Sydney Art Deco Heritage

The Bank Hotel at 324 King Street in Newtown was established in 1880 as the Bank Hotel and has never changed its name. It is a good example of a Victorian Hotel with alterations dating from the key period of hotel rebuilding in the Federation and interwar periods. in 1934 major alterations were made to the building with an art deco facade being added on by architect V.J. Davis. Facade detail More facade detail Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

Now known as the Green Park hotel this two storey Victorian hotel at 936-938 Bourke Street in Zetland opened in 1886. It was overlaid with an interwar Art Deco style facade circa 1939. The Green Square Hotel still has ‘Zetland Hotel’ on the stained glass window facing the corner. Inside the Art Deco style bar, fittings and décor from its 1930s makeover are remarkably intact. Photo of the Zetland hotel facade Zetland hotel stained glass window I have reversed the image here so it reads correctly. It was designed to be looked at from outside on the street but I couldn't capture the colourful design in the glass from that perspective. Security bars on the hotel Hotel door detail Sources: Histories of Green Square Source - Histories of Green Square More Art Deco information can be found on the DecoWorks website.

The Royal Sheaf Hotel is located at 231 Burwood Road in Burwood on the corner of Liverpool Road. It was originally called the Ireland Hotel and only the ceiling is unchanged. Another Tooth & Co interWar functionalist hotel with Art Deco trimmings. A feature of the hotel is the terracotta tiled Art Deco design with a strong vertical element on the building facade. Royal Sheaf Art Deco facade detail A closer look at the glazed terracotta tile decoration. The colours are as vibrant now as when they were first set. Sources: NSW State Library

The Kurrajong Hotel at 106 Swanson Street, Erskineville is another example of an interwar Sydney hotel designed and built by Tooth and Co architects Copeman Lemont and Keesing in 1938. The hotel is listed in the RAIA Register of 20th Century Significant Buildings. The "easy going" Kurrajong is one of four in the Erskineville area, the others being the Rose of Australia, the Erskineville Hotel and the Imperial Hotel.

The Marlborough Hotel site at 145 King Street Newtown has housed hotels since the 1860s. The first was the Daniel Lambert Inn which was replaced by another hotel to be called the Marlborough Hotel in 1901. The first Marlborough was replaced by the present Marlborough Hotel in 1940. The hotel is part of an important group of interwar Hotels located on King Street, which also includes the Union Hotel and the Town Hall Hotel. The building was designed by John M Hellyer. It is also known as "the Marley". Another view of the hotel looking down King Street. Sources: Sydney Council Heritage Database

The Zanzibar Hotel at 323 King Street in Newtown occupies the site of John Webster’s New Town store which existed there in the early 1800s and was where the name Newtown originated. The hotel was established as the Daniel Webster Hotel in 1863 and later renamed the Oxford Hotel in 1875. It has some nice Art Deco ornament on the facade which was probably added during the 1930s. In the 1980’s it was renamed the Oxford Tavern and after major refurbishments with an African theme circa 2001-2002 was renamed the Zanzibar. King street facade Facade detail Sources: Sydney Archives - Newtown Project GDay Pubs Australia

The Golden Barley Hotel at 165-169 Edgeware Road in Enmore was opened in 1939 and was designed by architects Joy and Pollit. It is recognised in the RAIA Reister of Significant 20th Century Buildings as a prime example of Art Deco architecture. Many original features are still in evidence throughout the hotel particularly upstairs. Golden Barley facade detail Public bar ceiling There have been several internal renovations over the years but thankfully the curved ceiling mouldings have been retained thus preserving the Art Deco flavour. Public bar The Public Bar layout is markedly different to the original layout with the bar area now along the back wall. The give away to the layout change is the seating area underneath the ceiling moulding which runs the length of the room. These moulded ceiling highlights were an integral design feature of the bar service area below and usually mirrored the shape of the bar. Here is a picture showing how the Public Bar was ori

The Golden Sheaf Hotel located at 429 New South Head Road in Double Bay is a heritage listed inter war hotel built in 1936 designed by Provost and Ruwald. The hotel is listed in the RAIA Register of Significant 20th Century Buildings. Previously it was the site of an Eddie Jensen tennis court. Golden Sheaf hotel facade detail

The Rosebery Hotel is located at 569 Botany Road, Rosebery and it is a two storey, interwar Functionalist hotel with streamlined corners and original sign. It boasts a parapeted façade with steel casement windows and face brickwork above the awning characterised by recessed string coursing. This hotel was constructed in 1939 to the design of J G Dalziel of the Tooth & Co Architectural Department. Detail of the hotel facade Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

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

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

Built in 1938 by architects Provost and Ancher the North Annandale Hotel, located at 105 Johnson Street, Annandale, is listed in the RAIA Register of significant 20th Century buildings. The North Annandale hotel is a fine example of an interwar hotel with nice detailing on the facade. North Annandale hotel facade detail More facade detail Sources: RAIA Register of Significant Buildings