Cadmans Cottage, Sydney

Cadmans Cottage is one of Sydney’s oldest surviving buildings and a rare example of early colonial architecture. Built in 1816 from locally quarried sandstone, it originally stood on the shoreline of Sydney Cove before later land reclamation shifted the waterfront further north. Designed in the Georgian style, the cottage’s simple, symmetrical form reflects its functional origins as the residence and office for the Coxswain of Government Boats, who managed the colony’s small fleet operating in the harbour.

Through the 19th century, the building’s role evolved with Sydney’s growth. It became the headquarters of the Water Police in the 1840s, then later served as accommodation for the Sydney Sailors’ Home, which provided shelter for seafarers arriving in port. Each of these uses left traces on the structure, visible in later additions and changes to the interior layout. Careful restoration has since revealed these layers of history, allowing visitors to appreciate how the building adapted to the changing needs of the harbour community.

Located in The Rocks, the cottage now sits among cobblestone lanes, historic pubs, and restored warehouses that mark Sydney’s oldest district. Its weathered sandstone walls and small, shuttered windows contrast with the modern skyline nearby. Interpretive displays on site recount its varied past and the daily life of those who lived and worked there. Standing quietly amid the bustle of the modern city, Cadmans Cottage offers a rare glimpse of early colonial Sydney and its enduring relationship with the harbour.