designed by William Wardell.

In 1918 the ESA bank purchased Farrell's Chambers on King Street, originally as an investment. By 1925 the decision was made to expand the bank over this site, thereby almost doubling the size of the structure. The firm of Robertson and Marks were commissioned for the work which entailed the removal of much of Wardell's work, changes to the internal structure and fit-out as well as the design of the addition on King Street. The work was completed by 1927.

In 1951 Robertson and Marks were asked to prepare plans for alterations to the first and ground floors of the bank including the removal of internal walls on the upper levels. This firm continued to provide plans for several alterations made to the bank throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1970 the ESA Bank merged with the ANZ bank.

In 1975 the firm of Peddle, Thorp and Walker was engaged to design alterations to enable the interior spaces to be updated and to allow the merger of the 377 George Street branch of the ANZ with the ESA Bank in this building. Peddle Thorp and Walker were also responsible for alterations made to the fourth floor in 1982 and other works throughout the later 1980s and 1990.

In 2000 substantial works were undertaken to adapt the building for use as a private hotel while retaining the banking service on the ground floor. It included the construction of a restaurant and bar. This work was done in association with the redevelopment of 361-365 George Street. Alterations were made to the first to fourth floors, additions were made to the fifth floor and two new floors were constructed above. The new work was designed by DCM Architects.

365 George Street was identified in the Archaeological Zoning Plan for Central Sydney of 1992 as a site of high archaeological potential due to limited physical disturbance. This assessment has concluded that this is not the case.

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The historical evidence presented in the preceding sections defines the scope of the potential archaeological resource of this site. It refers to features, relics and deposits that were associated with the place prior to the construction of the present building. Seven possible areas of archaeological evidence were identified for the place being:

• Environmental Evidence

• The Crockery Warehouse: c.1800-1857

• The Second Tenement: 1830s-1861

• King Street Commercial Buildings c.1832-1861

• King Street Commercial Building c.1861-1895

• Farrell's Chambers: 1895 - 1927

• Additional Features

It was concluded that on King Street the successive periods of building would have removed most evidence of the preceding periods of occupation with the exception of deep-cut features such as drains and wells or cess-pits that would have been left intact and filled in. Only these features would have survived, and then only in a fragmentary state, the impacts of the excavations for basements, first in 1856 and then in 1926 for the extension on the King Street boundary. This conclusion is based on the assumption that the original topography of the site, although likely to have been lower than the present street level, was encompassed within the area of the present-day basements. Secondly, that it did not have any significant slope that would have required filling and levelling and thus preserved some features beyond the level of the basement excavations.

With respect to the archaeological resource that could be found on the site of 365 George Street it may be concluded that it is likely to be fragmentary and poorly preserved. It is unlikely to be able to address in any meaningful way research questions that relate either to the specific activities and lives associated with this site or any general questions of settlement or human activity. This site is assessed to have low cultural significance for archaeological evidence. In this circumstance application for a Section 139 exception would be an appropriate strategy if excavation were planned within the site.


2.0 SCOPE OF WORK


THE PROJECT

This report has been prepared to assist in the preparation of a conservation plan for the former English Scottish and Australian Bank (ESA) at 365 George Street, Sydney. This work revises a conservation plan prepared for the place in 1996. The work addresses the archival evidence for the building and determines the probability of the site encompassing an archaeological issue.

The principal objectives of this report have been to:

• Undertake primary research for the purpose of describing the principal phases of development of the former bank building;

• Undertake primary research for the purpose of describing the evolution of the site prior to the construction of the present building;

• Identify whetherther~is an archaeological issue relevant to the site;

• If so, determine the probable extent and integrity of that resource;

• Evaluate the signiflC8n~ of that resource;

• Determine protocols and strategies to be put into place to ensure the most effective means of managing that resource commensurate with its significance.

• Prepare a report that will support, if necessary, an Excavation Permit application to the Heritage Branch, NSW Department of Planning.

To that end the following tasks have been undertaken:

• Primary and secondary research sufficient to determine the physical development of the site and its principal associations;

• The preparation of a narrative that describes the evolution of the former bank building;

• An assessment of the physical evidence for the site including archaeological evidence from the near environs of this site;

• A determination of the potential archaeological resource;

• An evaluation of the cultural significance of that resource based on standard evaluation criteria;

• Identification of management strategies.


HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 365 GEORGE STREET SYDNEY

THE SITE

365 George Street occupies land at the corner of King and George Streets Sydney. Its cadastral identification is DP 1010007. The site is located within the Parish of St Phillip, County of Cumberland and is within the local government area of the City of Sydney. The site is fully occupied by the building that no occupies it

Location of the site (Source Department of Lands Six-Viewer Search)

METHODOLOGY

The historical analysis has been prepared according to the guidelines expressed in the publication "History and Heritage,,1. This assessment has been prepared in accordance with the methodology expressed in the NSW Heritage Office's publication "Archaeological Assessments" (1996).

1 Heritage Office and Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (1996).



AUTHORSHIP AND CLIENT

This report has been written by Wendy Thorp (Cultural Resources Management). It has been commissioned by Howard Tanner Architects. The author would like to thank Mr Francis Danesi of the ANZ Group Archive (Melbourne) for his assistance. The copyright of this report remains with Cultural Resources Management.

CONVENTIONS

LPI Land and Property Information ML Mitchell Library SRO State Record Office


3.0 LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT

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The site is founded on Hawkesbury Sandstone slopes and is likely to have been covered in open woodlands of Eucalyptus varieties, black butt, red bloodwood and Sydney Peppermint as well as angophoras. Along King Street the land was more likely to be covered with Angophoras and Turpentine Iron-Bark2

. The understorey probably comprised Leptospermum, Banksia and callistemon with ferns, grasses and herbs probably close to the ground. It was home to a large variety of native birds, animals and insects.

