A heritage site almost lost to fire is about to become one of Sydney’s most anticipated hospitality projects. Here is what the appointment of Hickory as builder tells us about the kind of work winning in the current market.
There is something fitting about a builder known for complex heritage work taking on a building that history almost erased.
Hickory has been appointed by developer Hanave as builder for the Randle St Hotel in Surry Hills, a project that will transform the fire-damaged Henderson Hat Factory at 7-15 Randle Street into an 11-storey, 124-key hospitality destination. The hotel is designed by architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and is slated for completion in May 2028.
The Henderson Hat Factory was damaged by fire in 2023. Rather than a clean-slate rebuild, the project will retain and repurpose key heritage features of the original structure, including salvaged brickwork, preserving the character of a site that has been part of the Surry Hills streetscape for generations.
The completed hotel will include two restaurants, two bars, and a new pedestrian link connecting directly to Sydney’s Central Station.
A builder earning its stripes in Sydney
Hickory is not new to this kind of work. The Melbourne-founded, vertically integrated construction and property company entered the New South Wales market six years ago, cutting its teeth on the 264-key Ace Hotel, a 19-storey heritage-led project also in Surry Hills.
NSW State Manager Michael Kouknas says the Randle St Hotel appointment reflects what the company has built in the market since then.
“We cut our teeth in Sydney delivering the 264-key Ace Hotel, a 19-storey, heritage-led project in Surry Hills that has reset the blueprint for contemporary hotels. Since then, we’ve taken a considered approach to growing our presence, building a strong local team and capability. This appointment and our broader workbook is a reflection of the trust we’ve established in the market.” — Michael Kouknas, NSW State Manager, Hickory
Hickory is currently delivering five projects in Sydney, including the $275 million five-star Florin Hotel on Kent Street. Its New South Wales project workbook now sits at $735 million across residential and commercial sectors.
Leadership investment backing growth
Alongside the Randle St appointment, Hickory has brought in two senior leaders to support its expanding NSW pipeline.
John Rusak joins as Construction Manager from John Holland, with a 20-year track record in the sector. Luke White joins as Data Centres Project Director from Canberra Data Centres, deepening the company’s capability in what it describes as a key growth sector.
Managing Director George Abraham says the pipeline growth reflects both market conditions and earned confidence.
“Our pipeline in New South Wales has nearly doubled in a relatively short period of time, reflecting both the strength of the market and confidence in Hickory’s value engineering and repurposing expertise. The appointments of John and Luke, who both bring deep sector experience, will support the delivery of an increasingly robust and technically complex pipeline.” — George Abraham, Managing Director, Hickory
What this signals for the sector
The Randle St Hotel project is a reminder that some of the more technically demanding work happening in Australian construction right now sits at the intersection of heritage, hospitality, and urban renewal.
Projects like this require builders who can manage complex existing structures, navigate heritage overlays, maintain heritage fabric while meeting modern compliance requirements, and deliver outcomes that hold up commercially for the end operator.
Private project consultancy and management company APM Services has been appointed to manage the project.
With completion scheduled for May 2028, Randle St will add another data point to what is becoming a meaningful body of work for Hickory in Sydney, and a growing signal that vertically integrated builders with genuine heritage capability are finding consistent demand in the NSW market.
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General Information: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers should seek independent advice relevant to their specific circumstances.
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