Watters Gallery opened in Riley Street East Sydney in
1964 in a building dating back to 1858.
The building (sans mansard roof) at the address of 89
Riley Street is first mentioned as a boot warehouse in the Sands Directory of
1858-59, being leased by James McCarty & owned by a William Daley (assessment
book 1861)
1863-1865>(Sands Directory) sees the buildings use
change becoming The Victoria Hotel leased by Charles F. Wingfield
1868(Sands Directory)The street address is changed
because of recent housing development in the locale to 115 and is leased by
James Riley
1870 (Sands Directory) has the Victoria hotel leased by
John K.
Fitzpatrick
The assessment book of 1871 sees a change of name to
The Harp of Erin Hotel also a change of owner -Noonan &
change of leaser -Peter Riley .
Sands Directory 1875 lists Peter Riley as still
occupying 115 Riley Street -The Harp of Erin Hotel.
1880 has Mrs M Smith as the leaser
1882 the street address changes to107-109 with a new
owner Charles Wingfield & leased by Michael O'Donnell (Sands Directory)
1891 assessment book shows a change of owner Michael
O'Donnell
1895 & 1900 Sands Directory shows Mary O'Donnell as the
leaser of The Harp of Erin Hotel
The 1901 assessment book shows Mary O'Donnell both
occupier & owner/landlord of 107-109 Riley Street East Sydney .
Mary O'Donnell remains listed as the owner/landlord
until September 1940.
1910 Sands Directory shows a change of occupier to
William Kearey who remains the leaseholder until its transferred in 1915 to
Amy Shearer who in the same year transfers the lease to Frederick Elliott
who in 1916 transfers the lease to E.F.Bull.
1918 E.F.Bull transfers lease to Stephen Joseph Nolan
who in 1919 transfers to Richard H.Cook
1920 Richard H. Cook transfers Ross Anderson who is
listed in the assessment book as occupier of The Harp of Erin Hotel 1921.
The next mention in the Sands Directory is in 1925 with
a change of occupier and a change of use no longer The Harp of Erin Hotel
the building is now a confectioners occupied by Mrs. Alice Wills.
1928 Sands Directory has the building at 109 Riley
Street occupied by Alfred Zilliam.
The 1931 assessment books show the premises occupied by
Mrs. Lena Lorezi and consisting of two shops and a dwelling.
1932-33 Sands Directory has 109 occupied by A. Demarco
a hairdresser.
A September 1940 deed of conveyance for 109 Riley
Street shows the transfer of the property from Mary O'Donnell to Hannah
Catherine Hill & Hannah Douglas( are these two her daughters?)
In December 1940 a deed of conveyance from Hannah
Catherine Hill & Hannah Douglas to Russell Edgar Grafton Williams
In 1940-41 Russell Edgar Grafton Williams takes out an
insurance policy with the insurance company of New Zealand for the building
at 109 Riley Street consisting of two shops and a residence.
In November 1943 a deed of conveyance for the premises
109 Riley Street was from Russell Edgar Grafton Williams to Gaetano Borg ,
Frank Borg & Rosary Cordina
A July 1947 Deed Of Acknowledgment shows Gaetano Borg
as sole owner of the building having inherited the shares from his brother
and wife.
A November 1954 dated certificate of title 6889/174
shows the owner as L.Ira & A. C. Berk Pty. Ltd.
On June 20 1968 application was lodge with the City Of
Sydney Council for the conversion of the premises to a private art gallery,
previous to this it had been two shops- a boot maker & a hairdressers with a
pensione upstairs .The Building is listed as being owned by Frank Watters
