The Old Police Station, The Rocks is a heritage-listed former police station and now home to Sergeant Lok, a Modern Asian restaurant and bar, that is located at 127–129 George Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia.

The realignment required the portable hospital to be pulled down and re-erected on a stone foundation slightly west of its original location.

There were still sporadic eruptions of violence in the nineties, and those whose business or inclinations obliged them to pass through The Cut, were still aware of the sandbag and the footpad and the garrotter in gas-lit early 20th century.

[1] In the 1890s a Royal Commission was formed "to make a diligent and full inquiry with the view of ascertaining the undoubted facts in the matter of alleged illicit gambling and immoralities among the Chinese resident in George-Street North, in the said City of Sydney and neighbourhood, and the alleged bribery or misconduct of any members of the NSW Police Force in relation thereto".

The Commission found that:[1] 'Generally lottery tickets are sold amongst a display of bogus wares in the front shops, and fan-tan is carried on in one or more of the rooms behind.

Access to the fan-tan rooms is gained as a rule through narrow passages, and then only at the pleasure of sentinels, who, according to the apparent intentions of the visitors, suspiciously open or double-bar the heavy doors with which ingress is regulated.

Means of escape in case of surprise are artful and manifold, often from the same house leading into a back street, adjacent dwellings on either side, and across rear balconies and roofs to more distant houses tenanted by accomplices'.In George Street North, the games mainly attracted wharf-labourers, sailors and coal-lumpers, and, because of the low cost, children were also buying the pak-ah-pu lottery tickets.

The Commission put forward the following recommendations:[1] There were also many allegations against policemen taking bribes from the Chinese gamblers to turn a blind eye on the illegal gaming rooms.

Some allegations, 'As reported in the press some of the statements volunteered by the deputation and the Members of Parliament who introduced them to the Colonial Secretary were:[1] 'It would be most advisable to change the police.

'However, the Commission found that the witnesses bringing bribery charges against the police could not substantiate their claims without exception they had based their statements on mere suspicion, or upon allegations that had come to them second-hand.

The Rocks Resumption Board and the Sydney Harbour Trust also widened streets and redeveloped the waterfront in an effort to clean up the city.

This was a structure where boats could discharge passengers with comfort and dry feet, and was considered as a "curious conceit for a police station".

[1] Above the lofty entrance arch to the Police Station are Queen Victoria's initials with a lion's head, the symbol of British justice, with a policeman's truncheon in its mouth.

The police stations are within the grand courthouses or the smaller bungalow and other residential style buildings where the local policeman also lived.

[1] The police station ceased to operate as such on 2 November 1974, the building was transferred to the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) and was later opened as the Australian Craftworks Gallery.

The SCRA (subsequently the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA)) was established in the late 1960s by the State Government with the aim of redeveloping the entire Rocks area.

The main focus of the work undertaken by the SCRA in the 1970s was the adaptive re-use of buildings such as the subject place and the Argyle Centre.

[2][1] The façade features an interesting Palladian water gate design with heavily articulated piers, quoins and voussoirs.

The upper level offices (facing street) have access to separate balconies which project across the double height portico space.

[1] The single storey rear of the building is defined by two side boundary parapet walls, from which the two main roof planes pitch down to the middle.

The modified central entry, while intrusive, is reversible and the long-term management of the building should seek to reinstate original form and detail.

[1] As at 12 April 2005, the former Police Station building and site are of State heritage significance for their historical and scientific cultural values.

[1] A strong yet picturesquely designed small government building, it is one of only two 19th century police stations remaining in the inner city and provides an important focal point to the George Street business precinct facades.

Internally, the original layout and other features including joinery, metal cell fixtures, fireplaces and stairs contribute to the significance of the building.

The former Police Station building and site are of State heritage significance for their historical and scientific cultural values.

[1] The land on which the building stands is significant as the location of the first hospital in Sydney and the history of the beginning of health and healthcare in Australia.

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

A strong yet picturesquely designed small government building it is one of only two 19th century police stations remaining in the inner city and provides an important focal point to the George Street business precinct facades.

Internally, the original layout and other features including joinery, metal cell fixtures, fireplaces and stairs contribute to the significance of the building.

[1] This Wikipedia article was originally based on Police Station (former) - Australian Craftworks Gallery, entry number 1571 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on {{{accessdate}}}.