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 – 9; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Reed, Joseph, stonemason
1890 Electoral Roll -
1891 - Reed, Joseph, stonemason
1891 Census - Reed, Joseph
M - 1
F - 3
1892 - Anderson, James
1893 - Smith, Frederick
1894 - Hawkins, Robert
1895 - Hawkins, Robert
1895 Electoral Roll - 980. Hawkins, Robert, photographer
1896 - Hawkins, Robert
1897 - Hawkins, Robert
1898 - Hawkins, Robert
1899 - Hawkins, Robert
1900 - Hawkins, Robert
1900 Electoral Roll -
1901 - Hawkins, Robert
1901 Census - Hawkins, Robert
M - 3
F - 1
1902 - Neeley, Herbert J
1903 - Burand, William
1903 Electoral Roll - 583. Connell, Hugh, iron moulder; 584. Connell, Jessie, home duties
1904 - Connell, Hugh
1905 - Connell, Hugh
1906 - Connell, Hugh
1906 Electoral Roll - 405. Connell, Hugh, iron moulder; 406. Connell, Jessie, home duties
1907 - Connell, Hugh
1908 - Connell, Hugh
1908 Electoral Roll - 419. Connell, Hugh, iron moulder; 420. Connell, Jessie, home duties
1909 - Connell, Hugh
1909 Electoral Roll - 418. Connell, Hugh, iron moulder; 419. Connell, Jessie, home duties
1910 - Connell, Hugh
1911 - Connell, Hugh
1912 - Connell, Hugh, J.P.
1913 - Connell, Hugh, J.P.
1913 Electoral Roll - 573. Connell, Hugh, iron moulder; 574. Connell, Jessie, home duties; 575. Connell, Jessie Elzabeth, saleswoman
1914 - Connell, Hugh, J.P.
1915 - Connell, Hugh, J.P.
1915 Electoral Roll - 437. Connell, Hugh, iron moulder; 438. Connell, Jessie, home duties; 575. Connell, Maggie Florence, saleswoman
1916 - Connell, Hugh, J.P.
1917 - Connell, Hugh, J.P.
1918 - Louden, Mrs Mary
1919 - Louden, Mrs Mary
1920 - Louden, Mrs Mary