Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office, 65 Martin Place, Sydney Heritage Management Plan 2020 (Cth)
Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office, 65 Martin Place, Sydney Heritage Management Plan 2020
made under subsection 341S(1) of the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Compilation No. 1
Compilation date: 5 November 2021
Includes amendments up to: F2021L01511
Registered: 9 December 2021
This compilation is in 2 volumes
Volume 1: Heritage Management Plan
Volume 2: Endnotes
Each volume has its own contents
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office, 65 Martin Place, Sydney Heritage Management Plan 2020 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 5 November 2021 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register ( The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office
65 Martin Place
SYDNEY NSW 2000
FINAL 8 APRIL 2020
NBRS & PARTNERS Pty Ltd
Level 3, 4 Glen Street
Milsons Point
NSW 2061 Australia
Telephone +61 2 9922 2344 - Facsimile +61 2 9922 1308
ABN: 16 002 247 565
Nominated Architects
Andrew Duffin: Reg No. 5602
This report has been prepared under the guidance of the Expert Witness Code of Conduct in the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules and the provisions relating to expert evidence
| ISSUED | REVIEW | ISSUED BY |
| 5 June 2019 | Draft | P Jeffery |
| 19 July 2019 | Revised draft | P Jeffery |
| 8 November 2019 | Final amended draft | P Jeffery |
| 12 December 2019 | Response to DEE comments | P Jeffery |
| 5 March 2020 | Amended final report v.3 | P. Jeffery |
| 8 April 2020 | APPROVED FINAL (Aust. Heritage Council) | S. Polkinghorne |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Heritage Management Plan has been prepared to assist the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to continue to conserve and protect the identified Commonwealth Heritage values of its Head Office, 65 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000. The Head Office building was included on the Commonwealth Heritage List in June 2004 for demonstrating the following official Commonwealth heritage values:
Criterion A: Processes
Criterion B: Rarity
Criterion D: Characteristic values
Criterion E: Aesthetic characteristics
Criterion F: Technical achievement
Criterion G: Social value
Criterion H: Significant people
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC), as amended, the Reserve Bank of Australia is obliged to prepare a Heritage Management Plan for each of its properties that demonstrate Commonwealth Heritage value. This plan addresses the requirements of Schedule 7A (Regulation 10.03B) of the EPBC Act and be consistent with Commonwealth Heritage management principles.
The methodology adopted for use in this report generally follows best practice principles contained in:
-The Conservation Plan by Dr James Semple Kerr (7th Edition, 2013) published by the National Trust of Australia (NSW).
-Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (The Burra Charter) 2013.
-Management Plans for Places on the Commonwealth Heritage List: a guide for agencies. Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage, November 2006.
-Working Together Managing Commonwealth Heritage Places, A guide for Commonwealth Agencies. Commonwealth of Australia 2019.
Major Recommendations
This Heritage Management Plan confirms the Head Office of the Reserve Bank of Australia demonstrates a range of Commonwealth Heritage values including historical, associative, aesthetic and social values.
The principal heritage significance of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building is its association with the Reserve Bank of Australia, and as physical evidence of the creation of the Reserve Bank of Australia and its separation from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and for its association with successive Governors of the Reserve Bank since 1964. The Head Office has aesthetic significance as an example of Post-World War 2 office buildings in Australia and of the architectural work carried out by the Commonwealth Department of Works Banks and Special Projects Branch. The prominent location of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building at the corner of Martin Place and Macquarie Street contributes to its landmark qualities in forming part of the eastern edge of the Sydney Central Business District.
Major recommendations of this report include:
-This Heritage Management Plan is accepted as the guiding document for future action to the Head Office of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
-The Reserve Bank of Australia is to register this Heritage Management Plan as a legislative instrument on the Federal Register of Legislation (Register) as soon as practicable (section 4 of the Legislation Act 2003) otherwise the agency may not be compliant under the EPBC Act.
-The Heritage Management Policies set out in this plan will be accepted and implemented.
-The Head Office of the Reserve Bank of Australia will be managed in accordance with Commonwealth Heritage management principles and best practice heritage principles.
-Changes to the place will be noted in records maintained by the Reserve Bank of Australia as required under the EPBC Act.
-The Reserve Bank of Australia will submit this Heritage Management Plan to the relevant Commonwealth Minister for consideration and approval.
This draft Heritage Management Plan was issued in March 2020 for review and comment by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Under Section 341X of the EPBC Act the Reserve Bank of Australia is obliged to review this Plan at least once in every five-year period. This plan should therefore be reviewed no later than March 2025 or earlier if circumstances relating to the site change.
NBRSARCHITECTURE
Pamela Jeffery
Senior Heritage Specialist/ Architect
HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Major Recommendations
1.0 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 Background
2.2 The Site
2.3 Study Objectives
2.4 Methodology
2.5 Terminology
2.6 Limitations
2.7 Authorship
2.8 Sources
2.9 Acknowledgments
3.0 HISTORICAL CONTEXT
3.1 Introduction
3.2 A Central Banking System and the Reserve Bank of Australia
3.3 Construction of the Head Office Building
3.4 Architectural Design Intent
3.5 Consolidation of Banking Services and additions to the Building
3.6 Building Refurbishment
3.7 Associated Individuals
3.8 Stylistic Context
4.0 PLACE DESCRIPTION
4.1 Urban Context and Setting
4.2 Description of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Offices
4.3 Interior Description
4.4 Previous modifications
4.5 Archaeological Potential
4.6 Significant Views
5.0 HERITAGE VALUES
5.1 Commonwealth Heritage Criteria
5.2 Methodology adopted for Assessing commonwealth Heritage Values
5.3 Application of Commonwealth Heritage criteria
5.4 Statement of Significance
5.5 Identified National Historical Themes
5.6 Significance of Elements
5.7 Curtilage
6.0 HERITAGE LEGISLATION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
6.1 Legislative Framework Generally
6.2 Relevant Commonwealth Legislation
6.3 Heritage Protection in New South Wales
6.4 Non-statutory Heritage Listings
6.5 Best Practice Guidance
6.6 Other Statutory Requirements
6.7 Key Conservation Issues
6.8 Future Development
7.0 MANAGEMENT OF COMMONWEALTH HERITAGE VALUES
7.1 Generally
7.2 Commonwealth Heritage Management Principles
8.0 SPECIFIC CONSERVATION POLICIES
8.1 Policy Recommendations
8.2 Additions to the RBA Head Office building
9.0 POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
9.1 Responsibility for Implementation of Policies
9.2 Funding
9.3 Review and Monitoring the Heritage Management Plan
9.4 Resolution of Conflict between User Needs and Heritage Significance
9.5 Recommended Ongoing Maintenance Works
9.6 Planned Maintenance
10.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
10.1 Primary Sources
10.2 Published Sources
10.3 Websites and Online Databases
11.0 APPENDICES
11.1 EPBC Act Compliance Checklist
11.2 Commonwealth Heritage List Citation
11.3 Outline Historical background of Site Prior to 1959
11.4 Plans, Sections and Elevations showing the proposed RBA Head Office Consolidation project, c1975
11.5 Land Titles Information
11.6 Sands Directory Listings
11.7 Sydney City Council Rate Book Search
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 - Plan showing the location of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building, located at 65 Martin Place Sydney.
Figure 2 - Aerial photograph showing the three parcels of land comprising the current site of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head office building.
Figure 3 - Diagram showing the sequence of steps in planning and managing a place of cultural significance, contained in The Burra Charter, and underpinning this Conservation Management Plan methodology.
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.
Figure 8 – Diagram showing the Phillip Street elevation. The shaded area indicates the location of the addition constructed in the late 1970s, and the dedicated services/plant spaces Note the addition accommodating the services finished at Level 7.
Figure 9 -View of the wall enrichment, designed by Bim Hilder, located in the ground floor foyer of the RBA building c1964.
Figure 10 - Podium Sculpture by Margel Hinder located in the Martin Place forecourt, NBRSARCHITECTURE, July 2019.
Figure 11 - The Head Office of the RBA, located at 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW. Source: RBA Archives
Figure 12 – RBA building Adelaide. Source: NAA
Figure 13 – RBA building, Brisbane. Source: NAA
Figure 14 — The Reserve Bank of Australia, Canberra, c1964. Source: State Library of Victoria, Image No. a21826
Figure 15 — The Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne, c1967. Source: State Library of Victoria.
Figure 16 - The Reserve Bank of Australia building, Darwin. Source: Northern Territory Library
Figure 17 - RBA building , Perth, formerly located at 45 St George’s Terrace. Source: State Library of Western Australia Fritz Kos
Figure 18 – RBA building Hobart. Source: Trove
Figure 19 - View of the landscaped native garden in c1968.
Figure 20 – General view of the northwest corner of the Head Office building.
Figure 21 – General view of the podium soffit adjacent to the north side of the RBA Head Office entry. Note the original suspended marble soffit was replaced in c2001.
Figure 22 - Oblique view of the south elevation of the RBA Head office building.
Figure 23 – Oblique view looking northeast along Phillip Street. The RBA building is indicate by an arrow.
Figure 24 – Example of fire stair finishes and painted steel balustrades within the RBA Head office building.
Figure 25 – Photograph of typical refurbished lavatory areas throughout the RBA building.
Figure 26 - Typical basement finishes.
Figure 27 – Typical painted rendered finishes at Basement Levels 1 and 2.
Figure 28 - View of the ground floor vestibule and museum entrance area c2002 showing the surviving original finishes and the wall mural by Mr Bim Hilder.
Figure 29 – Typical finishes installed in 2014 in the corridor and reception area located at the Mezzanine Level.
Figure 30 - Typical Mezzanine office fit out. Note the full-height textured glass forming the north wall of the mezzanine level is visible from within the ground floor vestibule.
Figure 31 – Example of ceiling, wall and floor finishes at Level 6 installed in 2016.
Figure 32 - Level 16 lift lobby showing the original marble wall finishes.
Figure 33 - Level 16 service corridor, looking east to kitchen.
