Hotel Woolstore 1888 Darling Harbour – Handwritten Collection was feted as the world’s first Instagram hotel when it opened in 2014. Does it still have the appeal a decade later? We asked Ellen Hill to find out.
Steeped in history yet oozing with modern flair and quirk, Hotel Woolstore 1888 in Pyrmont is one street back from the Darling Harbour foreshore and packs a bigger personality punch than the big chain hotels.
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Modern Industrial Chic
You can catch a glimpse into the boutique hotel’s origin as a bustling wool store as soon as you walk through the door: circa 1888 sawtooth roof, exposed brick walls, concrete, original ironbark beams and pillars, lofty ceilings and oversized windows.
One of the earliest Victorian warehouses, it is unique for its Mannerist-style entrance and intact ironbark structure. The building was designed to fit the wedge-shaped plot and meet the wool boom in Pyrmont, close to Darling Harbour’s rail and shipping.
Designed by Morell and Kemp for pioneer JH Geddes, who introduced mechanical shearing equipment, it’s a historic gem. But the fourth oldest of 21 wool stores surviving in Sydney also has some serious designer cred.
Interior designer Luchetti Krelle reimagined the boutique hotel by intertwining modern elements (eg: the glass lift chute through the building) with the building’s heritage design base.
Punchy Aussie artworks by Jasper Knight and Oliver Watts add splotches of primary colour, and vibrant furniture complete the look.
When Hotel Woolstore 1888 opened in 2013, it claimed to be the world’s first Instagram hotel.
At the time, it embraced Insta-friendly walking tour maps of Pyrmont, displayed Insta images in the reception and had a selfie space where guests could snap their own pictures.
While those features are no longer there, the hotel design hasn’t changed drastically and every corner of the property is Insta-worthy, from the bold coloured designs on the wall behind your bed to 19th century exposed brick walls.
The overall experience
Rather than a cavernous hotel lobby that can be impersonal, the Woolstore lobby incorporating the front desk, sitting areas and café/restaurant in a 7m high internal atrium, is intimate and interesting.
A big plus is the hotel’s accessibility. There’s no need even for a ramp with street level entry, and there’s several accessible room options.
The room
Hotel Woolstore 1888 has 90 guestrooms, all with walk-in rain showers, smart TVs and in-room iPads, complimentary Wi-Fi and queen or king-size beds with Micro Cloud bed toppers.
There are eight room types, renamed to honour historic sheep breeds and pastoral culture (Cormo Retreat and Coopworth, Romney, Corriedale Loft and Shearer’s, Homestead and High Country suites). Four have panoramic views and penthouse options.
We stayed in the Romney Deluxe with king bed (firmly comfy). In town for a conference at the nearby National Maritime Museum, the desk and practical chair, conveniently appointed power points and lamp were important features for catching up on work in the evening.
Often an irritation in hotel rooms when the TV is positioned at a neck-craning angle, we were relieved to find it directly in front of the bed – and the trendy hanging globe bedside lamp switches were a hand’s length away to avoid dark dashes in the night.
However, it’s almost not worth opening the mini bar in hotels these days, and the Woolstore was no exception. One mini milk carton, two cans of cola and two of water. And why would you bother when there’s three convenience stores within a leisurely late-night wander (one is open 24 hours).
The bathroom
Spacious, with a wide doorway and double shower with the option of a walk-in rain shower or hand-held head, the shower was clean, although the grout could do with a deep scrub.
London-based fragrance house IIUVO Soigné’s amenities were a lovely touch.
Food and drink
Mister Percy Restaurant & Bar is Hotel Woolstore 1888’s secret weapon. The eatery raises a glass to a former wool classer at the original Woolstore, whose name is etched on the sandstone windowsill of one of the guest rooms. As the story goes, Percy Alfred Ewart enjoyed a tipple or three of red.
Mister Percy is an intimate, candle-lit timeout spot after a busy day in the city or where to gather your thoughts for the day ahead.
The $30pp breakfast package allows you to choose one main meal, one sweet treat and a drink.
The Sheepherders Breakfast was standout – bacon rosti potato, goat’s curd, sautéed spinach, mushroom, poached egg, baby herb parsley and chive-infused oil. It’s a modern, sophisticated twist on what pastoral workers would eat before starting a long day at work.
Too tired to choose a la carte dishes ourselves, we opted for the reasonably priced ($75 per person, paired wines an extra $50) four-course ‘feed me’ menu for two: shared dishes of Mediterranean flavours that celebrate local produce.
An excellent choice.
The location
Originally inhabited by the Eora tribe, the 55-acre Pyrmont in 1795 was granted to Thomas Jones, who sold the plot a year later to Obadiah Ikin for 10 pounds. That investment was traded for a gallon of rum in 1799, giving ownership to wool pioneer Captain John Macarthur, who used the area as an export point for the wool industry.
Macarthur parcelled off the land in 1840 and the area became known for ironworks and ship building.
Pyrmont – and Hotel Woolstore 1888 – today, is on the edge of the Darling Harbour precinct and a stone’s throw from Sydney International Convention Centre, King Street and Barangaroo wharfs.
From the hotel, it’s a leisurely walk to the National Maritime Museum, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, and plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars.
It’s a 20-minute walk up to the CBD too, or you can take the light rail across the city.
Getting there
By car: There’s a ticketed carpark nearby if you’re driving, or you can take a cab or Uber from Sydney airport. From Town Hall Station, head towards Darling Harbour along Druitt St and across the Pyrmont Bridge. Continue beyond the National Maritime Museum and turn left into Murray Street. Hotel Woolstore 1888 is a 3-minute walk along the street.
By light rail: At Sydney Central station, head towards the Light Rail stop at the Grand Concourse and take the L1 Dulwich Hill service. Alight at Convention stop and walk to Hotel Woolstore 1888 through the Harbourside parking complex (about 5 minutes).
Would we stay again?
Absolutely. Hotel Woolstore 1888 isn’t just another pleasant cookie cutter hotel. There’s quirk and character everywhere, customer service was exceptional and it’s close to all the Darling Harbour and city attractions.
HOTEL WOOLSTORE 1888: 139 Murray Street, Pyrmont.
The author stayed at Hotel Woolstore 1888 at her own expense, with a special discount rate.
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