Grace Building
Grace Bros Ltd purchased a block of land on York Street, Sydney in 1926 imagining it to be the 'Jewel in the Crown' of their retail empire. The Grace Building was subsequently designed by Morrow & Gordon in 1928.
The ambitious design was based on the much publicised Chicago Tribune Building, combining Gothic elements with Art Deco style. The 213 foot central tower was designed to be a prominent and pivotal attraction within the city.
The Grace Building was officially opened by Lord Mayor, Alderman ES Marks on 3 July 1930. Subsequently it has gone through many changes of use, from retail premises, to being Headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of allied forces in the south west Pacific during World War II, and finally to its current standing as The Grace Hotel under Federal Hotels International.