61-63 Macleay Street, Potts Point, a corner landmark, is for sale through Jason Boon and Geoff Cox https://www.rwebay.com.au/4827873

The site was originally part of larger building facing Macleay Street, since subdivided.

The larger building was originally a suite of ten terrace houses built in 1897 in the federation arts and crafts style. It extended from Challis Avenue to McDonald Street occupying a large frontage to Macleay Street. The parapets of all buildings are still identical, confirming their provenance.

This building remained in residential use until 1957 when the front rooms of one section became the Terry Clune Gallery. This gallery acquired a reputation for showing young radical artists. Artists who exhibited there included Russell Drysdale, John Olsen and John Perceval. It later became the Yellow House, 57-59 Macleay Street. Artists involved included Brett Whiteley, Peter Weir, Jim Sharman and George Gittoes.

That part of the building then returned to residential use and functioned as a boarding house until 2003 when it was converted to apartments, with an art gallery space and restaurant on the ground floor.

Its buddy building’s the site now for sale.

Its original terracotta chimney pots and façade stucco, an iron laced balcony, internal marble fireplace, double hung wooden sash window frames and deep skirting boards are all give-away signs of their design period.

The building as a whole was designed by well-known architect, Maurice Halligan, who also co-designed Kingsclere nearby and various hotels including the The Observer, the Newmarket, The Fitzroy and The Dunbar Hotel.

Today, this corner site incorporates ground floor retail and first floor residential. It faces both Challis Avenue and Macleay Street and is a pivotal point in the nucleus of Potts Point.

By Andrew Woodhouse, Heritage Solutions