Figure 34 - Staff cafeteria fit out Level 16.
Figure 35 – Main east-west corridor located at Level 18 looking west.
Figure 36 – Typical finishes to the office area located at the western section of Level 20.
Figure 37 - General view showing the concrete pavers and access equipment for servicing the exterior of the RBA building.
Figure 38 - Diagrams showing previous changes to the exterior of the RBA Head Office building, c2004. Source: RBA Archives.
Figure 39 - View looking southeast from the corner of Elizabeth Street and Martin Place, July 2019.
Figure 40 - View of the northeast section of the RBA building from Macquarie Street, July 2019.
Figure 41 - View of the northwest section of the RBA building from the corner of Phillip Street and Martin Place.
Figure 42 - Looking north to the RBA building Marked by an arrow) from the entrance to Hyde Park Barrack site, July 2019.
Figure 43 - View of the custom-built furniture located in the Governor's Office of the Head Office of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation of Australia, 1916.
Figure 44 - The original furniture has been relocated from the RBA Archives Unit to the Museum.
Figure 45 - General view of the Banking Chamber located at the ground floor level of the Head Office building.
Figure 46 - View of the ground floor lobby showing security barriers installed c2009. (Source: Sydney Living Museums)
Figure 47 - Typical office level lift lobby showing original (1964) marble wall finishes and timber wall panelling. The original ceiling was replaced c2000.
Figure 48 - Plan showing the extent of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building in relation to Martin Place and surrounding buildings. Source: ARCHITECTUS, February 2020.
Figure 49 - Diagram summarising the self-assessment process. Source: Department of the Environment and Energy, 50 - General view of Macquarie Street, c1871, photographer unknown. Note the site of St Stephen’s Church in Phillip Street is now occupied by the Reserve Bank of Australia Head office building.
Figure 51 - View of Phillip Street Sydney, looking south, c1885, photographed by Charles Bayliss. The spire of St Stephen’s Church, Phillip Street, is visible to the left of St James Anglican Church spire.
Figure 52 – Diagram showing the areas resumed by the Council of the City of Sydney in the 1920s to facilitate the eastern extension of Martin Place. The site purchased for the RBA in 1957 is shown shaded.
Figure 53 - Percy Dove's 1880 map of the subject site 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 AustraliaPresent 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 refurbishmentArchitect 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 newly created Reserve Bank of Australia.
It has strong historic associations with Dr HC Coombs and the early establishment of the Bank, as well as with the development of Australian economic policy and banking practice throughout the second half of the twentieth century and early twenty-first century.
It has strong aesthetic values in its overall design and execution for the quality of its facades and public spaces, the use of high quality materials and in its contribution as a building element within the significant streetscapes of Macquarie Street and Martin Place.
Identified Commonwealth Heritage values The Reserve Bank Head Office, Martin Place Sydney embodies the following historic heritage values:
- Criterion A: Processes
- Criterion B: Rarity
- Criterion D: Characteristic values
- Criterion E: Aesthetic characteristics
- Criterion F: Technical achievement
- Criterion G: Social value
- Criterion H: Significant people
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 BACKGROUND
The Reserve Bank of Australia Workplace Department commissioned the review and upgrading of its Heritage Management Plan for the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building in March 2019 in keeping with its requirements under Section 341X(2) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act), as amended. The table included in Section 11.1 of this Heritage Management Plan identifies where specific requirements of Schedule 7A (Regulation 10.03B) of the EPBC Act is addressed in this report.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is obliged, as a Commonwealth agency, to protect Commonwealth Heritage values demonstrated by properties in its ownership. The Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building at 65 Martin Place Sydney was included on the Commonwealth Heritage List in June 2004 as an ‘Included Place’ (Place ID: 105456) for demonstrating the following Commonwealth Heritage values:
-Criterion A (Processes);
-Criterion B (Rarity);
-Criterion D (Characteristic values);
-Criterion E (Aesthetic characteristics);
-Criterion F (Technical achievement);
-Criterion G (Social value); and
-Criterion H (Significant people).
This Heritage Management Plan has been adopted by the Reserve Bank of Australia to guide conservation and heritage management of its Head Office building located at 65 Martin Place Sydney. This Heritage Management Plan should be read in conjunction with the Heritage Strategy 2019-2021 prepared for the Reserve Bank of Australia which sets out the obligations of the Reserve Bank under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
2.2 THE SITE
The Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office, located at 65 Martin Place, comprises three parcels of land, shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, and is described in documents held by the NSW Land Registry Services as:
-Lot 1 of Deposited Plan 444499 (Parish of St James, County of Cumberland);
-Lot 1 of Deposited Plan 32720 (Parish of St James, County of Cumberland); and
-Lot 1 of Deposited Plan 33919 (Parish of St James, County of Cumberland).
The building defines the south side of Martin Place between Phillip and Macquarie Streets, and is bounded by Macquarie Street to the east, Martin Place to the north and Phillip Street to the west. The building is a prominent element in all three streets. Its southern boundary adjoins the boundary of the Law Society of NSW building and Windeyer Chambers.
The building is located on the eastern edge of the Sydney Central Business District. The early twentieth buildings to the west of Macquarie Street are progressively being demolished and replaced with high rise commercial buildings.
Figure 1 - Plan showing the location of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building, located at 65 Martin Place Sydney.
Source: NSW Land Registry Services, SIX Maps, accessed 2 September 2019.
Figure 2 - Aerial photograph showing the three parcels of land comprising the current site of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head office building.
Source: NSW Land Registry Services, SIX Maps, accessed 2 September 2019.
2.3 STUDY OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this Heritage Management Plan is generally to provide a practical working document to guide future works or changes to the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building to ensure the building’s identified Commonwealth Heritage values are adequately identified, protected and conserved. This heritage management plan aims to:
-Provide an understanding of the historic development of the place, and a description of the physical fabric and its condition.
-Identify the Commonwealth Heritage values of the place against the prescribed Commonwealth Heritage criteria.
-Set out policies to ensure the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office is managed and interpreted in accordance with Commonwealth Heritage management principles defined by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, as amended.
-Address the Bank’s obligations under Regulation 10.03b (Schedules 7A - Management Plans for Commonwealth Places and Schedule 7B – Commonwealth Heritage management principles) of the EPBC Act 1999, as amended.
2.4 METHODOLOGY
This report was prepared to, in part, satisfy the obligations of the Reserve Bank of Australia under Section 341S of the EPBC Act 1999, as amended. The methodology and format of this report are generally consistent with that set out in the following documents:
-The Conservation Plan by Dr James Semple Kerr (7th Edition, 2013) published by the National Trust of Australia (NSW).
-Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (The Burra Charter) 2013.
-Management Plans for Places on the Commonwealth Heritage List: a guide for agencies. Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage, November 2006.
-Working Together: Managing Commonwealth Heritage Places. Commonwealth of Australia 2019.
Sections of this report have been taken verbatim from the following report prepared for the Reserve Bank of Australia:
-NBRS+Partners. Heritage Management Plan: The Reserve Bank of Australia 65 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000. 26 October 2012 Unpublished report prepared for the Reserve Bank of Australia.
2.5 TERMINOLOGY
The terms ‘Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building’, ‘Reserve Bank building’, ‘RBA building’ and ‘Head Office building’, and the place, are used interchangeably throughout this report to describe the building located at 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
The terms fabric, place, preservation, reconstruction, restoration, adaptation and conservation used throughout this report have the meaning given to them in Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance (Burra Charter) 2013. The methodology used in the preparation of this report generally follows that recommended as best-practice by Australia ICOMOS (see Figure 3).
Figure 3 - Diagram showing the sequence of steps in planning and managing a place of cultural significance, contained in The Burra Charter, and underpinning this Conservation Management Plan methodology.
Source: The Burra Charter, 2013, RBA Head Office building was inspected on various dates in 2018 and 2019 to confirm the location and condition of building fabric. Inspections were carried out while the building was occupied and operational. Inspections were limited to visual observations, carried out from ground level or internal floor level. Inspections were general in nature, having been carried out without physical intervention or removal of building fabric.
No European or Aboriginal archaeological assessment was undertaken as part of this report. The site of the Head Office has been assessed as an ‘Area of no archaeological potential’ under the Archaeological Zoning Plan for Central Sydney-1992, prepared by Siobhan Lavelle and Dana Mider for the Sydney City Council.
Artworks, apart from fixed wall murals and sculptures, and numismatics collections are not addressed specifically in this Heritage Management Plan.
2.7 AUTHORSHIP
The following members of NBRSARCHITECTURE participated in the production of this report:
-Samantha Polkinghorne, Director -Heritage.
-Pamela Jeffery, Senior Heritage Consultant/Architect.
-Sophie Bock, Senior Heritage Consultant.
The history contained in this report was originally researched and written in 2001 by Ms Michelle Richmond, Historian formerly of NBRSARCHITECTURE, for an earlier version of this Heritage Management Plan. That history has been edited, and additional information inserted by Pamela Jeffery. Photographs and illustrations throughout this report were taken or prepared by NBRSARCHITECTURE unless otherwise noted.
2.8 SOURCES
The main documentary sources consulted in the research for this report are listed below. A complete Bibliography is contained in Section 10.0 of this report.
-Reserve Bank of Australia Archives.
-National Archives of Australia.
-State Archives.
-State Library of New South Wales.
-NSW Land Registry Services.
-Sydney Water Archives.
-Sydney City Archives.
2.9 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the following people in the preparation of this report:
-Ms Rebecca Dowell, Workspace Lead, RBA Workspace Services, RBA Workplace Department (Sydney).
-Mr Bruce Harries, Department Head, RBA Workplace Department (Sydney).
-The Manager and Archives Staff; Regulatory, Framework and Heritage Section.
-The Bank’s Curators, Public Access & Education Section, Information Department.
3.0 HISTORICAL CONTEXT
3.1 INTRODUCTION
The following section provides a historical context to examine the development of the site of the Reserve Bank of Australia, and determine the heritage significance of the place. Refer to Section 11.3.1 for an outline history of the development of the site prior to the construction of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head office building.
