Big House Hotel

Item details


Name of item:	Big House Hotel
Other name/s:	New Hunter River Hotel; Napoleon Hotel; Moreton's Hotel
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Commercial
Category:	Hotel
Location:	Lat: -33.8651915416 Long: 151.2034424520
Primary address:	20 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Parish:	St Philip
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Sydney
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1	DP	1033719
PART LOT	2	DP	1033719
LOT	8	DP	1033719
LOT	5	DP	1054157
PART LOT	3-4	DP	1074069
LOTS	11-15	DP	1085323

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
20 Sussex Street	Sydney	Sydney	St Philip	Cumberland	Primary Address
20-26 Sussex Street	Sydney	Sydney	St Philip	Cumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Big House Hotel	Private

Statement of significance:


	It has strong historical associations with the waterside workers and dockyard industries. (Shields-Brown 1982) It is linked with early development in the area and is associated with the activities of the Sydney Harbour Trust both as builders and determinants in the planning and layout of streets in this part of Sydney. It has continuously traded as a hotel since completion and the transfer of licence connects the Hotel to the early days of this part of Sydney. (Howard 1995: 38) It is an example of an Edwardian public house demonstrating a range of materials, details and form exploited by the Sydney Harbour Trust. The scale of the building is unusually large for the time. (Howard 1995: 38) One of a small group of surviving hotels in the central city which together form an interesting collection reflecting an aspect of the social and recreational history of Sydney. (Schwager Brooks 1988)
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Construction years:	1913-1915
Physical description:	A four storey building of brown and purple brick with stone trims: quoins, string courses, door and window surrounds and simple parapets. Some wide arched Edwardian style windows. Ground floor facade faced with brown glazed tiles imitating brick to 3m height, with original doors and windows and awning supported on cantilevered steel open trusses. Interior has original tile-clad columns with art nouveau motifs. Arcaded verandahs to 3rd and 4th floors on eastern side. (Shields-Brown 1982)
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is good. Archaeological potential is low.
	Date condition updated:29 Sep 97
Modifications and dates:	1913 - contruction started 1915 - construction completed 1924 - whole of the interior renovated and repairs undertaken to various items 1927 - size of the serving area and bar reduced in size 1928 - Third Floor Sitting Room was subdivided to provide two additional bedrooms 1939 - a new stair at the northern end of the building connecting the Napoleon Street level to the room and necessary modification of bedrooms on the Bedroom floor level and the former Commercial Room on the Napoleon Street level. Other improvements are likely to have included refitting of lavatories, bathrooms and kitchens, new fittings to bathrooms and refurbishment of bar areas. 1960s - Physical upgarading to the hotel


Current use:	Public Bar
Former use:	Aboriginal land, hotel, Public Bar

History

Historical notes:

The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters.

With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney (sourced from Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani ).

Hunter River Inn:
Early records indicate that a hotel known as the Hunter River Inn was situated at the northern end of Sussex Street, as it then existed, by the mid-1840s. The Hunter River Inn appears to have been the only building on the eastern side of Sussex Street between Margaret Place and the start of the street itself. It seems likely that the Inn's close proximity to the Hunter River Wharf may have given rise to its name.

In 1901 the Sydney Harbour Trust was set up by the State Government, which resumed the privately owned and municipal wharves from Circular Quay around to Darling Harbour, as well as stores and dwellings within the vicinity. The Trust was given full power of administration over the Harbour and also resumed properties. It subsequently set about demolishing and reconstructing wharf areas in an endeavour to bring the Port of Sydney up to world standards. In 1903 the Trust took over resumed properties formerly under the jurisdiction of other bodies and began, in piecemeal fashion, construction of buildings (other than port facilities). Between 1908 and 1915 the Trust erected a large number of buildings. One of these was the New Hunter River Hotel, now known as Napoleon's Hotel.

There were many hotels in the vicinity of the Hunter River Inn when the resumptions occurred, many of which dated well back into the nineteenth century. A large number appear to have been demolished to make way for port construction, but may also have been removed as a result of the Liquor (Amendment) Act of 1905, which assisted in the reduction of the number of hotels within New South Wales in the years that followed.

Although the Hunter River Inn was one of the buildings to be demolished, a new building on part of the sites of 22-28 Sussex Street and over part of Margaret Street was proposed and the licence of the old hotel transferred. Another reason for the demolition of the Hunter River Inn was the realignment of Sussex and Napoleon Streets. Plans of the new hotel were prepared by the Sydney Harbour Trust in the middle of 1913, and submitted to the Licensing Court on 30 March 1915. According to the Sands Directory, the properties on the site of the new building were vacated between 1913 and 1914 and the Hunter River Inn continued trading until the completion of the New Hunter River Inn, which was recorded in the Directory for 1916 at 20-24 Sussex Street, with J. Howey as licensee. Howey remained the licensee until 1920, while Tooth and Co. held the leasehold from the Trust from 1915 until 1950. A survey completed on 18 June, 1915 indicated that the building was completed by then. The building as described on the Sydney Harbour Trust drawings consisted of a four storey building with a public bar on both the Napoleon Street and Sussex Street levels, necessitated by a discrepancy in levels between the two streets. A mezzanine level (the First Floor) between the street levels contained the cellar, 3 bedrooms, kitchen and scullery, whilst the Sussex Street level (the Second Floor) in addition to the Public Bar, contained a Commercial Room, Private Bar and Parlour, a Dining Room, Servery and Scullery and an Office. The Third Floor contained a Sitting Room, 11 Bedrooms and Bathrooms. The roof level was partially covered in a flat trafficable material and at the southern end included an enclosed structure which housed a Laundry and fuel store, 3 Bedrooms and a small Bathroom.

