Sydney Assessment Books

[ashleighn19]

Hi there

Just wondering a few things about assessment books....

Firstly, when I look at the records, it says things like 8 off under the record of say house 3 of the street, does this mean there perhaps there was more than one rentable area of the house (say an apartment)?

Secondly, what do I do when I cannot find my ancestor at the address I think they lived at? Does it simply mean they were perhaps subletting or boarding?

Thanks

Ash

[Janinec5]

Hi Ash, I haven't used this resource before, but have you looked at the info on the city of Sydney website?

  www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/AboutSydney/HistoryandArchives/Archives/InformationLeaflets/AssessmentBooks1845To1950.asp

Janinec5

[Billyblue]

As you're local why don't you ring up Sydney City Council and ask their Local History librarian?

Dawn M

[Neil Todd]

Hi, I think we are all guilty of thinking our ancestors owned their abode, may people rented. As the time went though the 19th century more sustainable housing was being built and new areas opend up.

If where you thought they lived was in an old area of Sydney Township then they were probably just renting. It would seem there was a very short supply of accomodation and many larger homes were turned into one or two room dwellings, this is what I think you are referring to in your original post.
No 3 Riordan street or whatever 8 off. Meaning 8 units at number 3 Riordan Street.

Many of the old areas turned into slum dwellings during these tight rental years. The population outgrew the amount of homes.

Neil