Orient Hotel, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orient Hotel |
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Orient Hotel in 2014
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| Location | 87-89 George Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built |
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| Built for |
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| Architect | William Henry Foggitt (1922 and 1930s alterations) |
| Architectural style(s) | Colonial Georgian |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Orient Hotel | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1567 |
| Type | Hotel |
| Category | Commercial |
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The Orient Hotel is a very old and important building in The Rocks, a historic area in Sydney, Australia. It's a special kind of building called a heritage-listed pub. It stands on George Street and was first built between 1843 and 1844. Today, it's owned by Property NSW, a government agency in New South Wales. The hotel was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002 because of its long history and unique features.
Contents
A Glimpse into the Past: The Orient Hotel's History
The land where the Orient Hotel stands today has a long history. It was once part of Sydney's very first hospital. Later, it became part of the Surgeon General's home. In 1828, the land was given to Captain John Piper. This was a "land grant," meaning the government gave him the land.
Early Owners and Land Changes
In the 1830s, the land was surveyed and became known as Lot 1 of City Section 85. At this time, a merchant named Frederick Wright Unwin owned it. He bought the property from Mary Reibey in 1828. Mary Reibey had planned to build houses there, but she couldn't because of problems with the land title. A "land title" is like a legal document that proves who owns the land.
Unwin kept the land for many years. He was a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer. He invested a lot in property. The land was later subdivided, meaning it was split into smaller pieces.
Building the First Structures
In 1842, a butcher named James Chapman bought two of these smaller pieces of land. He was an important person in the local community and even a city councillor. Chapman built a three-storey house with ten rooms and a small shop next door. These were the first parts of what would become the Orient Hotel. His house was one of the most valuable homes on George Street at the time.
From Home to Hotel: The Marine Hotel
After James Chapman passed away, his family continued to own the property. In 1859, the house was sold and turned into a "licensed premises," which means it was allowed to sell drinks. It became known as the Marine Hotel. This change happened around the time of the New South Wales gold rush in the 1850s. Many people were coming to Sydney looking for gold, and businesses like hotels were needed to provide places to stay and services.
The hotel's name, "Marine Hotel," showed its connection to the sea and sailors. This area of The Rocks was very close to the wharves where ships docked.
New Owners and New Names
In 1876, James Kelly sold the hotel to Gustave Buckham. Buckham renamed it "Buckham's Hotel." He also made changes, adding more rooms. Over the years, the hotel had many different managers, called publicans. Each time a new publican took over, the hotel often changed its name to attract customers. It was known as May's Family Hotel, Pries' Family Hotel, and Brown's Family Hotel.
The Orient Hotel: A Name Inspired by Ships
In 1885, the hotel was renamed the "Orient Hotel." This name came from the "Orient Steam Navigation Line," a shipping company whose large steamships started docking nearby. The area around the hotel was becoming a busy international shipping hub.
What Was at 87 George Street?
Next door to the hotel, at 87 George Street, there was a shop or store. This building was owned by different people over the years and housed many types of businesses. It showed how busy and varied the area was. Some of the businesses included:
- A butcher shop
- A poultry dealer
- A fruit seller
- A hay and corn dealer
- A boarding house
- A brass founder and plumber (The Canonside Foundry)
- A laundry
- A bootmaker
- A yachtsmith
- An electrical engineer
- A manufacturer of oil and varnish
- Carpenters and joiners
Big Changes and New Owners
Around 1920, a company called Resch's Limited took over the main lease of the hotel from the Housing Board. This led to big additions and changes to the hotel in 1922. More changes happened in 1929, 1940, and 1961. The hotel continued to offer both drinks and accommodation.
Later, in 1930, Tooth and Co., a major brewery, took over the lease. Then, in 1948, British Breweries Pty Ltd. became the leaseholder.
Government Takes Over and Restores
After World War II, the government started to focus on developing the area around Circular Quay for international shipping. In the 1960s, the Maritime Services Board built a new international passenger terminal.
