Wood's Chambers - Newcastle, NSW - 1892
Scott St, Newcastle.
The redbrick, Dutch-gabled, Baroque fantasy was designed by the prominent German-born Newcastle architect, Frederick Menkens. The ornamentation and oriel windows are in stone. Originally built for Joseph Wood, a successful local mine merchant and brewer, "Wood's Chambers" housed both “superior office accommodation and wine auction premises”. The building was regarded as Menkens' finest creations and reflecting this pride in his handiwork, Menkens practised here from a first floor office from 1893 until his retirement in 1908.
The building was subsequently acquired by mining industrialist William Longworth in the 1920s and was renamed 'Longworth House'. It was here from 16 March 1928 that Lonsworth hosted meetings of the Australasian Society of Patriots, providing a lecture hall, museum, art gallery and of all things, a herbarium. During this time, the building became commonly known as the 'Empire Club'. During WWII, it accommodated a canteen and meeting place in town for RAAF servicemen from their base in Williamtown and became known as the 'Air Force Club'. The dwindling number of Society members later forced the sale of the building in 1947 and it continued to operate as the Air Force Club until it closed and lay in vacant disrepair for many years.
Happily, the building was renovated and reopened in 2009 as Longworth House and according to its own website, it is:-
"Perfect for a unique wedding reception venue in the heart of Newcastle, Longworth House occupies an elegant and versatile space, overflowing with grace and charm. The ideal, inner-city function venue for a wedding, business function, corporate event, charity ball or private party".
Wood's Chambers - Newcastle, NSW - 1892
Scott St, Newcastle.
The redbrick, Dutch-gabled, Baroque fantasy was designed by the prominent German-born Newcastle architect, Frederick Menkens. The ornamentation and oriel windows are in stone. Originally built for Joseph Wood, a successful local mine merchant and brewer, "Wood's Chambers" housed both “superior office accommodation and wine auction premises”. The building was regarded as Menkens' finest creations and reflecting this pride in his handiwork, Menkens practised here from a first floor office from 1893 until his retirement in 1908.
The building was subsequently acquired by mining industrialist William Longworth in the 1920s and was renamed 'Longworth House'. It was here from 16 March 1928 that Lonsworth hosted meetings of the Australasian Society of Patriots, providing a lecture hall, museum, art gallery and of all things, a herbarium. During this time, the building became commonly known as the 'Empire Club'. During WWII, it accommodated a canteen and meeting place in town for RAAF servicemen from their base in Williamtown and became known as the 'Air Force Club'. The dwindling number of Society members later forced the sale of the building in 1947 and it continued to operate as the Air Force Club until it closed and lay in vacant disrepair for many years.
Happily, the building was renovated and reopened in 2009 as Longworth House and according to its own website, it is:-
"Perfect for a unique wedding reception venue in the heart of Newcastle, Longworth House occupies an elegant and versatile space, overflowing with grace and charm. The ideal, inner-city function venue for a wedding, business function, corporate event, charity ball or private party".