Hawken and Vance Produce Exchange, Victorian commercial building in Sydney, Australia.
Hawken and Vance Produce Exchange is a three-story commercial building located at 95-99 Sussex Street with a facade dating to 1883 that displays classical pilasters and round-arched windows. Detailed architectural ornaments throughout the front elevation reflect the design conventions of the Victorian period.
Joseph Edmund Vance and Nicholas Hawken established their produce merchant operation in 1868, transforming a location that would later reflect their success in the city's commerce sector. The facade was constructed in 1883, a moment when their business had grown substantial enough to warrant a major building upgrade.
The building's name recalls two merchants whose produce business shaped this part of Sydney's commercial quarter during the 19th century. Its continued presence connects modern visitors to the era when trading warehouses were central to the city's growth.
The building sits prominently on Sussex Street in Sydney's central business district, making it straightforward to find and visit on foot. Its location on a busy commercial corridor means visitors can easily pause to observe the facade while moving through the city center.
When Leda Holdings acquired the property in 1988, the interior was demolished while the original facade was retained as a preserved frontage. This approach demonstrates how historic exteriors can be reused within contemporary urban redevelopment.
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