Former Hendersons A hat factory in Sydney's Surry Hills, which was destroyed by a devastating fire in 2023, will be rebuilt as part of an amended development application to build a hotel on the site.
The first application to convert the heritage-listed warehouse into a hotel was submitted to the City of Sydney in 2019. According to the amended development application, construction on the hotel was close to breaking ground when the fire destroyed the existing building.
The original plans, designed by Tonkin Zulaiha Greer, included a former factory building at 11-13 Rundle Street, designed by architect Thomas Pollard Sampson, and adjacent buildings at 15 and 7-9 Rundle Street. It was proposed to connect buildings filled on two sites.
Proposed hotel at 15 Rundle Street, Surry Hills. Designed by Tonkin Zulaiha Guria.
Image: Tonkin Zulaiha Guria
Initial plans also proposed adding two more floors to the existing building to create a 123-room hotel and 770 square meters of commercial floor space to accommodate a restaurant, cafe and bar.
Its statement of heritage significance says: “The former RC Henderson factory forms one of the largest known collections of industrial and warehouse buildings of its kind in Australia, and is one of only two in Australia It records the city of Sydney's past as one of its historic industrial centres. This collection of buildings provides evidence of Australia's 20th century transformation through industrialization, as Sydney became one of the largest industrial cities in the South Pacific. ”
The amended development application states: “Following the fire and demolition, the exterior contours and details of the brick walls of the former Henderson factory will be reconstructed and the windows, including those that will later be replaced, will be restored to their original details.” It is stated that.
Previously proposed work will be carried out on the reconstructed elements in accordance with approval.
