The Neighbourhood

Christ Church has witnessed the coming and going of many nearby buildings and institutions in its long history. Following is a brief account of some of them.

East of Christ Church: across Pitt Street

The Sydney Railway Terminus (now more commonly referred to as "Central Station") has existed in the neighbourhood of Christ Church since 1855. The current railway station (operational from 1906) replaced a series of structures and institutions that ranged along Pitt Street from the Eddy Avenue corner to the Devonshire Street tunnel. The buildings along Pitt Street, immediately over the road from Christ Church, that made way for the Central Railway Station from 1901 were:

Carters Barracks
Police Superintendent's residence
Christ Church Parsonage
Benevolent Asylum 

These institutions in turn backed on to the old Sydney Burial Ground or "Devonshire Street Cemetery" which extended back to Elizabeth Street.

South of Christ Church: the apex of Pitt and George Streets

The land at the apex of Pitt and George Streets, just to the south of Christ Church was originally granted in 1842 to the trustees of the Parish of St Lawrence for a parsonage. The land was exchanged in 1854 for the site of the parsonage that was built on the other side of Pitt Street in 1855. Three buildings have occupied this site: 

Sydney turnpike (1819)
The old round house (1856)
Marcus Clark Building (1906)