Newcastle, May 2022 – Heritage Council of NSW has added Crystalbrook Kingsley to its list of prestigious New South Wales State Heritage Register buildings, alongside the likes of the Sydney Opera House and Government House.

Opened in June 2021, Crystalbrook Kingsley transformed Newcastle's iconic Council Administration Centre into a sustainably considered, 130 room luxury hotel. Its namesake is a reference to Newcastle's earlier name of Kingston, which dates back to 1804.

Crystalbrook Collection CEO, Geoff York said, “We knew from the moment we viewed the iconic roundhouse that we had a unique opportunity to reimagine and transform the building into something equally sustainable and luxurious.”

Crystalbrook engaged lead architect, Barney Collins, Director of Newcastle-based EJE Architecture to transform the building. Speaking of the announcement, Mr Collins said, “we are immensely pleased to hear of Crystalbrook Kingsley's heritage listing, cementing itself in Newcastle's history. It was an honour to work on the architectural preservation of the unique brutalist building, built in 1977. We understood the historical significance of the building and its original structures, seeing its preservation as an opportunity to tell the stories of Newcastle and its people.”

The original building was created by locally based architects Wilson and Suters in collaboration with Melbourne-based architects Romberg and Boyd, who were inspired by Boston City Hall, Massachusetts.  Breathing life into the building, while maintaining its heritage essence, has seen Crystalbrook Kingsley win two of the four awards at the Australasia-Pacific Hotel Design awards, including the coveted Paul Davis Award for Australasia-Pacific Hotel of the Year. EJE Architecture have also won two awards for the hotel project, including the Commercial Architecture and Interior Architecture Award at the Newcastle Architecture awards.

The Design

Crystalbrook Collection's design intent was to strengthen the identity of the iconic building by elegantly completing the existing structure with a rooftop addition. The colour and materials of the additions are recessive in their nature; accentuating, celebrating and not competing with the concrete masonry for which the Roundhouse is known. The same consideration was extended to the inside, designed by Melbourne-based Suede Interior Design. Hints and glimpses of birds, footprints, and feather motifs in the Crystalbrook Kingsley brand colours of yellow and charcoal, tell the story of Newcastle's mining past – the canary free from its cage – immortalising the little bird in the timeless style of the hotel. Guests arrive to the rooftop space in original heritage elevators, which open up to panoramic views from Romberg's bar and the Roundhouse restaurant, which is named after the Novocastrian nickname of the building within which it's housed.

Crystalbrook Kingsley's General Manager, Carl Taranto: “We hope this new heritage listing shines a renewed light on Newcastle, its local stories and historical significance in a wider Australian context.”

Sustainability and Responsible Luxury

Crystalbrook Collection's value of Responsible Luxury was key to the development of the hotel, endeavouring to protect the environment and create sustainable experiences that enhance, rather than compromise the guest experience. Construction involved local suppliers where possible, who reused and retained as much of the original fabric within the building and recycled all demolished materials through local recycling facilities.

Crystalbrook Kingsley also features key furniture pieces made by a local carpenter using reclaimed timbers with natural dyes and sealers, carpets made from environmentally friendly 100% undyed sheep yarns, and earthenware and key decorative pieces crafted by a nearby potter.

Crystalbrook Kingsley also features all Crystalbrook's environmental practices, including a single use plastic free environment, a 100% waste-free bathroom, upcycled brand items and the use of technology, such as in-room tablets and mobile check-in, to create paperless environments and experiences.

Editor's Notes – What's in a name? Well, all our love, sweat and tears as we see our family of hotels grow. Please note, Crystalbrook hotel names should not be shortened or altered. E.g. Crystalbrook Kingsley should not be referred to as The Kingsley or Kingsley. 

Correct hotel names: 

- Crystalbrook Albion 

- Crystalbrook Bailey 

- Crystalbrook Byron 

- Crystalbrook Flynn 

- Crystalbrook Kingsley 

- Crystalbrook Riley 

- ENDS -  

About Crystalbrook  

Crystalbrook is one of Australia's leading sustainable and innovative independent hospitality companies. Each hotel in the portfolio carries an authentic expression of its location, a passion for responsible luxury, considered design and a twinkle of fun for a uniquely enriching experience. 

Crystalbrook's portfolio includes:  

- Crystalbrook Riley, Cairns, Queensland  

- Crystalbrook Albion, New South Wales  

- Crystalbrook Byron, Byron Bay, New South Wales 

- Crystalbrook Bailey, Cairns, Queensland  

- Crystalbrook Flynn, Cairns, Queensland  

- Crystalbrook Kingsley, Newcastle, New South Wales

- Crystalbrook Vincent, Brisbane, Queensland

The Group also owns and operates a collection of ten restaurants, three spas, Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina in Port Douglas along with Crystalbrook Station and its subsidiary pastoral businesses. 

 

Responsible Luxury 

Responsible Luxury and sustainability is at the forefront of the way Crystalbrook thinks and operates. At a glance: 

• Operating a single use plastic free environment. No plastic straws, water bottles or single use bathroom amenity bottles (in the past two years the Group has saved over three million plastic bottles from entering landfill) 
• Farming their own beef 
• Sourcing at least 80% of produce from within a three-hour drive of each hotel 
• Use of technology, such as in-room iPads and mobile check-in to create paperless environments and experiences 
• Use of recycled and upcycled materials. Examples include key cards made from recycled wood, coat hangers made from recycled paper and toothbrushes made from sugar cane and cornstarch 

 

Crystalbrook Collection and Ghassan Aboud Group 

Crystalbrook Collection is part of Ghassan Aboud Group promoted by international entrepreneur and philanthropist Ghassan Aboud. The group is a multi-business conglomerate engaged in automobiles, real estate, hospitality, FMCG, food, retail, bespoke catering, media and logistics. In business for more than two decades, the group operates from its global headquarters in the United Arab Emirates with offices in Australia, Belgium, Jordan and Turkey.

 

For further information:  

Melissa Dive, Account Director 

The Mint Partners 

m +61 484906720 

e melissa@themintpartners.com.au 

 

Katie Malone, Group Director, Marketing

Crystalbrook Collection

M: +61 424 927 964

E: katie.malone@crystalbrookcollection.com

crystalbrookcollection.com

 

Sophia Bakopanos, Marketing Manager

Crystalbrook Collection

M: +61 436 632 210        

E: sophia.bakopanos@crystalbrookcollection.com

crystalbrookcollection.com

 

Grace Redman, Marketing Manager

Crystalbrook Kingsley

E: grace.redman@crystalbrookcollection.com 

crystalbrookcollection.com