Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth (also referred to as the Wentworth Hotel) is a heritage-listed luxury five-star hotel located at 61-101 Phillip Street in the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia. The Wentworth Hotel on this site opened in December 1966, to a design by associate architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Laurie & Heath in the Post-war International Style, replacing the original Wentworth Hotel on Lang Street, which had operated since 1855 as one of Sydney's most prominent hotels. Originally owned and operated by Qantas, the hotel was operated by Sheraton from 1982, Rydges from 1995, and has been operated by Sofitel since 2004. The hotel stands at a height of 58.8–63.4 m (193–208 ft), with 20 floors and 436 hotel rooms.

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Phillip Street entrance in 2019
Former namesWentworth Hotel (1966–1982)
Sheraton Wentworth Hotel (1982–1995)
The Wentworth—A Rydges Hotel (1995–2004)
Alternative namesWentworth Hotel
Hotel chainSofitel
General information
LocationSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Address61-101 Phillip Street
Named forWentworth Hotel (1855–1966)
Construction started1 July 1963
Opened14 December 1966
CostA$11 million
OwnerKKR
Height58.8–63.4 m (193–208 ft)
Technical details
Floor count20 (17 above ground)
Floor area33,589 m2 (361,550 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators7
Design and construction
Architect(s)John Barney Rodgers (project director)
Architecture firmSkidmore, Owings & Merrill with Laurie & Heath
DeveloperQantas
EngineerRankine & Hill
Quantity surveyorRider Hunt & Partners
Main contractorA. Bradshaw (Excavations) Pty Ltd
T. C. Whittle Pty Ltd (Construction)
Other information
Number of rooms436
Number of suites45
Parking350
Website
www.sofitelsydney.com.au
New South Wales Heritage Database
(Local Government Register)
Official nameWentworth Hotel Including Interiors[1]
TypeLocal heritage (built)
Designated7 April 2000
Part ofSydney Local Environmental Plan 2012
Reference no.I1674

History

Opening and growth

The final night of the old Wentworth Hotel was held on 13 December 1966, with free drinks provided. The 100 guests staying at the hotel were required to leave by 10:00am on 14 December 1966, with half of the guests transferring to the new Wentworth Hotel on Phillip Street.[2] On its opening, the hotel was promoted as "Australia's first self-contained Convention and Entertainment Centre", and had 448 rooms and 38 suites, featured 12 bars and restaurants (including a "Harbour Bar", "Coral Reef Bar", "Ayers Rock Grill", "Flight Bar", and "Old Sydney Bar and Tavern"), as well as the Grand Ballroom seating up to 1,200 persons.[3][4] The opening room rates were $9.50 (single) and $13.50 (double) per night.[3] The first year of hotel operation resulted in a loss of $167,950 for Qantas Wentworth Holdings.[5]

Recent history

In March 1982, Qantas sold the Wentworth Hotel for $70 million to National Mutual, with the hotel management to be undertaken by Sheraton Pacific Hotels and the hotel being renamed the Sheraton Wentworth Hotel.[6] In August 1995, hotel chain Rydges took over management of the hotel from Sheraton, with the hotel renamed The Wentworth – A Rydges Hotel, and at the same time National Mutual undertook various refurbishments to the Garden Court Restaurant and public spaces.[7][8]

On 4 April 2000, the hotel and its interiors was listed as a local heritage item by the City of Sydney under the Central Sydney Heritage Local Environmental Plan 2000[9] (since replaced by the Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012[10]), with its statement of significance noting:[1]

"The Wentworth Hotel facing Chifley Square is a twenty storey tower of Post War Minimalist Style. It is of historic importance for its association with QANTAS and QANTAS House. The hotel is important as the only Australian work by Skidmore Owings and Merrill, and as the oldest major Sydney Hotel. The Wentworth Hotel is aesthetically significant for the huge copper canopy over the entrance, which at the time of construction, was one of the largest completely fabricated awnings in the world. The distinctive horse shoe design of the Wentworth Hotel is significant as a familiar architectural landmark in Sydney. It was Australia's biggest international hotel at time of construction. It derives social significance from its long-standing status as Sydney's hotel for the rich and famous, for the continuity of the name Wentworth Hotel, and as the venue for the annual Black & White Ball, the major fundraising event of the Black & White Committee, the most patrician of Sydney's charity groups. The building is scientifically significant for the largest air conditioning system, column free ballroom, and as the largest brick structure in the southern hemisphere. The building contains a rare example of a vertical passenger lift spanning four floors."

