2-4 Sir John Young Crescent. Woolloomooloo, New South Wales

This most unusual row of three storey terraces is in a prominent but in the most unfortunate position.  Set on arguably Sydney’s busiest junction, wedged between the Eastern distributor, entrance to the Cross City Tunnel Northbound and Cahill Expressway and the overpass of the Bondi railway line (which presumably cuts through what may have been an extended streetscape at some stage).  It is extremely difficult to photograph !

The terrace (4) closest the railway bridge has a slate roof and corrugated verandah with filligree on each level but the facade is otherwise plain.  It is also visibly leaning and the verandahs appear unstable.

The terrace (3) in between may have originally been similar but appears to have been substantially altered at some stage (possibly the early 80s) as part of an apartment conversion and as a result now has a sandstone clad facade, corrigated iron roof, skylights with a small rooftop verandah and picturesque style dormer windows with ornamental bargeboards.  The chimney appears to be original, however the verandahs have all been rebuilt using some original elements combined with replica dressing.  The cast iron verandah support, similar to the one next door appears to be original.

The round Romanesque revival style building on the corner (2) is the former Merryfields Hotel and appears to elegantly integrate with the row of terraces with its lower storey loggia filligree, upper storey windows and its round corner facing design.