The site of the Glenmore Hotel forms part of the traditional lands of the Cadigal people of Sydney Harbour. No indigenous sites have been recorded in the immediate vicinity, however at the site of the Shangri-La Hotel (174 Cumberland Street) a campfire with food remains consisting of bream, Schnapper and various mussels and oyster varieties, was uncovered during archaeological work in 1989.
The subject site forms the northern end of the Cumberland Street ridge which terminated at Bunkers Hill, the name of an area which was sometimes extended somewhat to the south to include this site. Bunker's Hill took its name from Captain Eber Bunker, and American whaling captain, who settled for a time approximately 100 metres to the north of the Glenmore site.
