Bent Street, Paddington, is one of the most curious streets in
Sydney history. Although having only 32 houses in the street by
1920, this small street contained a cross section of Australian
life during the time examined, from 1890 to 1920. The street
contained shops, a coal depot, magistrates, landlords,
labourers, miners, tenants, and all the other groups of people
that inhabited the streets. In it also resided the first
Australian Labor Party Prime Minister, John Christian Watson.
The street came into prominence when an article appeared in the
Sydney Mail, 9 August 1916, p.12. It was inspired by the local
ALP M.L.A., Mr. Osborne, who collected 29 portraits of soldiers
from Bent and sent them Sydney Mail. The album describes the
named inhabitants of each house over the period from 1890 to
1920. In addition, the 29 pictures are named with a brief
military biography attached to them. Where ever possible, they
are located at the house in which the person lived. The street
numbering created a great deal of conf