177 Darling Street

177 Darling Street, 1843

This tiny sandstone cottage reminds us of the period’s obsession with classical architecture: a miniature pediment, resting on brackets, surmounts the doorway. Like many in Balmain, this cottage seems impossibly small to modern Australians accustomed to living in some of the world’s largest houses. Its size is a reminder that personal space is a relatively recent luxury. In the nineteenth century even wealthy children shared their nursery bedroom, while in poorer families two or more children shared a bed.