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 – 43/47; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1890 Electoral Roll - 743. Booth, Thomas, freehold
1891 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1891 Census - Booth, Thomas
M - 6
F - 4
1892 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1893 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1894 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1895 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1895 Electoral Roll - 180. Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1896 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1897 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1898 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1899 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1900 - Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent
1900 Electoral Roll - 216. Booth, Thomas, Commission Agent; 217. Booth, Thomas William, carter
1901 - Booth, Thomas, Booth Brothers, fuel merchants
1901 Census - Booth, Thomas
M - 2
F - 1
1902 - Booth, Thomas, Booth Brothers, fuel merchants
1903 - Booth, Thomas
1903 Electoral Roll - 234. Booth, Alfred Percival, fuel merchant
1904 - Booth, Thomas
1905 - Booth, Thomas
1906 - Booth, Thomas
1906 Electoral Roll - 234. Booth, Alfred Percival, fuel merchant; 235. Booth, Annie, home duties
1907 - Booth, Alfred
1908 - Booth, Alfred
1908 Electoral Roll - 165. Booth, Alfred Percival, fuel merchant; 166. Booth, Annie, home duties
1909 - Booth, Alfred & Chippendall, Harry H, fuel mechant
1909 Electoral Roll - 143. Booth, Alfred Percival, fuel merchant; 144. Booth, Annie, home duties
1910 - Booth, Alfred
1911 - Booth, Alfred
1912 - Booth, Alfred
1913 - Booth, Alfred
1913 Electoral Roll - 221. Booth, Janet, home duties; 224. Booth, John Robert, carter
1914 - Booth, John Robert
1915 - Booth, John Robert
1915 Electoral Roll - 173. Booth, Janet, home duties; 174. Booth, John Robert, carter
1916 - Booth, John Robert
1917 - Booth, John Robert
1918 - Cupples, Alfred
1919 - Cupples, Alfred
1920 - Cupples, Alfred