Text in both Section 3.0 and Section 11.3 was taken from an earlier Conservation Management Plan prepared by NBRSARCHITECTURE (2001). It was researched and written, including the transfer of all citations, by Ms Michelle Richmond, Historian, formerly of NBRSARCHITECTURE. Pam Jeffery of NBRSARCHITECTURE has reviewed and expanded that history to include changes to the site that have occurred since 2001.
3.2 A CENTRAL BANKING SYSTEM AND THE RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
An Australian central banking function was established in 1911 as one of the functions of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.[1] By the 1950s the Federal Government had decided to remove the central banking section from the control of the Commonwealth Bank and to establish a separate agency similar to economic structures in other countries.
[1] The Commonwealth Bank was established by The Commonwealth Bank Act 1911 with its head office located in Sydney. Based on the Conservation Plan for the Reserve Bank of Australia - Adelaide Branch by Weidenhofer Architects Dec 1999, p10.
Initial briefing by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia of their intention to proceed with the design of a Reserve Bank building took place in Sydney on 16th September 1957. The site in Sydney was selected and negotiations for the purchase from the Sydney City Council were commenced.
The Reserve Bank of Australia was created by an Act of Parliament in 1959 with its broad purpose being to work for the economic prosperity and welfare of the people of Australia.[2] The new Bank was to be controlled by a Board, its members determined by the government of the day, but appointed by the Governor. At the time of the creation of the Bank, the board consisted of a Governor (who also acted as the chairman of the board), a Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the Commonwealth Treasury and seven other appointed members. Dr HC Coombs was appointed the first Governor of the newly created Reserve Bank of Australia. The Reserve Bank of Australia commenced operations on 14th January 1960.
[2] The Reserve Bank Act 1959 separated the commercial activities of the Commonwealth Bank from its central banking functions. The Commonwealth Bank was to be renamed the Reserve Bank of Australia and would act as the nation’s central bank. The newly created Commonwealth Banking Corporation would operate as a trading bank.
Its stated objectives were to ensure that monetary banking policy was directed to the greatest advantage of the people of Australia, that the Australian currency was stable and that full employment was maintained.
Splitting the Commonwealth Bank and creating the Reserve Bank required a huge administrative re-organisation. The Reserve Bank Act 1959 reinforced the perception of a separate bank in the community’s eyes by requiring the Bank to occupy its own premises. This condition only strictly applied to the head office (Sydney) and it was assumed that at other places the Bank would share premises with the Commonwealth Bank. However Dr Coombs decided that in order to maintain a prominent profile, separate buildings would be constructed in each of the state capitals and at Canberra. In addition, the Bank would have offices in Launceston, Port Moresby, New York and London.
The Reserve Bank as a separate identity was born at a time when the economy was booming, trade flourishing and other conditions that resulted in prosperity. Australians had a positive view of the future of their country. For the newly created Bank, the decade of the 1960s was tremendously significant in creating an International image for the Australian economy. The buildings constructed throughout Australia by the Bank at that time, reflected a confidence in things Australian and in its future. The buildings were statements displaying the corporate pride of the Bank and the vital economic role it aspired to play in the Nation.
Sydney was the first project in this significant building program. A site for the new head office building was purchased from the Council of the City of Sydney in Martin Place in December 1958. Dr Coombs was determined that the head office would be an impressive structure, built to reflect the bank’s prestige and leadership of the financial system. It was to be the flagship building, proudly built from largely Australian materials.
The Head Office building was completed in 1964 but did not open for business until the 14th January 1965. Built of polished marble and glass with granite paved public spaces[3], the building was dubbed the “Marble and Gold Palace”. Public criticism of Commonwealth expenditure on Public Works was largely a result of a ‘Credit Squeeze’ that coincided with Dr Coombs’ building programme.
[3] The building project also included specially commissioned modern sculptures were located on the terrace and in the entrance foyer and an ‘Australian’ native garden was established in Macquarie Street.
Planning for the construction of the Bank’s new buildings in the other capital cities also occurred during this time and the suite of buildings form a cohesive group of designs reflecting a common design philosophy. Also contemporary with the building and complimentary to the Bank’s design aesthetic was the Commonwealth Centre at Chifley Square, now demolished.
The nature of the work of the Reserve Bank of Australia began to change significantly during the 1980s. The agents for change came from a number of different directions including the introduction of new technology, such as mechanisms for wrapping coins and counting notes. In 1983, deregulation of the Australian dollar eliminated the Bank’s Exchange Control function. The findings of two government enquiries further changed the Bank’s structure[4]. Many of the original functions of the Bank also altered significantly resulting in a reduction in staff numbers[5].
[4] The Campbell Committee, cited
[5] Total staff numbers were reduced by about 40%.
3.3 CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEAD OFFICE BUILDING
The Reserve Bank of Australia Head office building was designed and documented by the Special Projects Branch of the Commonwealth Department of Housing and Construction. The design team included CD Osborne, and RM Ure, GA Rowe and FJ Crocker from the Sydney Branch. The Department was authorised to engage private architects or consultants to provide specialist knowledge or expertise, and in this instance consulted Professor Harry Ingham Ashworth, Professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney for advice in relation to the Head office building.
The Head Office was located in Hawthorn (Vic), and included three divisions – Architectural, Engineering and Management Services, with branch offices 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:
[6] Reserve Bank archive, RBA:MD-011708 - MD-017708?31, Proposed Headquarters Sydney for the Reserve Bank of Australia
-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.
[7] Detailed information on the design as approved are contained in the document prepared by the Department of Works titled “Proposed Headquarters Sydney for The Reserve Bank of Australia” held in the Reserve Bank Archives.
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, Dr HC Coombs had specific ideas for both the operations of the new agency and its corporate image. These ideals were implemented in a series of buildings across the nation and reached their highest expression in the Sydney head office building.
A contemporary design was requested because it felt that a Central Bank should develop with growing knowledge and a changing institutional structure and adapt its policies and techniques to the changing needs of the community within which it works.
The design of the building was influenced by the national and civic significance of the building as well as normal aesthetic considerations. In its construction, materials and equipment of Australian origin have been used wherever possible.[8]
[8] Architecture in Australia September 1966, Reserve Bank of Australia
The design report accompanying the early sketch designs set out the architectural design intention and general aesthetic considerations underpinning the design in the following terms:
From initial directions issued by the Commonwealth Bank, the intention was to produce a solution that was functionally acceptable and which included aspects of design that might enhance the civic dignity of Martin Place and the axial development of site areas to the east of Macquarie Street.
The form of the proposed building has been progressively determined by the detail area requirements at respective floor levels.
The surface texture of the tower mass is basically the expression of structure and functional mullions. Both structural columns and mullions are of similar proportions being 2 feet deep by 13 inches[9] repeating all external facades as a uniform vertical motif. The spandrel areas between mullions and the heads and sills of windows are comparatively flush in surface with the facings on the columns, while deep set windows provide adequate solar protection and give emphasis to the voids. The resultant texture is static in form and emphasises neither horizontal nor vertical movement. Due to thermal problems and the need to provide closely sub-divided office areas on the western perimeter, windows of reduced area are proposed on this facade, protected by horizontal cantilevered sun hoods. The skyline has been designed as a regular termination of the tower block by accommodating miscellaneous tank rooms, cooling towers, etc. at broken levels within the facade envelope.[10]
[9] Equivalent to 610mm by 330mm.
[10] RBA MD-011708 Proposed Headquarters Sydney for The Reserve Bank of Australia p4
The construction method and external appearance of the RBA building was a departure from other bank buildings lining Martin Place. Those dating from before 1945 were traditionally load bearing masonry construction, implicitly expressing stability and solidity, whereas the Reserve Bank was designed in the International Modernism architectural style with an emphasis on openness and transparency. The expansive glass windows at ground floor level were selected to express transparency and openness and reflect the principles on which the Bank itself would operate.
For employees of the Bank, the organisation was a prestigious and desirable place to work. The Bank was a generous employer by the standards of the day. Staff had their own health fund, superannuation fund and their own workers union and credit union with the Commonwealth Bank. The Bank had a strong staff hierarchy and senior positions in the structure were important with considerable community status.
This status is demonstrated in physical terms by the design of executive and staff areas in the head office building in Sydney as it is in other branches of the Bank in other capital cities.
During the 1960s, the Bank buildings were known to provide more extensive staff facilities compared with other contemporary buildings. In Sydney these facilities consisted of the cafeteria, executive and Board dining rooms, the staff lounge, the staff library, a medical suite, squash courts and associated amenities, an auditorium and an observation deck on the 20th level for the use of staff and ex staff.
Providing recreation and other facilities for the staff was considered important to support the corporate culture of the time. In the 1960s, most Bank staff joined the organisation as young people and the men would certainly have expected to remain with the Bank for the remainder of their working lives. Vacancies in senior management positions were generally filled from within the Bank structure. Strong social bonds were fostered in this environment and these were fostered by the Bank in the availability and use of facilities within the building. Although a number of city buildings constructed in the 1960s, such as QANTAS House, the Goodsell Building and the NSW State Office Block, contained a range of staff facilities including staff dining rooms and cafeterias[11], the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office additionally included a Medical Centre, Squash Courts, and a Firing Range used for the training of security guards.
[11] Russell Rodrigo, ‘Banking on Modernism: Dr HC (Nugget Coombs and the Institutional Architecture of the Reserve Bank of Australia’, Fabrications, JSAHANZ, page88.
As times have changed the use and necessity for many of these facilities within a building with a reduced workforce has diminished and the functions and usage patterns of the special facilities has changed dramatically. This change in functional requirements has been reinforced by changes in corporate culture. Increasing flexibility within organizations, coupled with focus on competitive practice has altered the attitudes and structure of the workplace and its relationships.
