Significant Places
Australasian Steam Navigation Company (ASN Co) Building
Steam ships became more common after the 1850's as they were more reliable and didn't need to rely on the wind. Many shipping companies changed from sailing ships to steam power during this time.
The ASN Co building was built in 1885 as the company headquarters and cargo storage warehouse. The beautiful brick warehouse is built on the site of Robert Campbell's House first house called Wharf House.
The building has a unique Anglo Dutch design by William Wardell and Walter Liberty Vernon.
The Australasian Steam Navigation Company began in 1851 when it took over the Hunter Steamship company. This was one of many steamship companies that operated from Circular Quay and traded products around the coast of Australia.
The ASN Co building originally sat on the edge of Sydney Harbour, so steam ships could dock close to the building to load and unload cargo. Today the building sits further inland as the harbour's edge in front of it was filled in to make more flat land to build the huge Overseas Passenger Terminal building.
Steam powered hydraulic cranes would have been used to lift heavy cargo from the dock side to the different floors of the warehouse. Before steam power, men would have to pull a rope, attached to a pulley wheel, to raise the cargo to each floor of the warehouse.
The ASN company only used the building for 5 years from 1885-1889 when it was bought by the NSW Government as a place to store ordnances (military stores and weapons).
Interesting Fact
The ASN Co building was one of the first buildings in Sydney to be built using steam powered cranes. It was also located on the edge of Sydney Harbour.
Old Sailors Home
The Sailors Home was built as a place for sailors to sleep in when they were staying overnight in the Port of Sydney. The Rocks had a bad reputation as a rough and rowdy place with many pubs, dark alleys with gangs and illegal gambling places. Sailors usually stay edin boarding houses, or pubs, which were not always the cleanest or safest places. Groups of concerned citizens wanted to build safe comfortable and cheap places were sailors could spend the night when they weren't on their boats. The first part of the sailors home was designed by the architects Weaver & Kemp and built in 1864. The original building had four storeys, and the sandstone basement contained a kitchen and dining room. It provided comfortable lodgings close to the port where sailors could stay. Each sailor had a cubicle with a hammock. The Sailors Home was extended in 1926, paid for by the sale of the Kogarah home of Ms. Carss of Carss Park who left the property in her will to the Sailor's Home.
Interesting fact
Fundraising events were held to raise money to build the original home. At one event at Clontarf Beach on 12th August 1868, the guest of honour, Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, was the subject of an assassination attempt. The Prince miraculously survived the incident when the bullet fired at him lodged in his clothing after being pushed away from the assailant by the President of the Sailors Home. He received a £500 donation in gratitude.
