5. Heritage Suites

Most of the daily operation work of the Equity Trustees Company took place on the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor of the Equity Chambers; the upper levels were leased out to various legal professionals.

The boardroom, 1930s

Source: Journal of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects, November 1931

Sitting among the furniture of Queensland maple and a ceiling in the colour of old ivory, business meetings at the Company’s board room were an exclusive affair echoed by a gallant environment.

It forms part of a business cluster in the southwest of the first floor along with the Manager’s Office – subdivided from the board room with a folding door – an antechamber and a lobby space nearby.

In its November 1931 issue, the Journal of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects applauded the design of this area for crafting a hospitable atmosphere for external visitors, paying attention to its psychological effect in business transaction. In contrast to the “inadequate and uninviting” reception spaces so commonly found during that era, it helped the Company forge “harmonious relationships” that “must be rewarded with harmonious results”.

The board room and the adjacent space has been transformed into the hotel’s heritage premium room and master suites. Guests can experience the past glory of the board room through the decorative moulding and timber-panelled ceiling – both preserved in excellent conditions – as well as the cast bronze grills below the casement windows, a like-for-like replica from the original.