The Beresford Hotel, Darlinghurst

Transforming the Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills was a project that balanced respect for heritage with precision execution and thoughtful refurbishment.

Originally established in 1870 and evolving through many phases of use and renovation, the Beresford had long been a beloved local pub before a major reinvention in the late 2000s saw it grow into a much-loved Sydney institution.

The project demanded meticulous coordination: maintaining structural integrity, working around existing heritage elements, and sequencing the build to accommodate complex finishes and custom detailing. Each stage was about honoring the building’s past while enabling its new life as a vibrant social hub — blending old and new materials, updating services and amenities, and delivering a timeless result that locals and visitors now recognise as part of Sydney’s cultural fabric.

Architect: Thomas Jacobsen

The Beresford Hotel, Darlinghurst (Copy)
Night view of the exterior of The Beresford Hotel with a neon sign and green-tiled walls illuminated by exterior lights.
Historical timeline of The Beresford Hotel on a yellow sign with black text, including years and events like renovation and ownership changes, mounted in a decorative green metal frame outside.
Interior of a modern restaurant or cafe with brown leather sofa seating along the wall, small square tables, and dark chairs. Shelves with red canned or bottled drinks are on the left, and large window with bright light in the background.
Night view of an outdoor patio with small round tables, some occupied by people, string lights illuminating the area, a large tree, and surrounding buildings.
Night scene of an outdoor urban cafe with people sitting at small round tables, illuminated by ambient lights. There are trees with lights on the trunks, a building with large glass windows and modern metal and brick exterior in the background.
A bar with a curved wooden counter and several brown chairs in front. Behind the bar, there are shelves with various bottles of alcohol, illuminated with soft lighting. The decor features white tiled walls, wooden fixtures, and modern lighting elemen