Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years from 1837 to 1901, a reign only recently eclipsed by Queen Elizabeth II who has now reigned for 68 years from 1952 until the present. During Victoria’s reign the colony of News South Wales underwent significant social changes. The depression of the late 1840s caused an economic downturn. This was countered with discovery of gold which lead to the biggest mass migration in world history. Professors  in Oxford University remarked that lectures and tutorials would be cancelled due to poor attendances. Between 1851 and 1854, the population of the State of Victoria grew from about 77,000 to more than 200,000. The estimated population of Australia in 1850 was approximately 400,000, but had almost tripled to over one million by 1860.

Gold and wealth flooded into cities. Sydney’s residential buildings and its English style terraced housing became ubiquitous. These terraces were so named because the entry verandah was cantilevered, or terraced, over the ground floor creating a terrace above.

Delicate lace was in important in Victorian times, inside and outside. Fine lace curtains were complemented by use of a new home building substance, iron. Wrought iron lace was a type of cast iron which was hand-wrought to a bespoke design and not mass manufactured like cast iron. It was moulded into lace patterns. It was particularly popular on balconies.

In Potts Point and other nearby areas such as Paddington, terrace home sprang up quickly with their builders often building and living in one while they built neighbouring terraces to an identical design to save costs.

In Victoria Street, Potts Point, rows of elegant terraces line the street, some grander than others, creating a coherent tree-lined, shady ambience. Roslyn Street, Elizabeth Bay and Rockwell Crescent, Potts Point also sport excellent examples of terrace houses. They give their streetscapes a stately, Belgravia-style character. With their classically inspired interior designs, high ceilings, Corinthian columns and marble fire places, they are much sought after.

Other, more magnificent mansions built in the same era still standing include noble villas such as Oakleigh, Tusculum, Bomera, Tarana and Brougham Lodge. Kellet House, Pomeroy and Goderich Lodge are now demolished.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions