A Sea Captain’s Terrace in Balmain
The Gadigal, a clan of the Eora people, lived on the southern shores of Sydney Harbour. They would find shelter from the gusty southerly and westerly winds in the lee of the slopes leading off the maroo (their word for pathway and what we call Darling Street). Fresh water could be found in a small stream that cascaded through a series of rocky shelves before meeting the sandy shores of Waterview Bay, now called Mort Bay.
Frederique Parbury, was the first to settle in Waterview Bay, building Waterview House near the corner of Colgate Avenue and Carolyn Street. The aspect was described in the Australian newspaper in 1844 as “one of the most charming valleys in the harbour”.
George Cooper, the New South Wales Comptroller of Customs, acquired the Waterview Estate in 1839 and, facing financial difficulties, commenced sub-dividing and selling the blocks of land. This marked the beginning of settlement of the Balmain Peninsula.
Frederique Parbury, was the first to settle in Waterview Bay, building Waterview House near the corner of Colgate Avenue and Carolyn Street. The aspect was described in the Australian newspaper in 1844 as “one of the most charming valleys in the harbour”.
George Cooper, the New South Wales Comptroller of Customs, acquired the Waterview Estate in 1839 and, facing financial difficulties, commenced sub-dividing and selling the blocks of land. This marked the beginning of settlement of the Balmain Peninsula.
Captain Magee’s Terrace House
The house you are now staying in was built by a sea captain, Sydney Master Mariner Captain William Magee, acquired in 1853. We believe Captain Magee and his family occupied the stone house next door and a timber cottage at the back until 1878.
Oral history indicates that the weatherboard terrace we now call the Pelican Balmain was built by Captain Magee sometime after 1853 to accommodate his daughter when she married.
Oral history indicates that the weatherboard terrace we now call the Pelican Balmain was built by Captain Magee sometime after 1853 to accommodate his daughter when she married.
Evolution of Balmain from a suburb for workers to a haven for artists
Balmain had a thriving shipping industry in the 1800’s and was home to many sea captains who could see their ships from their balconies. Some houses have “widow walks” comprising a fenced roof top terrace from which the wives of the captains could watch out over the harbour for the return of their husband’s ship. Ultimately, Waterview Bay would become the epicentre of Australia’s heavy ship building industry with the establishment of Mort’s Docks founded by Thomas Sutcliffe Mort. This resulted in the name change to Mort Bay.
Over the next century industrialisation spread through Balmain with soap factories (including the nearby Colgate Palmolive factory which was still operating in the 1990’s) and even a coal mine under Sydney Harbour. This gave Balmain the reputation as a home for tough workers, leading Balmain born NSW Premier Neville Wran to famously say “Balmain boys don’t cry”.
There is also a rebel streak associated with Balmain much embodied in Dawn Fraser, Olympic swimming champion, who reportedly swam the moat of the Japanese emperor’s palace during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to “souvenir” a flag. Dawn, a national living treasure, went on to represent Balmain in the NSW Parliament.
Taking on a bohemian vibe, from the 1970’s Balmain became home to artists, notably from the film industry: including Bruce Beresford (Director - Driving Miss Daisy), Gillian Armstrong (Director - My Brilliant Career), Bryan Brown (Actor - The Shiralee) and Judy Davis (Actor - Husbands and Wives). Balmain has also been chosen as the location for many films including Caddie starring Helen Morse and Jackie Weaver (Wortley Street), The Sum of Us starring Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe (Campbell Street), Strictly Ballroom starring Paul Mercurio (Roberts Street) and The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio (Robert Street).
There is also a rebel streak associated with Balmain much embodied in Dawn Fraser, Olympic swimming champion, who reportedly swam the moat of the Japanese emperor’s palace during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to “souvenir” a flag. Dawn, a national living treasure, went on to represent Balmain in the NSW Parliament.
Taking on a bohemian vibe, from the 1970’s Balmain became home to artists, notably from the film industry: including Bruce Beresford (Director - Driving Miss Daisy), Gillian Armstrong (Director - My Brilliant Career), Bryan Brown (Actor - The Shiralee) and Judy Davis (Actor - Husbands and Wives). Balmain has also been chosen as the location for many films including Caddie starring Helen Morse and Jackie Weaver (Wortley Street), The Sum of Us starring Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe (Campbell Street), Strictly Ballroom starring Paul Mercurio (Roberts Street) and The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio (Robert Street).
The Pelican Balmain TodayThe Pelican Balmain was initially built as a two storey weatherboard terrace in the Australian vernacular style with a “two-up and two-down” room configuration. To this was generally added a roughly built skillion weatherboard and iron roofed kitchen and laundry out the back.
The current owners have retained and renovated the two storey terrace with modern additions. Pieces of furniture and other features of the house and yard were luckily salvaged and put back into use. The little timber cottage has opened its yellow door to once again provide a haven in the lee of the slopes on the southern shores of Waterview Bay. You are welcome to relax or walk the narrow laneways in search of history old and new. From the balcony, it is still possible to watch out over the harbour to see if your boat is coming in! |