The Tank Stream ran through the block to the east on the opposite side of George Street. Excavation of archaeological sites along the banks close to the study area have shown that it ran through a wide and sloping stream bed3

. The study area would have occupied land at the level, upper part of the western slope before it ran down to the stream.

Clearing the vegetation to make way for the settlement was a rapid process of deforestation and erosion. The centre of the town including the study area was cleared within a few years of 1788. The remaining stands of trees were pushed to the ridges beyond Macquarie Street.

Detail of Meehan's Plan of the Town in 1807 showing the Tank Stream (blue arrow) at some distance to the east of the study area (red arrow) ML M2 811.171180711.

2 Benson and Howell (1986); Taken for Granted the Bush/and of Sydney and Its Suburbs: 42 3 For example, excavations at the GPO and Angel Place, Sydney.


4.0 SMALL SHOPS 1788 -1857

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"STAFFORSHIRE WAREHOUSE": 1788-1822

365 George Street is located in the heart of the earliest settlement. Within months of landing in 1788 George Street emerged as the main thoroughfare through the town, a track leading from the harbour to the outskirts of the settlement. By 1802 the land along George Street (then called High Street) south of the barracks at Wynyard had been divided into regular allotments. King Street was not then in existence. This street was formed by 1807. An irregular "L"-shaped block occupied the corner of King and High Streets running in a narrow passage through to Barrack Row (York Street). It was owned by Richard Atkins4

The earliest evidence for the use of the block is from an 1802 town plan, which shows the site to be already occupied by that years. In 1822 the site of 365 George Street (then numbered 4) was occupied by a T-shaped building in the centre of the block6

. The building on the George Street frontage was described as "old" in the 1840s; it suggests that this building was the same as that shown on the earlier plans. In 1848 the building was described as a "Staffordshire warehouse" meaning that it sold crockery7. The proprietor of the business was a man named Allen8

. The cottage was described as set well back from the street, old with a shingled roof covered in moss. The crockery, mostly willow pattern, was displayed on wooden stands on the front verandah9

.

Survey of the site in 1822 showing the single building on George Street (Source. AO Map SZ 469)

4 James Meehan, Plan of the Town of SydneY in 1807 5 Plan de la Vi lie de Sydney 1802 6 Harper's Plan of the Town of Sydney 1822 7 Joseph Fowles (1848), Picture of Sydney in 1848; 161 8 Ibid' 160 9 Ibid: 159



TWO TENEMENTS: 1822 - 1836

The Crown Grant for this property was issued in 1827 to John Payne 10 as Allotment 1 of Section 51 of the city. In the following year it was sold to Roger Murphyll. Murphy is almost certainly responsible for the construction of new buildings on the allotment. He took out a mortgage in 1830 with Richard Rouse for the sum of £1150. The deed referred to the "two messuages or tenements erected and built and now standing" on the block 12. In 1835 Murphy leased the property to Samuel Terry, one of the largest land-owners in the cOlony13. In the same year Murphy mortgaged it to Terry and appears to have forfeited the mortgage'4.

The second building was located in the north-western corner of the allotment. It was a long narrow structure, its use unknown (shown with an arrow below). This building is illustrated on this survey of 1832 drawn to determine a dispute on buildings on the adjoining allotment.

Sketch she wing encroachment of Mr Solomon on Captain Wright's Allotment Source: Surveyor General Sketch Books Volume2 Folio 11

In 1836 the site of 365 George Street was claimed by Roger Murphy although the deed was issued to John Payne as the original grant holder. By that year the old crockery shop on George Street had been replaced by two buildings set well back from the footpath and with a frontage to King Street as well. These were illustrated on a survey of that date and, in 1842, they were shown in a watercolour of George Street prepared by John Rae. They were built between 1832 and 1836.

10 LPI, CT Volume 12981 Folio 215 " Ibid. 12 LPI, Old System Book D No. 134 13 LPI, Primary Application 50344 14 Ibid.



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Survey of the site in 1836. The buildings on George Street are indicated by the red arrow. (Source W Russel/. Survey of Section 51).

By this time the single building at the western end of the allotment had been joined by a substantial building constructed next to it on the King Street frontage (shown by the blue arrow on the preceding plan). An L-shaped yard ran from King Street through to George Street where a fence provided security.

John Rae, George Street Looking North from Pit( Street (1842). The watercolour shows the two buildings on the George and King Street frontage erected between 1832 and 1836 (Source ML DGSV'Sp Col//Rae/6)



1836-1857

The new owner of the property, Samuel Terry, sold it to John Hosking in 183815 Hosking sold it back to Roger Murphy in 1840 and in the same year Murphy leased it to Robert Scott16

Scott subdivided the property in 1856 selling the George Street frontage to the ESA Bank and the land behind on King Street to Thomas Farrell. Until the construction of the bank on corner of George and King Streets in 1857 the shop constructed here between 1832-1836 remained in business although the narrow portion of the building fronting King Street had been demolished by 1848. The site was illustrated in that year.

The fonner crockery shop on George Street illustrated in 1848 Source. Joseph Fowles, Sydney in 1848, 23

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On King Street the new building added to the block in the same period of 1832-1836 was used by A. Crow (butchers) in 1848. It can be seen in the drawing above from George Street (blue arrow) and, again (below) from King Street.

