Photo submitted with memoryPrint options & photo selection
Choose which photo appears on the cover and which selected photos appear as small highlights on the final page. Up to 6 selected photos can appear in the leaflet.
Photo submitted with memory
Photo submitted with memory
Sydney Water map 1888
Back of house circa 2024
Old Living space/Dining room circa 2024
Kitchen prior to sale in 2024
5 Bay St in the early 1970's
Exterior – 5 Bay St, Birchgrove NSW 2041, Australia
1970’s
Article 70’s
Photo submitted with 5 Bay St, Birchgrove NSW 2041, Australia
Exterior of the house when sold in 2024
Interior 1979
Printable house storyEvery House Has a Story.
5 Bay St, Birchgrove NSW 2041, Australia
5 Bay St, Birchgrove NSW 2041, Australia
Housetory helps communities preserve the memories, history and stories connected to homes and places.
Cover photo: 1970’s
Year built1888
Timeline entries21
Memories0
Photos13
At a glance
- StyleVictorian 1840 1890
- HeritageNo
- Current statusPrivate Residence
The story of this house
First built around 1888, with evidence suggesting construction may have begun as early as 1884.
The house appears in the 1888 Sands Directory beside a vacant block.
Although altered several times over the years, it has retained the character and scale of a small workers’ cottage.
During the 2024 restoration, extensive damage was uncovered in the rear frame, requiring major repair work.
This damage appears to have been caused by a past fire in that section of the house.
The restoration also included replacement of badly deteriorated external weatherboard cladding and white-ant affected flooring.
Description & observations
2025.
The rear of the house was refurbished and a new kitchen, bathroom and dining area installed in the space.
Damaged materials were replaced and the cottage now lovingly restored.
There was ironwork on the front verandah but unfortunately this appears missing.
Perhaps the next phase will be to locate the same or similar to reinstate?
Full story, source details and updates continue on the live Housetory page via the QR code.
Timeline highlights
A compact summary of key moments. Scan the QR code to read the full timeline online.
- House constructed
5 Bay St ( as it is known now) was likely constructed as it is shown on a map of the Sydney Water plan for Balmain in 1888.
- First recorded occupant in reviewed Sands
Smith Thomas is first recorded at the traced property in the reviewed Sands sequence by 1891. The directory prints the property as…
- Property first traceable in Sands
The traced property is first located in the reviewed Sands evidence by 1891 as No. 3 Bay Street. The reviewed address lineage is…
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Smith Thomas in 1891 to Gray John in 1892.
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Gray John in 1892 to Jones John in 1893.
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Jones John in 1893 to Storey William in 1894.
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Storey William in 1897 to Jones John in 1898.
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Jones John in 1900 to Jones William in 1901.
- Likely occupant change
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Jones William in 1908 to Meehan Patrick J. in 1909.
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Meehan Patrick J. in 1909 to Davis Robert in 1910.
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Davis Robert in 1911 to McAuliff John W. in 1912.
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from McAuliff John W. in 1912 to McAuliffe John W. in 1913.
- House constructed
5 Bay St ( as it is known now) was likely constructed as it is shown on a map of the Sydney Water plan for Balmain in 1888.
- First recorded occupant in reviewed Sands
Smith Thomas is first recorded at the traced property in the reviewed Sands sequence by 1891. The directory prints the property as…
- Property first traceable in Sands
The traced property is first located in the reviewed Sands evidence by 1891 as No. 3 Bay Street. The reviewed address lineage is…
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Smith Thomas in 1891 to Gray John in 1892.
- Occupant differs in consecutive reviewed Sands editions
The reviewed Sands evidence for the traced property changes from Gray John in 1892 to Jones John in 1893.
Memories, sources & further reading
If you have memories, photographs, documents or corrections connected to this house, scan the QR code and contribute through Housetory. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Selected photos
Scan the QR code to see more photos, timeline entries, memories and updates on Housetory.
https://housetory.com.au/index.php/explore/houses/5-bay-st-birchgrove-nsw-2041-australia