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 60 Hunter St, Sydney and printed by the Burnside Copying Company, 5A Castlereagh St, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 11 February 1948.

Diazo print, ground plan Albion Hotel Grabben Gullen, paper / ink, Cyril Ruwald, 60 Hunter Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, printed by Burnside Copying Company, 5A Castlereagh Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 10 February 1948

A diazo print depicting the 'GROUND FLOOR PLAN' of the Albion Hotel, in Grabben Gullen. The outline of the plan, notations and marks are in black ink. There is a rectangular border around the print and the title of the print can be seen within the border below the drawing. The printers stamp can be seen in purple on the back of the print in the bottom left corner.

Made: Ruwald, Cyril; Sydney; 11/02/1948

Printed: Burnside Copying Company; Sydney

Title of the plan reads 'GROUND FLOOR PLAN / MEASURED DRAWINGS "ALBION" HOTEL GRABBEN GULLEN / NEW SOUTH WALES / FOR L J SHEPHERD ESQ RE / ONE INCH EQUALS EIGHT FEET / CYRIL C RUWALD F.R. I. B. A, F. R. A. I. A. ARCHITECT 60 HUNTER ST SYDNEY B4734 11.2.48'. Below the drawing is a signature 'Cyril Ruwald / Architect'. In the top right corner of the drawing "Measurement 10.2.48 by CCR'.
The stamp on the back of the print reads 'BURNSIDE / COPYING COMPANY / BASEMENT / 5 A CASTLEREAGH ST / SYDNEY / PHONES / B 228 & B 2244'.

90/317-15

11/02/1948

441 mm

445 mm