Crow's butcher's shop on King Street in 1848 Source. Joseph Fowles, Sydney in 1848, 60

15 LPI, Primary Application 50344 161bid 17 Ibid

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17

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT. 365 GEORGE STREET SYDNEY

The same building can be seen in an illustration of King Street in 1843 made by Frederick Garling.

Frededrick Garling. King Street Looking East c. 1843 Source: ML V 184

The King Street building was replaced in 1860-1861. In 1859 the City Rate Assessments record only two buildings on the site, apparently the two seen in Fowles' street view. At 78 King Street next to the bank were the premises of Thomas Farrell, a wine merchant. Next to him at 76 King Street, the building was occupied by George Rossitor a tailor and Thomas Weedon a solicitor18

. The rate description of the building for 1861 indicates that a different building occupied the site.

18 Sydney City Council, Rate Assessment Brisbane Ward 1859


5.0 FARRELL'S BUILDINGS

1857 - 1918


SMALL BUSINESSES

Thomas Farrell, who occupied the portion of the old King Street buildings next to the bank in the later 1850s was the new owner of the property. He replaced the two old shops with three storey buildings on the street front and a long building on the northern boundary. The 1861 Council Rate Assessment provides the earliest description of the building. It was a stone-built structure with a slate roof. It had three floors and eighteen rooms. Later photographic evidence shows these three floors to be all above ground; there appear to have been no basements. There was a separate kitchen. The combined value of the property was £1100'9 Farrell used the building next to the bank for his wine and spirits business and Jefferson Jackson, a hairdresser, occupied the other shop2o The 1863 assessment notes that there was a store at the back of the buildings on King Streee'.

The first survey of the new buildings was made in 1865. In that year Farrell still occupied 78 King Street, sharing it with a stock and station agent, and the hairdresser was in the building next to him.

Survey of the bank and Farrel/"s buildings (indicated by arrows) in 1865 (Source. Trigonometrical Survey of Sydney 1865. Sheet e1)

19 Sydney City Council, Rate Assessment Brisbane Ward 1861; 365 George Street 20 Sands and Kenney, City and Suburban Street Directory 1861; 76-78 King Street 21 Sydney City Council, Rate Assessment Brisbane Ward 1863; 76-78 King Street


HISTORICAL ANAL YSIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 365 GEORGE STREET SYDNEY

There is no obvious evidence of change to these buildings for many years. In 1870 the Rate Assessment described the buildings on King Street as, at 78 and closest to the bank, a three storey store with four rooms, built of brick and stone with a slate roof valued at £200. Next to it at 76 King Street was a three-storey and eight-room shop and house built of brick and stone with a slate roof. As well, on this block, was a one-storey and four-room office of brick and stone. Combined they were valued at £200. William Wheate, a hairdresser, occupied the house and Church and Hills used the office. The only difference was in ownership. Thomas Farrell had died in March 187022 and his wife inherited the properties23

There is an undated view looking west down King Street that gives a glimpse of these buildings behind the bank constructed in 1857-1858 shown below.

Undated view of King Street looking west. the bank and the buildings on King Street are indicated with an arrow. (ML SPF1988)

In 1875 the occupants of the buildings on King Street were James Bennett (hairdresser) and Morris Moore (broker) and Mrs Farrell and John Sherwing (agent) all at 76 King Street. Church and Wills were wine and spirit merchants and they used 78 King Streee4

Throughout the later years of the nineteenth century the buildings housed a small turnover of tenants but there is little evidence for change in the structures to accommodate any particular needs. The Rate Assessment of 1882 described 70 King Street (formerly 76 King Street) as a three-storey, ten-room shop that was brick-built with an iron roof. It was owned by Mrs Farrell

22 LPI, Old Systems Book 1137 No. 237 Shedule. 23 Ibid: 76-78 King Street 24 Sands City and Suburban Street Directory 1875; 76-78 King Street



and occupied by James Clark and was valued at £221. 72 King Street (formerly 78 King Street) was described as a three-storey and six-room brick store with an iron roof owned by Mrs Farrell and occupied by John Way valued at £39025 John Way was a boot and shoe importe~6. A survey of the site in 1887 shows little change in the footprint of the buildings from that seen on the 1865 survey.

SUfvey of the site in 1887 showing the bank on the corner of George and King Streets and Farrel/'s three buildings behind it. (Department of Lands, Metropolitan Detail Series Sheet 26. 27. 51. 52. 1887)

There are several images of the buildings as they were just before they were demolished at the end of the nineteenth century shown on the following page.

25 Ibid: 70-72 King Street. 26 Ibid.



Undated image showing the buildings on King Street (indicated with an arrow) and the back of the bank. ML. glass plate photograph King Street looking east from York Street GP01-08101


Detail, ESA Bank 1870-1875 and Farrell's buildings next to it on King Street ML PXA 4999


FARRELL'S CHAMBERS

In 1891 the Rate Assessment records similar details for the buildings on King Street, only the tenants had changed in the intervening ten years. 70 King Street was valued at £312 and 72 King Street at £57227

. The buildings were still owned by the Farrell family. By 1895 the older buildings had been replaced with a large commercial building described as Farrell's Chambers. It was recorded on a survey of that date.

