Pioneer House

Located at 128-140 Broadway in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale Pioneer House is largely intact and is a good example of an Inter-war Art Deco commercial building designed by Wright and Apperly Architects circa 1939.

It was constructed following resumptions and road widening in Broadway in the late 1930's as part of a group of buildings built at that time. It originally included a bank and six shops on the ground floor with warehouse space above. There was a caretakers flat on the top floor that would have had a nice outlook over Sydney for the lucky occupant! The building makes a strong contribution to the Broadway Streetscape.

One of the nice aspects of Pioneer house is the brick detailing along the top of the front facade. The design is arranged symetrically about the axis of the prominant vertical triangular windows which combine to give a stately and monumental feel to the building without being garish.

More classic Art Deco touches can be found at ground level along the side of the building near the corner entry door in the form of inverted stepped pyramids.

View of the main facade facing Broadway

Overall Pioneer House is a well balanced building which, as stated previously, makes a great contribution to the Broadway streetscape in Chippendale.

Facade detail showing the triangular vertical windows surmounted by stepped pyramids.

Corner entrance detail showing the inverted stepped pyramid ornamentation. This doorway was probably the bank entrance in the day.

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Sources:

• City of Sydney Heritage Listings
• Sydney Art Deco - Peter Sheridan 2019

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