Brooklyn Hotel
Location: 229 George Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000
Constructed: 1912 - 1912
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The Brooklyn Hotel is an important example for its 1912 facade and shopfront, which are typical of the period. The top verandah is interesting in a picturesque manner flanked by two Ionic columns and the whole facade has high quality stone detailing. The awning forms an important part of this composition and the shopfront below, which is probably contemporary with the building, is unique. The interiors of the ground and first floor bars are also significant and well designed for their purpose.
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Physical Description
This Edwardian building in Federation Free Style has a four storey brick and sandstone facade featuring a central sandstone projecting bay on the first and second floors, with an open balcony above with small ionic columns and dentilled trim, flanked by narrow multi-pane windows. There is a large simple brick pediment at roof level.
Style: Federation/Art Nouveau; Storeys: 4; Facade: Brick and sandstone.
(National Trust listing 1981) |
Modifications
In the late 1980s, major work was undertaken to the group of buildings to enable their reuse. The street facades, including awnings and shopfronts, were conserved. The interiors of the buildings were extensively modified. |
Condition
The conservation work undertaken in the mid 1980s has left the building in reasonable condition. |
History
The Brooklyn Hotel site was once part of the original Parade Ground of the Colony. The land was claimed by Robert Howe on the basis of a land grant promised to his father by Governor Macquarie. In 1845, the 'Printing Office' was owned by Flowers, Alding & Co. and the tenant was Stratham & Foster. By 1848 the original grant fronting George Street comprised 'Mr. Dawson's House', a passage and the first of a series of terraced shops and houses. The subdivision and the houses built upon it remained essentially unchanged until 1884. The passage and the house and shop to the north represent, approximately, the site of the present hotel. In the period 1882-84 these terraces were demolished and a new four storey Italinate building was erected. The first bay of this new building was a hotel, named sequentially: 1884-1888 - The Sydney and Melbourne Hotel; 1889-1897- The Sydney Palace Hotel; 1898-1982- The Brooklyn Hotel). In 1911 an application was lodged by T Bennett with the City Council to demolish the Brooklyn Hotel, and in 1912 the current Brooklyn Hotel was erected at the same time as the Johnson's Building. (SCRA 1982: 7-8)
From 1980 negotiations proceeded with the private sector on proposals for mixed development and recycling on the land bounded by George, Grosvenor, Harrington and Essex Streets, known as Sites D5, D6 and D11. The agreement for the Grosvenor Place project was signed in June, 1983 involving the renovation of Royal Naval House and four adjacent buildings, including the Brooklyn Hotel. Work on Grosvenor Place commenced in 1984 and was completed in 1988. In 1987, work commenced on the$12.5m reconstruction and renovation of Royal Naval House and Federation Hall in Grosvenor Street to enable the buildings to house the Sydney Futures Exchange. The reconstruction and renovation of the three remaining historic buildings on the site, including the Brooklyn Hotel, was carried out in 1989 for use as bars and restaurant. (SCRA Annual Reports 1980-1989)
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Internet links
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Attraction Homepage |
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Data
| Name of Item: |
Brooklyn Hotel |
| Type of Item: |
Built |
| Collection: |
Commercial |
| Category: |
Hotel |
| Location: |
229 George Street, The Rocks,
NSW 2000 |
| Local Govt: |
Sydney |
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| Constructed: |
1912 - 1912 |
| Current Use: |
Pub / Hotel |
| Former Use: |
Pub / Hotel |
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