Survey of the bank and buildings adjoining it on King Street in 1895 showing the newly constructed Farrells Chambers. NSW Department of Lands. Metropolitan Detail Series Sheet 26. 27. 51. 52. 1895

In 1897 the Rate Assessors described 70 King Street as a two-storey and two-room brick and slate roofed shop owned by Mrs Farrell, unoccupied and valued at £26028 At 72 King Street was a similar shop owned by Mrs Farrell and occupied by R. Webbe~B At 72a King Street was a brick and slate building described as chambers valued at £250 and occupied by John Howarth30

27 Ibid: 72 George Street 28 Ibid: 70 King Street 29 Ibid: 72 King Street 30 Ibid: 72a King Street



It was a triple terrace with the street front shops occupied in 1900 by a tailor at 70 Kin~ Street, gunsmiths at 72 King Street and the chambers next to the bank with twelve tenants3

. These tenants remained for much of the early years of the twentieth century with a few new lessees joining them at various times32

.

The Rate Assessment of 1911 described 70 King Street as a two-storey and four-room shop of brick and slate occupied by J.H. Cutler and owned by the estate of Esme FarrelL It was valued at £30033

. At 72 King Street there was a similar shop but only having two rooms. It was occupied by Cowles and Dunn (gunsmiths) and was also part of the estate of Esme FarrelL It was valued at £30034 At 72 % King Street next to the bank was a three storey eleven-room office valued at £398. It was occupied by M.H. Laughlan and Co and was from the estate of Esme Farrell3S Esme Farrell was the daughter of Thomas Farrell having inherited the property after the death of her mother.

31 Sands City Directory, 70-72 King Street: 1900 32 Ibid 1900 - 1920. 33 Ibid: 70 King Street 34 Ibid: 72 King Street 35 Ibid: 72 Y, King Street


Farrell's new buildings next to the bank in an undated image Detail of ANZ Group Archive Image


The King Street properties remained in the hands of the Farrell fami1't until 1918. In that year the property at 70-72 King Street was purchased by the ESA Bank . For several years the bank made no changes to the arrangements on its new purchase.

In 1921 the Rate Assessment noted that the King Street frontage at 70-72 King Street was owned by the ESA bank but was occupied by two shops. At 70 King Street was a two-storey and two-room shop, brick-built with an iron roof valued at £600. It was occupied by J.H. Cutler3l At 72 King Street there was a similar shop owned by the bank and valued at £400 38

There was at 72 Y2 King Street there was a two-storey and eleven-room building owned by the bank and described as Farrells Chambers. It was valued at £57539

.

The buildings were constantly occupied until their demolition in 1927. Their final form was recorded on a survey made of the site in 1926.

Farrelrs Chambers Just prior to their demolition Fire and Accident Underwriters Association Block Plan of the City 1926

36 LPI, Old Systems Book 1137-237 37 Ibid: 70 King Street 38 Ibid: 72 King Street 39 Ibid: 72 'h King Street


6.0 THE ESA BANK

1857 - 2008


EDMUND BLACKETT AND BEYOND: 1857 - 1890

By the later years of the nineteenth century this block was in the heart of the commercial life of the city. Surrounded by several banks, important hotels and the post office it was recorded in numerous photographic images of the time to illustrate the progress, aspirations and prosperity of the city. The block in which the bank was built was closely associated in the minds of Sydney-siders with the firms of David Jones and Beard Watson both having stores here. In 1882 the area was described as "the busiest portion of George Streef' and was characterised by "a long range of three and four storey buildings representing the accumulation and investment and wealth and containing merchandise of all kinds and quantities4o.

The site of 365 George Street was first developed for banking in 1857. However, the full use of the site for this purpose evolved gradually and in several phases of construction. The establishment of the building responded to the impact of wealth and population generated by the gold rushes. In Sydney this event caused a new wave of development including this portion of George Street. In 1867 it was reported that,

"It is easy to see that all that important part of Sydney comprising Wynyard Square, Car/ton Terrace, Margaret Street, Wynyard Street, Barrack Street ad the west side of George Street from Barrack Street to Margaret Street are quite of modern erection. Since 1853 there have been erected in this portion of George Street alone the splendid buildings occupied by the Bank of Australasia, the London Chartered Bank, the New South Wales Bank and the commercial banks and a little further on, at the corner of King and George Streets, the English Scottish and Australasian Chartered Bank besides all these handsome shops comprising this portion of the city'",1.

The intersection of King and George Streets was at that time considered to be the heart of the city and its busiest intersection. The first bank building occupied the corner of King and George Streets with a frontage of sixty-nine feet to George Street and sixty-seven feet to King Street42

. The site was purchased on 27 August 1856 for £ 13,15043.

Edmund Blackett designed the first building for the English, Scottish and Australian Bank, known as the ESA Bank. It was commenced in 1857 and was completed in 1858 at an unknown cost44. It comprised a ground floor and two floors above45

. It was described in Council Rate Assessments as being stone-built with a slate roof, of three floors and having eighteen rooms. There was a separate kitchen. Later plans show this to have been on the western side of the ground floor. The Perivys were in the yard on the northern side of the building. It was valued in 1861 at £1100 6. Photographic evidence shows that only the ground floor was built in stone, the floors above were brick-built.

