Alrighty, you're approaching the towering 25 Martin Place, which will be on your left. To spot it, look for a stark white, modernist skyscraper that looks like a colossal tiered cake standing on thin yet mighty columns. Oh, and if you see what looks like a giant spaceship landed atop a few stilts at the base, you're in the right place!
25 Martin Place, formerly and often still called the MLC Centre, is one of the quintessential skyscrapers in Sydney. Designed by architect Harry Seidler, this massive structure stands at 228 metres (748 feet) tall with 67 storeys. It’s a bit like Sydney’s own white exclamation point! The building was originally named after MLC Limited but got a rebrand in 2021 to its street address, thanks to its owner, Dexus.
The construction of this giant was a little controversial back in its day. You see, it replaced some significant landmarks, including the famed Australia Hotel, the Theatre Royal, and the Commercial Travellers Club building. But it’s now a proud award-winner, having snagged the Sir John Sulman Medal from the Australian Institute of Architects.
Known for its octagonal floor plan and eight tapering load-bearing columns in the corners, 25 Martin Place was among the tallest buildings in the world outside North America at the time of its completion. It was the tallest office building in Sydney from 1977 to 1992 and held the title of Australia’s tallest until the Rialto Towers in Melbourne took over in 1986.
Inside, you’ll find a shopping centre and the Theatre Royal, a 1,186-seat theatre. Quite the multi-tasker, huh? The building even had its moment of fame, featuring as the headquarters of the fictitious "Harper Mining" in the glamorous 1980s soap opera Return to Eden and in the Australian TV drama Police Rescue.
So, as you stand here gazing up at this iconic structure, you’re actually looking at a piece of Sydney's architectural and pop culture history!
For further insights on the design and construction, location and features or the in popular culture, feel free to navigate to the chat section below and inquire.
