The Cyclops Toys building in Leichhardt is a prominent and well-known landmark, easily recognized by its distinctive red letters atop an old red and beige trike and bike factory. Situated on William Street at the corner of Francis Street, the three-story building stands out in a neighborhood dominated by smaller structures. The sawtooth roof design, indicative of its industrial past, suggests that it was a factory rather than just a storage facility. Cyclops, a company that has been manufacturing bikes and trikes since 1913, started in Leichhardt, and by 1920, it claimed to produce the “first Australian mass-produced car.” The William Street factory played a pivotal role in Cyclops’ growth, providing employment to locals during challenging times such as the world wars and the Great Depression. Despite the building’s conversion into apartments, the vintage-style letters continue to proudly showcase Cyclops’ history, serving as a cherished reminder of the area’s industrial heritage standard.
Client
Traditional Restoration Company
Contract Dates
November 2022- March 2023
Scope of work
All of the windows on the south facing elevation were leaking due to bad design/age. We worked closely with Traditional Restoration to complete the following all whilst trying to impact the current residents as little as possible :-
- Removal of all existing windows, including all internal architraves and reveals
- Installation of new flashings to exterior.
- Installation of new reveals and architraves to interior
- Removal of all glass on clerestory windows on the sawtooth.
- Repair of any rotten timber work
- Clean rebates ready for new glass and flashings.