Gowings & State Theatre combine to create luxury hotel!

[CULWULLA]

i think this is a novel idea.what a location
both art deco skyscrapers date from 1929)
both 12storey bldgs have old small floor plates that dont lease well.(lets hope floors line up?lol)
A $50mil plan refurb sees the upper floors connected and create a new luxury hotel. The lobby will be from state theatre. Also plans include a bar on lev2 of gowings.
story in todays fin rev!

state theatre lobby
image hosted on flickr



gowings and state theatre rear
image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[LanceDriver]

Is Gowings deco? Also, is the theatre itself remaining though?

[CULWULLA]

^yes theatre stays. i think upper 8floors of both bldgs will become hotel.?

[Inego]

Sounds like a great project, although it's almost a pity to lose the small retail upstairs in Gowings. Nowhere near as grand as Dymocks Block, but similar concept.

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Now all we need is for one of the big international chain stores to replace Supre/Lincraft on the bottom couple of floors of the old Gowings.

Nice idea, hopefully it works out well...the Blacket Hotel recently closed to make way for Louis Vuitton and office space, so it's good to be getting a boutique hotel back

[LanceDriver]

^ Target would be great under there for sure!

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

If Target went in there, it wouldn't be big enough for a full range store, they would basically just have to concentrate on clothes.

I'd like to see something like H&M, Zara, Abercrombie and Fitch go in there.

[Fabian]

I heard about the proposal yesterday. I hope they go for an upmarket brand like the Swissotel across the road. Good location for tourists. Everything closeby

[Cariad]

I was told that Ritz-Carlton were coming to Sydney, at first I thought Big Red, but it could easily be this one?

[SinCity]

Good adaptation of these 2 buildings.

Any plans to do something with those string of buildings adjacent to this site on George Street? That section between Gowings and the Hilton screams redevelopment ...

[Eco-rat]

Originally Posted by Sky_Is_The_Limit

Now all we need is for one of the big international chain stores to replace Supre/Lincraft on the bottom couple of floors of the old Gowings.

Nice idea, hopefully it works out well...the Blacket Hotel recently closed to make way for Louis Vuitton and office space, so it's good to be getting a boutique hotel back

I'm hoping also the network of 1st floor and 2nd floor walkways (level with the Monorail Stations) can also be extended into this development.

It said the hotel was taking up the top floors, as the Theatre takes up the lower floors of the space it occupies - so there must be still a few floors in Gowings not yet spoken for.

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Are you referring to Supre?
Apparently it is held on a monthly lease. PERFECT position for one of the big international chain stores that has been 'scouting' Sydney for a flagship store. Enough scouting start opening!

@Fabian, I would prefer to see this as an independent boutique hotel rather than a chain hotel, even if it is a luxury chain.

[AltiusAltiusAltius]

What a great idea Of course theatre stays! We lack heritage hotels in Sydney and it's good to have another major conversion (after Wales House/Radisson Plaza and Grace)...It's gotta be the most upmarket hotel, no room for 4 star there!

[LanceDriver]

Originally Posted by Sky_Is_The_Limit

Are you referring to Supre?
Apparently it is held on a monthly lease. PERFECT position for one of the big international chain stores that has been 'scouting' Sydney for a flagship store. Enough scouting start opening!

@Fabian, I would prefer to see this as an independent boutique hotel rather than a chain hotel, even if it is a luxury chain.

I would like to see it as a Formula One because the CBD needs one for people from the suburbs to stay in.

[AltiusAltiusAltius]

Originally Posted by LanceDriver

I would like to see it as a Formula One because the CBD needs one for people from the suburbs to stay in.

lol, Formula 1! The one on William St will do for now I reckon CBD bars should charge double rates on workdays and triple on weekends to repel westies! I'm sick of their woggy cars on George St every Saturday nite

[LanceDriver]

lol. At least the William st one is good for blokes from the riff to stay at on their bucks nights in the Cross, if they're not hiring a bus.

[Fabian]

Originally Posted by LanceDriver

I would like to see it as a Formula One because the CBD needs one for people from the suburbs to stay in.

It's Formule One, It's better suited to Railway Square where the budget accomodation tends to be.

I know you like no frills brands, but sadly there isn't the space or the market, or isn't approprately suited to it's setting.

As for formule one, I question if it's financially viable to operate one there given the high property prices in that part of the CBD. I know they have one in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne which is in the retail heart but Sydney is a different market altogether.

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Boutique hotel a work of art (deco)
JOSEPHINE TOVEY
March 12, 2010

A PROPOSAL to redevelop the upper levels of the State Theatre and Gowings buildings into a boutique hotel has been given a thumbs-up by heritage experts, who say it could help preserve and enhance the historic Sydney buildings.

Amalgamated Holdings Limited recently lodged a development application with the City of Sydney to turn the loftier floors of the two buildings into a 196-room ''New York or Venice'' style hotel, restaurant and day spa.

Guests will enter via the art deco palatial lobby of the State Theatre, with a reception on level one and rooms on levels three to 10 and four to 11 of the Gowings building.

Heritage experts praised the initial designs for the $55 million redevelopment, which involves no major structural demolition. The theatre will remain in its current form and will stay open throughout construction.

The facades of both buildings will be restored and details such as gargoyles that have been damaged or removed over the years will be replaced.

''I'll go out on a limb and say the State Theatre is probably Australia's finest historic theatre,'' said Graham Quint, advocacy manager for the National Trust.

''If as part of this project it can be brought back to its former glory then that's a good thing.''

Mr Quint said that like the General Post Office building, which has been home to the Westin Hotel since 1999, this was a good way to build new hotels that complement existing architecture.

He said these clever adaptive reuses stood in contrast to the proposed construction of a 60-storey hotel over the water at Barangaroo with its construction costs, environmental and visual impact.

''There's a million reasons why this is a much, much better way to go,'' he said.

Amalgamated Holdings Limited has owned the State Theatre from the time it was built in 1929 but only acquired the Gowings building in 2006, buying it for $68 million after the men's department store closed.

Despite significant falls in hotel revenue last year, the market is expected to bounce back as the economic crisis eases.

Overseas visitor arrival figures released yesterday showed a 7 per cent increase in the past quarter.

''Sydney is generally lacking in new five-star accommodation,'' said Brett Gale, executive director of the Tourism and Transport Forum. ''This will be a welcome addition to Sydney.''

The development application will be on exhibition until April 8.

FROM: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/boutiqu...0311-q1le.html





lol, they just had to throw their 2c in about Barangaroo

[LanceDriver]

Originally Posted by Fabian

It's Formule One, It's better suited to Railway Square where the budget accomodation tends to be.

I know you like no frills brands, but sadly there isn't the space or the market, or isn't approprately suited to it's setting.

As for formule one, I question if it's financially viable to operate one there given the high property prices in that part of the CBD. I know they have one in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne which is in the retail heart but Sydney is a different market altogether.

ok, thanks.

[Eco-rat]

Originally Posted by LanceDriver

ok, thanks.

I thought the end of the day F1 is just a motel, appeals to car based travellers. No good if you pay $60 a night for the room, but $40 a night for the car spot. And endless tolls to get in and out.

In Europe F1 is a car-based model where that is more unusual than here. And something intended for "Planned to drive back to Nice from Paris, got tired, pulled over at F1" - not a place you would stay by choice.