IKON is an ancient Grecian word. It is a religious item worshipped in churches, usually Christ and his mother, Mary. Nowadays it has morphed into anything anywhere that’s highly valued including views and architecture.

The IKON apartments, 81 Macleay Street Potts Point have iconic views of the sapphire blue Sydney Harbour and world heritage-listed Sydney Opera House’s silhouetted sails.

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In 1960 it was the site of the Chevron-Hilton Hotel. In 1985 it became the five-star Nikko Hotel and opened in 1990. In 1995 it because the Landmark Park Hotel and later, in between 2002-2005, it became the IKON apartments built by Mirvac.

It’s former Nikko entrance still retains its bold red entrance pillars, a lucky colour in Japanese culture denoting strength, passion, self sacrifice and blood. The Nikko Hotel also included a Japanese garden, with still remnants still facing its Manning Street façade.

The Chevron was the site of the former 19^th century “Cairo” mansion, demolished in 1950.

The 14-storey Chevron Hotel was an international glamour hot spot. A proposed second tower twice as larger was never built. It featured a staircase constructed from two-inch marble supported by stainless steel. Costing £9 million, all 1,200 rooms had individual air-conditioning, remote-controlled TV, bathroom scales and a gold toilet seat cover (some apparently purloined by guests). Rates were from £4/10 to £12/12 for a luxury suite. It was the site of The Mango Tree movie. Sir Robert Helpmann stayed there when in Sydney. The Silver Spade’s 600-seat night club attracted music royalty stars such as Judy Garland, Dame Shirley Bassey, Ella Fitzgerald, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra (scheduled but cancelled), the Bee Gees, Dusty Springfield, Bronx, and locals such as The Amazing Woolloomooloosers. The Beatles were deemed “unsuitable” and refused a booking for the start of their 1964 Australian tour due to crowds they would attract and a clash with an international concert pianist. Management feared a riot. The Beatles stayed in the room 801 at the Sheraton Motor Lodge opposite while local police held back 500 Beatles’ fans in the rain.

Today’s apartments still incorporate the skeleton of the original building.

By Andrew Woodhouse, Director, Heritage Solutions