GA Zink & Sons Building

Item details


Name of item:	GA Zink & Sons Building
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Retail and Wholesale
Category:	Shop
Location:	Lat: -33.8784859125 Long: 151.2146548040
Primary address:	56 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Parish:	Alexandria
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Sydney
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	2		DP	6520

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
56 Oxford Street	Darlinghurst	Sydney	Alexandria	Cumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
City of Sydney Council	Local Government	30 Mar 99

Statement of significance:


	Within Oxford Square classified group. Interesting early twentieth century commercial building containing a fine 1930s modern shopfront, intact. Possibly the last of this quality left in Sydney. Refer to main listing (RR 001989) for Group (AHC, 1978).
	Date significance updated: 03 Nov 21
	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


Designer/Maker:	1937 shopfront: H & E Sidgreaves Shopfitters
Builder/Maker:	1937 shopfront: H & E Sidgreaves Shopfitters
Construction years:	1900-1937
Physical description:	A three storey Federation commercial building, with a symmetrical Inter War Functionalist shopfront with recessed central porch that has a polychrome terrazzo floor. The display windows on either side are surrounded by black Vitrolite relieved by two fine stainless steel strips. The name of the store is located in the hamper and consists of large individual stainless steel lettering in a stylised "modern" letter face. Other lettering includes the street number mounted at the top of the display windows (LEP). The ground floor and first floor contains a large amount of early fabric, much of it dating from the 1920s including shelving, cabinetry, stairs and balustrades, etched glazing, partitions and leadlight glazing (LEP). Commercial building of Federation free style. Narrow brick and sandstone facade, with elaborate federation period tiling featuring name significance art deco shopfront original awning brackets brickwork in pilaster continuous with facade to south east (RAIA, 1994). Three storey brick and reinforced concrete building; main facade above awning to Oxford Street. Contains Art Nouveau decorations of mosaic wall signs; stone and curved brickwork to parapet. Burton Street facade three storeys; composition in brick, concrete and glass built c 1927. Shopfront faced entirely with black vitrolite and glass decorated in 1930s streamlined modern style with chromed steel lettering and lines. Interior contains good mezzanine gallery with walls and cupboards panelled in polished timber (AHC, 1978).


Former use:	Aboriginal land, farm, town lot, shop and residence, tailor's shop

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 (Heiss, see below).

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 (Source: Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani)

Darlinghurst:
With its elevated position over the city, the area has been called Woolloomooloo Heights, Eastern Hill and Henrietta Town. In the 1820s, Governor Ralph Darling renamed the suburb in honour of his wife, Eliza Darling (Crosson, 2013).

By 1800 several large windmills were situated on the heights of this area, using its stiff breezes to grind much-needed flour from grain. The area began its suburban life under the name 'Henrietta Town', being called after Mrs Macquarie, whose second name was Henrietta. At that time it was an Aboriginal reserve. Loyalties changed with Governors when Darling took office, changing its name to Darlinghurst in honour of his popular wife. 'Hurst' is an old English word for a wooded hill (Pollon, 1988, 77).

Darlinghurst was once quite a fashionable suburb and it housed some famous people. One of the grandest houses was the mansion Craigend, built by NSW Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Mitchell, in 1828-31. It stood on nearly 4 hectares now bordered by Kings Cross Road, Surrey Street and Victoria Road. Mitchell and family lived in this neoclassical mansion with the faade of a Greek temple for only five or six years. It then passed to several owners and was demolished in 1921, but Craigend Street is a permanent reminder. David Scott Mitchell (1836-1706), the wealthy bachelor who endowed the Mitchell Library with 70,000 pounds and his valuable book and document collection relating to Australia and the Pacific region, was a longer-term resident, moving from the family home in Cumberland Street in the Rocks in 1871. He then lived unostentatiously at 17 Darlinghurst Road until his death in 1907 (ibid, 1988, 77).

