George McRae's 1912 Edwardian Baroque sandstone building spent most of its life housing NSW's Department of Education before Make Architects and BAR Studio transformed it into Capella Sydney, which opened in 2023 as one of the most considered heritage conversions Australia has produced. The warm honey-coloured sandstone facade — arched windows, ornamental cornicing, a confident civic presence on the corner near Circular Quay — gives nothing away about the four-storey contemporary rooftop extension above it, clad in fluted anodised metal fins that catch the light without competing with what McRae built. Inside, BAR Studio navigated the tension between preservation and contemporary hospitality with real intelligence. The reinstated central courtyard anchors the building's public life, while the 192 rooms and suites split between two distinct registers: heritage rooms in the original structure carry arched fanlight windows, black-framed joinery, and a palette of warm linen and dark timber that lets McRae's bones breathe; tower rooms in the extension open onto full-height glazing with Sydney's civic skyline laid out below. The bar strikes a different mood entirely — harlequin marble floors, brass-trimmed counters, and suspended feather-and-glass chandeliers bring a nocturnal theatricality that sits closer to a Mayfair members club than a hotel lobby. The spa pool, set beneath restored coffered ceilings and original arched colonnades, feels like a Roman bath that simply waited a century for the right brief.

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For generations, the Department of Education building in Sydney’s Sandstone Precinct stood quietly, its golden facade forming an enduring backdrop to the rhythm of the city. Reawakened as Capella Sydney in March 2023, the heritage-listed icon now welcomes guests into a landmark setting that brings together luxury accommodation, distinctive dining and immersive cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Sydney’s commercial, cultural and hospitality precinct, Capella Sydney marked the first property under the Capella Hotels and Resorts constellation to open in Australia. Balancing storied architectural features with a contemporary design aesthetic, the hotel celebrates the Australian panorama through its interiors, location and experiences. Spanning eight levels, Capella Sydney is home to 192 guestrooms and suites, complemented by three ground-level dining and bar destinations. Throughout the hotel, commissioned and collected artworks, sophisticated furnishings and intriguing objet