Number 55 was built in 1875 and is for sale through Jason Boon and Geoff Cox

https://www.rwebay.com.au/7734264/

Victoria Street is one of the most gracious streets in the area, with its changing colours and archways of London Plane trees leading down to Embarkation Park and vistas of the heritage-listed Sydney Opera House and world-renown Harbour Bridge.

Number 55 is built on a steep escarpment which for many years separated Woolloomooloo below from Woolloomooloo Hill, later Potts Point, above.

The Macelhone Stairs adjacent, built in 1901, later joined the two suburbs.

Number 55 is a multi-level villa with a separate street entrance for servants’ quarters below. The original servants’ internal stairs remain within the site.

Its noble and elegant principal facade includes wrought iron balcony railings and pillars. A Juliette balcony overlooks the stairs, park and harbour.

Its internal features, particularly the piano nobile (principal reception room), are gracious and capacious.

It was built during the building boom of the late nineteenth century at a time when views of the harbour were not welcome.

Number 55 originally turned its back on the harbour as the harbour was not a desirable feature.

The principal presentation of number 55 was to the street from where it could be admired.

The harbour was the home of coal mining in Cremorne with its excess slurry, whaling stations and slaughter houses on the water’s edge, metal industries, fish mongers and sewage outlets.

It smelled like a horse stable as steam and coal fired shipping belched black smoke into the atmosphere, obscuring most views.

Today however, harbour views are prized for providing a moving scenic panorama of interest and delight.

by Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions