GA Zink and Sons Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GA Zink and Sons Building |
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GA Zink and Sons Building, 56 Oxford Street Darlinghurst NSW
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| Location | 56 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Built | 1911–1912; 1938 |
| Built for | Gustav Adolph Zink |
| Architect | John Dunstan (1911) H & E Sidgreaves (1938) |
| Architectural style(s) | Federation Arts and Crafts; Inter-war Art Deco |
| Owner | Zink & Sons |
| Official name: GA Zink & Sons Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 658 |
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Invalid designation
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| Official name: Commercial Building "GA Zink & Sons" (56 Oxford Street) Including Interior | |
| Type | local heritage (built) |
| Designated | 14 December 2012 |
| Part of | Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 |
| Reference no. | I384 |
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The G. A. Zink & Sons Building is a special old shop located on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia. It has been home to the Zink & Sons tailoring business since 1912. A tailor makes custom-fitted clothes, like suits.
The business was started in 1895 by Gustav Adolph Zink. The building itself is important because of its unique design. It has an Art Deco style shopfront and interesting interiors. Because of its history and design, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it's a protected historical site.
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History of Zink & Sons
The "G. A. Zink & Sons" tailoring business began in 1895. It was started by Gustav Adolph Zink, who came from Germany. His first shop was at 112 Oxford Street.
Building the Shop
In 1911, Gustav Zink decided to build a new, bigger shop. He chose the location at 56 Oxford Street. Architect John Dunstan designed the four-storey building. G. T. Brown built it, and it was finished in the first half of 1912. This new block was created when Oxford Street was made wider.
Gustav Zink ran the business until he passed away in 1932. His son, Frank William Zink, then took over the family business.
Changes Over Time
The business has stayed at the same 1912 location for many years. It became very popular during the years between World War I and World War II. It also did well after World War II.
In 1938, the building got a big makeover. A new, bold Art Deco style shopfront was added. This new front was designed by H. & E. Sidgreaves, a company known for shop designs. The business is still called "Zink & Sons" today. It continues to be a family-run business. The Jones Family has owned it since the late 1950s. Bill Jones took over from Thomas Zink at that time.
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What the Building Looks Like
The G. A. Zink & Sons Building has three floors. Its original style is called Federation Arts and Crafts. This style was popular in Australia around the early 1900s.
Shopfront Details
The front of the shop, added in 1938, is in the Inter-War Functionalist style. This means it has a clean, practical design. It has a central entrance that is set back from the street. The floor in this entrance is made of colorful terrazzo. Terrazzo is a type of flooring made from chips of marble or other stones set in cement.
The display windows on each side of the entrance are special. They are surrounded by shiny black Vitrolite. This is a type of colored glass. Thin strips of stainless steel add a modern touch. The shop's name, "Zink & Sons," is spelled out in large, stylish stainless steel letters. The street number is also clearly shown above the windows.
Inside the Shop
The inside of the ground floor and first floor still has many original features. These parts mostly date back to the 1920s. You can see old shelving, cabinets, and stairs. There are also special etched glass windows and leadlight glass. These details show how shops looked a long time ago.
Why This Building is Important
The building at 56 Oxford Street is part of a group of similar buildings. These buildings were built after Oxford Street was made wider.
Unique Design and History
This building is a rare and excellent example of an Inter-War Functionalist style shopfront. It still looks very much like it did when it was built. The upper floors also have old signs from the Federation era. These signs are part of the building's original design.
The inside of the ground and first floors is also very special. Even with some changes, it's a rare example of a shop interior from the 1920s. It was designed specifically for the G. A. Zink & Co. tailoring business. It's the only building on the north side of Oxford Street that was built for a specific business and still has that business today.
Protecting the Building
The G. A. Zink & Sons Building is considered a heritage site. This means it's important to history and culture, so it's protected by law.
Heritage Listings
The building was first listed as part of the "Oxford Square Group" in 1978. This was by the Australian Heritage Commission. Later, in 1985, the New South Wales government started protecting the building. This protection became permanent in 1989.
In the late 1990s, these protections were moved to the New South Wales State Heritage Register. The G. A. Zink & Sons Building was officially added to this register on April 2, 1999.
The building also has local heritage protection. It was first listed by the City of South Sydney in 1989. This local listing continued when the City of Sydney council took over. On December 14, 2012, the City of Sydney officially listed the building as a local heritage item. This listing includes its shopfront and interiors.
