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 drawing was produced by Cyril C Ruwald in 60 Hunter St, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 10th February 1948

Architectural drawing, ground plan Albion Hotel Grabben Gullen, paper / pencil, Cyril Ruwald, 60 Hunter Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 10 February 1948

A pencil drawing depicting the 'GROUND FLOOR PLAN' of the Albion Hotel, in Grabben Gullen. The outline of the plan and notations are in lead pencil with sections of the walls coloured in yellow pencil. There is a rectangular border around the drawing and a title can be seen within the border below the drawing.

Made: Ruwald, Cyril; Sydney; 10/02/1948

Title of the drawing reads 'GROUND FLOOR PLAN / MEASURED DRAWINGS "ALBION" HOTEL GRABBEN GULLEN / NEW SOUTH WALES / FOR L.J. SHEPHERD ESQ RE / SCALE ONE INCH EQUALS EIGHT FEET / CYRIL C. RUWALD F.R.I.B.A., F.R.A.I.A. ARCHITECT 60 HUNTER ST SYDNEY B.4734 11.2.48'. Handwritten text in the top right corner reads 'Measured 10.2.48 by C.C.R'. There is also a signature below the drawing 'Cyril C Ruwald / Architect'.

90/317-21

10/02/1948

443 mm

445 mm