Rural Bank Building, Martin Place
| Rural Bank Building | |
|---|---|
Original sketch of the building, prepared by Russell Roberts Studios (1934). | |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial office building |
| Architectural style | Inter-War Art Deco |
| Address | 52 Martin Place |
| Town or city | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Construction started | 20 August 1934 (Excavation) 19 December 1935 (Foundation) |
| Completed | 15 December 1936 |
| Demolished | January 1983 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 45.72 m (150.0 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Frank Turner |
| Architecture firm | Rural Bank of New South Wales |
| Developer | Rural Bank of New South Wales |
| Main contractor | A Bradshaw Limited (Foundations) Hutcherson Bros (Main Works) |
| Official name | Rural Bank of New South Wales; Former Rural Bank |
| Designated | 18 August 1982 |
| Delisted | 11 August 1987 |
| Part of | Martin Place – GPO Precinct |
The Rural Bank Building was a landmark bank and commercial building on a block bounded by Martin Place, Elizabeth Street and Phillip Street in the Sydney central business district, Australia. Completed in 1936 and designed in the Inter-war Art Deco style by the bank's chief architect, Frank William Turner, the building served as the Rural Bank's main headquarters until 1982. Despite its distinctive design receiving recognition for its heritage value as "one of the finest art deco buildings in Australia", including from the Australian Institute of Architects and through a listing on the Federal Register of the National Estate, the Rural Bank Building was controversially demolished in 1983 and replaced by the postmodern State Bank Centre development by Peddle Thorp & Walker, prompting greater community efforts to protect the heritage of Sydney.