40 Gibbs, Shallard and Co (1882); An Illustrated Guide to SydneY 1882; 26 41 S.T. Leigh (1867); The Handbook to Sydney and Suburbs:36 42 Sands and Kenney, City and Suburban Directory 1859, King Street: 43 Sydney Morning Herald 28 August 1856 44 Report of the Annual Meeting of the ESA Bank 16 February 1859. ANZ Archives 45 Edmund Blacket; Plans for ESA Bank 1857 (ML PXD25, 62-80) 46 Sydney City Council, Rate Assessment Brisbane Ward 1861; 365 George Street



EdlT/und Blacken George Street elevation of the ESA Bank ML PXO 215.62-80

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Ecimullci Blacken Ktng Street elevation of the ESA Bank ML PXO 215. 62-80



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Edmund Blackett, General elevation ESA Bank ML PXD 215:62-80



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Edmund Blackett, ground plan ESA Bank ML PXO 215. 62-80



Edmund Bla eke tt, First floor plan ESA Bank ML PXO 215. 62-80



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Edmund Blackett, Second floor plan ESA Bank ML PXO 215-62-80


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Edmund Blackett, Counter lay-out EAS Bank ML PXO 215. 62-80



There is no evidence to indicate that any substantial changes were made to the building until the end of the nineteenth century although, almost the entire archive of records for this building has been lost. The Rate Assessments for this period record a steady increase in the value of the property. The 1863 Rate Assessment records the bank as being of four storeys, stone-built with a slate roof. It was valued at £110047

. In 1867 it was valued at £180048

Oddly, in 1871, the assessed value was £120049 By 1882, though, the value had risen to at £21005

0.

Survey of the bank site in 1865. George Street to the bottom Trigonometrical Survey of Sydney 1865 <::h<><>tr1

Survey of the bank site in 1887. George Street to the bottom NSW Department of Lands. Metropolitan Detail Series Sheet 26. 27. 51. 52

Survey ofthe bank site in 1890 William Wardell. ANZ Group Archive

47 Sydney City Council, Rate Assessment 1864 Brisbane Ward; 365 George Street 48 Sydney City Council; Rate Assessment Brisbane Ward 1867; 365 George Street 49 Sydney City Council, Rate Assessment Brisbane Ward 1871: 365 George Street 50 Sydney City Council; Rate Assessment Brisbane Ward 1882; 365 George Street



The earliest photographic image of the building is likely to be that taken by Bernard Holterman (shown below). The image is claimed to date to between 1875 and 1886 but the condition of the street and the lighting suggest that it may be earlier, from the 1860s.

Bemard Holterman, Undated image, possibly 1860s. ofthe newly constructed ESA Bank National Library nla.pic. vn4266532,

Following its construction in 1857-1858 there is no evidence for any substantial change made to this building either internally or externally until 1889 - 1890. The plan of the building is shown to be unchanging on several later nineteenth century surveys reproduced earlier in this analysis.

There are two views of the bank from the 1870s shown on the following page. One also has a small portion of the shops next to this building on King Street.



ESA Bank 1870-1875 and some of FarrelJ's buildings next to it on King Street (ML PXA 4999)

The ESA Bank 1870 (ML SPFI8)



Just prior to alterations bein~ made to the building in 1890 plans were prepared showing the configuration of it at that time 1.

51 William Wardell, Plans of the ESA Bank 1890. ANZ Archives



By comparing them to the surveys of 1865 and 1885 the evidence suggests that there had been no major changes made to the building during its first thirty years of service, at least to the structure and plan.

There are several images of the bank taken at the end of the nineteenth century just before the building was altered in 1890. Two are shown on the following pages.



This image by Kerry and Co. has been dated to between 1899 and 1903 but clearly predates 1890 and the significant changes made to the far;ade of the bank. (ML PXA448)

Undated image, showing the bank looking north along George Street (ML, Home and Away 34453)



WILLlAM WARDELL AND BEYOND: 1890 -1926

In 1890 William Wardell significantly altered the bank. His work encompassed changes to the banking chamber leading to the existing north-south orientation created by Blackett altered to an east-west alignment. Two additional floors were added, bringing it to a total of five floors, and a circular tower was constructed on the south-eastern corner of the building from the third floor to the roof. The yard space on the northern and western perimeters also was built in at this time. The work was commenced late in 1890 and was completed in the following year52. The Rate Assessment of 1891 records the changes made to the building. It described it as a four-storey building of thirty rooms with a slate roof valued at £3000. 53

There is now only an incomplete set of plans for the alterations made to the building by Wardell. They encompass the plan of the basement, the ground floor and the first floor. The new work is shown in red.

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52 Report of Proceedings of meeting in London 22 July 1890 and a second in January 1892 in Australasian Insurance and Banking Record (ANZ Archives) 53 Sydney City Council; Rate Assessment Brisbane Ward 1891; 365 George Street



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The newly reconstructed bank. undated. but certainly taken after 1895. the image records tile newly constructed Farrells bUlldmgs next to the bank on King Street (Source ANZ Group Archive Image C)



A slightly later view of the bank, during the early years of the 1900s (ANZ Group Archive.' EH3-574)

Until 1918 there is no evidence of any major changes being made to the bank, although the loss of archives for the building, means that there is no certainty with respect to the evolution of the building, particularly the interior spaces,

The first significant change or, more accurately intention to change, occurred in 1918, In that year the bank purchased the site adjoining it on King Street, occupied by Farell's Buildings, This occurred in September 1918 at a cost of £18,000, The building was retained intact as an



investment until 1925. In that year a lengthy letter was sent to the London Board of the Bank outlining plans to demolish the building and extend the bank premises over the site

54.

The bank comer, King and George Street in c. 1900 (ML Home and Away 34431)

54 The letter no longer exists it is recorded in research held by the ANZ archives.



ROBERTSON AND MARKS: 1926 -1975

The firm of Robertson and Marks were employed in1925 to design substantial extensions and alterations to the building including modifications to the facades. The application for the work was presented to Council in March 192655

. The precise cost of the work is unknown; initial estimates were for £50,00056

. The London Board's final approval was given in March 1926 to extend over the site of Farrell's Chambers "removing the ugly excrescences, including the circular tower feature" whilst retaining as far as possible the original concept of the facade5

?

The opportunity was taken to incorporate a basement strongroom to provide more ground floor space and greater security.

