The White Horse Hotel, Sydney, Australia

Designer: Ron McCulloch, refurbished 2004

A white horse has great symbolism – in some cultures it denotes the sun, moon, sea, the heavens, justice, and holiness; in Japan it represents divine authority, and in the bible, Zechariah 6:1-7 the white horse signifies joy and victory, which would make this stylish Surry Hills pub the ideal place to celebrate placing a $50 bet on a 100-1 outsider that romped home in the Melbourne Cup.

Formerly a rough and ready boozer in a poor working class, some might say slum, district of Sydney, the White Horse was a local to crooks, the police and it is said, working girls touting for trade. Entertainment included a piano played by a transvestite. When the revamped White Horse first opened as a chic bar and brasserie in 2004, a customer sat in the same seat each lunchtime. Turns out it was the pianist from the old days who said that was the very spot s/he had played the piano in for all those years.

To find the White Horse keep looking up along Crown Street until the galvanised steel rampant horse sculpture on top of the roof comes into view. It was made in Scotland by sculptor Andy Scott, cut into pieces, shipped to Australia and then reconstructed on the roof. The pub's designer Ron McCulloch had a difficult time trying to persuade the local council that it was art and not advertising.

Photographer: White Horse Hotel