What started as an investigation into an old photograph of a portable iron house in Birchgrove led to the uncovering of an amazing story of adventure for a young woman at the age of 24 who arrived in Sydney from Birmingham via Paris in 1849. While the history of Balmain and Birchgove is known through the actions of its male developers, sea captains, merchants, and industrialists, no one knows the activities of Miss Ross Adcock.
The story of Rose Adcock, along with her two sisters and three continental gentlemen companions, needs to be told, setting Rose among all her male contemporaries in Balmain and Hunters Hill.
The publication of the book Miss Rose Adcock & Her Iron Houses of Snails Bay was assisted by the Inner West History Grant Programme awarded in 2024.
The book is available through the Balmain Association, local booksellers, or directly from the author, Dr Ray Stevens.