• •

• •

Plan of the basement showing the existing chamber to the right and the new work over Farre/l"s site to the left. Sydney City Archives: CRS 19261250)

55 Sydney City Council, Street Cards 365 George Street 1926 Folder 250 56 Correspondence between the General Manager in Melbourne and the London Board from 1892-1926. :ANZ Archives. 57 Ibid.



The ground floor of the new banking chamber (Sydney City Archives, CRS 19261250)

The first floor of the bank (Sydney City Archives, CRS 19261250)

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Plan of the second floor (Sydney City Archives CRS 19261250)

Plan of the third floor (Sydney City Archives, CRS 1926/250)



Plan of the fourth floor (Sydney City Archives, CRS 19261250)

Plan of the fifth floor (Sydney City Archives, CRS 19261250)



Plan of the gallery (Sydney City Archives, CRS 19261250)

Section through the building from King Street (Sydney City Archives, CRS 1926/250)



The George Street elevation (Sydney City Archives, CRS 19261250)



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The King Street elevation (Sydney City Archives, CRS 19261250.)

The earliest survey of the work following its completion was made in later 1926. It shows the building to be of five storeys, constructed of brick with wooden floors and a malthoid-covered roof. It had a mezzanine gallery and stairs which led from a small yard area along the northern boundary to provide access to roof-top lavatories. The Rate Assessment of the building in 1931 described it as a stone-built five storey building with an additional basement valued at £8,40358

Survey of the bank in 1926 (Fire and Accident Underwriters Association Block Plan of the City 1926)

58 Sydney City Council, Rate Assessment Gipps Ward 1931; 365 George Street



A detailed description of the building was prepared in 1939 by the City Building Surveyor and Architect's Branch. At that time it was described as having six floors and a basement with a flat roof covered in malthoid. The construction of the building showed differences in the additions made to it. For example, one portion had wooden joists and floors (the original George Street portion) and the other concrete (the addition along the King Street frontage). It was noted that no wall existed between the two phases of the work59

.

At that time the building housed the bank vaults in the basement, the banking chambers on the ground floor, bank offices and clerical staff on the mezzanine floor (which spanned the western end of the building and had been added to by Robertson and Marks). offices on the first to fourth floors, caretaker's quarters and offices on the fifth floor and a laundry and other conveniences on the roof. Toilets were located on all floors. There was an air raid shelter, several flights of stairs (although no fire stairs), an electric lift and ventilation was natural 60

The ESA Bank in the c. 1950s (ANZ Group Archive EH3-295)

59 Sydney City Council, City Architect and Building Surveyors Department Report on 365 George Street 1939. 6° lbid



In 1951 Robertson and Marks were asked to prepare plans for alterations to the first and ground floors of the bank including the removal of internal walls on the upper levels61

. In the following year plans were prepared for more alterations to part of the ground floor including details of steps to the western wall of the banking chamber6

. In 1965 there were plans drawn by the same firm for alterations to the ground, first, second and third floors and including reconfiguration of the banking chamber63

.

The George Street fac;ade in 1962 Australian Photographic Agency API12478

The firm of Robertson and Marks was again retained by the bank in 1968 to desi~n alterations and provide for mechanical ventilation. The work was valued at $16,000 4

. The final association of the firm with the bank was in 1971 when plans were drawn for additions to the King Street elevation and to the George Street elevation6

.

In 1970 the ESA Bank merged with the ANZ Bank.

61 Plans held ANZ Group Archive 62 1bid 63 Ibid. 64 Sydney City Council, Building Application 2383/68 65 Plans held by ANZ Group Archive



The ESA bank in 1969 (ANZ Group Archive Image A)



PEDDLE, THORP AND WALKER: 1975 - 2008

In 1975 the firm of Peddle, Thorp and Walker was engaged to design alterations to the value of $150,00066 This was to enable the interior spaces to be updated and to allow the merger of the 377 George Street branch of the ANZ with the ESA Bank in this building. It included the construction of a new fire stair. Globe Air Pty Ltd provided air conditioning in 19776l

Peddle Thorp and Walker were also responsible for alterations made to the fourth floor in 1982. This work was valued at $160,00068 Air conditioning was added to this floor at the same time69

. The refurbishment of the fourth floor was followed by similar work to the third and fifth floors in the following year70 In 1984 an automatic teller machine was installed in the building 71. Peddle Thorp and Walker were again retained in 1990 to design alterations to the building.

In 2000 substantial works were undertaken to adapt the building for use as a private hotel while retaining the banking service on the ground floor. It included the construction of a restaurant and bar. This work was done in association with the redevelopment on 361-365 George Street. Alterations were made to the first to fourth floors, additions were made to the fifth floor and two new floors were constructed above. The new work was designed by DCM Architects.

66 Sydney City Council, Building Application 361175B2 67 Sydney City Council, Building Application 709177 68 Sydney City Council, Building Application 45.8210711 69 Sydney City Council, Building Application 45.8210947 70 Sydney City Council, Building Application 45.831361 71 Sydney City Council, Building Application 458410376


7.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

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STATUS OF THE SITE

365 George Street was identified in the Archaeological Zoning Plan for Central SydneY of 1992 as a site of high archaeological potential due to limited physical disturbance. The site has been the subject of an earlier archaeological assessment as part of the redevelopment of this building in association with those at 363-359 George Streef2.

Non-indigenous archaeological evidence has protection under provisions of the NSW Heritage Act. Sections 139-142 of the Act refer to the disturbance of land known or likely to contain relics of this type. Provisions are made for permits that respond to the integrity and significance of the resource that may be disturbed by development. These are Section 139 and 140 permits. Identification of a potential resource on a site requires the proponents of the development to take actions that will ensure the professional management of that resource.

