The Australian Hotel was originally located on George Street, next to where the Museum of Contemporary Art now stands. The Sydney Gazette announced that the Australian was open for business on 12th August 1824, making it the oldest continuously licensed pub in the City of Sydney. When the plague hit Sydney in 1900, many of the buildings were pulled down to prevent further outbreaks, including the Australian Hotel.

The license was transferred to a new building located on the Archaeological site nearby at 116 Cumberland Street. In 1913 the present building was constructed and remains to this day, one of the most intact pubs in Sydney, still retaining its original features and unique split level bars. The Australian today looks much the same as it did when soldiers drank here after the First World War in 1918, during the Great Depression of the 1930’s or when patrons witnessed the gangland- style murder of John William Manners outside the hotel in 1956.

The building is still an attractive and well preserved example of Edwardian style architecture with quality and taste present throughout the hotel, from the tiling through to the tap faucets. The Australian Heritage Hotel still has many of its pre-existing features, such as the metal awnings, etched signage and saloon style bar doors.

The hotel is listed on the State Heritage register and the Conservation and Heritage Register for Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority; it is also listed on these non-statutory Heritage registers:

• Register for the National Estate
• Register of the National Trust of Australia (NSW)
• Royal Australian Institute of Architects Register of 20th Century Buildings of Significance.