The Norfolk Hotel

Located on the corner of Walker Street at 305 Cleveland St, Redfern, the Norfolk Hotel is a quaint Art Deco style hotel with a prominant facade. It was purchased by Tooths & Co in the 1930's and plans were submitted to Council in 1939 for alterations designed by Sidney Warden to modernise the building. The main feature was the extension of the street awning up Walker street and removing the gabled tiled roof.

The ground floor walls were tiled following the fashion of the day and the first floor exterior walls were painted instead of the more popular raw brick. Today the tiles are gone and the whole hotel has been painted over to *improve* and *modernise* its appearance. At the time of writing blue neon tubes highlighted the hotel's Art Deco lines in the evening. Nice. Similar treatment was given to the St George Tavern in Rockdale.

Up to 2007 it had already undergone major renovations inside leaving little of the original decor remaining. It still posseses some charm and sits proudly on the corner opposite the old Empire Theatre site.

The Norfolk Hotel had one of the cosiest and private beer gardens in Surry Hills. With a varied menu they have great counter lunches which could be enjoyed under the shade trees in the beer garden. Unfortunately an extensive renovation in 2021 included "in the courtyard, the old tree has been uprooted (it was a risk to the hoarding structure). Now the outdoor space is bathed in light and features a new spit-roast barbeque – soon to be grilling eggplant, Wagyu rump, prawns and LP’s smoked pork sausages."

Nice. It’s the first venue opening for hotel and hospo group, The People, which is rethinking the classic Aussie pub experience. God help us.

The picture on the left shows the hotel sometime prior to the 1939 alterations. Note the shorter awning on Walker street and the gabled tiled roof. The photograph on the right shows the hotel in 1953.

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Sources:

• Historical photos Noel Butlin Archives Centre @ ANU
• City of Sydney Archives
• The Broadsheet

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