Robert Henderson the Sydney landowner

It has been difficult to research Robert Henderson';s land dealings in Sydney because so much of the history has been overwritten by several phases of development in the city since Robert's time. To make matters worse, there was another Robert Henderson in Sydney at the same time. The other Robert was a gardener and nurseryman who lived in Newtown.

It is pure conjecture, but a feasible hypothesis that it was our Robert’s growing involvement in shipping that encouraged him to start investing in Sydney. It looks as if most, if not all, his land purchases were close to the waterfront around Darling Harbour.  He was certainly involved in owning and operating wharf space and had several wharf properties in his portfolio when he died.

Click to expand - 1930s map of Sydney showing the rough location of some of Robert Henderson's properties. The red line marks the 1830s waterfront. Today's waterfront has reclaimed even more of the harbour and is roughly at the end of the wharves shown on this map.

The earliest property dealings I have found for Robert Henderson in Sydney was the purchase of property in Kent Street in 1830. I have found it difficult to sort out the details, but Robert seems to buy the property for £150, then sell it in 1835 for £400.

In 1836 Robert is given permission to erect a wharf on his land at Darling Harbour. He must have already owned the land and it seems to be at the western end of Erskine Street. Around the same time, Robert buys property on the west side of Sussex Street for £650.  The land has a cottage on it.

In 1838 there seems to be a purchase of land and buildings on the north side of Erskine Street and running along the west side of Sussex Street. I think this may have adjoined the earlier land and also contained a public house known as the Sprig of Shillalah. The pub was leased to William Bergin who held the license from 1838 until 1841. In 1842 Robert advertises the Sprig of Shillalah for rent or lease, then in 1844 he takes out his own license for the Dove Inn seemingly at the same location.

There is a document dating from 1941 about a Town Grant in York Street. Based on the wording of the document, it is possible that this was originally granted in 1824, but whether this was to Robert is not clear. Lad records in the 1820s and 1830s were haphazard and many titles had to be reviewed by the Court of Claims in the early 1840s.

In 1842 Robert advertises a property for sale in Miller's Point. It is possible that this was part of his duties as a trustee - he had several such trustee responsibilities.

There is evidence that Robert engaged builders to erect buildings on his land in Sussex Street. When he advertised his Budgewoi farm for sale in 1846 he added a postscript:

Any builder or contractor may purchase the above by erecting buildings in Sussex Street North as per plans and specifications.

The farm did not sell, but the buildings were eventually completed. A diagram exists showing the Dove in and a row of 8 terrace houses running along Sussex Street. These houses would have been rented out.

The Dove Inn and houses in Sussex Street. To align this diagram to the above map it would need to be rotated anticlockwise.

About 1851 Robert purchased a small church known as the Bethel Chapel that had been used as a seaman's mission. The Church had been replaced by a new one in The Rocks and an Act of Parliament had to be passed to allow the former site to be sold. Robert seems to have been the purchaser as the Chapel property is included in his Will.

In 1856 Robert takes out a license for the Clarence Hotel, which I believe was on the corner of Erskine and Shelley Streets. The license for the Clarence Hotel is subsequently in the name of Robert Jnr, and in 1860 is in the  name of Hannah Henderson, Robert Jnr's estranged wife.

In 1865 Robert purchased several lots that seem to be part of the Phoenix Wharf.

Robert Henderson's will names the following properties in Sydney:

• Parts of lots 4 and 5 of Phoenix Wharf.
• Lot 3 of Phoenix Wharf with the Clarence Hotel.
• A wharf and buildings known as the Bethel Chapel.
• The Dove Inn and associated properties in Erskine and Sussex Streets.

The Will left most of these properties in trust for his grandchildren, but the properties were subsequently resumed by the Government in 1900 for a redevelopment of Darling Harbour. 

Next week I will be looking at Robert Henderson the mariner and shipowner.