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 – 41/45; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Hare, William J
1890 Electoral Roll -
1891 - Hare, William J
1891 Census - Brothers, Charles
M - 3
F - 3
1892 - Brothers, Charles, printer
1893 - Howard, John H
1894 - Wilson,
1895 - Phegan, Richard
1895 Electoral Roll -
1896 - O'Rourke, PJ
1897 - O'Rourke, PJ
1898 - O'Rourke, PJ
1899 - Chaseling, TW, constable
1900 - Chaseling, TW, constable
1900 Electoral Roll - 440. Chaseling, Thomas William, constable
1901 - Cox, William S, constable
1901 Census - Cox, William S
M - 2
F - 1
1902 - Cox, William S, constable
1903 - Cox, William S, constable
1903 Electoral Roll - 638. Cox, Elizabeth Thomson, home duties; 639. Cox, William Sloper, constable
1904 - Manktelow, Sydney, constable
1905 - Manktelow, Sydney, constable
1906 - Manktelow, Sydney, constable
1906 Electoral Roll - 808. Gray, Edward, gaol warder; 811. Gray, Nellie, home duties
1907 - Gray, Edward
1908 - Chippendall, Harry
1908 Electoral Roll -
1909 - Steel, Herbert William
1909 Electoral Roll - 1242. King, Elizabeth, home duties; 1246. King, William, warehouseman & 2440. Wing, Elizabeth, home duties; 2441. Wing, William, carpenter
1910 - McCave, Mrs Elizabeth
1911 - Wing, William
1912 - Wing, William
1913 - Wing, William
1913 Electoral Roll - 3181. Wing, Elizabeth, home duties; 3182. Wing, William, carpenter
1914 - Wing, William
1915 - Wing, William
1915 Electoral Roll - 2867. Wing, Elizabeth, home duties; 2868. Stanley Joseph, capenter; 2369. Wing, William, carpenter; 2370. Wing, William Edward Gladstone, clerk
1916 - Wing, William
1917 - Wing, William
1918 - Wing, William
1919 - Wing, William
1920 - Woods, Reginald