Sydney Art Deco Heritage

The Imperial Hotel, located at 35 Erskineville Road in Erskineville was purchased by Tooth and company in February 1931. It was rebuilt to a design by V D Renshaw and completed in November 1940. Renshaw had changed his name from Virgil D Cizzio. He designed the Great Southern Hotel on George Street in the same year. His rebuilding extended the Hotel across the whole of the site and demolished the previous structures. The Hotel became widely known when it was featured in the successful film "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" (1995) and is well known as a gay cabaret and entertainment venue. The interiors retain some of their Art Deco flavour, particularly to the rear cabaret room and upper stairs. Not much of the interior detail has been altered. Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

This site at 102 Erskineville Road, Erskineville, has been occupied by a hotel since at least 1882. The current Erskinevile Hotel is a good representative example of an Interwar Art Deco style hotel and was designed by the architects Copeman Lemont & Keesing in 1940. The architects Copeman, Lemont and Keesing designed several other Inter War hotels in Sydney including the Kurrajong hotel down the road, the Alfred hotel in Camperdown, the Australian and Criterion hotels. Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

Tucked away on 2 Foster Street in Surry Hills, just off Elizabeth Street, the Hotel Hollywood is a hidden gem in the city fringe. Originally known as the Nevada Hotel it had its name changed in October 1941 to The Hotel Hollywood. It was designed by architect John M Hellyer and built by W.M. Hughes and Co. P/L. When completed in 1940 the hotel formed part of the 'cinema' enclave with the film distribution offices of 20th Century Fox and Paramount nearby. There have been no significant recorded changes to the building after its construction. Detail of the facade The Hotel Hollywood is one of five similar style hotels built in the southern precinct of the city within a short period between 1938 and 1942. The others are the Australian, the Clare Inn, Sutherlands and the Civic. The Hotel Hollywood is the only one to have survived intact without recorded alterations or modifications of any kind either externally or internally. Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

The Commonwealth Bank at 58 Spit Road in Spit Junction is another Art Deco gem built in 1935 by Messrs Hutcherson Bros of Stanmore Road, Petersham and supervised by the Department of the Interior, Works and Services Branch of NSW. It was completed in August 1935. During work in 1978 the exterior ‘cantilevered’ awning was extended across and above the main entrance of the branch. The branch closed in April 1998. Thankfully the awning was subsequently removed much to the benefit of the building. Facade detail The branch in 1977 Prior to general construction works the following year. The branch in 1978 The extended box awning across the front of the bank. Totally destroyed the nature of the building The branch in 1992 THe awning was still there in 1992. Currently (2022) the bulky awning is long gone and the building is now occupied by Signarama who have placed a *mini* awning over the front door. It still looks *tacked on* to the building because they have int

Built in 1940 this double storeyed, cement rendered brick building in the familiar ‘Commonwealth Bank Art Deco’ style of the times, featured a ground floor banking chamber with a Manager’s residence on the first floor. An unusual feature of the design of the building, located at 838-840 Princes Highway in Tempe, was the three rounded external walls with glass brick windows and the flat roofs, one leading to a roof garden. This style of architecture evolved in the Architectural Branch of the Commonwealth Department of the Interior who were the main architects the Bank used for its building construction up the late 1950s. In December 1989 the bank sold the building but retained tenancy from 1990 for an initial 5 year period. In October 1996 the branch was closed. Main entrance detail The bank in 1940 New signage in 1992 Sources: Commonwealth Bank Archive Department

This Art Deco hotel is located at 1134 Pacific Highway in Pymble. The Pymble Hotel is yet another Interwar hotel built in 1939 whose outstanding feature is the sun ray brickwork design on the front and side facades. Each brick has been individually shaped to form each radiating ray on the feature. The Art Deco hotel decoration is very similar to that of the Zetland hotel. It shares the prominant vertical decoration on the facade (albeit smaller), leadlight windows and cream tiles. Brick sun ray design Variation of front facade motif at the side entrance Leadlight window Street level tiles

The West Ryde Hotel, at 1021 Victoria Road in West Ryde, is another suburban interwar hotel that has had major renovations which have all but erased the original interwar design features and fittings. Facade detail There has been an effort made to introduce a modern deco feel into their new graphic although it sits uncomfortably on the hotel facade along with the original design.

The Salisbury Hotel at 112 Percival Street in Stanmore has proved a very difficult subject to research. Thanks to a reader I have learned that it was constructed as a Federation building (date unknown) and was rebuilt in 1935 by H.E. Ross & Rowe architects. The facade was extensively modified and the interior changed to allow for a better service during the "six-o'clock swill". A garage was also added at the back I would appreciate any information you may be able to provide to add to this post. Facade detail Ceiling light in the hotel

The Eastwood Hotel is located at 115 Rowe Street in Eastwood and was designed by Rudder and Grout and built in 1939 by Tooth and Company. The hotel is listed in the RAIA Register of significant 20th century buildings. Another good example of an interwar period Art Deco hotel. In 2007 it was purchased by the Iris Hotel Group for $35 million. Not bad for a suburban pub! Facade detail Sources: Sydney Hotels & Leisure

The heritage listed Pier Hotel at 1751 Botany Road in Banksmeadow was purchased by Tooth and Company in December 1917. A new building design by architect R G Simpson was completed in November 1940 in the interwar period Functionalist style. Sources: Botany Bay Heritage

The Rozelle Hotel at 118-122 Victoria Road in Rozelle was established in 1938 with the licence of the former Norfolk Pine Hotel. The name was changed to the Balmain Hotel in 1990. The Hotel was closed in 1996 and is now used for commercial purposes. Rozelle hotel facade detail Sources: Gidday Pubs

The Kirribilli Hotel is located near Milson's Point railway station at 35 Broughton Street in Kirribilli. The hotel is listed in the RAIA Register of Significant 20th Century Buildings and it was designed by Justelius and Frederick. The Kirribilli Hotel is a nicely proportioned interwar hotel built in 1938. Sources: RAIA Register of Significant 20th Century Buildings