Shops/Warehouses - part of Commercial Group
Statement of Significance
Nos. 121-127 Sussex Street is of State significance one of the last remnants of late nineteenth century wharf-side warehouse type developments on Sussex Street around Market and King Streets and the last of the smaller, stone structures in the immediate area. Whilst rebuilt and slightly relocated, the building generally retains the earlier character, scale and original stone fabric and demonstrates the development of commercial activities in the western fringe of the Sydney business district since the mid nineteenth century. The building significantly continues to be used for commercial purposes and supports the adjacent Hotel and commercial development in the vicinity and local tourist market.Description
Assessed significance:
State
Item type:
Built
Current use:
Four Points Hotel
Former use:
Commercial / Warehousing
Group:
Commercial
Category:
Other - Commercial
Designer/Maker:
Builder/Maker:
Construction Years: 1850 - 0
Physical Description: Built around the 1850s; painted stone and iron roof. Originally single storey to Sussex Street with four storeys at rear; sympathetic second storey added around Federation to Sussex Street elevation. Original tenants were very well known Sydney produce merchants.
Property Description
| Lot/Volume Number | Section Number | Plan Folio Code | Plan Folio Number |
| 3/0 | 1237311 | ||
| 4/0 | 775101 | ||
| 5/0 | 775101 | ||
| 4/0 | 1237311 | ||
| 2/0 | 1237311 | ||
| 1/0 | 1237311 |
Address
121-127 Sussex Street, Darling Harbour 2000
LGA(s): Sydney
Historic Notes and Themes
Historical notes: Mid nineteenth century commercial buildings reflecting the predominate use of the Sussex Street area as storage, warehousing, and markets closely related to the wharfage in Darling Harbour.The site for much of its history in the 19th and early 20th century was the premises of produce and commission agents. There were other businesses occupying the premises including a photographer in the 1870s. Nipper and See were long-time residents, who as well as produce stores and agents were also auctioneers. Several Farmers Co-operative Associations had their warehouses and offices on the site during the late 19th Century. Goldsbrough Mort & Co had sampling rooms here during the 1890s. The buildings appear to have been modified or rebuilt just before Federation, incorporating warehouses and commercial chambers. There was a tinsmith and canister maker on the site for a short time after this. Well known produce merchants and auctioneers Livingstone and Gray, later known as Livingstone and Basham had a long tenancy on the site in the early 20th Century.The site was extensively redeveloped in 1985 and incorporated into the Four Points Hotel.
Historical significance: Nos. 121-127 Sussex Street meets this criterion on State level as, despite the rebuilding of the structure, it demonstrates the development of commercial activities in the western area of the Sydney business district since the mid nineteenth century. The site and building were originally used as stores and by produce merchants in association with the activities of the adjacent wharves. The building continued to be used as stores and offices for a number of local businesses through the twentieth century when the site was redeveloped as part of a large Hotel complex, which emerged due to its proximity to the evolving entertainment and convention centres of the city. The building continues to be used for commercial purposes and supports the adjacent Hotel and commercial development in the vicinity and tourist market.The rebuilding of the structure and adaptive reuse of the building represents the changing attitudes of government and private enterprise towards historic building stock and recognises the historic contribution the building makes to the local area and Sydney.
Historical association: The building has no strong or special association with the life and works of any particular person or group. The building was associated with the Sydney Harbour Trust, who became responsible for it c. 1900, Maritime Services Board, Department of Main Roads, Darling Harbour Authority and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. It is also associated with the former Hotel Nikko (now Four Points by Sheraton).
Aesthetic significance: Nos. 121-127 Sussex Street meets this criterion on local level as it presents as a late nineteenth century, small stone store/warehouse building that together with other remaining buildings of this period form a congruous grouping along this section of Sussex Street. The building is located at a prominent corner location and has some landmark qualities. Its stone facades and scale are in contrast to the other stone and modern buildings in the vicinity.
Social significance: The building has no strong or special association with any particular community for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
Research significance: Nos. 121-127 Sussex Street meets this criterion on local level. The archaeological potential is considered to be very low due to the dismantling and rebuilding of the structure and development of the adjacent Hotel complex and road network. However, the original northern retaining wall remains as a reminder of the original location of the building and construction techniques of the mid to late nineteenth century.
Rare assessment: Nos. 121-127 Sussex Street meets this criterion on State level as it is one of the last remnants of late nineteenth century wharf-side warehouse type developments on Sussex Street around Market and King Streets and the last of the smaller, stone structures in the city area. Whilst rebuilt and slightly relocated, the building generally retains the earlier character, scale and original stone fabric.
Representative assessment: The exterior of the building generally retains a sense of its early architectural form and imagery and represents a small scale warehouse/ store building.The use as a store and offices has been removed by the adapatation of the lower levels of the building and integration with the adjacent Hotel facilities and adaptation of the building for use as restaurant in the early 1990s. These works have altered the original internal character and have impacted on the ability to interpret and demonstrate the principal characteristics of particularly the lower ground and basement levels. A sense of the former internal character is maintained on the ground and first floors by the reinstatement and exposure of the bays and some of the original or earlier timber structure, however, this has also been obscured by successive restaurant fitouts.
Intact assessment: Settlement has occurred on Sussex Street frontage, windows not original and some shopfront panelling replaced.
Physical condition: Archaeological potential of the building is good.
| Australian Theme | NSW Theme | Local Theme |
| Developing local, regional and national economies | Activities associated with the manufacture, production and distribution of goods. |
Listings
| Heritage Listing | Listing Title | Listing Number | Gazette Date | Gazette Number | Gazette Page |
| Register of the National Estate | 1/12/036/0143 | Commercial Stores (former), | 21/03/1978 | 1937 | |
| National Trust of Australia Register | 6498 | ||||
| Heritage Act - State Heritage Register | 00412 | 02/04/1999 | 0027 | ||
| Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register | Place Management NSW |
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