Demand for these specialised facilities within the Bank has reduced to the point where their retention is no longer supported. These spaces are now identified as valuable for their potential to provide additional workplace accommodation and flexibility rather than as specialised areas of restricted contribution essential to the organisation’s principal objectives.
3.5 CONSOLIDATION OF BANKING SERVICES AND ADDITIONS TO THE BUILDING
In early 1964 the Reserve Bank purchased “Washington House”[12], a three-storey commercial and residential building that adjoined the eastern section of its southern boundary for 160,000 pounds. Documents indicate the RBA intended demolish the building and construct an alternative access to the basement areas to improve cash delivery services within the original Head Office building, and preliminary plans for a new vehicular entrance from the Macquarie Street side were prepared.
[12] Washington House, formerly located at 221-223 Macquarie Street, comprised two shops at street level, with 17 offices and residential flats above.
Following the acquisition of a second building, “Federation House” in 1967, the Bank commissioned the Commonwealth Department of Works to document additions to the south side of the Head Office building [13]. The RBA Governor formally approved the south extension located on Number 2 Site on 18th March 1975. Demolition of both Washington House and Federation House was completed by 5th June 1975.
[13] RBA: MD-011709 - MD-011709/29 Reserve Bank of Australia, Head Office Sydney -Number 2 Site
Works involved substantial additions on each floor to incorporate the adjacent site to the south. The effect of the changes was to increase the depth of the building by nearly one third increasing its presence on both Macquarie Street and Phillip Street (See Figure 8) and to provide additional service areas at basement and podium levels were also provided.
The works were designed to maintain the rhythm of the original window and stone façade on the east and west elevations, giving the Reserve Bank an increased presence in Macquarie Street and Phillip Street without increasing the height of the building.
Figure 8 – Diagram showing the Phillip Street elevation. The shaded area indicates the location of the addition constructed in the late 1970s, and the dedicated services/plant spaces Note the addition accommodating the services finished at Level 7.
Source: Currency No. 5 Vol 17 May 1976 p12
3.6 BUILDING REFURBISHMENT
By the late 1980s it was apparent the original Wombeyan marble cladding of the external facades was deteriorating due to a combination of weathering and pollution, and asbestos was detected throughout the building. Works began on an extensive program to repair the façade and internal refurbishment works were to upgrade staff facilities to meet standard office requirements to allow the Bank to continue operating from the site.[14]
[14] The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works Report, Refurbishment of Head Office, Reserve Bank of Australia Martin Place, Sydney, NSW, (eighth report of 1990), (Eighth PWC Report of 1990), p1.
The repair process of over-cladding the exterior of the building commenced in November 1993 using both Australian and Italian stone. The system was designed to ensure the rhythm of the original fenestration was retained. New stone was attached to aluminium trusses bolted to the inner frame of the building with a gap to allow for water to drain between the two skins.
Several subsequent changes were made to the upper levels of the elevations of the Head Office after 2001 to reflect changes in internal function. These changes were again designed to have minimal impact on the presentation of the building to Martin Place and Macquarie Street.
Major internal changes carried out between 2001 and 2003 included the removal of two apartments, two squash courts, the relocation of risers and service areas, and the re-configuration of internal office areas generally. Several floors[15] were leased to separate organisations resulting in the refurbishment of office and service areas to suit their individual requirements.
[15] Levels 3, 5, 6, 9, 18 and 19 were leased to separate tenants for various periods from c2002 to 2018.
Works carried out since 2005 have addressed statutory compliance issues, access to premises requirements, security requirements and replacement of equipment at the end of its operational life, for example, replacement of lift cars.
3.7 ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS
3.7.1 HERBERT COLE COOMBS (1906-1997)
HC Coombs was born in Kalamunda, WA, in 1906. He attended Perth Modern School working as a teacher and on the wharves to pay to attend university where graduated with first-class honours in economics, and winning the Hackett Studentship enabling him to study overseas. Following the completion of his MA, he proceeded to London School of Economics to undertake a thesis on central banking and was awarded a PhD in 1933, returning to his teaching career in Perth in 1934.
In 1935 Coombs moved to Sydney, initially working for the Commonwealth Bank and later transferring to the Commonwealth Treasury in 1939, appointed Director of Rationing in1942 and in 1943 was appointed Director-General of the Department of Post-War Reconstruction by Ben Chifley.
Coombs was appointed the Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia on 1st January 1949. In 1959 the Australian Government passed the Reserve Bank of Australia Act separating central bank’s operations from the trading and savings bank functions of the Commonwealth Bank. HC (Nugget) Coombs was appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia in 1959, retiring in 1968.
Following his retirement from the RBA, Dr Coombs served as the Chancellor of the Australian National University between 1968 and 1976, and was instrumental in establishing the Centre for Resources and Environmental Studies at the ANU in 1973. [16] He also served as Chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Affairs (1968-1976) and Chairman of the Council for the Arts (1968-1974). [17]
[16] Obituaries Australia, and HILDER
The expansive wall enrichment in the main entrance foyer was designed and installed by local artist Bim Hilder. It is made up of many separate small parts of beaten copper and bronze. It incorporates a 150mm piece of quartz crystal uncovered by geologist Ben Flounders in South Australia’s Corunna Hills together with other semi-precious stones.
Vernon Arthur (Bim) Hilder (1909-1990) was born at Parramatta, NSW, the son of watercolourist JJ (Jesse) Hilder and Phyllis Hilder. In 1927 Hilder enrolled in evening art classes organised by the Royal Art Society of NSW, after starting and abandoning a commercial art course at East Sydney Technical College the previous year. During the 1920s he worked as a carpenter, including several years working on houses for Walter Burley Griffin at Castlecrag, a theatre designer, undertook shop window displays and designed and constructed film and puppet sets.
Hilder continued to exhibit watercolours and etchings and in 1962 began part-time teaching at East Sydney Technical College’s art school. In 1962 he won a competition for the design of a ‘wall enrichment’ at the Reserve Bank of Australia Head office building.
He first exhibited his sculptures in 1945. His main works appear to be in the commercial display field and his works are represented in the National Gallery of NSW and the University of New England.[18] Hilder was a foundation member of the Society of Sculptors and in 1978 he was made a Member of the British Empire for services to art.
[18] Ref. RBA SRP -a -89 -Premises - Sydney project - Wall Enrichment.
Figure 9 -View of the wall enrichment, designed by Bim Hilder, located in the ground floor foyer of the RBA building c1964.
Source: Reserve Bank of Australia Archives D10/86761
3.7.3 MARGEL HINDER
Margel Ina Hinder nee Harris(1906-1995)[19] won a national competition in 1962 for the design of the sculpture located at the Martin Place entrance to the Head office building. The 7.9m high free-standing sculpture in the Martin Place forecourt is welded sheet copper on a stainless steel structural frame with molten copper decoration. It is unnamed and has no ‘banking’ significance other than being a work of public art to compliment the architecture of the building. The sculpture The original design maquette is also located in the Bank.[20]
[19] Australian Dictionary of Biography, Biographical notes on Margel Hinder - The Age, Saturday August 25th, 1962
Hinder was born in New York, but was educated in Buffalo following her parents relocation to that city in 1909. She commenced studies at the Buffalo Fine Arts Institute in 1925, moving to Boston in 1926to study sculpture and modelling at the School of the Museum of Foie Arts. In May 1930 she married Henry Francis (Frank) Hinder at Wellesley, Massachusetts, and in 1934 they moved to Sydney, where the couple became pioneer figures in modern art especially in the Inter War period.
Following World War II Hinder lectured at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) and at the National Art School, Sydney, and conducted sculpture courses at her home. In 1949 the AGNSW was the first public gallery to acquire one of her works, Garden Sculpture (1945).
Figure 10 - Podium Sculpture by Margel Hinder located in the Martin Place forecourt, NBRSARCHITECTURE, July 2019.
From the mid-1950s Hinder began working with metal, and an increasing preoccupation with movement and the need to move around a sculpture to engage with it and its form. She worked as a freelance sculptor from 1964 onwards and was one of the few women artists in Australia engaged to undertake large public commissions. Her work was included in the Second International Sculpture Exhibition (Paris, 1961) and the Captain James Cook Memorial Fountain located in the Civic Park, Newcastle NSW (1966).
A number of Australia-wide competitions were held in the early 1960s to assist in the selection and commissioning of public art works for inclusion in the Head Office.
3.7.4 MARGO LEWERS
Hettie Margaret (Margo) Lewers, nee Plate (1908-1978)[21] was born at Mosman, Sydney, and undertook evening classes in Sydney under Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo and Desiderius Orban, where she met Gerald Lewers. Following their marriage, they travelled to Europe in 1934 , enrolling at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, where Margo studied textile design, painting and drawing.
[21] Australian Dictionary of Biography, returning to Sydney, she opened an shop in Rowe Street, and continued to design hand-printed fabrics. She undertook works in a range of mediums including painting, textiles, sculpture and mosaic, and was recognised as a leading component of abstract expressionism in post-war Australia. Margo was commissioned to design a mosaic wall for the former Canberra-Rex Hotel, Canberra (1967), the Aubusson tapestry (1968) for the boardroom of the RBA Head Office, and won over fourteen awards and prizes.
Her painting, Unobserved, was acquired by the Reserve Bank as part of its art collection in c1966. Such was her reputation as an artist that she was retained, following the death of Gerald in 1962, to complete his copper installation for the wall of the Reserve Bank, Canberra.
3.7.5 FREDERICK WARD[22]
[22] Australian Dictionary of Biography, Charles Ward (1899-1999) trained as an artist at the School of Art within the National Gallery of Victoria, later becoming a cartoonist and illustrator for several weekly magazines including The Bulletin. Ward was influenced by the emerging modernist movement, which he considered as the ‘…province of the young and radical…and a threat to the established social order’. He began manufacturing furniture in 1927, and in 1931 was invited to open a modern furniture department for Myer Emporium (Melbourne). His role with Myers continued to c1950, although it ceased temporarily during the World War 2 when Ward served with the Department of Aircraft Production, assisting in the manufacture of wood-framed Mosquito aircraft.
