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 – 33/37; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Ellis, John, grocer
1890 Electoral Roll - 2598. Ellis, John, freehold
1891 - Ellis, John, grocer
1891 Census - Ellis, John
M - 2
F - 1
1892 - Ellis, John, grocer
1893 - Ellis, John, grocer
1894 - Ellis, John, grocer
1895 - Ellis, John, grocer
1895 Electoral Roll - 649. Ellis, John, grocer & 1134. Jackson, John, salesman
1896 - Ellis, John, grocer
1897 -
1898 - McCarthy, John, Sergeant
1899 - McCarthy, John, Sergeant
1900 - McCarthy, John, Sergeant
1900 Electoral Roll -
1901 - McCarthy, John, Sergeant
1901 Census - McCarthy, John
M - 4
F - 2
1902 - McCarthy, John, Sergeant
1903 - McCarthy, John, Sergeant
1903 Electoral Roll - 1833. McCarthy, Bertha, home duties; 1837. McCarthy, John, soldier
1904 - McCarthy, John, Sergeant
1905 - Alvarez, Mrs Sarah & Mountford, Beaumont
1906 - Alvarez, Mrs Sarah & McColl, John
1906 Electoral Roll - 1277. McColl, Alexander, clerk; 1278. McColl, Grace Isabella, dressmaker; 1279. McColl, Isabella, home duties; 1280. McColl, John, police pensioner
1907 - McColl, John
1908 - McColl, John
1908 Electoral Roll - 1312. McColl, Alexander, clerk; 1313. McColl, Grace Isabella, dressmaker; 1314. McColl, Isabella, home duties; 1315. McColl, John, police pensioner
1909 - McColl, John
1909 Electoral Roll - 1386. McColl, Alexander, clerk; 1387. McColl, Grace Isabella, dressmaker; 1388. McColl, Isabella, home duties; 1389. McColl, John, police pensioner
1910 - McColl, John
1911 - McColl, John
1912 - McColl, John
1913 - McColl, John
1913 Electoral Roll - 1787. McColl, Alexander, clerk; 1788. McColl, Grace Isabella, dressmaker; 1789. McColl, Isabella, home duties; 1790. McColl, John, police pensioner; 1791. McColl, Willaim Norman, reader
1914 - McColl, John
1915 - McColl, John
1915 Electoral Roll - 1308. McCabe, Eliza, home duties; 1309. McCabe, Sarah, cashier; & McCall, Donald, clerk & 1787. McColl, Alexander, clerk; 1333. McColl, Isabella, home duties; 1334. McColl, John, police pensioner; 1335. McColl, Willaim Norman, reader
1916 - McColl, John
1917 - McColl, John
1918 - McColl, Mrs Isabella
1919 - McColl, Mrs Isabella
1920 - McColl, Mrs Isabella