138 Pitt

If I can't be inspired to see pictures in the Sydney CBD, I figure I have gotta be comatose. I especially love documenting old nineteenth century buildings.

The Pitt Street pedestrian square near Sydney Tower and George Street, up around Queen Victoria Building, Martin Place and Town Hall, are the centre of some pretty fabulous retail therapy. There's a subterranean rabbit warren of up-market stores linking surface shopping malls behind beautifully preserved nineteenth century facades. There are even wholly intact (albeit re-purposed) architectural treasures which stubbornly resisted redevelopment during the horrifically destructive 1950s and 1960s and are (thankfully) now protected by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.

This wonderful old building dates from 1879 and was originally the Trickett's Hotel. Now it is the headquarters of Wittner's fashion. Unfortunately it is very much out of scale with its surroundings, these days. Oh well. Let's be thankful for small mercies.