The gilt went off the suburb when Darlinghurst Gaol, designed by Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis was built in 1841. It was not its style, but the significance of its erection that was the reason for the decline in Darlinghurst's popularity. Governor Brisbane had reserved 3.5 acres on Sydney's outskirts for a new gaol to replace the earlier lock-up in George Street. In 1823 a stockade was erected. Convicts quarried the stone from nearby William Street and hauled it to the hill top, where other convict gangs shaped up the blocks by hand. The completed enclosure was known as Woolloomooloo Stockade. Construction commenced in 1836 and was complete by 1841. Prisoners from George Street prison were marched in chains to Darlinghurst to the jeers and catcalls of the watching crowd. The first public hanging took placed at the new gaol on 29/10/1841 when Robert Hands and George Stroud were hung. The last public hanging in Sydney was in 1907. The gaol was closed as a prison in 1914 and became a security house for German refugees during the First World War. In 1921 it changed character completely when it became the East Sydney Technical College (ibid, 1988, 78-79).

The suburb's main thoroughfare, William Street, was named after King William IV, who reigned from 1830 to 1837 and was often scathingly referred to as Sailor Bill, or even Silly Billy (Pollen & Murphy, 1988, 77-79).

Darlinghurst Court House and Residence was originally designed by the Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis. Building was commenced in 1835 and was not completed until 1844. Later Government Architect James Barnet designed major flanking court room pavilion additions 1884 - 88. This building was a milestone building, being specifically designed to suit its purpose and impart authority and the power of the law. The former Darlinghurst Gaol is sited adjoining this site.

The suburb's main thoroughfare, William Street, was named after King William IV, who reigned from 1830 to 1837 and was often scathingly referred to as Sailor Bill, or even Silly Billy (Pollen & Murphy, 1988, 77-79).

G.A. Zink & Co. site:
The site on which the subject property is located was originally part of the 70 acre grant made to John Palmer in 1794 which he called George Farm. His support of Governor Bligh during the Rum Rebellion in 1808, led to Palmer losing his position as the Commissary General and he spent time in England because of subsequent inquiries. He returned to the colony in May 1814 and his outstanding debts were settled when the Sheriff sold off the Surry Hills Estate on 1 October that year, after which time it was subdivided into 27 allotments by Surveyor General James Meehan (LEP, 2012).

In June 1819 Edward Riley, a merchant and pastoralist, started to purchase the allotments in an effort to reassemble Palmer's estate. Conflicting wills left after his suicide on 21 February 1825 resulted in subdivision of the land into 7 portfolios with ownership of allotments being confirmed by a final decree of the Supreme Court on 5 July 1844 (ibid, 2012).

G A Zink & Sons appear to have first occupied premises on Oxford Street from 1900, at no. 84. The present building was erected around the first half of 1912. A new shopfront and entrance porch were designed by the shop fitting firm of H & E Sidgreaves and installed during the first half of 1938 (ibid, 2012, sourced from Rod Howard & Associates Pty Ltd "Oxford Street Heritage and Urban Design Study" 2004).

In 2021 the City of Sydney proposed new planning rules to aim to transform Oxford Street precinct by creating more employment and cultural floor space. These rules, endorsed by Coucnil, could create more than 42,000 sq.m.of employment floor space along Oxford Street from Greens Road, Paddington to Whitlam Square, Surry Hills (Architecture and Design, 25/5/2021).

FJMT has prepared designs for the transformation of three heritage buildings along Oxford Street between Oxford Square and Taylor Square in Sydney on the lands of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. To be known as The Darlinghurst Collection, the project at 56-76, 82-106, and 110-122 Oxford Street will include a 75-room hotel along with a range of commercial, retail and creative spaces (Architecture AU editorial, https://architectureau.com/articles/three-sydney-buildings-to-be-unified-in-an-advanced-architectural-form/, 20/10/2020).

