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 – 21 "Chiltern"; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Foskett, William
1890 Electoral Roll - 2941. Foskett, William, freehold
1891 - Foskett, William
1891 Census - Foskett, William
M - 3
F - 6
1892 - Foskett, William
1893 - Foskett, William
1894 - Foskett, William
1895 - Foskett, William
1895 Electoral Roll - 752. Foskett, William, clerk, Stamp Office
1896 - Foskett, William
1897 - Foskett, William
1898 - Foskett, William
1899 - Foskett, William
1900 - Foskett, William
1900 Electoral Roll - 905. Foskett, Henry Arthur, clerk; 906. Foskett, William, clerk, Stamp Office
1901 - Foskett, William
1901 Census - Foskett, William
M - 3
F - 3
1902 - Foskett, William
1903 - Foskett, William
1903 Electoral Roll - 1007. Foskett, Annie Margaret, home duties; 1008. Foskett, Edith Sarah, home duties; 1009. Foskett, Ida Beatrice, home duties; 1010. Foskett, William, Stamp Office clerk; 1011. Foskett, William Edward, clerk
1904 -
1905 - Parkes, Harry
1906 - Wilson, James
1906 Electoral Roll -
1907 - Wilson, Mrs L
1908 - Cotter, William
1908 Electoral Roll - 597. Doyle, Catherine Cecelia, home duties; 599. Doyle, Cecil Claude, cabinetmaker; 608. Doyle, Victor Vivian, hairdresser
1909 - Doyle, Mrs C
1909 Electoral Roll -
1910 - Doyle, Mrs C
1911 - Zarbane, Milton
1912 - Zarbane, Milton
1913 - Zarbane, Milton
1913 Electoral Roll -
1914 - Zarbane, Milton
1915 - Zarbane, Milton
1915 Electoral Roll - 2116. Sullivan, Eustella, factory hand
1916 - Zarbane, Milton
1917 - Zarbane, Milton
1918 - Zarbane, Milton
1919 - Zarbane, Milton
1920 - Zarbane, Milton