Australian Hotel, shops and dwellings

Statement of Significance

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Description

Assessed significance: State

Item type: Built

Current use: Hotel- Shop

Former use: Hotel-shop and residence

Group: Commercial

Category: Hotel

Designer/Maker:

Builder/Maker:

Construction Years: 1914 - 1915

Physical Description: Style: Italianate; Storeys: 2 & basement; Facade: Brick; Side Rear Walls: Brick; Internal Walls: Plaster; Roof Cladding: Iron; Floor Frame: cement floor - basement, timber -ground and first; Ceilings: Decorative pressed metal

Property Description

Address

Historic Notes and Themes

Historical notes: The site is known to have been built upon by the 1820s, although it is likely that, like the other ridges of The Rocks, it was occupied by the encampment of settlers in the first weeks of the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Terrace houses occupied the site from the c1840s until the construction of the hotel complex in 1914.The original Australian Hotel, leased to John Murray, was situated at 116 Cumberland Street on land contained within the Observatory Hill Resumed Area. In 1907 plans were made to realign Cumberland Street which included the demolition of the hotel. In 1911, Murray made an application for the erection of a new hotel, to be built be either by the Government or himself. The site on the corner of Cumberland Street and Gloucester Street was chosen. In 1912, Murray was granted a lease for the new hotel, operative as of 1 January 1913. Prior to construction, however, the 50 year lease was transferred to Resch's Ltd. The residential buildings on the site were demolished by 1914 and construction of the new hotel completed towards the end of that same year. On 8 May 1914 the Municipal Council approved the construction of a two storey hotel plus cellar and two shops adjoining (one in Cumberland Street and one in Gloucester Street), the plans having been prepared for and submitted to Council by Resch's Ltd. The structure was two storeys in height with brick walls and an iron roof. A basement, or cellar, was located beneath the split level saloon bar. Two shops were also built on the site, one of which (fronting Cumberland Street) was used as a grocery store. In 1915, Resch's Ltd sublet the hotel to John Upjohn who was later convicted of selling adulterated rum. Resch's Ltd merged with Tooth & Co. Ltd in 1931 and the lease was transferred to Tooth & Co. Ltd, with Upjohn remaining licensee until 1939. In 1948, the whole of the ground floor was renovated and in 1955, the hotel was reroofed. Upon the expiration of the 50 year lease in 1963, Tooth & Co. Ltd stayed on as monthly tenants. Under the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority Act of 1968, the hotel and surrounding area came under the jurisdiction of the Authority.In 1991-1992 an extensive program of conservation works was carried out, including the rebuilding of the Cumberland Street shop within the existing shell after fire damage.(Adapted from NSW Government Architect?s Office. 2006)

Historical significance: The Australian Hotel is historically significant because the complex and site followed the precepts of the 1903 Hickson, Davis and Vernon planning scheme, designed to improve the hygiene and amenity of The Rocks inhabitants following the 1900 plague outbreak. The relocation of the hotel and the whole development provides evidence of the town planning principles and the prevailing concepts of public health and amenity of the period.The Australian Hotel is also historically significant because it provides evidence of past and current leisure activities in NSW. It is one of the last purpose built hotels in The Rocks. The building is an important remaining example of the public houses built in The Rocks from the establishment of the Colony. The Australian Hotel, in conjunction with these earlier hotels, is part a suite of buildings that demonstrate changing social and drinking habits over time. Substantially intact purpose-built hotels of this period are rare, as most have been altered as a result of changing licensing laws and drinking habits.The site's changing use reflects the urban, economic and social development of the area. The site also reflects the lifestyles of the working and lower middle classes during the early twentieth century. The site also is indicative of the consistent two-storey scale of the area, which predominated in the vicinity prior to construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.The shop at 87 Gloucester Street is an almost intact example of an Edwardian shop. The whole building, designed in an Edwardian architectural idiom, remains highly intact and thus provides evidence of past tastes, customs and forms.Ranking: STATE(NSW Government Architect's Office. 2006)

