Kings Lynn is an old English name given to this nine-level block of red brick apartments in Elizabeth Bay overlooking Beare Park and Sydney Harbour.

Kings Lynns is ancient English village first known as such in 1537. Today its population is about 43,000.

Kings Lynn Art Deco apartments, 2 Ithaca Road Elizabeth Bay, were built by 1928. A reference to an alleged assault there was reported in The Sydney Morning Herald of 9th May 1928.

They were designed by architect G.W. Phillips but almost nothing is further known about his career.

The design has a chamfered north-facing corner to take advantage of the corner site. It contains about 35 apartments which were originally used by tenants who lived in the country as their city residence and by locals working in nearby newspaper outlets in Surry Hills and hospital workers.

Its entrance foyer includes the original post boxes, tenants’ directory and polished wood panels.

The front door incorporates the original polished chrome  door handles, a rarity at the time. Its name Kings Lynn  is inscribed in gold leaf over the entrance and frosted glass doors.

A colourful random tile pattern is part of the entrance steps while a ziggurat brick pattern sits atop the doors. The ‘ziggurat’ design takes its inspiration from the ancient ziggurats and the iconic ziggurat motif that was one of the great classic design elements of the Art Deco movement. The original ziggurats were terraced, flat-topped and tapered, step pyramids and temples.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions