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 – 11; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1890 Electoral Roll - 1589. Clemens, Peter, freeholder
1891 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1891 Census - Clemens, Peter
M - 3
F - 2
1892 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1893 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1894 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1895 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1895 Electoral Roll - 390. Clemens, Peter, stonemason; 391. Clemens, William, plumber
1896 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1897 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1898 - Clemens, Peter, stonemason
1899 - Clemens, Peter & Clemens, WH
1900 - Clemens, WH
1900 Electoral Roll - 472. Clemens Peter, stonemason; 473. Clemens, William, plumber; 474. Clemens, Herbert William, plumber
1901 - Clemens, WH
1901 Census - Clemens, E
M -
F - 3
1902 - Smith, Frederick
1903 - Smith, Frederick
1903 Electoral Roll - 2824. Smith, Flora, home duties; 2827. Smith, Frederick, missionary & 2940 Stephenson, Francis Emily, home duties
1904 - Stephenson, Raymond
1905 - Hawkins, Robert
1906 - Hawkins, Robert
1906 Electoral Roll - 912. Hawkins, Mary, home duties; 913. Hawkins, Robert, photographer
1907 - Hawkins, Robert
1908 - Hawkins, Robert
1908 Electoral Roll - 948. Hawkins, Mary, home duties; 949. Hawkins, Robert, photographer
1909 - Hawkins, Robert
1909 Electoral Roll - 995. Hawkins, Horace, machinist; 996. Hawkins, Mary, home duties
1910 - Hawkins, Mrs Mary
1911 - Hawkins, Mrs Mary
1912 - Hawkins, Mrs Mary
1913 - Hawkins, Mrs Mary
1913 Electoral Roll - 1310. Hawkins, Horace Lindley Vincent, letterpress machinist; 1311. Hawkins, Mary, home duties
1914 - Hawkins, Mrs Mary
1915 - Hawkins, Mrs Mary
1915 Electoral Roll - 116. Beddie, Charles McMillan, carpenter & 1310. Hawkins, Albert Lindley, railway officical; 1311. Hawkins, Mary Ellen, letterpress machinist & Reid, Albert Nelson, carpenter
1916 - Hawkins, Mrs. Mary
1917 - Hawkins, Mrs. Mary
1918 - Hawkins, Mrs. Mary
1919 - Lillye, Albert
1920 - Lillye, Albert