Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021C01223:front:0:p14
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021C01223
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 36987–40172

in each capital city and several regional cities.  CD Osbourne headed the Architectural Division in Melbourne however the Sydney Branch Director of Works was responsible for approving the design and documentation of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building while Head Office architects advised on the its design as a major project.  The new Reserve Bank head office building was designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works, Bank and Special Projects Division (Sydney) in 1959[6] under the direction of a Design Committee which included the following members:

                  C McGrowther, Superintendent of Reserve Bank Premises
                  HI Ashworth, Consulting Architect (Sydney University)
                  CD Osborne, Director of Architecture - Dept of Works
                  RM Ure, Chief of Preliminary Planning - Dept of Works
                  FC Crocker, Architect in Charge - Bank Section - Dept of Works
                  GA Rowe, Supervising Architect - Bank Section - Dept of Works

The Sydney Branch was also responsible for the documentation of interior spaces and finishes in consultation with Frederick Ward, Industrial Designer who had previously advised on buildings at the Australian National University (Canberra).

Site covenants required the facades of the building to be of stone and other complimentary materials and the building to have a minimum height of 150 feet with a setback to Martin Place of 16 feet above a height of 60 feet from Macquarie Street.  Three members of the Design Committee toured central banking facilities overseas to inform early design studies prepared in 1957.  Detailed planning and documentation commenced in January 1959 with submissions to the Sydney Height of Buildings Advisory Panel in March and to the Governor and Board of the Commonwealth Bank in April[7].  EA. Watts Pty Ltd was awarded the tender to construct the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building in 1962.  The building was completed in 1964 ready for occupation in January 1965.

Figure 4 – View of the steel framed construction of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head office building, c1962.  Source: National Archives of Australia.                                             Figure 5 - View of the south and west elevations during construction c1962.  Source: National Archives of Australia
Figure 6 -View of the northwest corner of the RBA Head Office showing the original marble panels being installed to the north and west elevations, c1962.  Source: National Archives of Australia.  Figure 7 – View of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office Sydney, looking south east from the Phillip Street corner, c1964.
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Source: Australian Archive

3.4                Architectural Design Intent
The Reserve Bank Head Office was constructed in Sydney to provide appropriate accommodation for a number of departments of the Bank and to house its functions as the principal Central Banking agency.  The first Governor of the Bank,