Orwell Street is one of the most important cross-streets in Potts Point. It runs east west from Macleay Street through to Victoria Street and provides a constant interconnecting flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic for locals. Orwell Lane, Llankelly Place, Earl Street and Hughes Lane all run off it while Springfield Gardens provides an urban oasis and respite from the daily hum and thrum of our high octane lives.

Number 18 is currently a lodging house, known as Orwell Lodge, taking its name from Orwell Street. Orwell Street in turn takes its name from Orwell House, a grand house, demolished in 1937. It  occupied the site of the current former Metro Theatre in the street.

Until 1928 the site at number 18 was occupied by lineage of various houses but in1929 Sands’ Urban Directory notes numbers 12-18 were “Karoona” flats. This was confirmed in their 1930 edition giving Mrs F Dickens as the Manageress of number 18, “Karoona”. The provenance of the name “Karoona” is unknown.

Its five level, red brick exterior, shingled bay windows and balconettes are all typical of the period. Together with its terrazzo entrance-way, bevelled glass doors and interior trellis work in various rooms this unobtrusive building makes an interesting contribution to its streetscape and the local area.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions