Sydney's Martin Place

Martin Place is one of Sydney's iconic urban places. Since the 1890s it has fulfilled a vital role as a significant public space at the centre of Australia's most populous city; in the heart of the central business district, its powerful corporate presence now defines a globally connected city.


It is a place of varied moods and attributes: vista and fine relief, boldness and intimacy, new and old, repose and dynamism. From the beginning, its physical form has framed a people place, the character of which is ever-changing through everyday use and activity as well as moments of commemoration, celebration and protest.


This collection captures Martin Place from all angles-its architectural and social history, its changing landscape, and its various economic and cultural functions-along with the people and organisations that have made it their own.


'This book describes the history of the creation and evolution of Martin Place as a vital part of our civic life - in times of war, at times of celebration and as a heart of our city's banking and finance industry. The ever-unfolding changes to the fabric of Martin Place and the imposing and stately buildings that flank it are a testament to how our constantly changing city is ever-evolving to adapt to and to grasp the potential of an ever-changing future.' - Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO