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 – 3; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1890 Electoral Roll -
1891 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1891 Census - Quinn, Thomas
M - 3
F - 3
1892 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1893 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget & Rush, Thomas
1894 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget & Rush, Thomas
1895 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget & Rush, Thomas
1895 Electoral Roll - 1911. Rush, Thomas, labourer
1896 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget & Rush, Thomas
1897 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1898 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1899 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1900 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1900 Electoral Roll - 2353. Rush, Thomas, labourer
1901 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1901 Census - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
M - 2
F - 3
1902 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1903 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1903 Electoral Roll - 2466. Quinn, Bridget, home duties; 2470. Quinn, John James, collector; 2471. Quinn, Kate, home duties; 2473. Quinn, Thomas Joseph, clerk
1904 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1905 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1906 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1906 Electoral Roll - 1640. Quinn, Bridget, home duties; 1645. Quinn, John James, collector; 1646. Quinn, Kate, home duties; 1649. Quinn, Thomas Joseph, clerk & 1787. Rush, Norah, home duties; 1789. Rush, Thomas, plasterer
1907 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1908 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1908 Electoral Roll - 1780. Quinn, Bridget, home duties; 1781. Quinn, John James, collector; 1782. Quinn, Kate, home duties
1909 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1909 Electoral Roll - 1864. Quinn, Bridget, home duties; 1865. Quinn, John James, collector; 1866. Quinn, Kate, home duties
1910 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1911 - Quinn, Mrs Bridget
1912 - Perkins, Peter
1913 - Perkins, Peter
1913 Electoral Roll - 2349. Perkins, Eliza, home duties; 2351. Perkins, Peter, printer
1914 - Perkins, Peter
1915 - Perkins, Peter
1915 Electoral Roll - 1760. Perkins, Eliza, home duties; 1761. Perkins, Peter, printer
1916 - Perkins, Peter
1917 - Perkins, Peter
1918 - Perkins, Peter
1919 - Perkins, Peter
1920 - Perkins, Peter