This is the restaurant of the new #HiltonLittleQueen which is actually on Bourke Street, and is made out of the 1931 Byzantine style #EquityChambers building, designed by #OakleyAndParkes – quite a saga, first it was going to be apartments not keeping much of the interiors in 2008, creating opposition and a successful nomination to the #victorianheritageregister in 2010, which resulted in slightly more internal retention; but then in 2017 it changed to a hotel, allowing the retention of much more – in the double height chamber, the later mezzanine was cut back, and the windows opened to the light court, looks great !

They also retained some original upper floor partitions, notably the level 3 corridor, which had been occupied by barristers since 1931, complete with their name plates, rebuilt on level 1 as meeting rooms. There’s also a couple of suites at the front of level 1 retaining extensive panelling. The entry lobby also retained unaltered, since the hotel entry is actually via the side lane, #LittleQueenStreet, and lift interiors also kept, inside new lift cars- I havnt got current photos of the corridor or lift or lobby, these are before pics. Feel free to send me any if you go !

3 September 2025

I went in to check out the original lifts, which are all timber panelled, with classical pilasters, and an orange zigzag thing that’s just fully Art Deco. They’ve been altered a bit, in fact they’re probably new lifts, with the original panelling reused, but it’s a bit smaller to fit new internal doors, so some detail is lost in the corners. Also what was a mirror is now a second door (to get up the few steps to the restaurant in the old chamber). The lobbies are great and unchanged, including the stair, stone dado, coffered ceilings etc, though the lighting was rather yellow.

Out front they’ve taken out a couple of windows to one side to create level access, a neat solution. The Byzantine style carvings have an art deco feel to them, especially above the door.

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