Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Chard's Building

Commercial building at 171-175 William Street, Darlinghurst built for the wool merchant William Henry Chard. In 1916, the Sydney City Council resumed 94 properties on the southern side of William Street for road widening. Chard purchased the allotment on the corner of Forbes and William streets and commissioned the firm, Pitt and Morrow, to design a new commercial building on the site. The building was run as the 50-50 Club by Phil 'the Jew' Jeffs in the 1930s, Sydney's best known illegal casino, sly-grog nightclub and cocaine den. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation purchased the building for 21,000 pounds in 1945. The building still functions as an office block.

-33.875025396326, 151.21936619282

Milestone
Constructed
1923 - 1924
Name
Alternate
50-50 Club
1930 - 1945
Alternate
King's Bridge Club
1930 - 1945
Position
1923 - 1924
Property
Owned by
1924 - 1929
Occupied by
1930 - 1945
Owned by
1945 - 1991
Type