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 – 2; Named Residents, 1890 - 1920
1890 - Pritchard, George
1890 Electoral Roll -
1891 - Mercer, Thomas, carpenter
1891 Census - Mercer, Thomas
M - 5
F - 2
1892 - Mercer, Thomas, carpenter & Mercer, Thomas, senior
1893 - Mercer Thomas, carpenter & Mercer, Thomas senior
1894 - Mercer, Thomas, carpenter & Wilson, Thomas
1895 - Booth, Arthur
1895 Electoral Roll - 178. Booth, Arthur, carter
1896 - Booth, Arthur
1897 - Booth, Mrs A
1898 - Tatham Reuben
1899 - Mullen, Peter
1900 - Craig, John
1900 Electoral Roll - 551. Craig, John, plumber
1901 - Craig, John
1901 Census - Craig, John
M - 2
F - 1
1902 - Cadden, Miss E
1903 -
1903 Electoral Roll - 1905. Spain, Catherine, domestic duties; 1906. Spain, William, drainer
1904 -
1905 - Spain, William
1906 - Spain, William
1906 Electoral Roll - 1905. Spain, Catherine, domestic duties; 1906. Spain, William, drainer
1907 - Spain, William
1908 - Spain, William
1908 Electoral Roll - 678. Face, Mary Ann, home duties; 679. Face, Reginald George, seaman
1909 -
1909 Electoral Roll - 899. Greer, Minnie, home duties; 900. Greer, Samuel John, coachbuilder
1910 - Face, Reginald
1911 - Aldridge, Bert Cecil
1912 - Aldridge, Bert Cecil
1913 - Aldridge, Bert Cecil
1913 Electoral Roll - 19. Aldridge, Beatrice Ethel, home duties; 20. Aldridge, Bertie Cecil, carter
1914 - Aldridge, Bert Cecil
1915 - Aldridge, Bert Cecil
1915 Electoral Roll -
1916 - McDonald, William
1917 - McDonald, William
1918 - Morrow, Thomas
1919 - Morrow, Thomas
1920 - Morrow, Thomas