Built in 1816, it is the third oldest building in Sydney and a rare example of an official colonial building and one of only about ten Georgian buildings surviving from pre-1840 Sydney. One significant addition to the southern end of the building was constructed between about 1835 and 1847.
The cottage is associated with the best known and longest serving Government Coxswain, John Cadman, one of the better known of Sydney's historical figures from the first half of last century.
As the headquarters of the government boats until 1846 Cadmans Cottage was closely associated with Sydney's development and commercial life. It was a focal point of the harbour upon which the city relied and indicates the extent to which government regulation of the colony depended on control of its waterways. This significant government maritime use continued when the cottage was taken over by the Water Police.
Although the water frontage on the harbour was lost when the area to the east of the cottage was reclaimed, it is now the only building or place able to illustrate the original shoreline of Sydney Cove and to demonstrate the evolution of this part of Sydney Harbour.
Cadmans Cottage has national cultural significance because of its age, scale, architectural style and close association with the early development of Sydney.
Conservation management plan
Photo: Cadmans Cottage Historic Site, Sydney Harbour National Park / R Whitehead/OEH