In 2001, private property investment firm City Freeholds Pty Ltd bought the hotel from National Mutual for $108 million and undertook a major refurbishment of the hotel to maintain its five-star status.[11][12] In 2004, the management of the hotel was acquired by Accor Group from Rydges, with the hotel to be renamed under the Sofitel brand as the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.[13] In 2006, Tourism Assets Holdings Limited bought the hotel title for a price reported to be around $150 million.[12]

In May 2010, LaSalle Investment Management bought the title to the hotel for $130 million from Tourism Assets Holdings.[12] In May 2014, LaSalle sold the hotel again to the Singapore-based Frasers Property for over $200 million.[14] In October 2021, Frasers sold the hotel for $315 million to private equity firm KKR.[15][16]

Notable guests and events

The hotel has been host to many notable visitors over the years. In October 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins stayed at the Wentworth during their Apollo 11 moon landing world tour.[17] In December 1970, Pope Paul VI was a guest of the hotel on the occasion of the first papal visit to Australia.[18][19] The hotel hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh for Royal visit state receptions in 1973, 1980, and 1986.[20][21][22]

On 28 March 1983, the hotel ballroom famously hosted the Benevolent Society ball attended by Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales during their Royal tour of Australia, whose dance to "The More I See You" captured the attention of the press.[23] In September 2007, the hotel hosted the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the President of China, Hu Jintao, during their visit to Sydney for APEC Australia 2007. Other visitors have included Bill Gates, Audrey Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Sophia Loren, Margaret Thatcher, and George H. W. Bush.[24]

In 2018, 2019, and 2022, the hotel hosted the Miss Grand Australia beauty pageant. The hotel is also known for being the regular host of state and federal election night events for the Liberal Party of Australia, including the 1993, 1996, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022 federal elections.[25][26][27][28][29]

References

  1. "Wentworth Hotel Including Interiors". NSW State Heritage Inventory. Heritage NSW. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. "A Hotel Dies - But its Name Lives On". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 December 1966. p. 6.
  3. "[Avertisement] Wentworth, Sydney's newest international hotel, opens its doors!". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 December 1966. p. 6.
  4. Souter, Gavin (7 December 1966). "The two faces of Qantas". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
  5. "Qantas Wentworth loss". Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 December 1967. p. 21. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  6. "Wentworth Hotel sold for $70 m". Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 March 1982. p. 7. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. Shoebridge, Neil (20 November 1995). "Hotel chain now booking under its own name". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  8. Smith, Fiona (8 August 1995). "New names the inn thing". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  9. "Central Sydney Heritage Local Environmental Plan 2000 No 152". NSW Legislation. NSW Government. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  10. "Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012". NSW Legislation. NSW Government. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  11. "Sydney's First Post-Olympic Hotel Sale - The Wentworth Hotel". Hospitality Net. 3 January 2001. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  12. Wilmot, Ben (24 May 2010). "LaSalle fund swoops on Sofitel Wentworth". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  13. "50 Years of the Wentworth Hotel". Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  14. Schlesinger, Larry (7 May 2014). "Frasers buys Sydney's Sofitel Wentworth". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  15. Lenaghan, Nick; Kelly, Martin (29 October 2021). "Sydney's Sofitel Wentworth in new hands for $315m". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  16. Cummins, Carolyn (29 October 2021). "KKR snaps up Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel for $315 million". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  17. "First Men on the Moon Face a Busy Sydney Visit". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 October 1969. p. 1.
  18. O'Grady, Desmond (3 December 1970). "Pope sees 'ray of light' in protest by youth". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 5.
  19. "Rewind - The Wentworth Hotel turns 50". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  20. "Queen Elizabeth II in Australia". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  21. "1980 Royal Visit". The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022. Australian Government. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  22. Slavin, Stewart (4 March 1986). "Another protest mars Queen tour". United Press International. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  23. "Charles swirls happy princess into the dance". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 March 1983. p. 1.
  24. Meacham, Steve (9 December 2016). "Sofitel Sydney Wentworth turns 50: The scandals and drama behind the iconic Sydney hotel". Sydney Morning Herald.
  25. Lagan, Bernard; Millett, Michael (15 March 1993). "Challengers queue up to lead Liberals". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1.
  26. Chapman, Andrew. (1996), "1 photograph : b&w ; 43.3 x 68.3 cm.", Supporters at Liberal Party Federal election night victory, Wentworth Hotel, Sydney, 1996, Andrew Chapman Campaign photograph collection, 1975-2004, nla.obj-147492239, retrieved 12 August 2023 via Trove
  27. Chapman, Andrew. (2004), "1 photograph : b&w ; 43.3 x 68.4 cm.", Prime Minister John Howard and his family sing "Advance Australia Fair" at the Wentworth Hotel, Sydney after victory in the 2004 Federal elections, Andrew Chapman Campaign photograph collection, 1975-2004, nla.obj-147507243, retrieved 12 August 2023 via Trove
  28. "Liberals glum at Sydney's Wentworth Hotel". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 November 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  29. Coorey, Phillip (25 October 2010). "Howard's book simply circles the wagons around his own legacy". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2023.

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