Royal George Hotel, Sydney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Royal George Hotel
The building in 2010
Location	115–117 Sussex Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1903
Architectural style(s)	Federation Free Style
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Royal George Hotel; The Slip Inn
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	411
Type	Hotel
Category	Commercial
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The Royal George Hotel is a historic building located at 115–117 Sussex Street in the Sydney central business district, Australia. It was built in 1903. Today, it is known as the Slip Inn. An older building, the former Cuthbert's Patent Slip building from 1869, is now also part of the hotel complex. The Royal George Hotel was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

A Glimpse into the Past

The land around Sydney originally belonged to the Eora Aboriginal people. Specifically, the Cadigal and Wangal groups were the traditional owners of the land where the hotel stands. Even though their numbers were greatly reduced after European settlement, their descendants still live in Sydney today.

The Royal George Hotel stands on land first granted to James Edrop in 1837. Maps from 1843 show a "Patent Slip Wharf" here. A "Patent Slip" was a special ramp used to pull small ships out of the water for repairs. The first business on the slip was run by John Cuthbert in 1867.

The hotel on this site changed its name several times. It was first called the Patent Slip Hotel. Then, in 1882, it became the New Wharf Hotel. In 1888, it was renamed the Royal George Hotel. Later, in 1896, it was known as Cockrane's Hotel.

In 1900, the government took over the site due to a health crisis. It then passed to the Sydney Harbour Trust. Later, in 1903, a Sydney brewer named Edmund Resch leased the site. In 1904, Day Street was made wider, which cut off the hotel's direct connection to the waterfront. The Maritime Services Board took ownership in 1939.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the hotel was a popular meeting place for a group of thinkers and artists known as the Sydney Push. Famous people like Germaine Greer and Robert Hughes visited the hotel. It was also a place where politicians, like Neville Wran, often gathered.

In 1969, the government took over the property again to change Day Street. The hotel was sold in 1985 to Harry Galleia. Later, the original leaseholders bought it back. By 1991, the owners faced financial difficulties. The hotel stopped trading under its original name in 1993. It was then planned to become a restaurant but remained empty for a while.

In 1996, John and Merivale Hemmes bought the hotel. Their son, Justin Hemmes, planned to reopen it. After a big renovation costing $5 million, it reopened in late 1997 as the Slip Inn. Many famous people visited the Slip Inn in its first year, including Jack Nicholson and Keanu Reeves.

The hotel gained international fame during the 2000 Summer Olympics. This is where Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark met his future wife, Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark. The hotel even used this story in its advertising, with the slogan "Meet your prince at the Slip."

The Cuthbert's Patent Slip Building

The building at 107-113 Sussex Street was originally separate from the hotel. However, it has become part of the hotel complex in recent years. It was likely built in 1867 by John Cuthbert, a well-known boat builder in Sydney. This building was used by merchants and for storage.

In 1900, the government also took over this site. When Day Street was widened in 1904, this building also lost its direct link to the waterfront. Later, in the 1970s, parts of the site were taken for the Western Distributor road. In 1987, the building was changed a lot, with parts becoming a restaurant.

What the Hotel Looks Like

The Main Hotel Building

The Royal George Hotel is a two-story building made of brick. It sits on a corner, with two basement levels. The front facing Sussex Street still has its original brickwork and detailed designs on the upper floor. The ground floor has been covered with a smooth finish. The original doors and decorative windows are still there.

The hotel has balconies that are set back into the building on both the east and south sides. Inside, the bar areas, living spaces, and bedrooms have been changed into restaurants and new kitchens. However, some original features remain. These include stairs, decorative plasterwork, and leadlight windows.

The 107-113 Sussex Street Building

107-113 Sussex Street, pictured in 2019.

This building is made of brick and looks like four connected shops. It is one story tall from Sussex Street but has two stories at the back. The front has four large windows, like old shopfronts. Above them, you can see the words "CUTHBERT'S PATENT SLIP 1869" carved into the stone.

Each "shop" has a door and a window. These areas were likely two rooms deep but are now connected inside. The lower level, below Sussex Street, now has doors opening onto a roof garden.

Why the Hotel is Important

The Royal George Hotel's Significance

The Royal George Hotel is a great example of the Federation Free Style of architecture. It is important because it has been a hotel for a very long time, continuing a tradition from the early 1800s. It also replaced an even older hotel on the same spot.

The hotel shows how the Sussex Street area and the Darling Harbour waterfront developed over time. Its design is beautiful and mostly unchanged on the outside. It used to be a key place for people in the local community to meet and stay. This hotel helps us understand what life was like in the early 1900s.

The Royal George Hotel is one of eleven hotels in Sydney built in this special style. It is considered one of the most important examples, after places like the Palisade and Napoleon hotels.

The 107-113 Sussex Street Building's Significance

The former Cuthbert's Patent Slip buildings at 107-113 Sussex Street are important for showing the history of Sussex Street. They represent the old warehouses along the harbor. The building is linked to John Cuthbert, a famous boat builder from early Sydney. It also shows the style of commercial buildings from that time. These buildings are now quite rare and have a unique look.

Heritage listing

The Royal George Hotel was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Images for kids

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  Germaine Greer, a well-known writer and thinker, visited the hotel often in the 1960s and 1970s.