Ward established ‘Patterncraft’ in conjunction with Home Beautiful Magazine in 1947. The concept was designed to enable the home handyman to make furniture using basic hand tools. Instructions, including full-sized patterns and lists of materials and tools required, continued into the 1950s.
In1949 Ward was appointed as Design Consultant to the Australian National University, and later provided advice to other universities and government departments such as the National Capital Development Commission in Canberra. In the mid-1950s Ward publicly criticised the state of furniture design in Australia and advocated patronage by government departments to provide a stimulus for growth in the design industry. His comments were noted by Dr HC Coombs, and Ward was commissioned to design furniture for the Head Office building in 1961.
3.8 STYLISTIC CONTEXT
The Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building, Sydney, was designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works in the Late Twentieth-Century International style, although the design of the podium draws on the characteristics of the Late Twentieth-Century Stripped Classical style.
The Late Twentieth-Century International style was a continuation of the post-war International style of the 1950s, a style that was widely published in architectural magazines of the time, and initially was influenced by Walter Gropius. By the 1960s the style had proliferated under practitioners such as IM Pei in the United States of America and a number of practitioners in Australia where the style was largely associated with commercial and institutional buildings.
The eight buildings designed for the Reserve Bank generally incorporated similar materials and architectural devices to provide a cohesive public image for the Bank however they were each designed to suit their individual sites and context. For example the Canberra and Darwin buildings were designed as low-scale buildings to suit their surrounding context, while the Head Office Martin Place was designed to suit an urban context in Central Sydney.
The Head Office is designed as a tower located over a podium, which is designed to relate to the scale of the streetscape and to pedestrian visitors generally. The elevations of the podium level of the Head Office are designed to relate to other buildings in the group, with the external arrangement of columns supporting a strong horizontal element and echoing classical peristyle architecture. In the case of Canberra and Darwin the columns appear to support the roof, while the column structure of the Martin Place building appears to carry the first and second floors.
The podium component of the Head Office was designed to relate to the streetscape and the pedestrian scale of visitors. The walls of the ground floor are generally glazed, and the artworks both within the entrance area and external were designed to enhance the immediate area and the visitor experience.
3.8.1 COMPARABLE RBA BUILDINGS
The Reserve Bank of Australia Head office is one of eight purpose-built office buildings constructed to house its operations in every state and territory capital throughout Australia following the creation of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) as a separate entity.
-Head Office, 65 Martin Place, Sydney (1965).
-182 Victoria Square, Adelaide (1963). No longer owned by RBA.
-102 Adelaide Street, Brisbane (1965). No longer owned by RBA.
-22 London Circuit, Canberra (1965).
-60 Collins Street, Melbourne (1966). No longer owned by the RBA
-Bennet Street & Smith Street, Darwin (1967). No longer owned by RBA.
-45 St George Terrace, Perth (1973). No longer owned by RBA.
-111 Macquarie Street, Hobart (1974). No longer owned by RBA.
The buildings, with the exception of the Canberra Branch building[23], were designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works Banks and Special Projects Branch, utilising the Late Twentieth-Century International or Stripped Classical architectural style. The Head Office, Sydney is an example of the Late Twentieth-Century International style in Central Sydney.
[23] The London Circuit building was designed by the Perth -firm of
The Reserve Bank buildings throughout Australia reflected a confidence in things Australian and in the future, when the Australian economy was booming. They were designed as statements of ‘corporate pride’ and the vital economic role the Reserve Bank aspired to play in the Nation. The buildings were significant in creating an International image for the Australian economy, and were in part due to the vision of Dr HC Coombs as the first Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Sydney was the first project in this significant building program following the purchase of the site in Martin Place from the Council of the City of Sydney in December 1958 Dr Coombs was determined that the Head Office would be an impressive structure, built to reflect the Bank’s prestige and leadership of the financial system. As the flagship building, it was to be largely constructed from Australian materials.
The Head Office opened in January 1965 and included a number of specially commissioned modern sculptures and an ‘Australian’ native garden in Macquarie Street. The building was well received in architectural circles, but drew some criticism from the general public, who dubbed building the “Marble and Gold Palace” for its perceived extravagance on Commonwealth expenditure on Public Works, which coincided with a ‘credit squeeze’ within the general Australian economy.
The design of the Head Office building reflected the architectural philosophies of the time, providing a tower located over a podium that related to the streetscape, and incorporating extensive staff facilities. Coombs issued a press release at the opening of the Head Office building “…The massive walls and pillars used in the past to emphasize the strength and permanence in bank buildings are not seen in the new head office… Here, contemporary design and conceptions express our conviction that a central bank should develop with growing knowledge and a changing institutional structure and adapt its policies and techniques to the changing needs of the community within which it works.”[24]
[24] Eric Martin and Associates, RBA (Canberra Branch) Heritage Management Plan, March 2012p.14 citing Schedvin, C B In Reserve – Central Banking in Australia – 1945-75, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, 1992, p293.
The Head Office accommodated both banking and administrative functions, and staff training and recreational facilities. The building originally contained a target practice facility to enable security staff to be trained in the use of pistols and small arms for security. These facilities were common in the major bank headquarters[25] throughout the city, but had generally been removed or adapted for other uses by the late 1990s as other security systems were developed.
[25] For example Westpac Building, George Street Sydney and the Commonwealth Bank, 68 Martin Place, Sydney.
The building also contained a Staff Cafeteria, a Medical Centre and Squash Courts. These types of facilities were often included in multi-storeyed government buildings constructed in Sydney in the 1960s, for example the QANTAS House, the Goodsell Building (demolished) and the former State Office Block (demolished).
Figure 11 - The Head Office of the RBA, located at 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW. Source: RBA Archives
Figure 12 – RBA building Adelaide. Source: NAA
Figure 13 – RBA building, Brisbane. Source: NAA
Figure 14 — The Reserve Bank of Australia, Canberra, c1964. Source: State Library of Victoria, Image No. a21826
Figure 15 — The Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne, c1967. Source: State Library of Victoria.
Figure 16 - The Reserve Bank of Australia building, Darwin. Source: Northern Territory Library
Figure 17 - RBA building , Perth, formerly located at 45 St George’s Terrace. Source: State Library of Western Australia Fritz Kos
Figure 18 – RBA building Hobart. Source: Trove
4.0 PLACE DESCRIPTION
4.1 URBAN CONTEXT AND SETTING
The RBA Head Office building is prominently situated at the southwest corner of the intersection of the major banking and financial precinct of Martin Place with Macquarie Street, the premier civic and government of New South Wales. The building is aligned in an east-west direction with its main entrance addressing Martin Place and a vehicular entrance accessed from Phillip Street.
The area immediately to the north, south and west of the RBA building is characterised by medium- and high-rise commercial buildings, while the eastern side of Macquarie Street generally occupied by two and three storey public buildings dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The building is a prominent element within the eastern section of Martin Place, and is visible in some medium- and long-distance views looking westwards from the Domain and Art Gallery.
Martin Place is recognised as a significant public space within the City of Sydney. In the 1970s the eastern section of Moore Street, between Elizabeth Street and Macquarie Street, was pedestrianised by the City of Sydney Council to complete Martin Place. Later changes included the construction of public stairs following the completion of Martin Place Railway Station[26] by the NSW State Government. Those works included minor changes to the paving levels to the north of the RBA Head Office building thereby providing direct level access to the building from Martin Place in addition to access directly from Macquarie Street. Other works to Martin Place, such as the removal or replacement of streetlights, trees, signage and street furniture, have altered the original setting of the RBA building and its relationship to pedestrian circulation in Martin Place.
[26] Martin Place Railway Station officially opened on 23 June 1979, The Canberra Times, 24 June 1979, page 4.
The garden located between the east elevation and Macquarie Street was constructed as part of the 1962-64 stage of works. The formal Australian-themed garden was designed by Melbourne landscape architect, Malcolm Munro, following a public competition. The rockery and water feature were removed in the 1970s although the feature has been retained as a garden and re-planted in 2018 with drought-resistant species.
Figure 19 - View of the landscaped native garden in c1968.
Source: State Library of Victoria,
4.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA HEAD OFFICES
4.2.1 STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
The Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building structure was constructed in two stages (Stage 1- 1962-63 and Stage 2 - 1972-76) using similar steel framed construction. Stage 1 works incorporate welded joints providing rigidity and resistance to wind loads, while the Stage 2 steel column/beam connections are generally pinned connections[27]. Steel beams are set out on a structural grid of 7.62m. Beams and columns are concrete encased with floors and basement walls of reinforced concrete, with additional reinforcement and security features incorporated into the walls of the basement strong rooms. Documentary evidence indicated columns are founded on concrete pad footings bearing onto sandstone bedrock.
[27] With the exception of the perimeter beams and columns, ACOR Consultants Pty Ltd, Reserve Bank of Australia Structural Building Condition Report, June 2017, p.7.
The upper level floors (above ground floor) are constructed of lightweight concrete[28] to reduce weight in the structure, and includes a series of long cantilevered beams located at Levels 1, 2 and 3. The lift core, including passenger and goods lifts, fire stairs and lavatories are centrally located along the south wall, with floor space located to its east, north and west.
[28] The lightweight concrete included expanded shale aggregate. Reserve Bank of Australia, Architecture in Australia, September 1966, page 75.
Stage 2 was constructed as an independent, self-supporting system, and does not rely on Stage 1 structure for vertical support, however the 1970s addition is reliant on the Stage 1 structure for the resistance of lateral loads. Columns at the interface between Stage 1 and Stage 2 construction are paired to facilitate the transfer of lateral loads. Further lateral rigidity is provided by the masonry shear walls of the stair wells and lift cores. These walls act as bracing walls between adjacent floors. The lift cores and stair wells are located centrally within the building providing a favourable centre of gravity and rigidity for lateral and dynamic loads.
The lateral loads imposed at each level of the building are transferred into the shear walls and columns via the reinforced concrete floor slabs acting as a horizontal diaphragm.
