"Culwulla Chambers" - 67 Castlereagh Street Cnr King Street - Sydney

"Culwulla Chambers" - 67 Castlereagh Street - Sydney 

Built - 1912

Architect - Spain, Cosh & Minnett

Hailed As Sydney's First Skyscraper When I Was Completed In 1912, The 50 Metre High Culwulla Chambers Building Was Also Roundly Decried In The NSW Parliament As A Brickstack And An Eyesore. 

Some Thought It A Fire Hazard, Becuase Ladders Couldn't Reach Its Upper Limits.  Others Thought It Spelt The Beginning Of The End For Sydney's Colonial Character, And The Start Of A New York Skyline. 4

Designed By Architects Spain, Cosh & Minnett, Culwulla Chambers Is Home To Many Of Sydney's Top Barristers, And Bears Many Of The Federation Free Style Elements. A Striped Brick And Stone Facade, Distorted Classical Features, Sandstone Trim, Bay Windows And Arches, And A Curved Decoratrive Parapet

Despite Costing A Fortune To Build - 100,000 Pounds - And Its Innovations  Such As High Speed elevators, Its Construction Of Masonry And Not Steel Meant That Culwulla Chambers Was Not Strictly Speaking A Skyscraper, But Simply A Tall Building. Even So, The Arguements It Fuelled Beame The Catalyst For The Height Of Buildings Act Of 1912, Which Resttricted New Sydney Buildings to 150 Feet (46 Metres) or Less. The Act Was In Force For 45 Years Before Being Repealed, With The Effect Of Limiting The City's Vertical Growth To That Of A Country Town 

Culwulla Chambers is a historic building located on Macquarie Street in Sydney, Australia. It is a distinctive architectural landmark with a rich history. Here's an overview of the history of Culwulla Chambers:

Construction and Purpose:

• Culwulla Chambers was constructed between 1911 and 1912.
• It was designed by architects Spain and Cosh in the Chicago School architectural style, characterized by its verticality, decorative terra cotta detailing, and large windows.

Architectural Features:

• The building's design features elements such as bay windows, decorative terracotta panels, and a prominent cornice.
• It was one of the first steel-framed buildings in Sydney, allowing for its tall structure.

Name Origin:

• The name "Culwulla" is derived from the name of an Aboriginal clan that once inhabited the area.
• The Chambers part of the name reflects its function as office spaces.

Early Use and Occupants:

• Culwulla Chambers originally housed professional offices and medical practices.
• It attracted a diverse range of tenants, including doctors, dentists, lawyers, and architects.

Modern Amenities:

• At the time of its construction, Culwulla Chambers was equipped with modern amenities such as electricity and elevators, reflecting the technological advancements of the era.

Historical Significance:

• Culwulla Chambers is recognized as a significant example of Chicago School architecture in Sydney.
• It is also one of the few remaining commercial buildings from the early 20th century in the Macquarie Street area.

Heritage Status:

• Culwulla Chambers is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the Register of the National Estate due to its architectural and historical significance.

Preservation Efforts:

• In recent years, there has been a focus on preserving and restoring Culwulla Chambers to maintain its historical integrity.

Today, Culwulla Chambers stands as a well-preserved example of early 20th-century architecture and serves as a link to Sydney's history and development. Its distinctive design and historical significance make it a notable landmark along Macquarie Street, contributing to the city's architectural heritage

City Of Sydney Fire Station - 213 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW

City Of Sydney Fire Station

Built In 1888, It Was Designed by James Barnet, The Colonial Architect of the Time.

In 2017, The City Of Sydney Fire Station Marks 130 Years Of Uninterrupted Operation.


The Original Building Was Designed By James Barnet,


The Victorian Free Classical Style Of the Original 1887 Building Was based On The Operational Experience Of The London Metropolitan Fire Brigade, And Considered Innovative For Its Time

In The Rear Courtyard, Behind Three Engine Bays With Direct Access To the Street, Was A Small Stable. Harness And Sway Bars For The Horses Were Suspended Over Each Horse By Weights Running Into Tubes, These Were Tripped When the Collar Was Snapped To, And The Horses Moved Into The Engine Bay.


From Dusk Till Dawn, Junior Firefighters Spent Three Hours At A time Fire Spotting Duty On A 20 Metre Tower (Called The Pigeon box)

In 1907 The Building Was Extended  Along Castlereagh Street North. In 1923 The Old Boot Factory Next Door Was Converted into A Gym, Carpentry Workshop And Dormitory. In The Same Year, As Sydney Boomed In The Roaring 20's The Ground Floor Was Converted With Two New Engine Bays To house A Magnificent Chromed Fleet Of New Motorised Fire Engines.


Despite Urgent Calls in 1934 For A Bigger Fire Station, It Wasn't Until 1999, That An Application Was Finally Approved To Refurbish And Re Use This Site.  By 2003, The New Station Was Completed, But The Planned Full Conservation And Restoration Of It’s 1887 Presecessor Was Not.

In May 2017, Funds Were Finally Allocated For The Completion If The Conservation And Restoration Works. This Will Take Place Over 3 Years, Beginning In Late 2017