This work reviews the earlier assessment taking into consideration evidence acquired from more recent archaeological investigations on sites in close proximity to 365 George Street.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROFILE

The historical evidence presented in the preceding sections defines the scope of the potential archaeological resource of this site. It refers to features, relics and deposits that were associated with the place prior to the construction of the present building.

Environmental Evidence

The principal environmental feature of the area was the Tank Stream. It was located further to the east of the study area. Excavation of sites that were located on its banks, such as those at the GPO, Angel Place and 420 George Street, have revealed intact deposits and features associated with both the stream and the yards of small properties that were built backing onto it. This preservation was due to the sloping topography that led to deeply sited features being preserved under layers of fill. The study area is located too far from the stream to have accumulated environmental evidence relevant to it, with the possible exception of some flood alluvium. The majority of the site is likely to have been characterised by stands of trees and shrubs on the poor sandstone soils. The position of the site in relation to the stream also suggests that it was on relatively level land and unlikely to have been extensively filled or the site level raised above the street.

The Crockery Warehouse

Certainly from 1822 and, possibly from the first years of the nineteenth century, the eastern half of the site, fronting George Street, was the site of a crockery warehouse. It appears to have been a brick or stone building with a shingled roof. By the 1830s it had an addition made to it on the southern side. This structure had been demolished by the later 1840s. The entire building was removed from the site to make way for the bank in 1857. It would have been situated in the back of the main bank building under the basement.

72 CRM (1996), Archaeological Assessment 363 George Street Development



The Second Tenement

By the 1830s a second building had been added to the site in the north-western corner. There is no evidence to determine either the use or construction of this building. It was replaced in the 1860s by another commercial building and since then the site has been excavated for the basement of the 1926 extension to the bank.

King Street Commercial Buildings c.832-1861

The King Street frontage of the site was first developed between 1832 and 1836 with two, two-storey shops apparently built of stone or brick. The buildings were leased to several tenants including a butcher, a tailor and a solicitor. They were replaced in the 1860s with new commercial buildings.

King Street Commercial Building c.1861-1895

The early nineteenth century buildings on King Street were replaced in c. 1861 with a threestorey terrace, having a separate kitchen and a large store on the northern boundary. The terrace was constructed in stone and appears to have had no basement. These buildings remained in use, home to several tenants including a wine and spirit merchant, a tailor and hairdresser, until 1895.

Farrell's Chambers: 1895 -1927

The mid- nineteenth century buildings were replaced with a three-storey terrace, also built of stone and brick and without a basement. This building was in use until 1926 when it was demolished to make way for the bank. The site was excavated for the basement of that structure.

Additional Features

All of the buildings that have occupied this site almost certainly left behind fragments of services such as drains or wells or tanks as well as landscape improvements, such as formed surfaces, and relics of the lives of those who lived and worked there in the form of portable artefacts.



IMPACTS

On King Street the successive periods of building would have removed most evidence of the preceding periods of occupation although evidence from many archaeological sites has demonstrated that it is more likely that foundations and deep-cut features such as drains and wells or cess-pits would have been left intact and filled in.

On this site the principal impacts have been the excavations for basements, first in 1857 for the original Blackett-designed bank and then in 1926 for the extension on the King Street boundary. There is no reason to assume that anything other than a deep-cut well would have survived the processes of these two excavations.

This conclusion is based on the assumption that the original topography of the site, although likely to have been lower than the present street level, was encompassed within the area of the present-day basements. Secondly, that it did not have any significant slope that would have required filling and levelling and thus preserved some features beyond the level of the basement excavations.

POTENTIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE

The only possibility recognised for intact archaeological evidence on this site is for the lower portions of features such as wells or shafts from cess-pits. This conclusion is based on a consideration of the impact of several phases of successive building, the impact of two excavations for basements in the present building and the relationship of the original topography to the areas encompassed by those basements.



CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

A comprehensive assessment of significance for the building on this site has been presented within the revised conservation plan. With respect to the standard assessment criteria used to determine the cultural value of a place, the potential archaeological resource of this place responds to Criterion E, the research potential of an item to yield information that will contribute to the understanding of the culture or natural history of an area.

A further refinement of this criterion is used to address the research potential of an archaeological resource. These are the three questions discussed in the following:

Can the archaeological resource contribute knowledge that no other resource can?

In the case of 365 George Street, the few fragmentary relics that might survive are unlikely to contain information that could not be found or has not been found on other sites.

Can the archaeological resource contribute knowledge that no other site can?

Any remnant archaeological evidence on this site is unlikely to make any meaningful contribution to settlement pre-dating the present building because of its fragmentary state. This is true for general questions of European settlement but is also site specific. The preservation of deep-cut features will only confirm the presence of occupation that is documented from archival sources. Even the preservation of small artefact assemblages in those features is unlikely to significantly contribute to a better or more detailed understanding of the activities and lives specific to this site.

Is this knowledge relevant to general questions of human history or substantive questions relating to Australian history or other major research questions?

Any archaeological evidence preserved on this site is likely to be fragmented and poorly preserved and unlikely to make any substantial contribution in this manner.

With respect to the archaeological resource that could be found on the site of 365 George Street it may be concluded that it is likely to be fragmentary and poorly preserved. It is unlikely to be able to address in any meaningful way research questions that relate either to the specific activities and lives associated with this site or any general questions of settlement or human activity. This site is assessed to have low cultural significance for archaeological evidence.

