Bent Street, Paddington, is one of the most curious streets in Sydney history. Although having only 32 houses in the street by 1920, this small street contained a cross section of Australian life during the time examined, from 1890 to 1920. The street contained shops, a coal depot, magistrates, landlords, labourers, miners, tenants, and all the other groups of people that inhabited the streets. In it also resided the first Australian Labor Party Prime Minister, John Christian Watson.
The street came into prominence when an article appeared in the Sydney Mail, 9 August 1916, p.12. It was inspired by the local ALP M.L.A., Mr. Osborne, who collected 29 portraits of soldiers from Bent and sent them Sydney Mail.
The album describes the named inhabitants of each house over the period from 1890 to 1920. In addition, the 29 pictures are named with a brief military biography attached to them. Where ever possible, they are located at the house in which the person lived.
The street numbering created a great deal of confusion amongst the information collectors. Where a dual number appears, this was the result of number confusion. For example, there never was No. 6 Bent Street but this did not prevent people from describing No. 8 as No. 6. In addition to that, in 1900, houses were built at numbers 23, 25, and 27. However No. 27 was further subdivided into three houses named "Osraston", "Matlock", and "Chellaston". This created its own confusion until the numbers were corrected in 1919. So the houses from 29 onwards have two numbers, the pre and post 1919 house number.
A full listing of the Bent Street Album may be found at:
Bent Street, Paddington Album Contents
Number – 13; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
- 13
1890 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1890 Electoral Roll - 4416. Johns, Nicholas, freehold
1891 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1891 Census - Johns, Nicholas; Tapp, Ernest H
M - 6
F - 2
1892 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1893 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1894 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1895 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1895 Electoral Roll - 1150. Johns, Nicholas, slater
1896 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1897 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1898 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1899 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1900 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1900 Electoral Roll - 1416. Johns, Nicholas, slater; 1417. Johns, Sydney Richard, grocer
1901 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1901 Census - Johns, Nicholas
M - 5
F - 2
1902 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1903 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1903 Electoral Roll - 1536. Johns, Anna, home duties; 1537. Johns, Nicoholas, slater; 1538. Johns, Stanley, plumber; 1539. Johns, Wesley, carpenter; 1540. Johns, William Earnest, warehouseman
1904 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1905 - Johns, Nicholas, slater
1906 -
1906 Electoral Roll - 1214. Levinson, Mary Ann, home duties
1907 - Levinson, Mrs MA
1908 - Levinson, Mrs MA
1908 Electoral Roll - 1320. McDonald, Amy, home duties
1909 -
1909 Electoral Roll - 384. Colbourne, Robert Henry, soldier; 385 Colbourne, Victoria Maud, home duties
1910 - Colbourne, Robert H
1911 - Colbourne, Robert H
1912 - Cohen, John
1913 - Cohen, John
1913 Electoral Roll - 525. Cohen, John, cabinet maker; 527. Cohen, Lewis, tailor; 528. Cohen, Rachael, home duties
1914 - Cohen, John
1915 - Cohen, John
1915 Electoral Roll -
1916 - Fletcher Mrs Isabella
1917 - Lillye, Albert
1918 - Lillye, Albert
1919 -
1920 -