Photo by: Greg O’Beirne licenced under (CC-SA)

1-19 Lower Fort Street. The Rocks, New South Wales.

With a picturesque setting at the feet of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by the harbour this row of ten triple storey houses includes individually named terrace homes including Kia-Ora (17), Chelsea (15) and Surrey (13).

The eclectic design of these terraces is intriguing.  Firstly the parapet is very plain, concealing a long single gable roof with exposed party walls.  Long and wide rectangular chimneys with a multitude of pots appear squat rising above the parapet.  Peculiarly for a filigree terrace the majority of interest in the facade is generated by the top level which is not screened.  Significant rhythm is generated by a series of deep classical pilasters.  Additionally rhythm is generated by the pair of equally deep temple like decorated label moulds held up by classical corbels over and around the windows spaced by large etched patterns and decorative vents.  Mayan square swirl motifs appear on both the frieze and the party walls.

A sloped corrugated iron roof is visible atop the verandah and is coloured in alternating vertical bands creating additional interest and rhythm.   The verandah has carefully planned cast iron decoration, although some of the verandahs have been at some stage closed in.  Heavy corinthian cast iron columns add significant weight to the verandah detail.  Interestingly the second storey not having any fringe, just brackets with fine pendants.  The overall impression is increase the detail and weight toward the base and front, effectively grounding the terraces.  This effect is continued through heavy use of cast iron fence railings.   The double hung windows and doors behind the screen are quite subdued in comparison.

Based on their style I would assume them to be built around 1887.