STRATEGIES

This report has identified the possibility of the preservation of some relics within the site, however, they have been assessed to be in a likely fragmentary state of preservation and of limited cultural value. In this circumstance application for a Section 139 exception would be an appropriate strategy if excavation were planned within the site.

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8.0 REFERENCES


REPORTS

Emery Balint (1987)

Caseyand Lowe Associates (1996)

Cultural Resources Management (1996)

Cultural Resources Management (1996)

ERM (2007)

Siobhan Lavelle and Dana Mider (1992)

Orwell and Peter Phillips (1996)

DIRECTORIES AND GUIDES

Sands and Kenney

Joseph Fowles

S. T. Leigh (1867)

Gibbs, Shallard and Co.


Record of Commercial Buildings Constructed in the Victorian Era in NSW Department of Environment and Planning

Archaeological Excavation of 1927 Building Basement GPO Sydney Lend Lease Interiors pty Ltd

Historical Analysis 363 George Street Development Property Development and Investment Ltd

Archaeological Assessment 363 George Street Development Property Development and Investment Ltd

420 George Street Sydney Archaeological Assessment and Research Design Bovis Lend Lease

The Archaeological Zoning Plan for Central Sydney Sydney City Council

Heritage Report 365 George Street Sydney Council of the City of Sydney

63

City and Suburban Street Directory 1859-1932

Sydney in 1848 Facsimile Edition Ure Smith. 1973

The Handbook to Sydney and Suburbs S.T. Leigh and Co. 1867.

An Illustrated Guide to Sydney 1882 Facsimile Edition. Angus and Robertson. 1982.


NEWS, JOURNAL ARTICLES

PROPERTY RECORDS

Council of the City of Sydney




LPI


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64

Report of purchase ESA site SydneY Morning Herald 21 August 1856

Rate Assessments Brisbane Ward 1897 Gipps Ward 1931 Lang Ward 1911,1921 Sydney City Archives

365 George Street Street Cards 1908-1928 Sydney City Archives

Building and Development Applications

Report on 365 George Street City Architect and Building Surveyor Sydney City Archives

Primary Application 50344 Old Systems Book D No 134 Old Systems Book Q No 760 Old Systems Book 1137-237 Certificate of Title Volume 12981 Folio 215

Report of Annual Meeting ESA Bank 16 February 1859 ANZ Group Archives

Proceedings of Meeting ESA Bank Board 22 July 1890 Australasian Insurance and Banking Record ANZ Group Archives

Proceedings of Meeting ESA Bank Board January 1892 Australasian Insurance and Banking Record ANZ Group Archives

Correspondence General Manager Australia and London Board ESA Bank 1892-1926 ANZ Group Archives


IMAGES

American and Australasian Photographic Co. English, Scottish and Australian Bank Corner of King and George Streets Sydney 1870-1875 Photograph ML PXA4999

Australian Photographic Agency Crowds Waiting for a Bus 1962 API Image 12478

Frederick Garling King Street Looking East c. 1843 Watercolour ML V184

Bernard Holterman George and King Streets 1875-1886 Photograph National Library nla.pic.vn4266532

Kerry and Company George Street Near GPO c. 1899-1903 Photograph ML PXA448

John Rae George Street Looking North from King Street Watercolour ML OHSV· Sp CoII/Rae/16

English Scottish and Australian Bank 1870 Photograph ML SPF/8 (a 089008)

English Scottish and Australian Bank 1870-1875 Photograph ML SPF/7 (a 089007)

King Street looking West - undated view Photograph ML SPF/988 (a 089988)

Mick Phelan signalman corner George and King Streets c. 1900 ML Home and Away 34431

Quay-Railway Tram Crossing King Street NO ML Home and Away 34453

King Street Looking East from York Street Undated photograph ML GP 01-08101

The ESA Bank c. 1900 Undated Photograph ANZ Group Archive EH3-574

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NSW Department of Lands

MAPS, PLANS

Edmund Blacket

E. Harpur

James Meehan

MWSDB



NSW Fire and Accident Underwriters Association NSW

Peddle Thorp Walker Architects

Robertson and Marks

William Russell


The ESA Bank c. 1960s Undated Photograph ANAZ Group Archive EH3-295

The ESA Bank in 1969 ANZ Group Archive Image A

Meta-Six Search

Plans for the ESA Bank 1857 ML ZPXD25, 62-80

Survey of Sydney 1822 SRO AO Map SZ 435

Plan of the Town of Sydney ML M2 811.17/1807/1

Trigonometrical Survey of Sydney 1865 Sheet C1 Sydney City Archives

Metropolitan Detail Series City of Sydney Section 51 (1887) ML M Series 4811.1711

Metropolitan Detail Series City of Sydney Section 51 (1895) ML M Series 4 811.1711

Block Plans City of Sydney 1926 No 132 ML Z M Series 2811.17/1

Plans ANZ Bank 365 George Street Sydney (1975) Sydney City Archives

Plans of Alterations and Additions ESA Bank 365 George Street Sydney 1926 Sydney City Archives CRS 1926/500

Plan of Section 51 Sydney c. 1836 SRO AO Map 5426


Surveyor General NSW

William Wardell

SECONDARY SOURCES

Douglas Benson, Jocelyn Howell (1996)

Sketch Shewing Encroachment of Mr Solomon on Captain Wrights Allotment 1832-1835 SRO: Surveyor General Sketch Books Volume 2 Folio 11

Plans of ESA Bank and Proposed Alterations 1890 ANZ Archives

Taken for Granted the Bushland of Sydney and Its Suburbs (Kangaroo Press).

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HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

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