City Mutual Life Assurance Building facts for kids
The City Mutual Life Assurance Building is a special heritage-listed building located at 60-66 Hunter Street in the heart of Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia. It's also known as the CML Building or 10 Bligh Street. This amazing building was mostly built in 1936 and is a great example of the Art Deco style. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's officially recognized as an important historical place.
Quick facts for kids City Mutual Life Assurance Building |
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CML building, pictured in 2014
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| Location | 60-66 Hunter Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1936; 1946–47; 1956 |
| Architect |
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| Architectural style(s) | Art Deco |
| Official name: City Mutual Life Assurance Building; CML Building; 10 Bligh Street | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 585 |
| Type | Commercial Office/Building |
| Category | Commercial |
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A Look Back: Building History
The City Mutual Life Assurance Society has been connected to the corner of Hunter and Bligh Streets since 1891. They bought part of the land for £22,000 on February 16, 1891. At that time, there was a plumber's shop and other older buildings on the site.
First Building and New Ideas
In 1891, the Society asked five top Sydney architects to design their new head office. They chose a design by G. A. Mansfield for a four-story building. This building stood on the site until 1934. Then, the Society decided they needed a bigger, more modern office. They had also bought the building next door on Bligh Street.
Choosing a New Design
Once again, City Mutual asked architects for new ideas. They offered a prize for the best design. Eleven designs were submitted, and a winner was chosen. However, the Board of Directors really liked a design by Emil Sodersteen. Sodersteen had actually taken his design out of the competition. But the Society approached him, and he was hired as the architect.
Sodersteen was a well-known architect. He started his own business in 1925. He became famous after winning a competition to design the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in 1927. He worked with another architect, John Crust, on that project.
Sodersteen's Vision: An Art Deco Skyscraper
Sodersteen's design for the new City Mutual Building was inspired by American skyscrapers. He believed skyscrapers were super efficient and perfect. He loved their strong shapes and cool decorations. His design was unique in Sydney at the time.
People were amazed by the new building. A magazine in 1936 wrote:
"It is not an exaggeration to say that the whole of Sydney is talking about the new City Mutual Building. People passing in the trams lean forward to gaze upon it, while those walking up Hunter Street stop to admire its streamline symmetry."
—Building magazine, 1936.
The City Mutual Building is seen as one of Sodersteen's best Art Deco works. It showed off his amazing design skills. The building looked powerful and modern, using the latest technology and materials. It had shiny polished surfaces, detailed metal work, and bold color contrasts.
Building Details and Features
Sodersteen's design used a steel frame covered with polished granite and sandstone. The building had two basement levels, a ground floor, and ten upper floors. It was one of the first buildings in Sydney to have air conditioning! The building's tall, vertical design made it stand out. The main entrance had polished black granite.
Inside, the main area was a three-story "Assurance chamber." It was entered at an angle from the main entrance. Because the building was so tall and on a raised piece of land, you could easily see it from ferries entering Circular Quay.
Opening and Later Changes
The City Mutual Building officially opened on October 1, 1936. It was so successful that Sodersteen became the Society's main architect. He designed other buildings, like the QBE Building in Pitt Street, Sydney.
Over the years, some changes were made to the building. Sodersteen himself made a few small changes early on. He designed a restaurant in the sub-basement, which became very popular. Minor changes were also made to the staff area on the eleventh floor.
In 1956, architects C. C. Ruwald and Howard added more space to the eleventh floor. This addition isn't very noticeable from the street, so it doesn't change the building's original look.
A New Architect Steps In
In 1946, the Society wanted to add a mezzanine level (a half-floor) inside the three-story Assurance chamber. Sodersteen didn't like this idea and refused to design it. Because of some disagreements, Sodersteen stopped working for the Society.
H. Ruskin Rowe then became the architect for the Society. He designed the mezzanine level, which was built in 1946-1947. This addition changed the original open feel of the chamber. Over the years, other small changes happened, mostly in the office areas. For example, some floor and wall coverings were replaced.
Originally, the City Mutual Society only used the first few floors and rented out the rest. But later, they used most of the building themselves, including the car park and the former restaurant, for their staff. The Society used the building until the 1990s. Then, the building was divided into separate units and sold to different businesses.
What Makes the Building Special
The City Mutual Life Assurance Building is a fantastic example of Art Deco style in Sydney. It has a strong, detailed look on Hunter and Bligh Streets, with a tall tower at the corner. The main business chamber inside is three stories tall.
Outside the Building
The outside of the building uses polished red granite up to the first floor. The entrances are made of polished black granite with cool sculpted panels made of copper. From the second floor up to the eleventh, the building is covered in Hawkesbury sandstone.
The windows on the lower floors have bronze frames. On the upper floors, the windows have steel frames. The roof is made of copper sheeting. The outside of the building is still in great condition, showing how well it was built. Only small changes have been made, like adding "City Mutual" signs.
Inside the Building
Inside, the walls were originally covered in special materials like scagliola (a type of plaster that looks like marble) or timber panels. The main entrance lift lobby is still very original and beautiful. It has scagliola walls, brass handrails, and bronze fixtures. Most lift lobbies on other floors are also still in their original condition.
The ground floor's main business chamber is the biggest and most complete Art Deco business space in Sydney. It shows how skilled Emil Sodersteen was at designing a grand space. The smooth, modern look of the room, with its scagliola walls and bronze window frames, creates a feeling of importance and quality.
Other important inside areas include the smaller lift lobbies on the first and second floors, and the Board Room on the second floor. Many office areas have been updated over time. The original air conditioning system is still working, but some parts are hard to find. The lifts have been replaced.
Why It's a Heritage Landmark
The City Mutual Life Assurance Building is one of Sydney's best examples of high-quality Art Deco architecture. It shows off the amazing work of Emil Sodersteen, a leading architect of this style in Australia. Since it's still mostly original and well-kept from the late 1930s, it helps us understand the beauty and business side of Art Deco buildings in Australia.
The building stands out in the city. It's a backdrop to Richard Johnson Square and a landmark on Bligh and Hunter Streets. Since it was finished in 1936, it has been a symbol of the City Mutual Life Assurance Society. It represents the Society's role in Sydney's business growth.
The City Mutual Life Assurance Building was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, recognizing its historical and architectural importance.
