page_title: Darling House, Millers Point
section_title: Resumption by Sydney Harbour Trust (1901) and use of Darling House until 1990s
hierarchical_section_title: Darling House, Millers Point / History / Resumption by Sydney Harbour Trust (1901) and use of Darling House until 1990s
caption_attribution_description: View of southern portion of Darling House site showing the small building used as cooperage c 1918
context_page_description: Darling House is a heritage-listed seniors living property and former residence located at 8-12 Trinity Avenue, in the inner city Sydney suburb of Millers Point in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The property is owned by Dr Shane Moran through his luxury seniors living and aged care group Provectus Care Pty Ltd. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
  The Georgian-style Old Colonial sandstone building incorporates parts of an original c. 1833 to c. 1835 dwelling house, the existing sandstone house was constructed in 1842 under the ownership of Joseph Farris. The name of the house, which originated from the local community in the 1800s, is derived from the original land grant by Governor Darling. Darling House holds particular historical, social and architectural significance due to its influence on the history and early social development of Millers Point and early colonial Australia and as a representative example of Georgian style architecture in neo-colonial Australia.
context_section_description: On 29 December 1900 the Sydney Harbour Trust issued notice in the Government Gazette of the resumption of Darling House, which occurred in 1901 under the Darling Harbour Wharves Resumption Act 1900, although the Sydney City Council Rates Assessments Books still noted the Farris family as Owner Landlord of the property right up until 1906. Darling House was fortunate to survive this period as many of the houses in the area were deemed unhygienic and demolished, with the backyards being covered in concrete or asphalt.
  Upon resumption by the Sydney Harbour Trust, the land on which Darling House stood and the vacant land on the  southern allotment were clearly distinguished as separate entities in the rates assessment books.  There was a clear distinction between the use of Darling House, as a boarding house and residential accommodation, and the use of the southern allotment for commercial purposes. Upon resumption, the Sydney Harbour Trust almost immediately converted Darling House into a boarding house and accommodation was leased out by the State Government of New South Wales. In 1948-49 Darling House was converted into a warehouse, resulting in the demolition of most of the internal walls and outbuildings on the property to allow vehicle access to the back of the house. From that point on the house was leased to a variety of commercial companies.  The last recorded commercial tenant of Darling House was Lep Transport who installed a petrol tank and bowser onto the property. After Lep Transport vacated the facility, the year of which is unknown, the property remained vacant and fell into a state of disrepair.
  The southern part of the site which formed a separate allotment remained vacant for much of the time since historic occupation of The Rocks and Millers Point although one historical map indicates a shed may have stood on the land.  Oral records from local residents living in the area in the early twentieth century also recall the vacant site being used for a variety of purposes including an outdoor cinema and a plasterer's workshop. Around 1918, the rates assessment books indicate that the site was leased to Charles Rasmussen & Co, makers/repairers of casks and barrels, and as a cooperage, store and laundry. At this time a one storey brick building comprising two rooms, stood on the land.
caption: Use of the southern allotment of Darling House site as a cooperage by Chas.Rasmussen & Co c1918
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