Unwin's Stores

Unwin's Stores are three-story sandstone buildings at 77-85 George Street in The Rocks that house shops on the ground level with residences above. The structures display Colonial Georgian architecture with regular window patterns and solid stone facades typical of Sydney's early commercial development.

Frederick Wright Unwin built these commercial structures between 1843 and 1846 during an economic downturn preceding the Australian gold rush. The site had previously been part of Sydney's first hospital grounds before it was transferred to private owners in the 1830s.

Chinese merchants occupied these shops from 1861 onward, with King Nam Jang becoming a gathering place for the Chinese community. The storefronts and living spaces reflected the trade networks and social connections that formed in this location over time.

The buildings sit in The Rocks near Circular Quay and are easily reached on foot. Visitors can walk past the street frontages and view the active shops and structures from outside, making them part of a natural walk through the historic neighborhood.

The spaces served as a center for Chinese immigrant communities, with King Nam Jang functioning as a social hub for this population. This role in Sydney's immigrant history often goes unnoticed by passersby, though it is well documented in local records and archives.