Hotel in Sydney’s Surry Hills undergoes massive, $65 million expansion

You’ll still find fashion wholesalers in Sydney’s Surry Hills. But what is now one of Sydney’s most happening inner-city suburbs was, not so long ago, all about clothing manufacturing.

In fact, the area was zoned industrial in the late 1950s, and became the centre of the rag trade, with factory buildings replacing dilapidated terraces.

Those terraces were built as worker’s rentals in the 1850s and by the end of World War 2, the area was considered a slum.

Now, you’d be lucky to get one of the surviving terraces for under $1.5-$2 million. Blame the easy walk into the city, the bakeries, bars, pubs, restaurants, cool shops and pretty streetscapes that will only be enhanced as the main drag, Crown Street, undergoes a $34 million upgrade.

A King room at Adge Hotel + Residences.

The Surry Hills property purchaser’s pain is the visitor’s gain, though. The suburb, a haven for the city’s LGBTQIA+ community and culture, makes for a wonderful base from which to explore Sydney, though there’s so much on offer, you might not leave the 2010 postcode.

Adge Apartment Hotel on Riley Street was an apartment-only property offering 12 serviced two-bedders for those looking to enjoy the Surry Hills lifestyle.

Now, it has expanded its footprint to entice a stay with a twist – quite literally. Taking over two adjoining properties, including the former Cambridge Hotel, the $65 million expansion to become Adge Hotel + Residences (it’s pronounced like “edge”, only with an A) will offer a total of 242 lodgings once finished next year, with 93 rooms opening mid-August.

The hotel lobby.

The twist? One crazy signature spiralled carpet pattern, that runs throughout the rooms and signals the fun, fresh approach to design that’s at play here.

Polished concrete, psychedelic colour schemes and whimsical touches everywhere including a mural at the hotel entrance from Australian artist, Adrian Hing and a stainless steel and neon light sculpture by Anna Varendorff, indicate the youthful style of the hotel.

Tzannes architects in association with Team 2 Architects and SJB Interiors have created a new hotel from the old, responding creatively to both the character of the local built environment and the likely guests: digital nomads, staycationers, tech and creative business travellers, and culturally curious urbanites of all ages.

The much-feted Korean cafe, Soul Cafe has recently relocated to the hotel and is open for business. An Italian eatery will also open on the premises next year.

Some five years in the making, Adge, owned by the private Ciena Group, is managed by La Vie Hotels and Resorts – a third party outfit whose business is running hotels on behalf of owners.

Rooms are from $199 a night mid-week. See adgehotel.com.au