Cadman's Cottage was built in 1816 and was originally known as Coxswain's
barracks. It is Sydney's oldest surviving house. The stone building was built for the Coxswain and crew, the
Coxswain being the person in charge or command of the boats. The Coxswain ran the fleet of official government
boats that were crewed by convicts. Built on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour (near The Rocks ) the barracks
was cut into a natural rock shelf and had a small sandy beach in the front. Today, however the cottage is well
set back from the water's edge due to land reclamations. The plain Georgian design was copied from English
pattern books.
John Cadman
The first Coxswain was Bernard Williams, followed by David Smith, John Weiss
and finally John Cadman whom the barracks was eventually named after. John Cadman was appointed in 1827 and
lived at the barracks for 19 years. The main duties of the Coxswain's was to organise the maintenance, manning
and availability of the Naval Officier's boats and to captain the Governors Barge. John Cadman was a convict
sent to the colonies after stealing a horse in England. Prior to his sentence Cadman had worked on boats near
Bristol. In 1809 Cadman was employed in Sydney's Government Dockyard and was later appointed Government
Coxswain in 1827 at Coxswain's Barracks. He married Elizabeth Mortimer in 1830 who was believed to be the
first woman in New South Wales to vote.
Under The Floor
Ceramic pipes, Cadmans Cottage, The Rocks, Sydney Under the floors of
Cadman's Cottage archaeologists have found a maze of drain systems built and rebuilt over 150 years. The
drainage system was contantly modified to cope with damp conditions. Today the original drainage channels and
pipes can still be found. Other discoveries found through the archaeological dig were fragments of clay roof
tiles dating from the 1780's-1790's, a bottle bearing the same government mark as found above the door of
cottage and clay pipes marked 'Cork' or 'Erin Go Bragh' (Ireland Forever).
Cadman's Cottage was built in 1816 and was originally known as Coxswain's
barracks. It is Sydney's oldest surviving house. The stone building was built for the Coxswain and crew, the
Coxswain being the person in charge or command of the boats. The Coxswain ran the fleet of official government
boats that were crewed by convicts. Built on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour (near The Rocks ) the barracks
was cut into a natural rock shelf and had a small sandy beach in the front. Today, however the cottage is well
set back from the water's edge due to land reclamations. The plain Georgian design was copied from English
pattern books.
The first Coxswain was Bernard Williams, followed by David Smith, John Weiss
and finally John Cadman whom the barracks was eventually named after. John Cadman was appointed in 1827 and
lived at the barracks for 19 years. The main duties of the Coxswain's was to organise the maintenance, manning
and availability of the Naval Officier's boats and to captain the Governors Barge. John Cadman was a convict
sent to the colonies after stealing a horse in England. Prior to his sentence Cadman had worked on boats near
Bristol. In 1809 Cadman was employed in Sydney's Government Dockyard and was later appointed Government
Coxswain in 1827 at Coxswain's Barracks. He married Elizabeth Mortimer in 1830 who was believed to be the
first woman in New South Wales to vote.
Ceramic pipes, Cadmans Cottage, The Rocks, Sydney Under the floors of
Cadman's Cottage archaeologists have found a maze of drain systems built and rebuilt over 150 years. The
drainage system was contantly modified to cope with damp conditions. Today the original drainage channels and
pipes can still be found. Other discoveries found through the archaeological dig were fragments of clay roof
tiles dating from the 1780's-1790's, a bottle bearing the same government mark as found above the door of
cottage and clay pipes marked 'Cork' or 'Erin Go Bragh' (Ireland Forever).