Sydney is home to several heritage hotels that offer more than just a place to stay. These buildings hold stories from the city’s past, from the grandeur of 19th-century architecture to former department stores that have been transformed into hotels.
From five-star accommodation in restored sandstone buildings to boutique stays in converted warehouses, these hotels blend character, history, and comfort in ways modern hotels often cannot.
This article looks at some of the most iconic heritage hotels in Sydney.
Top 5 Heritage Hotels:
| Hotel | Stars | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capella Sydney | Five | Book |
| 2 | The Fullerton Hotel Sydney | Five | Book |
| 3 | Paradox Sydney | Five | Book |
| 4 | InterContinental Sydney | Five | Book |
| 5 | The Grace Sydney | Four | Book |
1. Capella Sydney
Capella Sydney occupies the former Department of Education Building, an Edwardian Baroque sandstone landmark designed by NSW Government Architect George McRae. The northern wing was completed in 1912, and the southern wing, originally used by the Department of Agriculture, was added in 1938.
For much of the 20th century, the building was the headquarters for education administration in New South Wales. It was added to the State Heritage Register in 1999.
Following a seven-year restoration by Pontiac Land Group and Make Architects, the building reopened as Capella Sydney in 2023. Heritage features such as the sandstone façade, marble vestibules, and steel-framed windows were carefully preserved.
| Capella Sydney | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 24 Loftus Street, Sydney (map) |
| Stars: | Five |
2. The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney is located in the iconic General Post Office building at 1 Martin Place. Designed by colonial architect James Barnet, construction began in 1866 and was completed in stages by 1891. Its long sandstone façade is a fine example of Victorian Italian Renaissance architecture.
The building officially opened on 1 September 1874 and served as Sydney’s postal headquarters until 1996. Its clock tower became a city landmark and once displayed weather information with coloured flags. Inside, it housed Australia’s first public telephone exchange and early telegraph services.
After postal operations moved elsewhere, the building was restored and converted into a luxury hotel. A major façade restoration was completed in 2019, preserving its original carvings, columns, and clock tower while giving the building a new life as a hotel.
| The Fullerton Hotel Sydney | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 1 Martin Place, Sydney (map) |
| Stars: | Five |
3. Paradox Sydney
Paradox Sydney is located in Wales House, a heritage-listed sandstone office block on the corner of Pitt, Hunter, and O’Connell Streets. Designed in the Interwar Commercial Renaissance palazzo style, it was built in stages between 1922 and 1929 by Stuart Bros.
The building replaced an 1856 Sydney Morning Herald office and served as the newspaper’s headquarters from 1927 to 1955. It was then acquired by the Bank of New South Wales, later Westpac, in the mid-1950s and became known as Wales House.
The site opened as the five-star Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in 2000. On 1 July 2025, it was rebranded as Paradox Sydney, marking Paradox Hotels & Resorts’ debut in Australia after more than two decades of hotel operation in this historic building.
| Paradox Sydney | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 27 O’Connell Street, Sydney (map) |
| Stars: | Five |
4. InterContinental Sydney
InterContinental Sydney occupies the former Treasury Building, which once housed the Colonial Treasury and Audit Office. Built between 1849 and 1851 in sandstone, it was designed in the Italian Palazzo style by Mortimer Lewis. Later additions by Edmund Blacket, Walter Liberty Vernon, and George McRae were completed by 1919.
The building accommodated various NSW government offices over time, including the Treasury, Audit Office, Premier’s Department, Police, and Transport. Over time, extensions reinforced its façade along Macquarie and Bridge Streets. In 1981, it was sold for hotel development, and in 1985 it reopened as the InterContinental Sydney following major restoration and the addition of a modern tower.
A multi-million-dollar redevelopment by Woods Bagot between 2020 and 2022 refreshed guest rooms, public areas, and restaurants while preserving key heritage features, including the Georgian elevations, neoclassical detailing, and the original vault and lift from the 1850s.
| InterContinental Sydney | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 16 Phillip Street, Sydney (map) |
| Stars: | Five |
5. The Grace Sydney
The Grace Sydney, located at 77–79 York Street, was designed and built in the late 1920s in the Federation Skyscraper Gothic style. Inspired by Chicago’s Tribune Tower, it was officially opened by the Lord Mayor in July 1930.
Originally known as the Grace Building, it served as the Grace Brothers headquarters, with two floors operating as a department store and the rest as office space. The store struggled to attract customers, and during World War II, the building became the Sydney base for the US armed forces, with an air raid shelter added to the basement.
In June 1997, the building reopened as a 382-room hotel, The Grace Sydney, after extensive restoration of many original features. It was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1980 and on the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.
| The Grace Sydney | |
|---|---|
| Location: | 77 York Street, Sydney (map) |
| Stars: | Four |
Conclusion
Sydney’s heritage hotels offer far more than a place to sleep. Each one occupies a building with its own story, giving guests the chance to experience a piece of the city’s history up close.
If we had to choose a favourite, it would be the Fullerton Hotel Sydney. Along with its superb quality, it is housed in the former General Post Office, one of Sydney’s most recognisable landmarks.
For a more affordable option, The Grace Sydney is an excellent choice. It is well priced compared to the others and sits right in the heart of the Central Business District.
Whichever hotel you choose, you will be staying somewhere rich in history and character.
Read our guide on Sydney hotels with Harbour views for more luxury hotel options.
