Arcadia Hotel, Sydney
The Arcadia Hotel was a 150-room hotel in Sydney, Australia, developed by James Joynton Smith, on the site occupied today by Westfield Sydney.
Arcadia Hotel | |
---|---|
Former names | Imperial Arcade Hotel |
General information | |
Status | Demolished |
Type | Hotel |
Location | Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales |
Country | Australia |
Coordinates | 33°52′12″S 151°12′32″E |
Demolished | 1961 |
Client | James Joynton Smith |
Other information | |
Number of rooms | 145 – 162 |
History
Formerly named the Imperial Arcade Hotel, Smith had worked in the building as managing director of the Grand Central Coffee Palace.[1] He acquired the lease for the old hotel in 1896 for £12 per week, eventually purchasing and renaming it the Arcadia.[2]
The publican's license, previously held by William Charles Parkes, was transferred to Smith on 31 July 1899.[3]
In September 1899, the hotel narrowly escaped a fire in the adjoining Tivoli Theatre. Six rooms on the third floor, on the northern side were damaged.[4]
On 2 November 1922, the publican's license of the hotel was transferred from Vincent Walsh to Otto Camphin,[5] and later, on 26 February 1936, from Otto Camphin to Edward Thomas Pearson Meldrum, an accountant,[6] who held the license until at least August 1948.[7] Meldrum died on 12 June 1957.[8] The license was also held for a short time by Frank Astby in 1941.[9]
Reports show there were 163 rooms at one point, with availability to the public ranging from 145 to 162.[10]
The building housing the Imperial Arcade and Arcadia Hotel was demolished in 1961.
References
- Walsh, Kay and Hooton, Joy W., Australian Autobiographical Narratives: Vol 2: 1850–1900 (1998), pg 249, National Library of Australia ISBN 0-642-10794-7
- Smith, Sir James John Joynton (1858 - 1943) Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
- "LICENSING COURT". The Australian Star (3577). New South Wales. 1 August 1899. p. 6 – via National Library of Australia.
- "BIG FIRE IN THE CITY". The Sunday Times (713). Sydney. 17 September 1899. p. 8 – via National Library of Australia.
- "PUBLICANS' LICENSES". The Sydney Morning Herald (26, 469). 4 November 1922. p. 9 – via National Library of Australia.
- "PUBLICAN'S LICENCE". The Sydney Morning Herald (30, 624). 27 February 1936. p. 8 – via National Library of Australia.
- "STORY OF BAR RAKE-OFF FOR SIR J. SMITH". The Sun (12, 020). Sydney. 5 August 1948. p. 11 (LATE FINAL EXTRA) – via National Library of Australia.
- State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales; Indexes to deceased estate files; Archive Series: NRS 13341; Series: B Series (1949–1958); Reel Number: 3357
- "LICENCE TRANSFERS". The Sydney Morning Herald (32, 422). 26 November 1941. p. 9 – via National Library of Australia.
- ""STRANGE BEDFELLOWS"". The Sydney Morning Herald (35, 691). 13 May 1952. p. 4 – via National Library of Australia.