The Black Swan is a heritage-listed building located on a prominent corner at the edge of the city, addressing a busy urban intersection. Originally constructed as a hotel, the building was destroyed by fire in 1835 and subsequently altered many times, resulting in the loss of original fabric and clarity.

Rather than reconstructing a singular historical moment, the design embraces the layered history of the building, clearly distinguishing between old and new while allowing the original Georgian structure to re-emerge as the primary architectural presence. A series of modest, precise interventions stabilise the building, reinstate its legibility, increase its commercial viability to support contemporary use.

Photography: Adam Gibson