Next Tuesday, September 30, a Sydney icon will close its doors for the last time. Sir Stamford at Circular Quay has been one of the city’s most elegant landmarks since the original building was constructed in the 19th century as a Health Department building, with an olde worlde charm and refined hospitality that attracted guests from across the globe.
The oldest part of the building is significant as an example of the professional work from the Government Architect W. L. Vernon, who influenced the style of buildings produced by the newly-formed Government Architect’s Office dating back to the 1890s.
When the Sir Stamford Circular Quay hotel was sold in 2022 for $210.5m it became one of only two hotels to sell for more than $100m in Sydney. The site is scheduled for a 17-storey residential tower build, with the new 1612sq m development being surrounded by the heritage-listed, former government buildings.
Over the years the hotel has housed one of Australia’s largest private collections of fine art, fine antique and reproduction furniture, marble fireplaces, not one but three Steinway pianos, fine oriental carpets and sparkling chandeliers, the majority of which are to be auctioned on October 1 and 2 by Raffan Kelaher & Thomas in Leichhardt. The auction will be a rare opportunity for guests, collectors and admirers to take home a part of Sir Stamford, keeping its memory and spirit alive beyond its walls; and you’ll be in the company of famous guests that include Mel Gibson, Kylie Minogue and Margaret Thatcher.
For more information on the sale and to bid on online, go to the Raffan Kelaher & Thomas website: https://www.rkta.com.au/buying/upcoming-auctions/
