Arcadia Hotel, Sydney Explained

Arcadia Hotel
Former Names:Imperial Arcade Hotel
Status:Demolished
Building Type:Hotel
Location:Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Location Town:-->
Location Country:Australia
Destruction Date:-->
Client:James Joynton Smith
Number Of Rooms:145162
Unit Count:-->

The Arcadia Hotel was a 150-room hotel in Sydney, Australia, developed by James Joynton Smith, on the site occupied today by Westfield Sydney.

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 licence, 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 licence 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 licence until at least August 1948.[7] Meldrum died on 12 June 1957.[8] The licence 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.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Walsh, Kay and Hooton, Joy W., Australian Autobiographical Narratives: Vol 2: 1850–1900 (1998), pg 249, National Library of Australia
  2. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110670b.htm Smith, Sir James John Joynton (1858 - 1943)
  3. News: LICENSING COURT. . . 3577 . New South Wales. 1 August 1899 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: BIG FIRE IN THE CITY. . . 713 . Sydney. 17 September 1899 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: PUBLICANS' LICENSES. . . 26,469 . 4 November 1922 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: PUBLICAN'S LICENCE. . . 30,624 . 27 February 1936 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: STORY OF BAR RAKE-OFF FOR SIR J. SMITH . . 12,020 . Sydney . 5 August 1948 . 11 (LATE FINAL EXTRA) . National Library of Australia.
  8. 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
  9. News: LICENCE TRANSFERS . . 32,422 . 26 November 1941 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS" . . 35,691 . 13 May 1952 . 4 . National Library of Australia.