ASN Hotel Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ASN Hotel Building |
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George Street in 2014. The former ASN Hotel is on the street corner on the right side.
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| Location | 91 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1839 |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Italianate |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: ASN Hotel Building (former), Visa Offices; former Rocks Police Station; former ASN Co. Hotel | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1527 |
| Type | Hotel |
| Category | Commercial |
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The ASN Hotel Building is an old building in The Rocks, a historic area in Sydney, Australia. It used to be a hotel and a police station. You can find it at 91 George Street. The building was first built in 1839. It was largely rebuilt around 1890-91. Today, the building is owned by Property NSW. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002. This means it is a very important historical site.
Contents
The Building's Story
The land where the ASN Hotel Building stands has a long history. It was first home to the Assistant Surgeon's House. This house was built soon after the First Fleet arrived in 1788. It was close to the colony's first hospital.
Who Lived Here?
Around 1816, Francis Greenway lived in the Assistant Surgeon's house. He was a famous architect for the government. He stayed in the house even after his job ended in 1822. He lived there until at least 1834. After he passed away in 1837, the land went back to the government.
New Owners and New Buildings
In 1838, Frederic Wright Unwin, a lawyer, was given the land. He owned many properties in Sydney. In 1839, Unwin leased part of the land to Michael Gannon. Gannon was a carpenter who had arrived in Australia as a convict. He was told to build several three-story houses on George Street.
By 1844, Gannon had built many buildings. These included the New York Hotel at 91 George Street. He also built a three-story building at 93 George Street. Plus, he built other buildings and a laneway. This laneway is now called Greenway Lane.
From Hotel to Police Station
The New York Hotel opened at 91 George Street in 1840. It was a three-story stone hotel with 15 rooms. The building next door at 93 George Street was a shop. The New York Hotel operated until 1861.
Later, in 1866, the building at 91 George Street became a hotel again. It was called the Italian Hotel. In 1869, its name changed to the Liverpool Arms. By 1879, it was known as the 'ASN Co's Hotel'. This name came from the Australasian Steamship Navigation Company.
In 1890, the building at 93 George Street was in bad shape. It was decided that it needed to be rebuilt. At the same time, the hotel at 91 George Street was also largely rebuilt. Both buildings were updated with similar decorations. The upper floors of the hotel were also made larger.
The ASN Hotel continued to operate for most of the 20th century. It was a popular place for people to stay.
Government Takes Over
In 1900, after a health issue in Sydney, the government took over many properties in The Rocks. This included the ASN Hotel. The Maritime Services Board managed the building for many years. Then, in 1970, the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority took over.
The hotel had some changes in 1912, 1922, and 1928-29. By the 1970s, the ASN Hotel was not doing as well as other hotels. It closed as a hotel on 26 January 1983.
After closing, the building was renovated. It was turned into a police station. The police station opened on 20 December 1983. It operated there until 1998. Since then, the building has had different businesses, including a chocolate shop.
What Does It Look Like?
The ASN Hotel Building is a three-story building. It is made of brick and covered in cement. It is built in the Victorian Italianate style. This style often has grand features. The building has unique garland decorations below the roofline. It also has a large oval plaque on its corner.
The building was changed a lot over the years. In 1928, it was updated. Then, in 1983, it was remodeled again to become a police station. During this time, some of the older details were brought back.
Changes Over Time
The outside of the building was changed around 1891, 1928, and 1983. It was repainted in 1999. Inside, the rooms and layout have also changed. This was done to update the building and its services. In 2007, it was refurbished and painted for the chocolate shop.
Why Is It Important?
The former ASN Co. Hotel at 91 George Street is very important to the history and look of New South Wales. It is a great example of a Victorian Italianate-style corner building. It is also the only hotel building of this style in The Rocks. This makes the street look more interesting.
The site has been used by Europeans since 1788. It was home to the first Assistant Surgeon. Later, the first colonial architect, Francis Greenway, lived there. The building also shows how urban areas were planned around 1840.
The building is important because it was a hotel for a very long time. It was a gathering place and home for many working people. Experts can also study the site. They might find clues about how the hotel was built. They could also learn about the earlier buildings on the site. This includes the house where the Assistant Surgeon and Francis Greenway lived.
The ASN Hotel Building is a rare example of a Victorian Italianate-style hotel in The Rocks. It also shows the typical features of hotel buildings in the area.