Over the next fifteen years relatively few modifications to the fabric of the building were documented. In 1924 the whole of the interior of the Hotel was renovated under instructions issued by the Harbour Trust and repairs undertaken to various items. The extent and nature of this work has not been ascertained. Plans prepared by the Architects Office of the Kent Brewery, Sydney in 1927 indicate that the size of the serving area and bar was reduced in size, and that it was proposed to form a new Lounge in part of the existing cellar on the Mezzanine floor. (There is no physical evidence that this ever eventuated.) Plans prepared in 1928, again by the Architects Office of the Kent Brewery, indicate that modifications were carried out on the Third Floor - the Sitting Room was subdivided to provide two additional bedrooms.

In May 1939, the architect Sidney Warden prepared documents detailing further modifications. Warden was an architect who specialised in the design of hotels in the 1920s through to the 1950s. These modifications however, were not substantial: a new stair at the northern end of the building connecting the Napoleon Street level to the roof, and the necessary modification of bedrooms on the Bedroom floor level and the former Commercial Room on the Napoleon Street level. Other improvements are likely to have included refitting of lavatories, bathrooms and kitchens, new fittings to bathrooms and refurbishment of bar areas. Of the bar areas themselves, the Napoleon Street bar appears to have been the most important as it was close to the wharves - the Hotel relied for much of its trade on seamen and wharf labourers. The two bar areas were perceived as something of a handicap in the running of the premises due to their location on separate levels.

From 1915 until 1942 the hotel was located in a Metropolitan Licencing District, and from 1942 the District was reclassified as Industrial, thus entitling the hotel to increased beer supply. In 1950 Tooth and Co. relinquished their leasehold of the premises as a result of tenders called by the owners, the Maritime Services Board. Phillip Tahmindjis was the successful tenderer.

By 1961 the hotel appears to have been in a run down condition and in the need of upgrading to acceptable contemporary standards. Bathroom and toilet accommodation was considered inadequate and the provision of more public spaces to the Sussex Street Bar was considered desirable. At this time the trade of the hotel was mostly from the public bars, and consisted largely of wharf labourers and seamen, but was declining owing to changes in the pick up system for wharf labour and also closure and demolition of adjacent wharves. Physical investigation of the site suggests that upgrading to the hotel did take place in the years after 1961.

The hotel was known as the New Hunter River hotel until the 1970s but subsequently became known as the Big House Hotel. It has not been ascertained how this change of nomenclature came about. (Howard 1995: 5-10)

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Cultural - Coasts and coastal features supporting human activities-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Innkeeping-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Developing discrete retail and commercial areas-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of urban amenity-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Industry-Activities associated with the manufacture, production and distribution of goods	(none)-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Resuming private lands for public purposes-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from suburban to urban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Early Sydney Street-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	(none)-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th century suburban developments-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	20th century Suburban Developments-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	(none)-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	(none)-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - administration of land-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going drinking in bars or clubs-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to a bar-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to the pub-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	It has strong historical associations with the waterside workers and dockyard industries. (Shields-Brown 1982) It is linked with early development in the area and is associated with the activities of the Sydney Harbour Trust both as builders and determinants in the planning and layout of streets in this part of Sydney. It has continuously traded as a hotel since completion and the transfer of licence connects the Hotel to the early days of this part of Sydney. (Howard 38:1995)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	It is an example of an Edwardian public house demonstrating a range of materials, details and form exploited by the Sydney Harbout Trust. The scale of the building is unusually large for the time. (Howard 38:1995)
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	One of a small group of surviving hotels in the central city which together form an interesting collection reflecting an aspect of the social and recreational history of Sydney. (Schwager Brooks 1988)
Integrity/Intactness:	Excellent retention of original external detailing, including the joinery to the retail shopfront at 26 Sussex Street. The interiors have been altered in various stages but still include considerable evidence of original joinery. (Schwager Brooks 1985)
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
CMP-Endorse	Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement	Conservarion Plan	CMP endorsed by Heritage Council 4 May 1995 for a period of five years, expires 4 May 2000.	May 4 1995
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00513	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00513	03 Apr 87	62	1788
Local Environmental Plan	CSH Local Environmental Plan 4		07 Apr 00
National Trust of Australia register			01 Nov 82

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Central Sydney Heritage Inventory	1988	2152	Schwager Brooks		No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	I Shields-Brown	1982	National Trust Classification Card - The Big House
Written	Rod Howard	1995	Napoleon's Hotel - Conservation Analysis Report

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5045293
File number:	S90/02133 & HC 86 2318

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