It was designed by Albert F. Myers and William P. Hendry Architects and built in 1889 by Fallick and Murgatroyd, incorporating an earlier building from c. 1857.

The site was generally vacant at the time of construction apart from a c. 1857-69 rendered brick terrace house on lot 3, about two thirds of which was incorporated into the new building, with only the front rooms replaced.

The building later operated at various times as the Trocadero Picture Palace and as a venue for vaudeville shows and boxing.

The Sydney University Women's Settlement used the upper club room as a centre for soldiers wives and mothers between 1916 and 1922.

They purchased the building in 1945 and continued its occupation until the firm's closure in 1979, after which time a motor repair business occupied the site.

The original billiard saloon and club rooms have been used by various factories, the soldiers wives and mothers, residence and studio.

At ground level there are three shop fronts, the two eastern ones being original with fine timber framing and large areas of glass.

At the second floor level, elaborate Flemish style gabled dormer windows project from the mansard roof above a parapet.

At street level the openings have been altered several times with the installation of roller shutters and fire egress doors.

This vestibule retains its clerestory windows and roof structure and evidence of stairs on the east and west walls to a now removed landing and doorways.

[1] Internally the eastern terrace survives relatively intact beyond the front shops and retains its fine mid C19th geometric timber stair and most of its joinery, flooring, plasterwork and one chimney piece.

The roof sheeting is visible from below and is supported by a row of fine wrought iron trusses, spanning clear across the space.

These trusses in turn support a raised central roof with clerestory windows either side extending almost the full length of the hall.

Remains of a perimeter gallery with timber floor and cast and wrought iron brackets survives but with the balustrade missing.

[1] The walls t the hall are divided into regular bays by classical pilasters with Corinthian capitals and a high base.

The main cornice to the walls has fine moulded plaster medallions, some of the recesses are pierced by original windows (some sheeted externally).

At each end of the hall is a raised cornice section on pilasters surmounted by a large semi-circular fanlight fitted with timber windows.

The ceiling is generally boarded and where exposed the roof structure above is packed with sawdust between the joists, presumably as acoustic insulation against the skating rink.

are a significant record of the history of King Street, Newtown and the fluctuations in economic fortunes of the state from 1857 up to and including the current fire order on the building.

[5][1] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

The interior retains several significant spaces: the skating rink hall, the billiards saloon, the second floor club room and tower (demolished), and the vestibule.

The building is a significant record of the response and adaption of community and commercial sectors to the fluctuation of the economy of NSW from 1889 to 1998.

[5][1] The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The skating rink features a very light weight roof supported by fine wrought iron trusses spanning 60 feet (18 m) across the building.

[5][1] The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.