Cyril Christian Ruwald (1895-1959) was one of several architects who designed hotels for Tooth & Co during the 1930s and 1940s. Born in Redfern, Sydney, Ruwald attended Sydney Technical College and was indentured to the architects Waterhouse and Lake. In 1917 Ruwald enlisted in the Field Artillery Brigade and sailed for France, where he served during 1918.

During the 1920s Ruwald worked with Reg Prevost, a noted patron of young architects including Sydney Ancher, before spending time in Europe during the 1930s Depression. On his return Ruwald established his own practice and was instrumental in adapting the streamlined horizontal look of European modernism to hotel design. His Cross Keys Hotel, Newcastle set the pattern for many others including the Canterbury, Vauxhall, Woollahra and Premier hotels. The Beach Hotel, Merewether is perhaps the most intact of Ruwald's numerous 'modern' hotels. Ruwald also designed the Greengate (Killara) and Bull and Bush (Baulkham Hills) hotels, notable exercises in historic pastiche.

As well as hotels, Ruwald's practice encompassed apartment buildings (notably Selsdon, Macleay Street, Potts Point), banks (for the Bank of NSW) and numerous residences. A champion golfer, Ruwald designed club houses for Cammeray Golf Club and other sporting clubs. He also designed alternations to two significant Sydney buildings: the City Mutual Building, Hunter Street and the former Grand Central Hotel, York Street.

The image was produced by Cyril C Ruwald in 9 Martin Place, Sydney and printed by the Commercial Copying Company, 28 Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 22 September 1938.

Diazo print, new garage plan Acklands Hotel Woollahra, paper / ink, Cyril Ruwald, 9 Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, printed by Commercial Copying Company Pty Ltd, 28 Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 22 August 1938

A diazo print depicting the garage plan for the Acklands Hotel, on the corner of Queen and Moncur Streets, Woollahra. The 'FRONT ELEVATION', 'LONG SECTION', 'PLAN' and the 'BLOCK PLAN' are shown. The outline of each plan and section is in brown and coloured in orange, yellow, and green. A stamp containing a signature can be seen towards the top left corner of the plan and handwritten notations black ink can be seen across the print. There is a rectangular border around the print and the title of the print can be seen within the border below the drawing. On the back of the print there are two 'LOCAL GOVERNMENT' stamps and the printers stamp can also be seen in the bottom left corner.

Made: Ruwald, Cyril; Sydney; 22/09/1938

Printed: Commercial Copying Company Pty Ltd; Sydney

Title of the plan reads 'NEW GARAGE FOR / WOOLLAHRA HOTEL WOOLLAHRA / Scale 1/8" equals 1'-0" '. Signature to the right of the title reads 'Cyril C Ruwald / FRIBA FRAIA / Architect / 9 Martin Place / Sydney'.
Handwritten text in the 'BLOCK PLAN' reads 'Omit / Cyril C Ruwlad / for W A [Wethste]'.
Stamped in top left corner 'Approved by the Council / Municipality of Woollahra / subject to the provisions of / Ordinance 71 / [signature J C Lough] / Town Clerk / Date 26/9/38'.
The stamp from the printers office on the back of the plan reads 'COMMERCIAL / COPYING COMPANY PTY LTD / 28 MARTIN PLACE / SYDNEY / BLUES HELIOS / PHOTOSTATS / BLACLINES / DIAL / B6403'.

90/317-12

22/09/1938

260 mm

330 mm