Walking through Sydney some years ago, we came across this row of terraced houses in The Rocks. Sussanah Place, a row of four houses and a shop, is open to the public as an example of the earliest (European) houses in Australia. It is a great place to wander around learn more of the history of the early settlers. Built in 1844, the houses have been preserved and retain most of their original features. As you can see from the photo, the contrast of the modern backdrop is quite striking.
Yet exploring these houses, I couldn’t help remarking on how similar these were to my grandfather’s house in Nottingham. The layout, the structure and even the fixtures were a throw back to his house, and indeed many others I had visited in the UK when working in a home visit role as a clinician. Built in the early Victorian era, they were designed and built by people who may well have earlier worked on the large scale construction that was sweeping England at the time, due to the Industrial Revolution gaining pace.
What is fairly commonplace in many northern English cities is worthy of preservation and is a tourist attraction here in Australia. For us it brought a sense of nostalgia of our own younger years to wander through the hallways and bedrooms of these modest homes, rather than a sense of pioneering history. For Australians and Americans, and other visitors from the “New World”, these houses may evoke a different sentiment. Different emotions, yet probably pleasant ones for all who visit.
I really enjoyed reading and hearing the stories of those original inhabitants of Susannah Place. I also left appreciating again the wealth of history that surrounds us in the UK, with houses, castles, bridges and churches that date from hundreds to thousands of years ago. How well do we appreciate the wealth of history that surrounds us? And just as importantly, how well do we capture and preserve the stories of those who lived in those times. From our house within five minutes walk we have a beautiful abbey that dates back to the 12th century, a 15th century clock tower and many homes from the medieval period. I enjoy showing our friends and family around St Albans, and sharing a few of the stories I have picked up about the historical characters who made the city what it is today. What stories will future visitors hear about the current inhabitants? And what buildings from this era will be considered worthy of preservation?
(Dec 2000)
