69 Cambridge Street ...

Well, there's been a fair bit of time elapsed since my last post on the Cambridge Street blog but I've been inspired to start posting again after visiting this open house at 69 Cambridge Street.  Marketed by Bresic Whitney who labelled this as a "Unique corner terrace for renovators ... few are this thought-provoking.  All the bones are here for a creative of cosmetic touchup.  Terrace renovators will be eyeing off these in/outdoor spaces with anticipation."  Sounds good.

I've been in this terrace before, having afternoon tea with the amazing former owner, the late Gil Docking.  He is such a distinguished character he will get his own post on this site shortly.  However, avid readers of the Cambridge Street blog would've come across 69 Cambridge a few times already ...

- We have covered this houses name in a post here.  The group of terraces from 61 to 69 Cambridge Street were built c. 1887 and originally named "Aberdeen Villas".

- We have also covered a notable resident in a short piece on Gil's wife, Shay Docking, here.  Shay was an important female artist and resident on Cambridge Street from 1972 until her death in 1998.

More importantly for the house is the fact that what would be the main bedroom was the artist's studio (pictured above).  The studio has a trap door floor which exposes a long 3m by 10cm slit in the ceiling of the entrance corridor (photos below).  Gil Docking cut this slit so that larger artworks could be merely dropped through the floor and carried out the door rather than being carried down the stairs.  I do hope that the new owners maintain at list this slit in the entrance corridor as a physical reminder of the terrace's former function.

For the rest of the terrace, I agree with the agents assessment.  This will be a renovators delight.  It is an end terrace that gets glorious northerly views over the City and Paddington / Rushcutters Bay.  The roof terrace is something special (picture below).  I will be interested to see what this sells at auction for, although probably not as interested as the Art Gallery of NSW.  Gil generously bequeathed his estate to the Art Gallery and I understand the proceeds are going to fund a program named for Shay.  Fantastic.