4.2.2 EXTERIOR
The RBA building was constructed with its main entrance located on the north elevation (main façade), originally addressing a tree-line street, Moore Street. The Martin Place entrance has been retained as the principal pedestrian entrance.
The exterior of the building is read as four sections:
-The Ground floor which is set back from the boundary of the site, and three basement levels which are partially visible from Phillip Street,
-The first, second and third levels forming the podium, with horizontal slabs emphasized;
-The tower floors (Levels 4 to 19); and
-Level 20, which is setback from the façade of the tower levels.
The Head Office building is a twenty-two storey building including three levels of basements. The lower levels of the tower contain the public areas and a cantilevered podium, while the basement levels were designed to accommodate strong rooms, storage and secure loading and parking areas. The tower levels were generally taken up with office accommodation twentieth floor was designed during construction to provide a function space with extensive glazing to take advantage of panoramic views to the north and northeast.
The building rises to a height of 80.5m above Macquarie Street and Basement 3 is 12.5m below ground level. The office tower levels are set back approximately 4.87m from the podium and site boundaries on the north and east street frontages consistent with a building covenant on the site. The building floor plate surrounds a central bank of lifts with additional lifts serving the basements and Levels 16 to 20. All vehicle access to the building is from Phillip Street.
The façade of the RBA building includes marble, granite, aluminium and glass components. Structural columns are faced with black granite and expressed on the exterior of the building. Spandrel panels between columns are formed by concrete panels that were originally faced with white Wombeyan marble. The north and east ground floor walls are separated from internal spaces by glazed aluminium screen walls set back from the edge of the podium, creating a covered walkway over the forecourt/entrance area and the garden.
The facade treatment of the building is distinctive, reflecting both the modular office subdivision expressed in the window mullions and the extensive use of natural stone. Intermediate mullions contain service risers and are clad with stone. The spandrel areas between mullions and the heads and sills of windows, are comparatively flush in surface with the facings on the columns, while deep set windows provide adequate solar protection and give emphasis to the voids. The resultant texture is static in form and ‘…emphasises neither horizontal nor vertical movement’[29].
[29] Rodrigo, p.92, citing JM Garland, Proposed Headquarters Sydney for The reserve Bank of Australia, Record in the custody of the Reserve bank of Australia, E+RBA SRP-P-1, 2.
Windows located on the Phillip Street façade are designed with higher sills than those on other elevations, and are protected by horizontal cantilevered sun hoods to minimise the impact of sunlight caused by their western orientation.
Figure 20 – General view of the northwest corner of the Head Office building.
Figure 21 – General view of the podium soffit adjacent to the north side of the RBA Head Office entry. Note the original suspended marble soffit was replaced in c2001.
Figure 22 - Oblique view of the south elevation of the RBA Head office building.
Figure 23 – Oblique view looking northeast along Phillip Street. The RBA building is indicate by an arrow.
4.3 INTERIOR DESCRIPTION
4.3.1 GENERALLY
The interior of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office building has been adapted since its opening in 1964 for operational reasons, including some irreversible changes and loss of original fabric. The major extension (late 1970s) to the south of the original building resulted in changes to the internal layout of office areas and other spaces within the tower together with extensive replacement and/or adaptation of services at each level. Other modifications undertaken since 1964 generally relate to addressing non-compliance issues and operational requirements.
The RBA Head Office, as a government agency, adopted government policy to use Australian sourced and manufactured materials where possible. Architectural finishes and detailing within the Head Office drew on international influences, particularly contemporary Scandinavian design as seen in the use of timber finishes, linen panelling and natural colours.
Public spaces such as the ground floor reception and lift lobbies incorporated granite and marble finishes. Its anodised aluminium louvred ceiling was designed to reflect the structural bays, while the floor levels changed throughout the public spaces to delineate the entrance to the museum, reception area and banking chamber.
Recent refurbishments have drawn on the original palette of materials to maintain and enhance the 1964 architectural character of the main spaces.
Figure 24 – Example of fire stair finishes and painted steel balustrades within the RBA Head office building.
Figure 25 – Photograph of typical refurbished lavatory areas throughout the RBA building.
4.3.2 CEILINGS
Ceilings are generally suspended acoustic ceilings with fluorescent lights and air-conditioning grilles, although some ceilings, such as those in lift lobbies and the Board Room include set plaster ceilings with integrated downlight or suspended track lights. The original (1964) anodised aluminium louvred ceiling has been retained above the Ground floor entrance lobby, banking chamber and museum entrance.
There are no ceilings located in the basement loading and parking areas, some service and plant rooms spaces.
4.3.3 LIFTS AND VERTICAL CIRCULATION
The original service and lift core are retained throughout the building with two additional lifts installed in c2001 to service levels 16 to 20. The six original passenger lift cars were replaced in 2014. Display panels and call buttons were replaced at the same time as part of the security and access to premises requirements.
The building includes a separate good lift and lifts servicing basement areas. The building does not currently contain lifts that service every floor of the building.
4.3.4 SERVICES
Services within the RBA Head Office building have been substantially altered or replaced since 1964. Many services installed as part of the original construction phase were replaced at the end of their operation life. Services are fed through centrally located risers near the lift core or forming part of the south service addition, and distributed through ductwork in concealed in ceiling spaces above offices. Services in workshop, plant and loading areas are exposed and surface mounted.
Additions to the south side of the building, completed in the late 1970s facilitated the relocation of some plant areas and risers within the building from the external core. This resulted in the adaptation and partial replacement of air-conditioning, fire services and lighting services throughout the building. The fire stairs generally remain in their original location. The loading bay and secure parking arrangement were altered in the late 1970s, and further modified in c2005 to address security requirements.
4.3.5 BASEMENT LEVELS (BASEMENT 1, BASEMENT 2 AND BASEMENT 3)
There are three levels of basement below Macquarie Street level, which contain vehicular access areas, the main switchboard, strongrooms and cash handling areas. The original 1964 configuration of the basement included extensive areas dedicated to mechanical plant equipment that have been progressively relocated or replaced to suit changing servicing equipment requirements.
Figure 26 - Typical basement finishes.
Figure 27 – Typical painted rendered finishes at Basement Levels 1 and 2.
Basement areas were extended and modified as part of the 1970s construction phase. The original strongrooms have been retained, although underutilised storage, workshop and plan areas have been adapted as computer areas and staff facilities. The Records & Archives Repository is located in Basement 3.
Spaces throughout Basement Levels 1, 2 and 3 were formed by painted rendered walls subdivided with stud wall and office partitions. Sections of original timber parquet floor finishes have been retained and are, in part, concealed by an accessible computer floor. Vinyl floor tiles and ceramic floor tiles are evident in other areas. Utilitarian areas, such as the loading bay and parking areas are concrete. Ceilings, where installed, are generally formed by suspended acoustic panels with integral acrylic fluorescent light diffusers.
4.3.6 GROUND FLOOR LEVEL
The ground floor of the Head Office is directly accessible from Martin Place, and is symmetrical around the central main vestibule. The vestibule is a two-storey, with a general banking chamber on the western side and a public display area on the eastern side. The museum and interpretative display area are currently located in the area originally occupied by Bonds & Stock Banking Chamber.
The main vestibule area remains largely intact and contains most of its original fabric and finishes, including important artworks commissioned specifically for the building and integral with the building fabric. There have been some minor changes relating to the public reception area to control circulation and increase security. Other areas in the southern section of the ground floor, which are screened from public view, have been adapted and upgraded to meet the changing requirements of Bank staff. Two platform chair lifts were installed in c2000 to provide access to the museum and bank chamber spaces from the entrance foyer.
1960 Transfer No. H517381 dated 11th August
To Reserve Bank of Australia
1989 Converted to computer folio 1/444499 dated 24th October
Washington House 221- 223 Macquarie Street
1821 CROWN GRANT dated 9th January
To Benjamin Carvosso, Walter Lawry & Ralf Mansfield being allotment 3 of Section 41
1925 PRIMARY APPLICATION No. 27421 dated 14th December
Application for Certificate of Title by the Municipal Council of Sydney
Notice of resumption of land
Vol 4872 Folio 42
1939 CERTIFICATE OF TITLE Vol 5036 Folio 199 dated 28th April
Anthony Charles of Sydney, investor, pt lot 3
1941 Transfer No C 981 880 dated 22nd January
Barney Goldroad Barripp of Bellevue Hill, investor
1943 Application by Transmission dated 29th January
The Union Trustee Company of Australia Ltd, Samuel Goldroad Barripp of mascot, hotel keeper, Fay Deborah Levy wife of Leonard Henry Jacques Levy of Bondi, investor and Louis Sydney Allen of Sydney solicitor.
