55 Victoria Street is a heritage-listed residence and former boarding house and Catholic Women's Association hostel located at 55 Victoria Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of Potts Point in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1875. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]
The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters.[1][2]
With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney.[1][2]
In the 1830s the whole area from Potts Point to Kings Cross and up to Oxford Street was known as Darlinghurst- probably named in honour of Governor Ralph Darling (1824–31)'s wife, Eliza. The rocky ridge that extended inland from Potts Point was called Eastern or Woolloomooloo Hill from the early days of white settlement. The earliest grant of land on Woolloomooloo Hill was made to Judge-Advocate John Wylde in 1822. In 1830 Wylde sold six of his 11 acres on the Point to Joseph Hyde Potts, accountant to the Bank of NSW, after whom Potts Point is named.[1]
A finales de la década de 1820, Sydney era una ciudad superpoblada, desordenada e insalubre asentada alrededor de Rocks y Sydney Cove , con una población europea de alrededor de 12.000 habitantes. El gobernador Darling estaba recibiendo solicitudes de ciudadanos destacados de Sydney para obtener mejores condiciones de vida. La cresta de Woolloomooloo Hill llamaba la atención, ofreciendo proximidad a la ciudad y vistas incomparables desde las Montañas Azules hasta las cabeceras del puerto de Sydney . [1]
En 1828, Darling ordenó la subdivisión de Woolloomooloo Hill en "parcelas urbanas" adecuadas para grandes residencias y extensos jardines. Luego emitió "escrituras de concesión" para miembros seleccionados de la sociedad colonial (en particular, sus altos funcionarios). Las primeras siete concesiones se otorgaron en 1828 y las demás asignaciones se otorgaron formalmente en 1831. [1]