Observer Hotel facts for kids

The Observer Hotel is a historic hotel located at 69 George Street in The Rocks, a famous area in Sydney, Australia. It was designed by architects Halligan & Wilton and built between 1908 and 1909. Today, the hotel is owned by Property NSW, a government group in New South Wales. It was officially listed as a special heritage site on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002, meaning it's an important part of history to protect.

Quick facts for kids Observer Hotel
Observer Hotel in 2010
Location	69 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1908–1909
Architect	Halligan & Wilton
Architectural style(s)	Federation Free Style
Owner	Property NSW
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Observer Hotel
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	10 May 2002
Reference no.	1565
Type	Hotel
Category	Commercial
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Hotel History

The Observer Hotel stands on land that was once part of a temporary hospital in 1788. In 1795, the land was leased to William Balmain. Later, in 1810, it was leased to William Gaudry, who might have built something there.

By the 1820s, a large two-storey house with a verandah and stables was built on the site. This was the city home of Frederick Garling, who was the Crown Solicitor. His son, Frederick Garling Jr., was a famous artist who painted scenes of Sydney Harbour. One of his paintings from around 1839 shows his family's home, which had recently been sold.

Early Ownership and Changes

In the 1830s, the land was transferred to William Carr and George John Rodgers. Then, it went to Frederick Wright Unwin. He divided the property into smaller lots. Around 1845, he built large sandstone stores just south of where the hotel is now. A new lane, now called Kendall Lane, was also created. Garling's house was likely taken down in 1844. Parts of it were found during archaeological digs in the early 1990s.

By 1810, there were many licensed houses (like pubs) in New South Wales, especially in The Rocks area. This was because it was close to the port and warehouses. Running a hotel was a good business. The Observer Tavern, an earlier version of the hotel, was built in 1848 for Robert White Moore.

The Observer Tavern and Waterman's Arms

In the 1840s, the area around Argyle Street and Mill Lane started to look much like it does today, with old commercial buildings and pubs. Corner spots were popular for pubs. The Orient Hotel is on one corner, and the Observer Hotel (which replaced two older pubs) is on another.

The Observer Tavern was built in 1848. Next to it was the Waterman's Arms, built in 1844. The Waterman's Arms was named after the people who used to row boats on Sydney Harbour, like early water taxis. Before bridges, rowing was the easiest way to get to the North Shore. The Waterman's Arms was made of sandstone, a strong material. The Moore family owned the Waterman's Arms until 1901.

The Observer Tavern was a two-storey brick building with six rooms. It was first listed as a house, but by 1851, it had eight rooms and was known as a hotel. The reason for its name, "Observer Tavern," is not fully known, but the Sydney Observatory was also built in 1848.

John Speerin was the publican (hotel manager) in the 1850s. Later, John Ferguson ran the Observer, and his wife, Mary, ran the nearby P & O Hotel. The Fergusons managed the Observer until 1925. For some years, the Observer Tavern was used as an unofficial coroner's court, where investigations into deaths were held, before a proper court was built in 1906.

Building the 'New' Observer Hotel

After a major urban renewal project in George Street North around 1900, many old buildings were taken down. The Waterman's Arms and the Observer Tavern were among them. This demolition also helped to widen Mill Lane.

In 1908, plans for a new "Observer Tavern Hotel" were submitted by Halligan and Wilton for the Tooth and Co. brewery. The plans were approved in May 1908. The ground floor had a bar, two parlours, a dining room, kitchen, and laundry. It also had a large yard and public toilets accessible from Mill Lane. Upstairs, there were several bedrooms, a sitting room, and a bathroom.

Tooth & Co. bought the land in January 1909 and owned the hotel until 1977. The Fergusons continued to run the hotel after the new building was finished.

In 1920, Tooth's architect noted that the hotel needed some repairs and renovations, including asphalt in the yard and updates to the bedrooms and private areas. The hotel was described as a "three storey brick building of modern design and good appearance." A second bathroom was added to the top floor in 1938.

The hotel's business slowed down in the late 1920s because some shipping lines moved from Circular Quay. This affected many hotels in the area. Tooth's reduced the rent for the publican, Mr. Fyfe, who had been there since 1925.

Government Ownership

In 1960, the State Government decided to redevelop The Rocks area. The Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) was created for this. The Observer Hotel was taken over by the SCRA in December 1970. Tooth & Co. were paid for the hotel.

By 1990, The Rocks had changed a lot. It became a popular tourist spot during the day and a lively area for young people at night. During conservation work in 1991, parts of the old Waterman's Arms Hotel and Observer Tavern were found underground. The cellars of both buildings were uncovered.

In 2000, the hotel expanded into the next property, adding a kitchen and bistro. In 2006, a historic mural painted on the back wall of the hotel by artist Helen Davies won an award for its interpretation and presentation.

Hotel Design

The Observer Hotel is a three-storey brick building designed in the Federation Free Style. It has a wide awning over the footpath. The first and second floors have balconies set back from the building, topped by a decorative triangular section in the roofline. The hotel was built with flexible walls that don't carry the main weight of the building. It has a cement render finish.

Even with some changes over the years, the hotel's upper floors are still very similar to their original design. The ground floor's original layout and some details can still be seen.

Changes Over Time

• 1929: The original verandah over the footpath was replaced with a metal awning.
• 1937: A private sitting room was created for the hotel manager and their family. This involved moving the laundry and kitchen areas.
• 1938: An extra bathroom and toilet were added.
• 1991-92: Major conservation work was done. This included restoring the main building, changing the back wing, and building a new courtyard room. The basement and cellar were made larger, and the toilets were moved. Old archaeological remains were protected and made visible to the public. The hotel reopened in August 1992.

Heritage Importance

The Observer Hotel and its site are very important to the history and culture of New South Wales. They show how The Rocks area was rebuilt after a major health crisis (the plague) in the early 1900s. It's a good example of a small hotel from that time.

Even with changes, the hotel's first and second floors are still very original, showing that these upper levels were used for living. The ground floor still has some of its original design, including special Art Nouveau style details. The Observer Hotel stands out on the corner of George Street North and Mill Lane, adding to the historic look of the street.

The different awnings along George Street North show how ideas about covering footpaths have changed over time. The Observer Hotel is one of three similar hotels designed by Halligan and Wilton around 1908 in Sydney, and it is the best preserved of them all.

The Observer Hotel was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002 because it meets several important criteria:

• It shows the history of New South Wales: The hotel shows how The Rocks was rebuilt after the plague. It also shows how drinking habits changed over time. It's a key part of The Rocks' social history.
• It is linked to important people or groups: The large rebuilding of The Rocks and Millers Point was one of the biggest projects of its kind in Australia. The site is also connected to the Garling family, especially Frederick Garling, a marine artist.
• It has special design or creative value: The Observer Hotel's design, in the Federation Free Style, adds to the beauty and history of George Street North. It's a great example of the work of architects Halligan & Wilton.
• It can teach us about history: The site of the Observer Hotel still holds remains of older buildings underground, which can be studied further to learn more about the past.
• It has rare or unique features: The Art Nouveau style details in the Observer Hotel, like the lettering on the outside and the pressed metal inside, are rare examples of this style in Sydney.
• It shows key features of its type: The Observer Hotel is a well-preserved example of a small hotel that originally had one bar. Its upper floors are still very intact, showing how these spaces were used.

Images for kids

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  Observer Tavern, 1901 (second from right)