[1] John Samuel Shearston (1853-1916) was instrumental in the establishment of the Church of England Mission to Seamen in 1881, and his home a 3 Princes Street, Dawes Point was its headquarters.
Despite this both places could not cope with the demand for accommodation and a public subscription was taken up to construct Royal Naval House in Grosvenor Street.
[1] The Evening News of May 1912 reported that Royal Naval House had lodged 67,408 men in the last year, prior to the erection of the 1907 wing.
At its busiest during World War II (1939-1945) Royal Naval House was accommodating almost 1500 men a night, many in "shakedowns" mattresses and bunks placed wherever there was room.
[1] From 1980 negotiations proceeded with the private sector on proposals for mixed development and recycling on the land bounded by George, Grosvenor, Harrington and Essex Streets, known as Sites D5, D6 and D11.
The agreement was signed for the Grosvenor Place project in June, 1983 involving the renovation of Royal Naval House and four adjacent buildings.
[1] As at 31 March 2011, Royal Naval House and site are of State heritage significance for their historical and scientific cultural values.
Commodore James Goodenough, RN, CB, CMG, the Commander of the Royal Navy's Australian Station in the late 19th century and John Shearston who were instrumental in establishing practical welfare for sailors when ashore.
Royal Naval House has social significance for thousands of Australian and British seamen who have lodged there in its more than 80 years of existence.
The facades as a group have important landmark qualities with their location on the north-west corner of a major intersection, providing an entry point to The Rocks.
It is almost as though Varney Parkes had designed a four-storey building with a verandah on the back, accessed by French doors, and then had been told to add a Dining Hall etc.
The solution admits lots of sunlight to the main building (considering the height) and soaks up the odd shape on the North-West corner.
[4][1] High Significance Fabric: The Grosvenor Street facade and a considerable part of the return along Milson Lane, at least as far as the south wall of the courtyard.
Davis donated land for the first Catholic Church in Australia, St Patrick's in The Rocks, and also held services in his house, which was illegal.
Shearston was instrumental in the establishment of the Church of England Mission to Seamen in 1881, and his home a 3 Princes St, Dawes Point was its headquarters.
[1] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.
The facades as a group have important landmark qualities with their location on the north-west corner of a major intersection, providing an entry point to The Rocks.
During World War II Royal Naval House was accommodating up to 1500 sailors a night from the Australian, British and other allied Navies.
After World War II the building was also used for overnight accommodation for the families of low ranking seamen who could not afford city hotel rates.