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 – 31/35 "Cawdor''; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban
1890 Electoral Roll - 7937. Solomon, Saul Vaiban, freehold
1891 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1891 Census - Solomon, Saul Vaiban
M - 1
F - 4
1892 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1893 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1894 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1895 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1895 Electoral Roll - 2052. Solomon, Saul Vaiban, independent means
1896 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1897 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1898 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1899 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1900 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1900 Electoral Roll - 2527. Solomon, Saul Vaiban, independent means
1901 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1901 Census - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
M - 1
F - 4
1902 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1903 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1903 Electoral Roll - 2858. Solomon, Annie May, home duties; 2859. Solomon, Elizabeth May, home duties; 2862. Solomon, May Violet, home duties; 2863. Solomon, Saul Vaiban, independent means
1904 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1905 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1906 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1906 Electoral Roll - 1896. Solomon, Annie May, home duties; 1897. Solomon, Elizabeth May, home duties; 2863. Solomon, Saul Vaiban, independent means
1907 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1908 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1908 Electoral Roll - 2022. Solomon, Annie May, home duties; 2023. Solomon, Clara Louise, home duties; 2025. Solomon, Elizabeth May, home duties; 2027. Solomon, Leonard Asher, tailor; 2029. Olomon, Saul Vaiban, independent means
1909 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP & Duncan, Alexander
1909 Electoral Roll - 1538. Miller, Sarah, housekeeper & 2107. Solomon, Annie May, home duties; 2108. Solomon, Clara Louise, home duties; 2110. Solomon, Elizabeth May, home duties; 2113. Solomon, Saul Vaiban, independent means
1910 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1911 - Solomon, Saul Vaiban, JP
1912 - Solomon, Mrs. Annie
1913 - Solomon, Mrs. Annie
1913 Electoral Roll - 2742. Solomon, Annie May, home duties; 2744. Solomon, Elizabeth May, home duties
1914 - Solomon, Mrs. Annie
1915 - Solomon, Mrs. Annie
1915 Electoral Roll -
1916 - Solomon, Mrs. Annie
1917 - Solomon, Mrs. Annie
1918 - Solomon, Mrs. Annie
1919 - Penrose, John C
1920 - Hogan, Mrs