The Brooklyn Hotel on the northwest corner of the intersection of Grosvenor, George and Bridge Streets was built in 1912 and was heritage-listed in 1980. The hotel also incorporates the Johnson Corner Buildings.
In the 1980s, the Grosvenor Place development was approved. One condition of its development was that the Brooklyn Hotel, along with the neighbouring Royal Australian Naval House and Federation Hotel, be preserved and incorporated into the development, which included the 44-level/180-metre Grosvenor Place tower.
On September 8 1985, fire swept through the building.
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Source: Anon. 1985. "Arson probe at historic sites". The Daily Telegraph: September 9: 3.
Architect Harry Seidler and developers Kern Corporation submitted plans to demolish the buildings, citing fire damage and questions over its structural integrity. While this was withdrawn, the Minister for Planning and Environment Bob Carr, had to remind them that the restoration of the building was a condition of the approval of the Grosvenor Place development
Source: Glascott, J. 1985. "Seidler halts demolition on Grosvenor site". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 19: 5.
In 1987, a second attempt to demolish the building was proposed for a public square. Carr had to remind them again that demolition was not permitted, and the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority also ruled that demolition was not allowed. That attempt failed.
Source: Hawkes, H. 1987. "Row over historic buildings". The Daily Mirror, February 16: 17.
The following year, it was announced that the buildings would be formally restored at a cost of $10 million. This was undertaken in 1989.
Source: Bita, N. 1988. "$10m rescue for historic city buildings". The Daily Telegraph, September 15: page unknown.
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