354 George Street, Sydney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 354 George Street |
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354 George Street, on the corner of Martin Place, pictured in 2015
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| Location | 354 George Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1902–1904 |
| Built for | Bank of Australasia |
| Architect |
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| Architectural style(s) | Federation Romanesque |
| Owner | Paspaley Pearls Properties P/L |
| Official name: ANZ Bank (former); ANZ Bank; United Permanent Building; 2 Martin Place;; Paspaley Pearls; 354-360 George Street; Bank of Australasia | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 85 |
| Type | Bank |
| Category | Commercial |
| Builders |
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This building, known as 354 George Street, Sydney, is a special, old building in the heart of Sydney. It used to be a bank, but now it has shops and offices. You can find it at 354 George Street in New South Wales, Australia.
Many architects helped design this building over the years, including Edward Raht and A. K. Henderson. It was built in different stages from 1902 to 1937. The building has had several names, like the ANZ Bank (former) and Bank of Australasia. Today, it is owned by Paspaley Pearls Properties. This important building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's protected because of its history and beauty.
Contents
Building History
The land where 354 George Street stands has been used since the early days of the colony. The Bank of Australasia originally owned two separate pieces of land here. These were joined into one property in 1904.
Original Design and Construction
The new bank building was designed by Edward E. Raht, an architect from New York. He came to Australia in 1891. Raht was famous for designing grand buildings for banks and insurance companies. He also designed the building next door, at 348-352 George Street.
Both buildings were built with a strong steel frame. They were covered with heavy stone called trachyte in a style called Federation Romanesque. This special stone came from the Bowral quarries. These buildings were unique because they used trachyte for the entire outside, not just for parts of it. They were the first buildings in Australia to do this.
The ANZ Bank building was finished in 1904. It was an early example in Australia of the American Romanesque style. This style was made popular by Raht's countryman, Henry Hobson Richardson. Raht also designed offices in Melbourne using similar materials and style. He helped make trachyte a popular building stone in Australia for many years.
Bank Operations and Changes
The building officially opened on February 11, 1904. The bank moved in the next month. Inside, the main banking area had special features. These included unique lights, patterned rubber flooring, and a small gallery. There was also a round window high up on one wall.
Over the years, the building had several changes. The first big changes happened in 1936, designed by A. K. Henderson. By 1940, the building was known as Australasia Chambers. It had bank offices and other professional rooms. More small changes were made in 1947 and later. In 1961, it became one of the main Sydney offices for the Australian and New Zealand Bank.
Later, architects Joseland and Gilling made more changes. In 1980, the building was sold to the United Permanent Building Society. They made some small updates and officially reopened the building in 1982. In 1984, it was sold again to the Government Insurance Office.
Building Features
The building at 2 Martin Place, which was the Bank of Australasia, still looks much like Edward Raht designed it. It has a tall ground floor with a small mezzanine level. There are three floors above and two basement levels below. Stairs and two old lifts are on the eastern side of the building.
Exterior Design
The outside of the building has a broad Renaissance style. Some parts look like early Renaissance art, while others are more like Baroque designs. The three sides facing the street are made from "Bowral Trachyte" stone. The company Loveridge and Hudson supplied the stone and built the building. They also built the Equitable Life Assurance Society building next door.
The stone work is very detailed. It has rough, rocky parts mixed with smooth, polished areas. There are also smooth trachyte columns, window mullions (dividers), a cornice (decorative top edge), and a parapet (low wall at the roof edge). The bank's symbol is carved above the rounded corner of the building.
The back wall, which is not visible from the street, is made of brick. The two large basement levels go about 5 meters (16 feet) under Martin Place. They get light from deep wells on the outside, with special lights in the pavement.
Interior Details
The inside of the building is very fancy. The main banking area has lots of bronze, marble, cedar wood, beautiful wrought iron, and gold leaf.
Architectural Style
The building is in the Federation Romanesque style. This was an early example of American Romanesque architecture in Australia. Edward Raht's work in Sydney and Melbourne was very important for this style. At that time, the Federation Free Classical style was more common for big buildings. Banks usually used a classical look, but designers would sometimes change or exaggerate details.
The building is an important part of the street. It connects visually with other old and important buildings nearby. Most of these buildings use classical designs and are made of different stones like sandstone, trachyte, and granite. The main entrance at the corner of George Street and Martin Place shows off the neo-Romanesque style. Strong wrought metal grilles protect the windows on the ground floor and basement. These grilles, along with the rough stone around the windows, create a rich look at street level. The window frames seem to be original. A clock was added later on the western side, and a plaque on the eastern side of the Martin Place facade.
Building Condition
As of 2008, the building was in excellent condition.
Past Changes
The building has had modifications in 1936, 1947, 1951-1959, 1966, 1968, 1970, and 1974.
Why This Building Is Important
This building is historically important because of its connection to the Bank of Australasia. This bank was a very important financial company in Australia for many years. The building also helped shape Martin Place after the General Post Office was built.
It is also beautiful and important because it is a great example of a Federation Romanesque bank. It stands among other important old buildings in the area. The building is special because of its link to Edward E. Raht, the American architect. He brought neo-Romanesque architecture to Australia, which led to the Federation Warehouse style.
The building looks great in the city and has one of the best old banking halls in Sydney. Some parts of the building are also important for showing old building techniques. These include the two "birdcage" lifts, the steel stairs, the marble bathrooms in the upper basement, and the marble ceiling above the ground floor lobby. The vaulted ceilings with glazed bricks and the strong security vaults in the lower basement also show important old technology.
The ANZ Bank building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because it met several important requirements:
- It shows the history of New South Wales: It is linked to the Bank of Australasia, a very important bank in Australia's economic history.
- It is connected to important people: It is a key work by Edward Raht, who introduced the neo-Romanesque style to Australia. He was one of the first to use detailed stone work with trachyte.
- It shows great design and technical skill: The building has original parts that show old building methods. This includes the rare "birdcage" lifts, marble-lined bathrooms, and strong security vaults.
- It has potential for research: It is a rare and mostly untouched example of a Federation Romanesque bank in Sydney. It has very fine stone details and rare wrought iron grilles on the windows.
- It is rare: Martin Place has many banks with large, detailed banking halls. This building is a rare example of a bank from the early 1900s in Sydney, and it has one of the best banking halls still around.
- It shows important characteristics of its type: The building is a key part of the look of Martin Place and George Street. It has a strong visual connection with the General Post Office and other major buildings nearby.
