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| No.5 October, 2012 |
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'Open' and read about Hong Kong House! |
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 The building that is now known as Hong Kong House has played an important part in the history and development of Sydney City since the 1890s. And it’s because of this significant role that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office have commissioned a coffee table book to highlight previously unknown information about the building and to feature archival photos and plans that are normally buried in heritage photo lockers.
To also accentuate the significance of Hong Kong House (HKH) as an important heritage building, this year will be the first year that HKH will participate in the Sydney Open – biennially presented by the Historic Houses Trust showcasing Sydney’s architectural and heritage heart. Participants of the one day only event on Sunday 4 November will be able to go behind the scenes to see the spectacular building at its very best.
 Hong Kong House has always been at a market crossroads, firstly in connection with the Sydney Town Central Market, then as a neighbour to the Queen Victoria Building, and now as part of an internationally recognised civic setting within one of Australia's world cities.
Constructed in 1891 to a design by architect Ambrose Thornley, Hong Kong House was originally named the Central Hotel and later the Gresham Hotel. For the majority of the building's life, it had been a hotel with a Banking Chamber on the Ground Floor of the York Street frontage.
 In the late 1980s, Hong Kong House was converted to office accommodation and presently houses the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council & the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
The internal spaces that remain largely as originally designed are the Ground Floor Function Room, the Boardroom on the First Floor and the grand marble stairwell. There are also unequalled views out over Town Hall and the Queen Victoria building – only metres away from the 5th floor viewing balconies.
 Hong Kong House is of exceptional cultural significance and is an important item within the Central Business District of Sydney. The site is listed on the State Heritage Register, the Register of the National Estate and the National Trust (NSW) Register. The building is also listed within Schedule 1 of the Central Sydney Heritage Local Environment Plan (2000), as the former Gresham Hotel, and is identified as part of a heritage streetscape.
The ornate Victorian appearance of the building with its decorative stone facade combines with the adjoining Victorian buildings to make a significant contribution to the appreciation of Sydney's Central Business District. This area is listed by City Council as the Town Hall Precinct and is valued for the integrity of its Victorian streetscape presentation.
Hong Kong House Book – due for release end of November 2012 and will be distributed widely to relevant institutions and libraries.
Sydney Open – is presented by the Historic Houses Trust of NSW. Please see our promotional banner on the front page of this month's Hong Kong Monitor or register for tickets for Sunday 4 November 2012 at: sydneyopen.hht.net.au
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