With this one exception, all the smaller non-descript buildings of the period of first settlement at Sydney Cove have vanished. This sandstone structure was built in 1815-16 as the 'Coxswain's Barracks' attached to Governor Macquarie's dockyard and stores on the shores of Sydney Cove.

The building has largely survived because of constant Government or institutional ownership, first as a barracks, then as Cadman's residence as superintendent of Government Craft for 19 years (1826-45).
From 1845-64, it was the Water Police Headquarters, and, from 1865-1970, the Sydney Sailors' Home Trust. Restoration began in 1972 and the building is now used as an information centre by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

It is Sydney's oldest surviving house and was built for the Coxswain and crew, the Coxswain being the person in charge or command of the boats.
The barracks was cut into a natural rock shelf and had a small sandy beach in the front. it is now set well set back from the water's edge due to land reclamation in The Rocks area. The plain Georgian design was copied from English pattern books and constructed using local materials.

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.
The main duties of the Coxswain's was to organise maintenance, manning and availability of the Naval Officier's boats, oversee the fleet of official government boats crewed by convicts, and 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 he was employed in Sydney's Government Dockyard and was appointed Government Coxswain in 1827. He married Elizabeth Mortimer in 1830 who was believed to be the first woman in New South Wales to vote.

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 the cottage and clay pipes marked 'Cork' or 'Erin Go Bragh' (Gaelic - Ireland Forever).

Information appearing in this section is mainly abridged from Sydney Architecture by Graham Jahn, a well-known Sydney architect and former City of Sydney Councillor.
'Sydney Architecture', RRP $35.00, is available from all good book stores or from the publisher, Watermark Press, Telephone: 02 9818 5677.