46-56 Gloucester Street, The Rocks, Heritage house in The Rocks, Australia.
The building at 46-56 Gloucester Street holds sixteen duplex-style homes stacked across four levels, with entrances and facades visible from both Gloucester and Cambridge Streets. The design makes efficient use of the corner location while maintaining a unified appearance from different viewing angles.
The land originally belonged to Section 76 of St Philip's Parish and saw competing ownership claims in the 1830s. Its transformation into public housing units came later and established the purpose it still serves today.
The row houses show how housing needs changed in The Rocks over time through different government programs. Walking past them, you notice how they fit into the neighborhood's mix of colonial buildings and modern development.
The units are still used as residences under a long-term lease arrangement from 1988. The building sits at a corner location in The Rocks, making it easy to view from both Gloucester and Cambridge Streets.
The building was constructed with double-skin brickwork, a technique designed to protect against moisture in this older urban location. This clever engineering choice helped the structure remain durable despite the challenging site conditions.
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