Rate books for the Council of the City of Sydney list a two-roomed, stone building with a shingled roof.

[1] At some time after the resumption of the property in 1902 by the NSW Government and prior to the construction of the present building in 1911/1912 the existing stone shop and house was demolished.

[1] The two storey building at the corner of Cumberland and Essex Streets has brick parapet walls, with a slate roof behind.

The lower part of the building facing Essex Street features an arched brick entry doorway and does not have a parapet.

[5][1] High Significance Fabric: Brick walls; shop fronts; windows and doors; former shop and former store; former sitting room; WC; ceiling, floor boards and brick wall of enclosed verandah; former three bedrooms; bathroom; linen room; stair hall; former laundry; former entry hall (except door).

Medium Significance Fabric: Small flight of stairs to staircase landing (former shop & former store); timber shelves (former laundry); concrete floor, plastered brick walls, ceiling, cornice and window of part of former back porch; new gutters, new downpipe at east elevation.

[1] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

[5][1] High Significance Fabric: Brick walls; shop fronts; windows and doors; former shop and former store; former sitting room; WC (except smashed WC pan); ceiling, floor boards and brick wall of enclosed verandah; former three bedrooms; bathroom; linen room; stair hall; former laundry; former entry hall (except door).

Medium Significance Fabric: Small flight of stairs to staircase landing (former shop & former store); timber shelves (former laundry); concrete floor, plastered brick walls, ceiling, cornice and window of part of former back porch; new gutters, new downpipe at east elevation.