Gowrie Gate was built in 1938 just before World War II. Its architect was Dudley Ward, who also designed the Metro Cinema in the same year opposite in Orwell Street. He also designed The Wroxton apartments in Roslyn Gardens, Elizabeth Bay.

He often designed the furniture for his commissions.

The builder was Kennedy and Bird Pty Ltd.

Gowrie Gate was featured in the Decoration and Glass magazine which noted that “every corridor, hall and room in the building is carpeted. The vestibule walls are panelled with walnut flush veneer and the upper part of the walls is textured.

Ceilings are perfectly plain. The stairs are carpeted, with textured walls Upper corridors are textured and all the corners, wherever possible, are rounded. Flats of several sizes are incorporated in the plan and all are fully equipped with kitchenettes and bathrooms. The walls are papered in an oatmeal texture paper and the floors are carpeted. Woodwork is

reduced to a minimum, skirtings are small and there are no picture rails. Gowrie Gate’s ground floor coffee shop is decorated in a cheerful colour scheme of buff and red.  The carpet is a

bright flower pattern and the furniture is waxed in natural colour with relieving touches of red.   Wrought   iron   work   is   red.”

The ground floor/mezzanine coffee shop with its wooden back chairs has been removed.

On 6^th September 1938 The Sydney Morning Herald observed the changing urban landscape;

“Kings Cross. Flat Extensions. Homes Disappearing.

This block of flats … is one of many now being erected at King’s Cross, many on areas of land formerly occupied by beautiful private homes. It is estimated that the recently constructed blocks of flats at King’s Cross have added about 4,000 to the population of that area.

This building, known as Gowrie Gate … consists of 57 flats, five shops, professional suites, and a restaurant Construction is of reinforced concrete. The fiats vary in size from four penthouses on the roof with stone-paved open terraces, two bedrooms, living-room, and offices, dining-room, and other modern facilities, to suites of three rooms and two rooms. The entrance doors and vestibule paneling are in walnut. Each flat is supplied with hot water, refrigeration electric stoves, carpets and blinds. Each flat, shop, and restaurant is interconnected by telephone. There is a service lift from the restaurant to each flat.”

But a major fire broke out on Saturday 26^th September 1954. The Sun-Herald reported;

“Fire last night destroyed two big storerooms on the roof of Gowrie Gate, one of the tallest and most luxurious flat buildings at Potts Point.  Flames bursting from the storerooms were seen over the whole of the King’s Cross and Darlinghurst areas and much of the city … The fire started about 8 o’clock. Firemen fought the fire from a high ladder in Macleay Street and dragged hoses up the stair well to the top of the building. They could not reach the blaze from narrow Orwell Street at the side and Llankelly Place at the back. The storerooms were soon burnt out … Occupants of flats on the sixth floor were driven out by water and heat …Many tenants would not leave their flats and watched the fire fighting from the windows.

Mrs. A. Smythe said: “I was about to go to bed on the third, floor when I heard a great knocking. “People came banging on the doors and shouted “’Fire, fire!”

“A woman tenant replied: “I can’t be bothered, I’m too busy.”

“Then I heard the crash of breaking glass. I grabbed up some clothes and ran downstairs to safety.”

Police and volunteers pushed away cars and taxi cabs which hampered fire-men. Several firemen were overcome by fumes and smoke, but soon recovered …”.

Gowrie Gate’s brass work and Old English lettering harken back to a refined elegance in a period when this fashionable area was at the vanguard of style.

By Andrew Woodhouse, Heritage Solutions