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 – 16; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Gough, John
1890 Electoral Roll - 7882. Smith, Thomas W - Bent Lane
1891 - Gough, John
1891 Census - Hare, William J
M - 3
F - 3
1892 - Smith, Thomas
1893 - Lee, AJ
1894 - Carter, Herbert
1895 -
1895 Electoral Roll - 2244. Varley, James, telegraph operator
1896 - Varley, James
1897 - Varley, James
1898 - Barr, Thomas
1899 -
1900 - Robin, TG
1900 Electoral Roll -
1901 - Robin, TG
1901 Census - Stapleton, Robert
M - 3
F - 2
1902 - Stapleton, Robert
1903 - Stapleton, Robert
1903 Electoral Roll - 2911. Stapleton, Phoebe, home duties; 2912. Stapleton, Robert, brick layer
1904 - Stapleton, Robert
1905 - Stapleton, Robert
1906 - Stapleton, Robert
1906 Electoral Roll - 1925. Stapleton, Phoebe, home duties; 1926. Stapleton, Robert, brick layer
1907 - Stapleton, Robert
1908 - Stapleton, Robert
1908 Electoral Roll - 374. Clayton, Robert, fuelman
1909 - Stapleton, Robert
1909 Electoral Roll - 370. Clayton, Robert, fuelman & 2146. Stapleton, Phoebe, home duties; 2147. Stapleton, Robert, brick layer
1910 - Stapleton, Robert
1911 - Stapleton, Robert
1912 - Stapleton, Robert
1913 - Stapleton, Robert
1913 Electoral Roll - 2787. Stapleton, Phoebe, home duties; 2788. Stapleton, Robert, brick layer
1914 - Stapleton, Robert
1915 - Stapleton, Robert
1915 Electoral Roll - 2060. Stapleton, Phoebe, home duties; 2061. Stapleton, Robert, brick layer
1916 - Stapleton, Robert
1917 - Stapleton, Robert
1918 - Stapleton, Robert
1919 - Stapleton, Robert
1920 - Stapleton, Robert