Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021C01223:front:0:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021C01223
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 16102–19737

showing area later occupied by the Reserve Bank dotted.
Figure 54 – View of the houses located at 219-215 Macquarie Street Sydney, which were demolished for the construction of the Reserve Bank in 1959.
Figure 55 - 1910 map of the City of Sydney compiled and published by Roberts & Moffat Ltd.
Figure 56 - Phillip Street buildings demolished to form the eastern extension of Martin Place, photographed by EG Shaw, 1935.  St Stephen's Church and the building to its right, St James Parsonage, were subsequently acquired by the Commonwealth of Australia for the RBA Head Office building.
Figure 57 - General view of St Stephen's (Presbyterian) Church, Phillip Street Sydney, c1934, by Herbert H Fishwick.  The church was demolished in 1935.

1.0              Summary Description

Name                                        Reserve Bank of Australia (Head Office)

Address                                     65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

Land Title                                  Lot 1 of DP 444499; Lot 1 of DP 32720; Lot 1 of DP 33919 (Parish of St James, County of Cumberland)

Original Owner                              Commonwealth of Australia
                                            Reserve Bank of Australia

Present Owner                               Reserve Bank of Australia

Local Government Area                       City of Sydney

Construction Dates                          1959-64, original building
                                            1976-1980, south additions No. 2 site
                                            1991-1996, re-cladding and internal refurbishment

Architect                                   Commonwealth Department of Works Banks and Special Projects Branch

Builder                                     EA Watts Pty Limited: original construction and 1976-80 and 1991-96 construction phases.

Heritage Status                                        Commonwealth Heritage List (Place ID No. 105456)
                                                       Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 (Schedule 5, Item No. I1897)
                                                       NSW State Heritage Inventory Online Database (No. 2423917)
                                                       Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) Register of Significant Architecture in NSW (Reg No. 4702937)

Summary Description                         The RBA Head Office building is a commercial office building of 25-storeys, including 3 basement levels, of Post War International Modernist Style with three prominent street frontages, utilising high quality external and internal materials.  The tower structure has its primary frontage to Martin Place, and sits on a four-storey podium divided into two upper floors and two floors of full height recessed glazing below, enclosing a double volume entry foyer and adjoining public areas.  The tower over is steel framed and clad with grey granite fixed over the original marble facings, with aluminium window sections and black granite column trims.

                                            Despite later enlargement of the tower to the south and considerable internal modification, the building retains its original architectural character.  The ground floor entrance foyer retains examples of original fabric and finishes.

Summary Statement of Cultural Significance  The Reserve Bank Head Office, Martin Place Sydney is a significant example of the work of the Commonwealth Department of Works built in the early 1960s in an International Modernist style.  It was built to house the specific functional requirements of the