This is a curious building on the south / uphill side of Robinson Road, opposite Castle Steps. Here's how it looks from the west:
It looks as though it was originally planned to be symmetrical about the staircase.
Here's the view of the wall at the other end:
The stubs of the concrete joists add to the feeling there's a missing half to this building.
That's not so unusual in Hong Kong. Often a section of a building is re-developed, leaving part of the older building still standing.
But look at the building that stands where the other half of 69G should be:
That's 69F, an odd little building that looks older than 69G.
I guess that the west half of 69G was built with the plan to build the east half when 69F was demolished. But the owners of 69F decided to keep it, so 69G was never completed.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone knows any more information about these two buildings, eg their ages, and whether there has ever been an eastern half to 69G.
Regards, David
Photos that show this Place
Comments
1945?
Hi David,
A real estate page says this buidling was built in 1945.
http://default.centadata.com/pih09/pih09/estate.aspx?type=1&code=TZILZH…
Probably a bit older
Hi,
I guess it's a bit older. Whenever we see 01-1945 as the Date of occupation on Centadata, I read it as "Pre-war building, records lost during the war".
Regards, David
These two buildings are owned
These two buildings are owned by the Cheung's family, as there is a chinese character 「張」engraved on the number plate of 69F. They are believed to be built before 1939, as I just found that there were three old girls of the St. Stevens' Girls' college reported their address as 69 Robinson Road (https://www.hkmemory.hk/.../P020131028627688385083.pdf P.20 ). One of the family members of the Cheungs' was a KMT General (according to some Chinese news report) and one of the Cheungs married to the son of Fu Tak Lam (aka 傳老榕)
69 Robinson Rd.
This was the entrance gate to the Cheung estate at 69 Robinson Rd. The property extended all the way back to Conduit Rd. Conduit Rd. 36-42 were also owned by Mr. Cheung. There was a very large house on the property as well as some smaller ones since the family was very large with multiple wives. It would have been there at least in the ealy 1900s I believe.
69 Robinson Rd.
Actually according to a family member, the entrance gate is the next door over with the green tiles and the two lions in front.