1946 Death of SG Barripp dated 20th February
1946 Transfer No. D 465643 dated 1st March
To Colin Anderson of Gunnedah, medical practitioner
1947 Transfer No. D 625718 dated 4th February
To Francis Clunes Kirkpatrick of an undivided one tenth share (Vol 5730 Folio 179)
1946 Transfer No D625726 dated 29th August
To Valma May Brennan of two undivided one fifth share (Vol 5732 F 174)
Residue Vol 5731 Folio 167
1947 CERTIFICATE OF TITLE Vol 5731 Folio 167 dated 30th September
Colin Anderson of Gunnedah, medical practitioner
1958 CERTIFICATE OF TITLE Vol 7473 Folio 249 dated 5th March
Colin Anderson of seven undivided one tenth shares
1964 Transfer No. J 571420 dated 5th February
To the Reserve Bank
1964 CERTIFICATE OF TITLE Vol 9672 Folio 100 dated 3rd April
Reserve Bank of Australia
Converted to Computer Folio 1/ 32720
11.6 SANDS DIRECTORY LISTINGS
PHILLIP STREET 1858
United Presbyterian Church
146 (164) Dr Salter
148 (166) White Heart Inn - Owen Laughlen
150 (168) Walter Kimber
152 (170) Mrs Amy Howard
154 (172) William Walker
156 (174) Henry Villis
Paynes Building
1865
United Presbyterian Church
146 (164) John Kellick - builder
148 (166) Mrs Green - Dressmaker
150 (168) W.G Robinson - plumber
152 (170) George Smith
154 (172)
156 (174) Henry Elliott
Paynes Building
1870
United Presbyterian Church
146 (164) John McFarlane
148 (166) Louis Menser
150 (168) Vacant
152 (170) Charles Ullbery
154 (172) Grosvenor Bunster
156 (174) Mrs Webb
Paynes Building
1875
United Presbyterian Church
146 (164) Canter Coleman - importer
148 (166) Christian Chichen
150 (168) Fanny Cottrell
152 (170) John Dew
154 (172) Robert Murray
156 (174) John Lewis
Paynes Building
1880
St Stephens
164 J.Matthewson - boarding house
166 William Williams
168 Mrs Sarah Allen
170 Patrick Lyons
172 John Daly
174 Mrs H.C Harper
Paynes Building
1882
St Stephens
164 J.Starkey - aerated water & cordial maker
166
168
170 vacant
172 John Daly
174 vacant land
1884
St Stephens
164 J.Starkey - aerated water & cordial maker
166
168
170 Mark Graham
172 John Daly
174 Selborne Chambers
1890
St Stephens
164 J.Starkey - aerated water & cordial maker
166
168
170 G.Benton
172 G.Benton
174 Selborne Chambers
1895
St Stephens
164 J.Starkey - aerated water & cordial maker
166
168
170 G.Benton - plumber
172 G.Benton
174 Selborne Chambers
1902
St Stephens
164 J.Starkey - aerated water & cordial maker
Venn.E
Miss Shadforth - teacher of pianoforte170 Mrs E. Fletcher
172 Mrs E. Nicholson
174 Selborne Chambers
1905
St Stephens164 J.Starkey - aerated water & cordial maker
off Venn.E
164 St James Rectory
170 Lucy Weir - boarding house
172 Lucy Weir
174 Selborne Chambers
1910
St Stephens
164a J.Starkey - aerated water & cordial maker
164 St James Rectory - Rev Sydney Marsden
170 Lucy Weir - boarding house
172 Lucy Weir
174 Selborne Chambers
1912
St Stephens
164a Starkeys’ Limited
164 Mrs Beatrice Huck “The Carlton” - residential chambers
170 Lucy Weir - boarding house
172 Lucy Weir
174 Selborne Chambers
1914
St Stephens
164a Starkeys’ Limited
164 Mrs Beatrice Huck “The Carlton” - residential chambers
170 Joseph gent
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1915
St Stephens
164a
164
170
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1916
St Stephens
164a
164 Theosophical Society headquarters & Sydney Branch
170 Motor garage & Hire Company
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1917
St Stephens
164a
164 Motor Garage & Hire Co. - Porter & Davis
170
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1918
St Stephens
164a Phillip Motor Garage - R.O. Hughes
164
170
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1919
St Stephens164a Hughes Motor Services
164 Mrs E.M. Reed
170
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1920
St Stephens
164a Hughes Motor Services
164 Mrs M Kelly - residential chamber
170
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1923
St Stephens
164a Hughes Motor Services
164 Mrs M Kelly - residential chamber (5 barristers)
170
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1924
St Stephens
164a Hughes Motor Services
164 Mrs M Kelly - residential chamber (3 barristers)
170 Chancery Chambers - ground + 4 floors 9 solicitors & barristers
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1925
St Stephens
164a Hughes Motor Services
164 Mrs M Kelly - residential chamber (3 barristers)
170 Chancery Chambers - ground + 4 floors 9solicitors & barristers
172
174 Selborne Chambers
1927
St Stephens
164 Checker Cab Co. (A/sai Ltd)
164 Mrs M Kelly – residential chamber (3 barristers)
170-72 Chancery Chambers174 Selborne Chambers
1928
St Stephens
164 Hughes Motor Services
164 Mrs M Kelly – residential chamber (3 barristers)
170-72 Chancery Chambers
174 Selborne Chambers1932/3
St Stephens
164 Hughes Motor Services
164 Offices170-72 Chancery Chambers
174 Selborne Chambers
MACQUARIE STREET 1858
215 (239) Anthony Thompson - fruiterer
217 (241) Henry Williams
219 (243) Roman Catholic School
221 & 223 Unitarian Chapel
1870
215 (239) Thomas Kating
217 (241) Henry L. Alexander
219 (243)
221 & 223 Unitarian Chapel
(245) Rev J. Pillars
1876
215 (239) 237-239 - in course of erection
217 (241) H.C. Jones - boarding house
219 (243) 243 - 247 - in course of erection
221 & 223
1880
215 Mary Hayes - boarding house
217 Mrs Annie Wilson - boarding house
219 J.Grogan - boarding house
221 Miss Hayes - boarding house
223 Mrs Francis Cowell - boarding house
1891
215 Joseph Foreman - surgeon
217
217a
219 J.Grogan - boarding house
221 Mrs Sylvester - boarding house
223 A.J. Syme - dentist
1892
215 Dr Joseph Foreman
217 Water Conservation
217a Dept of Agriculture
219 J.Grogan - boarding house
221 Mrs Sylvester - boarding house
223 A.J. Syme - dentist
1894
215 Dr Joseph Foreman
217
217a Dept of Agriculture
219 J.Grogan - boarding house
221 Mrs Sylvester - boarding house
223 A.J. Syme - dentist
1895
215 Dr Joseph Foreman
217 Mrs H.R Boulton Boarding House
217a Mrs L Lender - boarding house
219 A.Jarvine Hood - surgeon
221 Mrs Sylvester - boarding house
223 A.J. Syme - dentist
1900
215 J.S Robertson - dentist, S.H. Williams - dental surgeon, Mrs M.A. Rankin - caretaker
217 Miss C. Wilson - Boarding House
217a Mrs J Lender - boarding house
219 A.M Will - physician
221 Rev W.I.C Smith, Rev W.R Mousey, C of E
223 A.J. Syme - dentist
1910
215 4 medical
217 Miss C. Wilson - Boarding House
217a Mrs N. Job - boarding house
219 J.B Nash surgeon, W.Kelty - physician
221 H,C Taylor Young, - surgeon, Ernest E. Spicer - dental surgeon, Miss lambert - caretaker
223 A.J. Syme - dentist, W.M. Paul - dental surgeon, John Waller - caretaker, W.Hunter - dental surgeon
1920
215 4 medical
217 Miss Wilson - boarding establishment
219 J.B Nash surgeon, James N. Wilson - dental surgeon
221 Misses G & M Hughes - boarding establishment
223 5 medical
1923
215 13 medical “Whitehall”
217 Miss Wilson - boarding establishment
219 J.B Nash surgeon, James N. Wilson - dental surgeon
221 6 medical
223 6 medical
11.7 SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL RATE BOOK SEARCH
11.7.1 PHILLIP STREET
PHILLIP STREET No. Occupier Owner Type Floors Rooms 1871 Rate Book Presbyterian Church 146 C.Coombs John Williams House 3 11 148 C.Andrews James Brechenrigg House 2 9 150 Fanny Cottrell Estate of ---- House 1 4 152 John Dew Mary Roberts House 1 3 154 Robert Murray Mary Roberts House 1 3 156 Mrs ---- House 2 4 1877- 79 - Rate Book St Stephens 146 J. Matthewson John Williams House 3 13 148 I.Andrews James Brechenrigg House 2 11 150 John Brogden John Starkey House 1 4 152 Patrick Lyons Mary Roberts House 1 3 154 David Robinson Mary Roberts House 1 3 156 L. de Spencer Mrs Gould House 1 4 1880- 81 - Rate Book St Stephens 164 J. Matthewson John Williams House 3 13 166 Mr W. Davis John Starkey House 2 8 168 Mrs Allen John Starkey House 1 4 170 Patrick Lyons Mary Roberts House 1 3 172 John Daly Mary Roberts House 1 3 174 Mrs H Harper Mrs J Gould House 1 5 1882 - Rate Book St Stephens 164 J. Starkey J. Starkey House & Brewery 3 24 166 168 170 Mark Graham Mary Roberts House 1 3 172 John Daly Mary Roberts House 1 3 174 Mrs H Harper Building in course of erection 1891 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164 J. Starkey J. Starkey House & Brewery 3 24 166 168 170 G. Benton J. Starkey House 1 3 172 G.Benton J. Starkey House 1 3 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 3 38 1899-1901 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164 J. Starkey J. Starkey House & Brewery 3 24 166 168 170 G. Benton J. Starkey House 2 8 172 G.Benton J. Starkey House 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 3 38 1902-1906 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164
off
Estate of the late J. Starkey factory, stables & land 3 10 164 Hooper Shodforth Estate of the late J. Starkey House & School 2 1 166 168 170 G. Benton Estate of the late J. Starkey House 1 8 172 G.Benton Estate of the late J. Starkey House 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 3 38 1907-1910 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164
off
Arthur C. Starkey Frank A Starkey factory, stables 2 5 164 William Carr Smith Frank A Starkey House 2 11 166 168 170 Lucy Weir Frank A. Starkey House 1 8 172 Lucy Weir Frank A. Starkey House 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 3 38 1918-20 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164
off
G.V. Hughes Trustees St Stephens House garage & workshops 164 166 John M. McGrath Ltd Land 168 170 172 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 3 38 1921 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164
off
RO Hughes Trustees St Stephens garage & workshops 3 3
164 Mary Kelly Trustees St Stephens House 2 14 166 John M. McGrath Ltd Land 168 170 172 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 3 38 1926 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164
off
Hughes Motor Services Trustees St Stephens garage & workshops 3 3 164 Mary Kelly Trustees St Stephens House 2 14 166 168 170-72 Chancery Chambers Hughes Motor Services Limited 5 68 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 38 1927- 28 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164
off
