Bates Smart Proposes Tower Above Sydney's Historic Shelbourne Hotel

A tower proposal for the heritage-listed Shelbourne Hotel near Sydney's Darling Harbour entered public exhibition in August 2026 on the New South Wales government's major projects planning portal.

The scheme would add an approximately 79-metre tower reaching 26 storeys above the existing four-storey Federation-era hotel at the corner of Sussex and Market streets. The design is led by Bates Smart, with landscape design by Dangar Barin Smith.

The new tower would provide 140 hotel rooms, a lobby, an outdoor terrace and a rooftop bar. The existing 1902 hotel building would be retained and refurbished, with its heritage facades restored, while the lower levels continue to house a pub, restaurant and two levels of function space with a combined capacity of 950 patrons.

According to Bates Smart's design report, the hotel's interior has already undergone significant alteration, so a new core and structural frame will be inserted to support the tower above. As part of a Connecting with Country strategy, an Aboriginal artwork is proposed to be carved into the tower's textured concrete soffit.

The application, lodged by Towncorp Pty Ltd and Addenbrooke Pty Ltd, is being assessed as State Significant Development because the estimated cost exceeds AU$10 million. No on-site car parking is proposed, though five bicycle spaces would be included.

The developers estimate the project would generate 245 construction jobs and 80 operational jobs. The application can be reviewed under reference SSD-73550709 on the NSW planning portal.