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 – 5; Named Residents, 1890 – 1920
1890 - Stanborough, Joseph Stanton, upholsterer
1890 Electoral Roll -
1891 - Rudd, John J, plasterer
1891 Census - Rudd, John J
M - 4
F - 3
1892 - Rudd, John J, plasterer
1893 - Rudd, John J, plasterer
1894 - Rudd, John J, plasterer
1895 - Chapman, AC
1895 Electoral Roll - 1903. Rudd, John Joseph, plasterer
1896 -
1897 - Cadden Miss Emily, Dressmaker, Cadden Ralph
1898 - Miller, George
1899 - Brown, John
1900 - Brown, John
1900 Electoral Roll - 2343. Rudd, John Joseph, plasterer
1901 - Brown, John
1901 Census - Brown, John
M - 1
F - 2
1902 - Brown, John
1903 - Brown, John
1903 Electoral Roll - 317. Brown, Annie, home duties; 325. Brown, John, agent & 1577. Kain, Elizabeth, home duties; 1579. Kain, Terence Joseph, constable
1904 - Kain, Terence, constable
1905 - Kain, Terence, constable
1906 - Kain, Terence, constable
1906 Electoral Roll - 1137. Kain, Elizabeth, home duties; 1138. Kain, Terence Joseph, constable
1907 - Kain, Terence, constable
1908 - Wisdom, Mrs Rosanna
1908 Electoral Roll - 1128. Kain, Elizabeth, home duties; 1129. Kain, Terence Joseph, constable & 2368. Wisdom, Alfred, bootmaker; 2369. Wisdom, Rosanna, home duties
1909 - Wisdom, Alfred
1909 Electoral Roll - 580. Dernelley, Joseph Edward, lift hand; 581. Dernelley, Mary Ann, home duties
1910 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1911 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1912 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1913 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1913 Electoral Roll - 778. Dernelley, Joseph Edward, carter; 779. Dernelley, Mary Ann, home duties; 780. Dernelley, Sydney John, brass moulder
1914 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1915 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1915 Electoral Roll - 583. Dernelley, Joseph Edward, carter; 584. Dernelley, Mary Ann, home duties
1916 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1917 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1918 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1919 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann
1920 - Dernelley, Mrs Mary Ann