Mercantile Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mercantile Hotel |
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The hotel in 2010
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| Location | 25-27 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1914 |
| Built for | Tooth & Co. |
| Architect | Spain & Cosh |
| Architectural style(s) | Federation Free Style |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Mercantile Hotel; Shell shop | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1560 |
| Type | Hotel |
| Category | Commercial |
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The Mercantile Hotel is a historic pub found at 25-27 George Street in The Rocks, a famous area in Sydney, Australia. It was designed by Spain & Cosh Architects and built in 1914. Today, the hotel is owned by Property NSW, a government group in New South Wales. Because of its special history and design, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002. This means it's an important building that needs to be protected.
The Mercantile Hotel's Story
The land where the Mercantile Hotel stands today was once very rocky. A sharp rock wall made it hard to build anything there for a long time.
Early Days of the Site
- In 1834, the land was given to Robert Campbell.
- Later, in 1848, it was sold to William Reilly.
- Around 1872, some of the rock was flattened. The site was then used for storing things like timber, coal, and leather. There were also small stables.
- Around 1900, the rough rock face was made straight. A stone wall was built to support Gloucester Street, which is now Gloucester Walk.
- In 1907, the government took over the land as part of a plan to improve The Rocks area.
- The site stayed empty until 1912, when a marble yard operated there for a short time.
Building the New Hotel
The current Mercantile Hotel was built in 1914. Before this, there was another hotel called the Mercantile Rowing Club Hotel. It was about 200 meters away and was linked to a rowing club.
- The original rowing club had to leave its boathouse in 1910. The club then moved and became the Mosman Rowers Club.
- James Dwyer, who ran the old Mercantile Rowing Club Hotel, moved to the brand new Mercantile Hotel in 1914.
- The new hotel was built by a big brewing company called Tooth and Co.. Their architects, Spain and Cosh, were very well-known in Sydney.
The Mercantile Hotel at 25 George Street has been a hotel ever since it opened. The outside of the building looks much the same. However, the inside has been changed a bit over the years.
The Shop Next Door
Next to the hotel, at 27 George Street, there was always a separate shop.
- This shop was used for different things, like a cafe or a general store.
- From 1963 to 1989, it was a special "Shell Shop" run by Marine Specimens Pty Ltd. It even had a library upstairs and was a meeting place for a group called the Malacological Society, who study shells.
- In 1989, the shop became part of the hotel. The rooms upstairs were turned into extra hotel bedrooms.
- In 1993, the ground floor of the shop was also connected to the hotel. This made the hotel even bigger.
What the Hotel Looks Like
The Mercantile Hotel is a three-story building. It's a good example of the Federation Free Style of architecture. This style is simple but elegant.
- The building is made of brick with wooden floors and a special roof.
- It has a decorative cornice (a fancy molding near the top) and an iron balustrade (a railing) on the roof deck.
- At street level, there are colorful glazed ceramic tiles called a dado (a decorative panel on the lower part of a wall).
- The hotel is shaped like an "L" because it sits on a wedge-shaped block of land.
- At one end, the building goes from three stories down to two.
- There are also two large old fig trees, low stone walls, and curved steps leading down from Gloucester Walk. These features make the area around the hotel very pleasant.
Changes Over Time
The Mercantile Hotel has had some changes since it was built:
- 1950s: Extra bathrooms were added on both hotel floors.
- 1978: The size of the awning (the cover over the sidewalk) was made smaller.
- Around 1985: Some original walls inside were removed. The bar area was changed, and some windows were bricked up. Bathrooms were also updated.
- Around 1990: The first floor of the shop was connected to the hotel. This created more hotel rooms.
- Around 1993: The ground floor of the shop was also connected to the hotel. This made the shop and hotel feel like one building. A new bar and cool room were added.
- 2005: The inside of the hotel was repainted, new carpets were laid, and it was generally updated.
Why the Hotel is Important
The Mercantile Hotel is very important to the history and look of New South Wales. It's also a key part of The Rocks area, which is special on its own.
A Link to the Past
- The hotel has been open continuously since 1914, keeping much of its original feel.
- It shows how pubs in The Rocks looked in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- The hotel is connected to the early shipping and trading activities in The Rocks. It provided services to local workers and their families.
- It replaced the original Mercantile Rowing Club Hotel, linking it to the area's rowing history.
- The dramatic stone wall on one side of the site reminds us of how rocky The Rocks area originally was.
Famous Architects and Brewers
- The hotel is a great example of the work of Spain and Cosh, a leading architectural firm in Sydney during the early 20th century.
- It also has ties to Tooth & Co. Ltd., one of New South Wales's most important brewing companies. For a long time, pubs like this were "tied hotels," meaning they had to sell beer from a specific brewery.
Beautiful Design and Location
- The hotel is a lovely example of Federation Free Style. Its design is well-handled, with nice details like the tiled dado and etched glass.
- It's an important part of the historic streetscape in The Rocks. It looks especially striking from the north because of its unique wedge shape.
- The building's structure and finishes can teach us about building techniques from the early 1900s.
A Community Hub
- The Mercantile Hotel is important to its regular customers as their local pub.
- Its location and continuous service make it a well-known meeting spot in the area.
- The Shell Shop, which was part of the building for 30 years, also created a special connection with locals and visitors.
- The hotel is also known for hosting Irish music, which gives it a unique identity.
Learning from the Building
- Even though it's been changed a bit, the hotel's layout and features can still teach us about how pubs operated in the early 20th century.
- We can learn about the building materials and techniques used back then.
A Typical Example
The Mercantile Hotel is a good example of hotels built specifically for brewers like Tooth's during the Federation period. Its unique location makes it stand out even more.
