Sydney Art Deco Heritage

The Knickerbocker Hotel located in Bathurst at 110 William Street is a famous Bathurst interwar Functionalist hotel was built in 1938. The Knickerbocker hotel is listed in the RAIA Registry of Significant 20th Century Buildings. Another view of the hotel An interesting feature is the glass brick feature up the building stairwell which allows natural lighting of what would otherwise be a dark and dingy stairway to the second floor guest rooms. The use of glass bricks was a very common practice among architects of the time.

Although not a true carillon (there is no dynamic control over the striking of the bells - they are struck remotely with equal force) the Bathust carillon is counted as one of three carillons located in Australia. The others are in Canberra and the University of Sydney. It has 35 bells and was constructed in 1933 as a memorial to the men of Bathurst and District who served in World War One. Doors commemorating both World Wars provide entry to an interior featuring an eternal flame of remembrance. It was first played regularly by local piano techician, Hector Lupp, who was the official carillonist up until 1945. He also continued to maintain the mechanism for many years until his death in 1989. Bathust carillon base detail Top detail Sources: Register of War Memorials Hector Lupp - A Son of Bathurst Exhibition 2008-09 SYdney University Carillon

The Burley Griffin Incinerator at 47-53 Forsyth Street in Glebe was designed by Walter Burley Griffin as a municipal incinerator, much smaller and simpler in design than the examples at Pyrmont and Willoughby. A large Semi-circular stone structure nearby is in the same style as the stone base of incinerator. It was built 1933. Facade detail It is a very inviting entrance. Abandon all hope ye who enter! Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

The Hotel Gearin at 1-1a Goldsmith Place (off Great Western Highway) in Katoomba was established in 1881 with additions being made in 1919 and 1927. It is a beautiful example of the interwar Art Deco period. Originally built by George Biles, the Hotel Gearin was bought and named in 1910 by one Mrs Gearin who operated it as a guest house for women. It is said her ghost still haunts the building. The centrepiece of the hotel is its classic Australian “Long Bar” of the period. The Hotel Gearin was bought by Australian actor Jack Thompson in 2006 and it was a popular live music venue. In 2011 Thompson decided to sell the Hotel Gearin because it wasn't becoming the social hub he imagined./p> Facade detail More facade detail In 2019 the hotel bars were closed, so it is no longer operating as a pub, but is still offering affordable short-term accommodation. Since the "Gearin Hotel" is no longer the local watering hole we are now calling it simply "The G...