page_title: Jeffrey Street
section_title: Terraces
hierarchical_section_title: Jeffrey Street / Modern landmarks and structures / Terraces
caption_attribution_description: English: Circa 1905 Postcard of Jeffrey Street, Milsons Point, Sydney, New South Wales
context_page_description: Jeffrey Street or Jeffreys Street is a street located in Kirribilli, famous for being one of the most popular vantage points for views of the city skyline of Sydney, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The street is located on the Lower North Shore of Sydney Harbour, directly across the harbour from Circular Quay and is a popular destination for tourists, particularly on Australia Day and New Year's Eve. The street leads uphill from the harbour in a northerly direction to the small shopping village of Kirribilli.
  For many years the area was called the North Shore and the original land grant changed hands a number of times. Over the past 200 years the area has also been called Huntershill, St Leonards, North Sydney, "Kiarabilli", Milsons Point and "Kirribilli Point". The modern spelling Kirribilli was first used in 1853 and the use of Kirribilli as a locality is more recent.
  There are 19 listed heritage properties along the street, one of the highest concentrations of listed heritage properties in Australia. All but one of the original structures on the east side of the street have been demolished, only "Wyalla" remains.
context_section_description: The row of 17 heritage-listed terraces on the west side of Jeffrey Street is one of the oldest largely intact streets in Sydney and has changed very little for more than 100 years. The row of terraces is the second longest unbroken line of heritage listed terraces in Australia.  The relevant North Sydney Council Heritage records for the heritage listed terraces is reproduced below together with known information about the construction date.  These 17 terrace houses have all been gazetted as heritage items by the Local Council and appear on the NSW Heritage database.
  The aerial photo taken in about the 1940s provides a good view of the cottages. The modern streetscape is more difficult to see because of trees. Almost all of the buildings in the foreground (except for Wyalla) have since been demolished and now form part of St Aloysius' College.
  Terraces from 18-24 Jeffrey Street: The row of 4 terraces from 18-24 Jeffrey Street are likely to have been the first row of terraces constructed. They are at the southern end of the street, closest to the harbour and appear on the 1890s plan. The exact date of construction is not known.
  Terraces from 26–32 Jeffrey Street: The row of four terraces from 26–32 Jeffrey Street do not appear on the 1890s plan. The exact date of construction is not known. The terraces at 28 and 32 are now owned by St Aloysius' College and are used by the school.
  Terraces from 34–42 Jeffrey(s): This row of five terraces do not appear on the 1890s plan. Described in the NSW Heritage register as
  One of a two storey terrace of five houses (nos. 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 Jeffreys Street) each characteristed by upper and lower verandah valences formed as heavily moulded brick and stucco pairs of semi-circular arches with elaborate cast-iron balustrades. The two flanking and the centre house each have a projecting gable to the street frontage.
  The 1905 postcard shows this row of terrace houses. The exact date of construction is not known but would have been prior to 1900. The NSW Heritage database states the 1880s but the early maps suggest that it might have been the 1890s. The Jeffrey Street facade of this row of terraces is virtually unchanged more than 110 years after they were originally constructed.
  Terraces from 44–50 Jeffrey Street: These terraces appear in the 1890s block plan. The exact date of construction is not known, some records state 1878. Newspaper advertisements at the time refer to these terraces as "Gibson's New Terrace". It appears that Gibson was the proprietor of the "Gibson's Hotel" in Milsons Point. A notice appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 26 October 1878 offering the row of 4 terraces for let or for sale.
  Again, the Jeffrey Street facade of this row of tall terraces is virtually unchanged more than 110 years after they were originally constructed.
  Terraces from 52–56 Jeffrey Street: These town-house/ terraces are of modern construction. The earliest reference to houses in Jeffrey Street was in the Sydney Morning Herald on 14, 18 and 19 December 1878 for:
  "THREE well-finished and faithfully built two-story brick Houses in JEFFREY-STREET, adjoining the north end of GIBSON'S NEW TERRACE, only three minutes' walk from the STEAMER'S WHARF at MILSON'S POINT." 
  It is almost certain that these advertisements refer to the terraces from 52-56 Jeffrey(s) Street. These terraces were demolished circa 2000 and the three new terraces constructed at 52, 54 and 56 Jeffrey Street (these modern terraces are not heritage listed).
caption: Postcard of 'Jeffrey Street', North Sydney circa 1905 featuring the terraces from 34-42 Jeffrey Street
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