Lebovic says it is one of only three Hardy Wilson commercial buildings still standing in Sydney.
He hopes to move in later this year but in the meantime is busy marketing his Paddington Street building, after it failed to reach its reserve at auction on April 10. It’s now on sale for $1.25 million. After initially being offered as a residence incorporating a commercial gallery, this time he plans to emphasise its business potential - as an interior design, fashion or homewares outlet, or a medical or legal centre.
The new premises in Kensington are handy not only for the race-track but for radioman John Laws’s favourite gift shop, Peter’s of Kensington - though neither venue is a stamping ground for buyers of rare images. It also adjoins the shell-studded Grotta Capri restaurant, which is also something of a Sydney landmark. But nor is Lebovic much of a power luncher.
The new building offers high ceilings and slightly more room. He plans to reconfigure it into a gallery area with offices behind. It “has a nice feel” and is also closer to his home.
The building was for 80 years an outlet of Bank of NSW (now Westpac) - it even has a vault - so Lebovic could be anticipating people will be charging in with their money in their hand.
Highly respected among the rare print fraternity, Lebovic began trading in 1977 after spending some years learning about books and printing at a firm near the British Museum in London‘s Bloomsbury. He started at the Sydney Antique Centre, moved to Oxford Street and then Glenmore Road in Paddington, finally buying his present gallery in 1985.
His cool expertise and trademark bow tie will be much missed from the Paddo gallery scene.
