Sydney Art Deco Heritage

Listed in the RAIA Register of Significant 20th Century Buildings the Harbour Bridge at Milson's Point in Sydney was finished in 1932 and was designed by JJ Bradfield and Sir Ralph Freeman. The design of the impressive 89 metre high ziggaurat pylons, which are primarily decorative, was undertaken by the consulting architects, Sir John Burnet and Partners of London. Thomas Tait, the architect who carried out the work, produced a stripped classical treatment with strong Art Deco components. They are made of concrete, faced with granite, quarried near Moruya, where about 250 Australian, Scottish and Italian stonemasons and their families lived in a temporary settlement. Three ships were specifically built to carry the 18,000 cubic metres of cut, dressed and numbered granite blocks, 300km north to Sydney. Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

This building at 43-51 Brisbane Street, Surry Hills, was the former 20th Century Fox Film Corporation Building and reflected the growing importance of cinema for mass entertainment and information in the 1930s. It was designed in 1939 by T W Hodgson & Sons and was constructed by Robert Wall & Sons for the Fox Film Corporation. The choice of this site records the importance of this area of the city as an early focus for the film industry. It is representative of the functionalist tradition, stripped down to the essentials of form and materials, which emerged as a powerful influence in architectural practice in the 1930s. Interest is added by the Art Deco elaboration of the entry. It is significant as an example of the use of glazed terracotta tiles in low scale building. The significance of the building is enhanced by its proximity to other extant film industry related buildings such as the Paramount Studios building next door and the Hollywood Hotel. Detail at rear o

The Sydney Water building at 339-341 Pitt Street in the Sydney CBD was built by Howie Moffat & Co to a design by Budden and Mackey in 1939. The building exhibits elaborate use of various coloured granite and marble finishes. Architectural terracotta tiles and bands of bronze and copper elements plus the associated bronze windows and curved fenestration to the corner make this building one of the most exquisite examples of the Art Deco style and detail in Sydney, if not Australia. Bas relief panels, sculpted by Stanley Hammond, are strategically placed above the entrance in Pitt Street which depict the water industry and its progression of technology. Detail of the facade Relief sculpture detail More facade detail Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

The Mutual Life & Citizens building located at 38-46 Martin Place in the Sydney CBD is now known as the Henry David York building. It was also known as the Minter Ellison building. The Mutual Life & Citizens building is aesthetically significant as one of the best Inter-War commercial office buildings in Sydney. It is also the best example in Australia of the exterior use of Egyptian-derived motifs in such buildings. The building was designed by Bates Smart & McCutcheon and built from 1936 - 1938. MLC tower detail THe tower has sculptures with ancient Egyptian motifs and influences and were designed by A & K Henderson. Main entrance The carved relief panel above the front entrance proclaims "UNION IS STRENGTH". A thought provoking image. Foyer area Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

The Tea Gardens Hotel is located at 2-4 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction. The original licence for a hotel on this site was issued in 1854. It was known as the Waverley Tea Gardens and was popular destination with day visitors when the trams first arrived in 1881. The site was subdivided in 1874 and a second storey added. The building was remodelled in about 1940 to reflect the Art Deco style popular at the time. Today the upstairs function area, Circa, has a sun-drenched deck built over the front awning which destroys the look of the hotel. The main room off the deck still retains many of its original art deco features. Hotel corner facade Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

The Blues Point Hotel at 116 Blues Point Road, Milson's Point, was previously known as the North Shore Hotel and a direct successor to the hotel tradition on this site. It is an excellent example of interwar Functionalist Style. The ground floor tiling is of notable quality on the curved surfaces of the outside walls of the building. Nice tiling on walls Sources: Sydney Heritage Listings

The Kauri Foreshore Hotel is located at 2 Bridge Street, Glebe. Originally there was a two storey hotel known as the Grand Hotel on the site. The name was changed in 1905 to the Kauri Hotel which may well have been a reflection of the timber handling activities which dominated the area. The hotel was aquired by Tooth and company around 1929 and was rebuilt in 1939 to plans prepared by John M Hellyer and provides an example of the interwar Functionalist Style tempered with the popular Art Deco Style of the time. Known as "A country pub in the city" the hotel has supported live music in one form or another for many years. Facade detail Sources: Sydney Council Heritage Database