Sussex Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sussex Hotel |
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| Location | 20 Sussex Street, Sydney, Australia |
| Built | 1913–1915 |
| Owner | Big House Hotel |
| Official name: Big House Hotel; New Hunter River Hotel; Napoleon Hotel; Moreton's Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 513 |
| Type | Hotel |
| Category | Commercial |
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The Sussex Hotel is a historic building located at 20 Sussex Street in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built between 1913 and 1915. This hotel has been known by several names over the years, including the New Hunter River Hotel, Big House Hotel, Napoleon's Hotel, and Moreton's Hotel. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because of its important history.
Contents
A Look at the Hotel's Past
Early Days and New Beginnings
Records show that a hotel called the Hunter River Inn was already in this area by the mid-1840s. It was located near the Hunter River Wharf, which likely gave it its name.
In 1901, the Sydney Harbour Trust was created by the government. This group took control of many wharves and buildings around Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. Their goal was to make the Port of Sydney a world-class port.
The Sydney Harbour Trust began building new structures between 1908 and 1915. One of these new buildings was the New Hunter River Hotel, which is now known as the Sussex Hotel.
Building the New Hotel
The original Hunter River Inn was one of the buildings that needed to be taken down. This was partly to make way for new port construction. It was also due to changes in the street layout of Sussex and Napoleon Streets.
Plans for the new hotel were drawn up in 1913. The old Hunter River Inn continued to operate until the new building was finished. The New Hunter River Hotel officially opened around 1916.
The new hotel was a four-story building. It had public bars on both the Napoleon Street and Sussex Street levels. This was needed because the two streets were at different heights. The hotel also included bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and offices.
Changes Over the Years
Over the next 15 years, the hotel saw some changes. In 1924, the entire inside of the hotel was renovated. In 1927, the serving area and bar were made smaller.
In 1928, the sitting room on the third floor was divided to create two more bedrooms. More changes happened in 1939, including a new staircase and updates to bathrooms and kitchens.
The Napoleon Street bar was very important because it was close to the wharves. The hotel was popular with seamen and wharf workers.
A Busy Place for Wharf Workers
The hotel was extremely busy when the wharf trade was at its peak. It was said that 14 barmaids were needed during the lunchtime shift. An old wharf worker once said that the hotel was like "Paddy's Markets" because you could find almost anything there.
By 1961, the hotel needed updates to meet modern standards. Its main customers were wharf laborers and seamen. However, this trade began to decline as the wharves changed and some closed.
The Sussex Hotel was one of the few pubs in Sussex Street that survived these changes. In 1970, a support pillar for the nearby Western Distributor road was even built through the hotel building.
New Names and New Owners
The hotel was known as the New Hunter River Hotel until the 1970s. In 1973, it was renamed the Big House Hotel. This name came from its large size and solid look. It was also seen as a "home away from home" for many wharf workers and truck drivers.
Later, the hotel changed hands and names several times. After 1991, it became Napoleon's Hotel, then Moreton's on Sussex, and Moreton's Hotel, before finally becoming the Sussex Hotel.
What the Hotel Looks Like
The Sussex Hotel is a large, impressive four-story building. It stands at the corner of Napoleon and Sussex Streets.
The building has brick walls with sandstone decorations. It features details typical of the Federation period, like decorative window hoods. The Sussex Street side has two parts that stick out, rising above the roof.
The windows have different shapes, including square, rounded, and semi-circular tops. They also have stone sills. The hotel has two bars, one opening onto Sussex Street and the other onto Napoleon Street.
The outside of the hotel still has many of its original details. Even though the inside has been changed over time, you can still see parts of its original design.
Building Changes and Dates
- 1913 – Construction began
- 1915 – Construction was finished
- 1924 – The entire inside was renovated and repaired
- 1927 – The serving area and bar were made smaller
- 1928 – The third-floor sitting room was divided into two new bedrooms
- 1939 – A new staircase was added, and bedrooms were modified. Bathrooms, kitchens, and bar areas were also updated.
- 1960s – Physical upgrades were made to the hotel
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Sussex Hotel is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it is an important historical building.
It is important for several reasons:
- It shows how history unfolded: The hotel has strong links to the wharf workers and shipping industries. It also shows how the Sydney Harbour Trust helped plan and lay out streets in this part of Sydney. The hotel has been open continuously since it was built, connecting it to the early days of Sydney.
- It shows great design: The hotel is a good example of an Edwardian public house (a hotel from the early 1900s). It shows the different materials and designs used by the Sydney Harbour Trust. It was also unusually large for its time.
- It has a special connection to the community: The Sussex Hotel is one of the few old hotels left in central Sydney. Together, these hotels tell an interesting story about the social life and fun times in Sydney's history.