Checker Cabs Co. Municipal Council Sydney garage & workshops 3 3 164 Mary Kelly Municipal Council Sydney House 2 14 166- 68 NSW Teachers Limited Land 170-72 Chancery Chambers Hughes Motor Services Limited Offices 5 68 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co Offices 3 38 1930 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164
off
Hughes Motor Services Municipal Council Sydney garage 3 3 164 Mary Kelly Municipal Council Sydney House 2 10 166-68 NSW Teachers Limited Land 170-72 Chancery Chambers Hughes Motor Services Limited 5 64 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co
3 30 1933-35 - Rate Book St Stephens Presbyterian Church 164
off
Municipal Council Sydney garage 3 6 164 Municipal Council Sydney offices 2 10 166-68 NSW Teachers Limited Land 170-72 Chancery Chambers Hughes Motor Services Limited 5 64 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 3 38 1936-38 - Rate Book Martin Place
Residue St Stephens
Land 164
off
Michael Donnellan Municipal Council Sydney garage 3 6 164 Hughes Motor Services Municipal Council Sydney offices 2 10 166-68 NSW Teachers Limited Land 170-72 Chancery Chambers Hughes Motor Services Limited 5 64 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co 3 38 1939-42 - Rate Book Martin Place
Residue St Stephens
Land 164
off
Michael Donnellan Municipal Council Sydney garage 3 6 164 Hughes Motor Services Municipal Council Sydney offices 2 10 166-68 Federation House Teachers Building Limited offices 9 10 170-72 Chancery Chambers Hughes Motor Services Limited offices 5 64 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co Offices 3 38 1945-47 - Rate Book Martin Place
National Council of Jewish Women
2 fibro stalls
1
2
164
off
Municipal Council Sydney garage 3 6 164 Municipal Council Sydney offices/land 2 10 166-68 Federation House Teachers Building Limited offices 9 10 170-72 Chancery Chambers Hughes Motor Services Limited offices 5 64 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co Offices 3 38 1945-47 - Rate Book Martin Place
Land
164
off
Municipal Council Sydney Parking Area 164 Michael Donnellan Municipal Council Sydney offices 2 10 166-68 Federation House Teachers Building Limited offices 9 10 170-72 Chancery Chambers Hughes Motor Services Limited offices 5 64 174 Selborne Chambers Commercial Building & Invest. Co Offices 3 38 11.7.2 MACQUARIE STREET
MACQUARIE STREET No. Occupier Owner Type Floors Rooms 1871 - Rate Book 215 Thomas Kating J Goodman House 1 2 217 Jenny Alexander H Williams House 2 8 219 Archbishop Building School 1 1 221-3 Unitarian Church Church 1877 79 - Rate Book 215 Arthur O’Mullen James Mullins House 3 14 217 Mrs Jones Edward Hargrave House 2 8 219 Lucretia Terrace
John Walker
Charles Roberts House 3 14 221 Empty Charles Roberts House 3 14 223 Empty Charles Roberts House 3 14 1880 - 81 - Rate Book 215 Mary Hayes James Mullins House 3 12 217 Ann Wilson W Ackman House 2 10 219 Lucretia Terrace
J Grogan
J.J Neale House 3 14 221 Miss Hayes J.J Neale House 3 14 223 Mrs Frances Cowell J.J Neale House 3 14 1882 - Rate Book 215 G.T. Hawkins James Mullins House 3 12 217 Ann Wilson Angus Simmons House 2 10 219 Lucretia Terrace
J. Grogan
Angus Simmons House 3 14 221 Miss Hayes Angus Simmons House 3 14 223 Mrs Frances Cowell Angus Simmons House 3 14 1891 - Rate Book 215 Dr Foreman James Mullins House 3 12 217 Labrador J. Starkey 4 15 217a J. Starkey 4 15 219
Lucretia Terrace
J. Grogan
Angus Simmons
House
3
14
221 Miss Hayes Angus Simmons House 3 14 223 Mrs Frances Cowell Angus Simmons House 3 14 1899-01 - Rate Book 215 Dr Foreman Estate J. Mullins House 3 12 217 Labrador
Miss Wilson
J. Starkey 4 15 217a Miss Lender J. Starkey 4 15 219 Lucretia Terrace
Dr J.A Hood
Fanny Godson House 3 14 221 Fanny Godson House 3 14 223 Dr A. Syme Fanny Godson House 3 14 1902- 06 - Rate Book 215 W. S. Hinder John L. Mullins House 3 12 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Estate J. Starkey 4 15 217a Mrs T Lender Estate J. Starkey House 4 15 219 Lucretia Terrace
Richard Arthur
Fanny Godson House 3 14 221 W.I.C. Smith Fanny Godson House 3 14 223 Dr A. Syme Fanny Godson House 3 14 1907- 10 - Rate Book 215 L.H Harris John L. Mullins House 3 12 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Alfred E. Starkey House 4 15 217a Lilly Lender Alfred E. Starkey House 4 15 219 Lucretia Terrace
William Reed
Fanny Godson House 3 14 221 Taylor Young Fanny Godson House 3 14 223 Dr A. Syme Fanny Godson House 3 14 1918 - 20 Rate Book 215 L.H Harris Dr L.A. Harris House 3 12 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Alfred E. Starkey House 4 15 217a Miss C. Wilson Alfred E. Starkey House 4 15 219 Lucretia Terrace
Dr J.B. Nash
Fanny Godson
House
3
14
221 Armond Morgan Fanny Godson House 3 14 223 Dr A. Syme Fanny Godson House 3 14 1921 Rate Book 215 Dr Sear Estate L.A. Harris House 3 12 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Alfred E. Starkey
House
4
15
217a Miss C. Wilson Alfred E. Starkey House 4 15 219
Lucretia Terrace
Dr J.B. Nash
Fanny Godson
House
3
14
221 Miss G & M Hughes Fanny Godson House 3 14 223 Dr A. Syme Fanny Godson House 3 14 1926 Rate Book 215 Whitehall O.J McDermott House 3 26 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Alfred E. Starkey
House
4
15
217a Miss C. Wilson Alfred E. Starkey House 4 15 219
Lucretia Terrace
Dr J.B. Nash
Mrs L. Campbell
House
3
14
221 Dr Davidson Mrs L. Campbell House 3 14 223 Mrs A Waller Mrs L. Campbell House 3 14 1927-28 Rate Book 215 Whitehall Municipal Council Syd Chambers 3 26 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Municipal Council Syd House
4
15
217a Miss C. Wilson Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 219
Lucretia Terrace
Dr J.B. Nash
Municipal Council Syd House
3
14
221 Dr Davidson Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 223 Mrs A Waller Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 1930 Rate Book 215 Whitehall
A. Langan
Municipal Council Syd
Chambers
3 26 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Municipal Council Syd
House
4
15
217a Miss C. Wilson Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 219
Lucretia Terrace
Dr A. L. Levy
Municipal Council Syd
House
3
14
221 Dr Davidson Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 223 Mrs M Mallam Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 1933 - 35 Rate Book 215 Whitehall
O.J. McDermott
Municipal Council Syd Chambers 3 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 217a Miss C. Wilson Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 219 Lucretia Terrace
Dr Stas
Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 221 Dr Davidson Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 223 Mary Mallam Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 1936 - 38 Rate Book 215 Whitehall
O.J. McDermott
Municipal Council Syd Chambers 3 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 217a Miss C. Wilson Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 219 Lucretia Terrace
Agnes Helling
Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 221 Dr Davidson Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 223 Mary Mallam Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 1939 - 42 Rate Book Martin Place 215 Whitehall
O.J. McDermott
Municipal Council Syd Chambers 3 217 Labrador
Miss C. Wilson
Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 217a Miss C. Wilson Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 219 Lucretia Terrace
A Helling
Municipal Council Syd House 3 14 221 Washington House Estate late A. Benton Flats & offices 3 25 223 Estate late A. Benton Flats/offices 3 25 1948 - 50 Rate Book Martin Place 215 Whitehall
Joyce C. McDermott
Municipal Council Syd Chambers 3 26 217 Labrador
F.E.Clarke
Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 217a F.E. Clarke Municipal Council Syd House 4 15 219 Lucretia Terrace
A Helling
Municipal Council Syd House 3 10 221- 223 Washington House Estate late A. Benton Flats & offices 3 25 Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office, 65 Martin Place, Sydney Heritage Management Plan 2020
made under subsection 341S(1) of the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Compilation No. 1
Compilation date: 5 November 2021
Includes amendments up to: F2021L01511
Registered: 9 December 2021
This compilation is in 2 volumes
Volume 1: Heritage Management Plan
Volume 2: Endnotes
Each volume has its own contents
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office, 65 Martin Place, Sydney Heritage Management Plan 2020 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 5 November 2021 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register ( The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Abbreviation key—Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted o = order(s) am = amended Ord = Ordinance amdt = amendment orig = original c = clause(s) par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) C[x] = Compilation No. x /sub‑subparagraph(s) Ch = Chapter(s) pres = present def = definition(s) prev = previous Dict = Dictionary (prev…) = previously disallowed = disallowed by Parliament Pt = Part(s) Div = Division(s) r = regulation(s)/rule(s) ed = editorial change reloc = relocated exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have renum = renumbered effect rep = repealed F = Federal Register of Legislation rs = repealed and substituted gaz = gazette s = section(s)/subsection(s) LA = Legislation Act 2003 Sch = Schedule(s) LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 Sdiv = Subdivision(s) (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given SLI = Select Legislative Instrument effect SR = Statutory Rules (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) cannot be given effect SubPt = Subpart(s) mod = modified/modification underlining = whole or part not No. = Number(s) commenced or to be commenced Endnote 3—Legislation history
Name Registration Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office, 65 Martin Place, Sydney Heritage Management Plan 2020 18 Aug 2020 (F2020L01031) 19 Aug 2020 Reserve Bank of Australia Head Office, 65 Martin Place, Sydney Heritage Management Plan Amendment 2021 (No. 1) 4 Nov 2021 (F2021L01511) 5 Nov 2021 (s 2) — Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected How affected Heritage Management Plan am F2021L01511
0
0
0