National House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National House |
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The National House (now Hotel CBD) is located on the right, on the corner of King Street, opposite the Grace Hotel
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| Location | 75 York Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Merivale Group |
| Official name: National House | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 581 |
| Type | Historic site |
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National House is a special old building in the heart of Sydney. It's located on York Street, right on the corner of King Street. This building used to be a warehouse and then a bank. Today, it's a popular place called the Hotel CBD.
National House is important because of its history and unique design. It is officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's protected and recognized as a significant part of the state's history. It was added to this list on April 2, 1999.
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History of National House
This building has a long and interesting past.
Early Days and John Thomas Neale
Back in 1891, a two-storey brick and stone building called the Bristol Hotel stood on this spot. In 1892, a wealthy investor named John Thomas Neale bought the property.
John Thomas Neale was born in New South Wales in 1823. He started his career as a butcher and cattle dealer. Over time, he became very wealthy. He was also involved in local government, serving as an alderman for the City of Sydney council in 1857. He invested in many banks and insurance companies and owned a lot of land. When he passed away in 1897, he donated a lot of money to charity.
Building a Warehouse
In June 1892, news reports mentioned that architect Charles Hellmrich was looking for builders for a new building here. However, it's known that Hellmrich's partner, James Alexander Meek, was the main designer. Meek mostly designed homes, but he also created several large warehouses, including this one.
The building first appeared in Sydney directories in 1894. It was rented out to Murray Brothers, who made tweed and clothing. Other tenants included wool merchants and other warehouse businesses.
From Bank to Hotel
The building continued to be used as a warehouse for many years. It stayed in the Neale family until 1920. That year, the National Bank of Australia bought it. They changed the building into a bank branch. The National Bank used the building for a long time.
In 1995, the building was changed again. It became the Hotel CBD. This was one of the first times the famous Hemmes family, who own many hotels and restaurants, entered the hospitality business.
What National House Looks Like
National House is a six-storey building with many interesting details on its outside.
Building Design
The front of the building, facing east, looks balanced and even. It has a fancy, curved entrance in the middle. Above the main door, you can see pairs of windows. Some of these windows have decorative tops on the fourth and sixth floors.
On the side of the building, facing south, the design is a bit different. The entrance on this side is at the very end. You can still see the original bank entrance from 1929 on the corner. This entrance is under a part of the building that sticks out, which has three windows. All the doorways have a rough, textured look.
Windows and Details
The ground floor is taller than the others. It has a decorative border with tooth-like shapes, which includes the fancy top of the main door. The windows on the first four levels are rounded at the top. The windows on the fifth and sixth levels are flat at the top.
The very top of the building has a decorative railing. There are also decorative tops that rise above the York Street side and the corner entrance. The building itself is shaped like a rectangle, with windows on both sides.
Inside the Building
The inside of National House has been changed over the years. However, some of the original strong cast iron columns are still there. These columns become more detailed and decorative as you go down from the fourth floor to the ground floor.
Heritage Listing
National House is important because it shows the history of architecture and business in Sydney. It was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This listing helps protect the building for future generations.
