Bell’s Store

2 Weston Street, c.1888

As you arrive at East Balmain wharf, this sandstone building with its striking stepped gable will catch your eye. Though much later than the other buildings on this tour, Bell’s Store is noteworthy as a reminder of Balmain’s maritime past, and as an example of the restoration of a derelict building for community use.

Originally a warehouse, Bell’s Store was taken over by Fenwick’s tugboat company, which demolished the gable to provide a better view of their boats’ operations. The building became derelict in the 1990s, but was restored in 2012 by Leichhardt Council and the Heritage Council of New South Wales. The gable was rebuilt using an old picture as a guide.

The stonework in the façade is elaborate, with rusticated surfaces and a decorative pattern formed by using courses of different widths. This decoration, and the random boulders used in the side walls contrast with the plain, neatly dressed stone blocks you will see at the next stop.