IKON is an ancient Grecian word referring to something that is highly prized or worshipped.

The IKON apartments, 81 Macleay Street Potts Point have iconic views of the sapphire blue Sydney Harbour and Elizabeth Bay.
The Sub-Penthouse is for sale through Jason Boon and Geoff Cox Real Estate For Sale – Sub Penthouse 81 Macleay Street – Potts Point , NSW (rwebay.com.au)

In 1960 it was the site was the Chevron-Hilton Hotel. The Chevron was the site of the former 19th century “Cairo” mansion and was demolished in 1950. In 1985 it became the five-star Nikko Hotel and opened in 1990. In 1995 it became the Landmark Park Hotel and later, in between 2002-2005, it became the IKON apartments built by Mirvac.

Its former Nikko entrance is still retained. The Nikko Hotel also included a Japanese garden, with a remnant courtyard still facing its Manning Street façade.

The 14-storey Chevron-Hilton Hotel was an international glamour hot spot. A proposed second tower twice as large 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 (ballet dancer) stayed there when in Sydney. The 600-seat night club called The Silver Spade attracted music royalty and 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 world-renowned 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 who had booked into the hotel. 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, a local landmark, still incorporate the skeleton of the original hotel.

Andrew Woodhouse
Heritage Solutions