Red Cross House

Red Cross House stands at 153-159 Clarence Street and is a steel-frame building with mushroom-head column construction and Art Deco elements from the late 1930s. Windows with curved terminations and steel frames define the appearance of the facades facing Clarence and Kent Streets.

The building was constructed from 1937 to 1938 based on designs by Samuel Lipson working with Robertson, Marks and McCredie. Architects developed it as a commercial building for S. Hoffnung & Co., later converted to serve blood transfusion operations.

Built originally as a warehouse, it now serves as headquarters for the Australian Red Cross. This dual purpose shows how a former commercial building took on an important role in humanitarian work.

The building is easily visible from the street with distinctive facades on two sides that retain their original form despite later modifications. Visitors can observe the architectural details from outside, though access to interiors may be limited.

The building appears on three separate heritage registers, underlining its exceptional significance to Australian architectural heritage. This triple listing is rare and shows how important preservation of this site is to different authorities.

Location: New South Wales

Location: City of Sydney

Inception: 1938

Address: 153-159 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

GPS coordinates: -33.86800,151.20480

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:24