The Empire Hotel, 32- 32A Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross, hides a truth. It is the site where 1970s urban campaigner, Juanita Nielsen, was murdered in July 1974. She was annoyed when Sydney Council decided to scar Oxford Street with its upgrade plan. She was furious when it decided to destroy historic workers’ cottages in Woolloomoollo and build high-rise towers. She was livid when Council decided to pedestrianise Darlinghurst Road and build a massive monorail above the shop awnings linked to large car parks at either end. And she was outraged over plans for Victoria Street, Potts Point, for more high-rise and demolition of her father’s home without consulting locals.She also lived in Victoria Street at number 202.

Her boutique brochure, “NOW”, turned from being a benign selection of articles on trendy women’s wear into a rabid, urban campaign broadsheet. Her campaign was costing developers millions of dollars, especially after she imposed Green Bans on sites. It is also generally unknown she was plotting to impose Grey Bans, cutting off their water and sewage.

She was called to a meeting in the Empire Hotel site ostensibly to discuss ads in her newspaper. She never left alive.  No-one has ever been charged. At the time it was the site of the Les Girls nightclub, linked to various Kings Cross underbelly characters.

Les Girls was founded in 1962 by entrepreneur, Sammy Lee, and existed well into the 1980s. Its sign was in the “wild west” font and was derived from a font described as “French Clarendon”, a wooden type face dating from 1865. It was similar to that used for the world-famous Moulin Rouge risqué cabaret night club in Paris on which the club was based. Les Girls mimicked the Paris club and included the “can-can” dance and advertised itself as a place where “every night is New Years’ Eve”. It “female” revue performers were male.

The building was designed in 1961 by Neville Gruzman AM (1925-2005). He was described as “a teacher, architect and stirrer”. He was political and became Mayor of Woollahra. He taught at the University of New South Wales for over 40 years and developed an interest in ballrooms, particularly mirrors and reflections, learning some skills in glamorous decoration from the interior decorator, Margaret Jay. His works are varied forms of Modernism with clean lines. He designed over 20 other buildings in the Sydney

His own home in Darling Point was accorded a rare accolade by Joern Utzon, designer of the Sydney Opera House, who said “his living room was the best in Australia”.

Today, the landmark Empire building’s structure is mainly as it was despite internal alterations and removal of the exterior, upper-level curtain wall glazing.

By Andrew Woodhouse, Heritage Solutions