Historical association: The site has no known associations with people or groups of importance in NSW?s cultural or natural history.(NSW Government Architect's Office. 2006)

Aesthetic significance: The Australian Hotel is aesthetically significant because it has landmark qualities on a prominent site at the corner of Cumberland and Gloucester Streets. It makes a significant contribution to The Rocks precinct as a visual marker of post-resumption development along with the housing board terraces across the road. This is in contrast to earlier elements such as Susannah Place and the Cumberland/Gloucester Street Archaeological site.The building is an attractive and well-resolved example of Edwardian hotel architecture, with quality finishes, fabric and details. The building has a high degree of intact fabric and details and integrity and as such is relatively rare, as most hotels of this period have been altered as a result of revised licensing laws and changing drinking habits. In addition, the design of the building effectively solves the problems of its corner site and differing street levels.Ranking: STATE(NSW Government Architect's Office. 2006)

Social significance: Although not formally assessed, it is likely that the Australian Hotel has a high degree of social significance. This relates to its traditional role as a meeting place and abode of working men within The Rocks area. It continues to provide the service for which it was designed to not only the local residents but also to visitors to the area. The Australian Hotel and shops have social significance as an important feature in The Rocks Conservation area, and contributes strongly to the character of The Rocks.Ranking: LOCAL(NSW Government Architect's Office. 2006)

Research significance: The Australian Hotel and site has technical/research significance because it demonstrates earlier forms of building practice. The site also contains highly significant archaeological remains from pre-Hotel occupation of the site. Rock-cut features and footings associated with the residential neighbourhood from settlement to c1910 have been found and retained beneath both the Hotel and shops. There is very high potential for further remains to be found. In conjunction with the adjoining Cumberland/ Gloucester Streets Archaeological Site, the remains add to an understanding of the community in this area and provide a rare opportunity for archaeological study of an early neighbourhood that is not possible in many other parts of Sydney and the State.Ranking: STATE(NSW Government Architect's Office. 2006)

Rare assessment: The combination of hotel and shops in one architectural treatment and the two level bar provided an innovative response to the characteristics of the site and the needs of the community at the time. The building has a high degree of intact fabric, details and integrity. Many hotels of this period have been altered as a result of revised licensing laws and changing drinking habits.The early archaeological resources within the site provide a rare opportunity, in conjunction with neighbouring sites, to study an early and significant community in the development of Sydney and the State.Ranking: LOCAL(NSW Government Architect's Office. 2006)

Representative assessment: The Australian Hotel is representative of a type of building traditionally associated with a meeting place and abode for working men within the traditional mixed residential, industrial, commercial and maritime uses of The Rocks area.Ranking: LOCAL(NSW Government Architect's Office. 2006)

Intact assessment: Archaeology partly disturbed.

Physical condition: Archaeology Assessment Condition: Partly disturbed. Assessment Basis: The watching brief indicated that the archaeological resource was well preserved, particularly in the form of architectural elements. Floor plans of the terrace houses in Gloucester Street were obtained, the foundations being preserved in situ beneath the floor of the shop. Some architectural elements were encountered under the Cumberland St shop although these were disturbed as little as possible, retaining them for future investigation. Investigation: Watching Brief

Listings

References

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	Higginbotham, Kass & Walker	1991	The Rocks and Millers Point Archaeological Management Plan
Management Plan	NSW Government Architect?s Office	2006	Australian Hotel, Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Conservation Management Plan
Written	Robertson & Hindmarsh P/L	1989	Conservation Study: An investigation of the significance of the Australian Hotel and adjacent shops and residences, Cumberland and Gloucester Streets, The Rocks
Written	SCRA	1979	Building Data Sheets CU/01 & CU/02 & AP/06
Written	Brian McDonald & Associates	1999	Heritage Impact Statement - The Australian Hotel, The Rocks
Written	SCA (E C J Lydon)	1992	Archaeological Monitoring The Australian Hotel and Adjoining Shops, The Rocks, Sydney

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