| Historical notes: | The development of a new headquarters building for the Australian Provincial Assurance Association Ltd in Martin Place was intrinsically connected to the development of Martin Place itself. When on April 8, 1936, the extension of Martin Place to Macquarie Street was opened, a series of development sites along each side of the new thoroughfare were made available by the Sydney Municipal Council. The first two sites sold were those between Elizabeth Street and Phillip Street. The northern block was sold to the Rural Bank of NSW and the southern block was purchased by the Australian Provincial Assurance Company Ltd on May 23, 1935, for the sum of 83,000 pounds.
David W. King, a young architect, was appointed to prepare a design for the project and to oversee the construction. The brief was to erect premises to the full building height, and to design in conformity with that of the surrounding buildings.
The contract was let to builders Kell and Rigby following the calling of tenders in February 1936 and construction began in early June 1936, subsequent to five months of preliminary work and excavation.
The structural systems selected for the project was that in common use at that time, a structural steel frame with reinforced concrete floor slabs and concrete encasement to the steel work. This composite systems allowed for extremely rapid construction of the superstructure and work on the steel frame commenced on June 3rd 1936 and was completed on September 17th, a period of fifteen weeks.
The building was opened in May 1937 and was considered successful by the press of the period. The first tenant was of course, the Australian Provincial Assurance Association who occupied the ground floor, three quarters of the first floor and all of the basement, but other floors were taken by the legal firm of Allen, Allen and Hemsley, by a government department and several smaller organisations, including the architectural practice of David King himself. The lower ground floor was occupied for many years by a quality restaurant (Cahill's) with direct access from Elizabeth Street via steps.
With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, many of the tenants, including the APA, relocated to other premises and the Department of Manpower and Industry effectively took over the building. Exceptions to this move were the practices of both Allen, Allen and Hemsly , and David W. King. It was during this period that the western half of the twelfth floor was completed. This level had previously been completed at the eastern end only, due to the 150 foot high limit affecting the building differentially in regard to the change of level between Elizabeth and Phillip Streets. The eastern end had been used as a caretaker's flat, with the western half utilised as a roof garden.
After 1945 the APA resumed occupation of the building and were to remain in residence until 1989.
In 1987 the APA which was undergoing restructuring finally sold the building to Noden Pty Ltd.
In August 1989 the building was sold to the Charter Property Group. (Romey 1990:2-4)
In December 2014 the Lindt Chocolate Cafe on the ground floor of the Phillip Street frontage was the scene of a siege on 15-16 December 2014, when a lone gunman held staff and customers as hostages. The siege resulted in the death of two hostages, Mr Tori Johnson and Ms Katrina Dawson, and also the death of the gunman Man Haron Monis. After the siege, memorial flower bouquets filled nearby areas of Martin Place and many Sydneysiders came to Martin Place to mourn and reflect. Subsequent memorial services were held in the city at the nearby St Mary's Cathedral and St James' Church, and condolence books were set up in other Lindt cafes. |
