Cumberland Place and Steps, Heritage-listed street in Sydney, Australia
Cumberland Place and Steps is a narrow pedestrian path with stairs in The Rocks connecting Harrington Street and Cumberland Street. The structure features old sandstone steps covered with protective concrete, flanked by tight lanes and stone buildings that date to early Sydney.
The path was established around 1807 during the early colonial period and was originally known as Cribb's Lane after George Cribb purchased land there in the early 1800s. By the late 1800s the lane was renamed Cumberland Place to sound more formal.
The lane was named after George Cribb, an early settler whose connection to the path lasted until the street was renamed Cumberland Place in the late 1800s. The worn steps and narrow passage show how residents and workers moved through their daily lives in this part of the city.
The lower steps at Harrington Street are partially fenced off to protect the worn original stonework from further damage. Wear sturdy shoes as the surface is uneven in places and can be slippery, especially after rain.
Buried beneath the streets is a hidden lane likely connected to this path that was discovered during archaeological excavations in 1994. The original layer underground may still contain undiscovered artifacts from early Sydney.
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