Harts Buildings

Harts Buildings is a two-story terrace structure at 10-14 Essex Street featuring a crenellated roofline, classical Victorian details, and Federation Arts and Crafts elements across its facade. The building adapts to the sloping streetscape by stepping down the terrain, making efficient use of the trapezoidal site.

The property originated as part of a land grant to Elizabeth Thompson in 1839 but was not developed until around 1880 by Peter Francis Hart. Construction of the building took place between roughly 1890 and 1899.

The building was home to Margaret Fulton, a renowned cookbook author, from 1954 to 1968, connecting it to notable figures in Australian cultural life. Visitors can sense how creative people lived and worked within this heritage space.

The building sits in The Rocks, a historic neighborhood in Sydney's city center that is easy to explore on foot and offers many nearby sites of interest. Its location on a lively street with shops and dining options makes it straightforward to view the facade as part of a larger visit.

The roof creates a distinctive jagged silhouette with its chimneys and balustrades that stands out clearly against surrounding structures. This characteristic roofline remains visible from different vantage points around The Rocks as you walk through the neighborhood.