In the mid-1970s, the Orient Hotel started to undergo many changes to make it more popular. These changes were managed by government groups like the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA). The SCRA was set up in 1970 to restore and redevelop The Rocks. There were big plans to build new high-rise buildings, but people in the community protested. This led the SCRA to focus more on keeping the cultural and historical value of the area.
Around 1976, a company called Rocks Hotels Pty Ltd. took over the hotel. In 1979, major renovations were done to make the hotel's outside look more like it did in the 1800s. Other changes in the 1980s included:
- Fixing the veranda and stairs in 1980.
- Rebuilding parts of the street paving in 1981.
- Removing an inside wall in 1983.
- Moving entry doors and changing the bar area in 1984.
Another big renovation happened in 1988, costing a lot of money.
What the Orient Hotel Looks Like
The Orient Hotel is a great example of a "Colonial Georgian" building. This style was common in Australia a long time ago. It has a curved corner, flat walls at the top, and smaller windows on the top floor. The building is made of brick with a stucco (plaster) finish. It has wooden floors, roof, and window frames.
In 1920, a new section was added to the west side. In 1930, another section was added to the north, along with awnings and wall tiles.
How the Building Changed Over Time
The hotel has been changed and updated many times:
- In 1848, a brick stable and a wooden shed were added in the back.
- Between 1864 and 1878, the outside walls were covered with cement plaster.
- In 1922, major extensions were built over where the stable and shed used to be.
- In 1930, the old shop and sheds were taken down. More additions were made to the George Street side.
- In the 1840s, the ground floor was changed, and the bar was made bigger.
- In 1978, big renovations happened. The inside and outside were restored to look more like they did originally.
- The awning was removed in 1981.
- In 1988, many original parts of the inside were changed during renovations.
Why the Orient Hotel is Special: Heritage Listing
The Orient Hotel is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's considered very important for its history, its look, and what it tells us about the past.
A Living Piece of History
The Orient Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Sydney that is still open today. It started as the Marine Hotel and has been operating ever since. It shows how a house can be turned into a hotel, which was a common thing in the 1800s. Even with all the changes, it still looks like a Georgian building from the outside. It also has some very old parts inside that show how buildings were made long ago.
The hotel's location near the old docks shows how important the port was to Sydney's early development. It's part of a group of old buildings that make George Street look like it did in the past.
Connections to Important People
The Orient Hotel is linked to important people like Mary Reibey and Frederick Wright Unwin, who owned the land before the hotel was built. It's also connected to James Chapman, who built the first house and shop on the site. And it has ties to Tooth & Co., a big brewing company that owned many hotels in New South Wales.
A Beautiful and Unique Building
The Orient Hotel is a great example of a Colonial Georgian hotel. It sits on a corner, which makes it stand out. Even though some original parts are gone, its overall shape and Georgian style are still there. It's located among other historic buildings like the Argyle Bond Stores and Cadman's Cottage, creating a beautiful old streetscape. The way it looks today also shows how the government tried to restore old buildings in the 1970s.
A Place for Community and Fun
For over 150 years, the Orient Hotel has been a popular place for people to meet and have fun. It has provided a social place and accommodation for many years. It shows how the area has changed over time. The fact that it was restored to look like its older self shows how much the government values heritage. It helps us understand how hotels used to be designed in Australia.
Learning from the Past
The Orient Hotel has layers of different building styles and construction periods. This helps us learn about how buildings were designed and built in the past. Its layout can also show us how businesses and hotels operated long ago. There might even be old things buried underground from the time it was a convict hospital or a working yard.
A Rare Survivor
The Orient Hotel is special because it's one of the few very old hotels in New South Wales that is still open and operating since the 1850s. It has parts of the original building that give us a rare look into how buildings were designed and constructed in the Colonial period.
Part of a Historic Group
The Orient Hotel is part of a group of old hotels in The Rocks and Millers Point area. It shows how hotels and businesses were a key part of this historic district.
