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 – 18; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Cummins, Thomas J, engineer
1890 Electoral Roll -
1891 - Cummins, Thomas J, engineer
1891 Census - Cummins, Thomas J
M - 2
F - 2
1892 - Cummins, Thomas J, engineer
1893 - Noble, EG, surveyor
1894 - Noble, EG, surveyor
1895 - Noble, EG, surveyor
1895 Electoral Roll -
1896 - Sherlock, James, inspector, city council
1897 - Sherlock, James
1898 - Sherlock, James
1899 - Sherlock, James
1900 - Sherlock, James
1900 Electoral Roll -
1901 - Dwyer, James
1901 Census - Hallett A
M - 4
F - 2
1902 - Alexander, James
1903 - Barr, Thomas
1903 Electoral Roll - 138. Barr, Charlotte, home duties; 139. Barr, Thomas, grocer
1904 - Barr, Thomas
1905 - Barr, Thomas
1906 -
1906 Electoral Roll - 1284. McDonald, Amy, home duties; 1285 McDonald, Arthur, independent means & 2239. Wood, Arthur, hatter; 2248. Wood, Winfred, home duties
1907 - Wood, Arthur
1908 - Broadbent, Edward
1908 Electoral Roll -
1909 - Broadbent, Leonard
1909 Electoral Roll - 257. Byrne, Edward, clerk; 258. Byrne, Harriett, home duties
1910 - Byrne, Edward M.
1911 - Byrne, Edward M.
1912 - Byrne, Edward M.
1913 - Byrne, Edward M.
1913 Electoral Roll - 364. Byrne, Edward Michael, clerk; Byrne, Harriett, home duties
1914 - Byrne, Edward M.
1915 - Byrne, Edward M.
1915 Electoral Roll - 281. Byrne, Edward Michael, clerk; 282. Byrne, Harriett, home duties
1916 - Byrne, Edward M.
1917 - Byrne, Edward M.
1918 - Byrne, Edward M.
1919 - Byrne, Edward M.
1920 - Byrne, Edward M.