A multi-million-dollar makeover is set to breathe new life into the Adina Darling Harbour – one of Sydney’s most iconic waterfront stays. The revitalisation marks 25 years since the 114-room hotel first welcomed guests ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympics and reaffirms its place as an elevated apartment-style accommodation choice in the heart of Darling Harbour.
Originally developed as part of the King Street Wharf precinct, the hotel’s late-1990s design reflected the functional urban style of its era, with floor-to-ceiling windows and curved balconies offering views over Cockle Bay. This top-to-tail refurbishment, led by Brenton Smith from Bates Smart, is set to enhance these features while introducing contemporary finishes that align with the precinct’s evolution into a vibrant leisure and business hub and with Adina’s brand evolution.
TFE Hotels’ Group Chief Operating Officer, Chris Sedgwick, said the site’s transformation – from a maritime-industrial zone to a modern hospitality venue – had mirrored the broader renewal of Darling Harbour.
“Today, Darling Harbour has transformed into one of Sydney’s most vibrant lifestyle precincts, offering guests proximity to Barangaroo, Town Hall, the ICC, iconic Sydney attractions and events,“ he said. “Likewise, this large-scale refurbishment marks a significant repositioning of the hotel and reflects our forward-thinking vision for the Adina brand and for the wider precinct.”
With new brand positioning in play, Adina is evolving into a design-led, experience-rich brand that redefines hotel living – where comfort, style, and connection to place come together to create a memorable stay. Sedgwick says the recent refurbishment and repositioning of Adina Town Hall had been extremely well received by the market, with plans underway to refurb other first-generation Adinas in Melbourne, Darwin, Adelaide, and Frankfurt.
“The kitchen is the heart of the home, and our interior architects have designed spaces where our Adina guests can entertain, relax, and feel at ease, whether in their apartment or in the hotel’s lobby lounge. It’s an approach that is really resonating with our guests at our newly opened Adina Town Hall in Sydney.”
The design inspiration, according to Bates Smart’s Interior Design Director, Brenton Gibbs, has been driven by the hotel’s prime Darling Harbour location.
“Whilst Adina Town Hall had a very residential overlay, which was more akin to a city apartment, the narrative for Adina Darling Harbour is about soft tranquil harbour colours, organic forms and a harbour side connection that can be seen in fabrics, artworks, and paint colours, Brenton said. “This casual relaxed approach has also been extended into public areas including the reception, pool area, meeting rooms and onsite restaurant and bar.”
Adina’s onsite bar and restaurant will have a relaxed neighbourhood vibe that features a terrazzo bar, sea foam greens, chartreuse lacquered lamps and playful harbourside stripes.
“It very much references a day out on the boat and a relaxed Sydney harbour side vacation,” Brenton said.
As the construction team prepare to move in, Sydney-based charity, ReLove, are preparing to check out preloved furniture and fixtures and redistribute to Sydneysiders in need.
“We are deeply grateful to TFE Hotels and TOGA Group for their generous donation of furniture, which will help us create safe and welcoming homes for people in crisis,” said ReLove Co-founder, Ben Stammer. “Through our ongoing partnership with the group we can continue to provide dignity, comfort and stability to families as they rebuild their lives, while also ensuring that pre-loved hotel furniture is given a meaningful second life.”
The TFE-owned property welcomed its last guests last week and is set to reopen mid-2026.
