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 – 7; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Tiller, Charles, plasterer
1890 Electoral Roll - 5128. Lukins, Joseph, freehold
1891 - Powe, Madame, dressmaker & Powe, William, builder
1891 Census - Powe, William
M - 5
F - 3
1892 - Powe, Madame, dressmaker & Powe, William, builder
1893 - Hawkins, Robert
1894 - Chidzey WT, Builder
1895 - Chidzey WT, Builder
1895 Electoral Roll - 372. Chidnzey, William Thomas, builder; 373. Chidzey, William Edward, carpenter
1896 - Bell, John
1897 - Pierce, Thomas
1898 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1899 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1900 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1900 Electoral Roll -
1901 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1901 Census - Pierce, Miss Bridget
M - 2
F - 3
1902 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1903 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1903 Electoral Roll - 2394. Pierce, Bridget, home duties; 2396. Pierce, Sarah, saleswoman
1904 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1905 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1906 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1906 Electoral Roll - 1588. Pierce, Bridget, home duties; 1589. Pierce, Sarah, saleswoman
1907 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1908 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1908 Electoral Roll - 1738. Pierce, Bridget, home duties; 1740. Pierce, Sarah, saleswoman
1909 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1909 Electoral Roll - 1799. Pierce, Bridget, home duties; 1800. Pierce, Sarah, saleswoman
1910 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1911 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1912 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1913 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1913 Electoral Roll - 2378. Pierce, Bridget, home duties
1914 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1915 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1915 Electoral Roll - 1215. Lambert, Joseph, clerk & 1780. Pierce, Bridget, home duties; 1781. Pierce, Sarah, saleswoman
1916 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1917 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1918 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1919 - Pierce, Miss Bridget
1920 - Pierce, Miss Bridget