Reserve Bank of Australia Building - Sydney
The Reserve Bank head office as with the other Reserve Bank buildings around Australia 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 building is constructed with a structural steel frame with welded joints providing rigidity and resistance to wind loads. Floors and basement walls are of reinforced concrete, with additional reinforcement and security features incorporated into the walls of the basement strong rooms. The upper level floors (above ground floor) are constructed of light weight concrete to reduce weight in the structure.
The facade treatment of the building is distinctive and derives from both the modular design created to allow office subdivision which is expressed in the window mullions and the use of materials including the extensive use of natural stone.
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 1964 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.
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.
Stylistic Context
The Head Office, Sydney, was designed 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 Head Office building is composed of a twenty-two storey tower with three levels of basements. The lower levels of the tower contain the public areas and a cantilevered podium.
The building rises to a height of 80.5m above the Macquarie Street Ground Level. The 3rd Basement is 12.5m below ground level.
Source: Heritage Management Plan NBRS Partners
Reserve Bank of Australia Building - Sydney
The Reserve Bank head office as with the other Reserve Bank buildings around Australia 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 building is constructed with a structural steel frame with welded joints providing rigidity and resistance to wind loads. Floors and basement walls are of reinforced concrete, with additional reinforcement and security features incorporated into the walls of the basement strong rooms. The upper level floors (above ground floor) are constructed of light weight concrete to reduce weight in the structure.
The facade treatment of the building is distinctive and derives from both the modular design created to allow office subdivision which is expressed in the window mullions and the use of materials including the extensive use of natural stone.
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 1964 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.
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.
Stylistic Context
The Head Office, Sydney, was designed 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 Head Office building is composed of a twenty-two storey tower with three levels of basements. The lower levels of the tower contain the public areas and a cantilevered podium.
The building rises to a height of 80.5m above the Macquarie Street Ground Level. The 3rd Basement is 12.5m below ground level.
Source: Heritage Management Plan NBRS Partners