Cadmans Cottage, Colonial sandstone building in The Rocks, Australia

Cadmans Cottage is a two-story sandstone structure on George Street in The Rocks near Sydney Harbour, built in the early colonial period. The building features thick load-bearing walls, a pitched gable roof, and multiple brick chimneys positioned at either end.

Built between late 1815 and early 1816, Cadmans Cottage was first the barracks of the four government coxswains and their boat crews, who supervised harbour shipping and supplied crews for the Governor's Barge. From 1845 to 1864 it served as headquarters of the Sydney Water Police, and from 1865 to 1970 as the Sailor's Home. Restoration began in 1972 after it was proclaimed a heritage site.

The name honours John Cadman, transported in 1798 for horse stealing and pardoned in 1821, who lived here with his wife and two stepdaughters while serving as government coxswain from 1827 to 1845, the longest tenure. The coxswain rostered boat crews that gathered timber, grass and shells for lime, and crewed the Governor's Barge.

The cottage sits in a historic precinct near the harbor with easy walking access and nearby cafes and shops throughout the area. Hours and access may change seasonally or due to maintenance work, so checking ahead is helpful before planning a visit.

The cottage now sits well back from the waterfront, yet the original harbor shoreline once reached within just a few meters of its walls. Land reclamation projects pushed the waterline far outward, completely transforming the building's connection to the sea over time.