The New South Wales government has revealed it will reinstate the North Sydney MLC building on the state heritage register after years of back and forth deliberations.
The building was originally designed in 1956 by Bates, Smart and McCutcheon. Upon its completion, it was Australia’s first large-scale commercial office development, the first free-standing office building, and the first example of a deliberately decorative curtain wall. In 2021, the building was the recipient of the Award for Enduring Architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects’ NSW Chapter awards.
In 2021, the building, designed in 1956 by Bates, Smart and McCutcheon, was the recipient of the Award for Enduring Architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects’ NSW Chapter awards.
Image: Supplied
The high-rise has been at the centre of a heated conflict between those who want to see it bulldozed and those who want to preserve it for historical significance. The battle to save the structure has been long-drawn-out, tumultuous and full of twists and turns. Numerous proposals have been submitted by property developer Investa Property Group to have the building demolished and replaced with a new high-rise commercial structure, also designed by Bates Smart.
Proposed North Sydney tower designed by Bates Smart.
Image: Bates Smart
When demolition was first proposed in 2020, the property was only listed on the local heritage register. A petition to save the tower from being razed ensued, which ultimately resulted in demolition being denied and the building being added to the state heritage register. Then, in 2022, the dispute was reignited when the state heritage listing was overturned and Investa Property Group submitted a new development application, which the NSW Land and Environment Court rejected in May 2023 – again sparing the building from the wrecking ball.
In the latest chapter of the saga, the NSW Environment and Heritage Minister, Penny Sharpe, announced, in December 2023, that the 14-storey tower would be replaced back on the state’s heritage register. But, according to Docomomo, the battle may not be over yet. The new Victoria Cross Metro Station is situated adjacent to the MLC building, and the NSW government intends to rezone land within 1.2 kilometres of metro stations to increase housing supply, which would effectively switch off heritage provisions within the area.
In September 2023, the proponents submitted a proposal to convert the building into 340 build-to-rent apartments.
