MLC Building, Sydney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MLC Building |
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The building facade, pictured in 2008
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| Location | 42-46 Martin Place, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1936–1938 |
| Built for | Mutual Life & Citizens Assurance Company Limited |
| Architect | Bates Smart & McCutcheon (Sir W. P. Osborn McCutcheon) |
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| Official name: MLC Building (Former); Mutual Life & Assurance Building | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 597 |
| Type | Commercial Office/Building |
| Category | Commercial |
| Builders | Concrete Constructions Limited |
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The MLC Building is a special office building in Sydney, Australia. It's located at 42-46 Martin Place in the city center. This building was designed by Bates Smart & McCutcheon and built between 1936 and 1938. It's also known as the Mutual Life & Assurance Building.
For many years, the building was the main office for an Australian life insurance company called Mutual Life & Citizens Assurance Company Limited. Today, it's recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Contents
A Look Back: The Building's History
Big insurance companies started in Australia a long time ago, during the Victorian era. They helped people with problems like world trade, communication, and planning for retirement. They also helped with the constant danger of fire.
The Mutual Life and Citizens Assurance Company decided to build a new main office in Sydney. They held a competition in 1936 to find the best design. More than 70 different designs were submitted! The winning design came from Bates, Smart and McCutcheon, a famous architecture firm. Their design was chosen from a group of six finalists.
The building was constructed between 1937 and 1938. It was built during a time when Australia was recovering from a big economic slowdown called the Depression. The main architect, Osborn McCutcheon, was very respected. He even received a special award for his work in 1965.
The MLC Building is one of several important buildings around Martin Place. Even though these buildings were built over many years, they look very similar in style and height. The MLC Building stands out because of its tall design. It adds a lot to the unique look of Martin Place.
Changes Over Time
The MLC Building has been updated a few times. In 1987-1988, some big changes were made. For example, a central open space was filled in. The lifts and stairs were moved, and the main entrance on Martin Place was made wider. These changes helped make the building more modern and useful.
What the Building Looks Like
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The MLC Building is easy to spot at the corner of Martin Place and Castlereagh Streets. It's a steel-framed building that was originally 150 feet (about 46 meters) tall. The tower on top rose even higher, adding another 50 feet (about 15 meters).
The outside of the upper floors is covered in light brown Sydney sandstone. The bottom part of the building uses a special "Rob Roy Red" stone. You can also see polished red granite around the windows and doorways.
One cool detail is the company's symbol. It's carved above the main entrances on Martin Place and Castlereagh Street. This symbol, called "Strength in Unity," shows a man trying to break a bundle of rods. He can't break them because they are together. This symbol is visible on all sides of the building and even on the floor inside.
The windows are set in pairs between wide stone columns. Between the windows, there are special metal panels. These panels are made of enamelled steel and have horizontal grooves. Inside, the building originally had eleven floors. The insurance company used some floors, and others were rented out. There was even a restaurant in the basement!
Current Condition
As of 2009, the MLC Building is in good shape. It has been well-maintained since the big renovations in the late 1980s. The main insurance room on the ground floor is still mostly the same. It has beautiful, high-quality finishes.
Special Features and Style
The MLC Building is a great example of the Art Deco and Moderne styles. It even has strong influences from ancient Egyptian design! This makes it unique compared to other buildings from the same time.
The building's design includes special plaster relief panels. These panels show scenes of everyday life in Sydney. The main insurance room, even though it's not huge, has very fancy details. These include carved travertine stone and plaster carvings.
The MLC Building is also important because it was designed by Bates, Smart & McCutcheon. They were a very famous Australian architecture firm in the 20th century. The building won a design competition, which shows what people thought was good architecture in the late 1930s.
Why the Building is Important: Heritage Listing
The MLC Building is considered very important for several reasons. It's one of the best commercial office buildings from the time between the two World Wars. It's also the best example in Australia of a building that uses Egyptian-inspired designs on its outside.
The building's excellent design and the materials used make it a key part of Martin Place's look. Martin Place is known as one of Sydney's most beautiful city areas. The building still has its original insurance room and parts of its executive offices.
The MLC Building is historically important because it was the main office for the MLC Insurance company for a long time. It also shows the work of famous architects like Osborn McCutcheon. His contributions to Australian architecture were highly recognized.
The building is also important for its technical features. It has rare examples of old building techniques, like the special steel panels under the windows. It's a rare and well-preserved example of an Art Deco skyscraper in Sydney. It has very detailed stone carvings with Egyptian patterns.
The MLC Building is one of only a few large office buildings built in Sydney in the late 1930s that are still standing. It has a well-preserved insurance room from that time, which is rare. It also has a large and formal set of executive rooms, including a lift lobby, waiting room, and boardroom.
Overall, the MLC Building adds a lot to the look of Martin Place and Castlereagh Street. It has a strong visual connection with other important buildings nearby. Because it won a design competition, it really shows the architectural tastes of the 1930s.