Planning approval has been awarded for a $200 million transformation of three heritage blocks in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, at the original heart of Sydney's gay community. The development, to be overseen by architecture firm FJMT, was approved by the City of Sydney on 18 May. It will be the first major refurbishment for the area in 25 years, transforming the tired strip at the intersection of Kings Cross, Hyde Park, Paddington and Surry Hills into
an office, retail, hospitality and creative precinct. Sydney investment house Ashe Morgan purchased the three blocks in 2019. The trigger for the investment was a plan by the City of Sydney to reactivate the area, which has been steadily declining in popularity since the introduction of the NSW government's controversial lockout laws in 2014. The local council also sought to preserve its place as a hub for LGBTIQA+ community (Architecture AU, 24/5/2022).

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.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Retailing-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Tailoring-
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	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Developing local landmarks-
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	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.	Adapted heritage building or structure-
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.	Federation era office building-
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.	Housing (inner city)-
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.	Housing for merchants and dealers-
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	1820s-1850s land grants-
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	Suburban Centres-
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	Sub-division of large estates-
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	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-
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	living in the city-
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	Subdivision of urban estates-
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	Suburban Consolidation-
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	Suburban Expansion-
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	Commercial store, shop-
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	living in the suburbs-
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	Beautifying towns and villages-
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	Developing suburbia-
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	Commercial strip development-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in shops and stores-
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.	Local 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.	Suburban Consolidation-
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-
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 - conserving cultural and natural heritage-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Interior design styles and periods - Edwardian-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Building in response to climate - bushfires-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - Federation Arts and Crafts-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Applying architectural design to utlilitarian structures-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Interior design styles and periods - 20th century Inter War-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - Interwar Functionalist-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going shopping-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Developing collections of items-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Governor (Mjr-Gen., later Gnl., Sir) Ralph Darling and Eliza Darling, 1826-1830-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Edward Riley, sheep breeder and grazier-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with John Palmer, farmer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with G.A. Zinc and Sons, tailors-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with H. and E. Sidgreaves, architects-

Recommended management:

Recommended Conservation Action: *A Conservation Management Plan for the building should be prepared; *All early original fabric, including the 1938 shopfront and ground floor interiors, should be retained and conserved; *Face brickwork should be left unpainted and should not be lined with cement render (LEP). (sourced from Rod Howard & Associates Pty Ltd "Oxford Street Heritage and Urban Design Study" 2004) The building should be retained and conserved. A Heritage Assessment and Heritage Impact Statement, or a Conservation Management Plan, should be prepared for the building prior to any major works being undertaken. There shall be no vertical additions to the building and no alterations to the faade of the building other than to reinstate original features. The principal room layout and planning configuration as well as significant internal original features including ceilings, cornices, joinery, flooring and fireplaces should be retained and conserved. Any additions and alterations should be confined to the rear in areas of less significance, should not be visibly prominent and shall be in accordance with the relevant planning controls (LEP).

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Review a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)	03 Feb 20
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
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		00658	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00658	23 Mar 89	34	1560
Local Environmental Plan	Sydney City Local Environmental Plan 2012	I384	14 Dec 12
National Trust of Australia register	NTA (NSW) Suburban Register	7692
Royal Australian Institute of Architects register	List of 20th Century Buildings of Significance		08 Apr 94
Register of the National Estate	G and A. Zink and Sons Building	001993	21 Mar 78

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Architecture and Design	2021	Ground-breaking planning rules to activate Sydney's Oxford Street	View detail
Written	Koziol, Michael	2022	Pride and joy: city to 'party with a purpose' and open up to the world
Written	Pollen, F. & Healy, G.(ed.s)	1988	'Darlinghurst' in The Book of Sydney Suburbs
Written	Rod Howard & Associates	2007	56-76 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst - Conservation Management Plan
Written	Sutherland, Isla	2022	Green light for Oxford Street revival project

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

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5045361
File number:	S91/00199 & HC 880949

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