The Council got into the business of providing public toilets
from about 1880. An English manufacturer, Jennings sold the
Council two patent urinals in that year. He was still supplying
them in 1887 when he sold the council six ‘Class A’
six-person urinals and six ‘class B’ three person
urinals.
Images
Letter
from George Jennings
Letter written by George Henry Jennings when he exhibited
his sanitary wares at the International Exhibition in
Sydney 1879.
I take the liberty of sending you an illustrated price-list
of Public Conveniences manufactured by our firm and supplied
to most of the Corporations and Sanitary Authorities throughout
England and in many towns on the Continent and America.
As they have given such great satisfaction wherever they
have been fixed I venture to hope you will favour us with
a chance of tendering for the supply should your Corporation
at any time entertain the idea of erecting urinals in this
city. We are exhibiting on the Terrace Floor of the Exhibition
several appliances all tending to health & comfort,
which I should have great pleasure in shewing you whenever
you may feel inclined.
I am dear Sir
Yours obediently
George Henry Jennings.
P.S. I left a complete catalogue with Mr Mountain yr. Surveyor
a few days ago.
Jennings
Patent Urinals Catalogue
Jennings Patent Urinals for public thoroughfares railway
stations, schools, etc. (c.1879). The comment of the City
Surveyor on this catalogue was ‘they are well arranged
in planning and construction…There cannot be a doubt
that they would be of great benefit introduced into this
city which is at present so greatly in need of public
conveniences’. The Council bought two.
(City of Sydney Archives, CRS 26/160, item 1245)
6
person urinal
This cast iron Patent Jennings 6 person urinal stood at
the corner of Macarthur Street and Driver Ave at the Sydney
Cricket Ground. (City of Sydney Archives,
CRS 538/032)
3
person urinal
The decorative detail of this 3 person urinal illustrates
the European fascination with decorative motifs from Asia.
This artistic style was called Chinoiserie. It was reflected
in much domestic architectural detail including verandah
balconies and ceiling patterns, along with furnishings
and fabrics. (City of Sydney Archives,
CRS 538/038)
Pissoir
on a Hill
This 1968 snapshot is of a urinal that stood on the western
edge of Observatory Hill. It was sent to the City Council
after the urinal had been dismantled in 1971 for repairs
and not returned. The accompanying letter said ‘when
visitors were show around by us, that was always one of
the ‘showpieces’. A lot of people were concerned
about its fate. (City of Sydney Archives,
CRS 34/2401/71)
Antique loos
This is the pissoir on the hill. When it was removed from
Observatory Hill in 1971 there was public discussion about
whether it would be re-erected, and if so where? When
the Council decided to offer it to museums as an historic
relic they were inundated with offers. They also received
a lot of correspondence from people who thought it to
keep it in the area and used as a loo. In 1975 it finally
reappeared in George Street under the Bridge. (Lisa
Murray / City of Sydney)
