Macquarie Street, Sydney
Encyclopedia
Macquarie Street is the easternmost street of Sydney
's central business district
. Macquarie Street extends from Hyde Park
at its southern end to the Sydney Opera House
at its north.
, an early Governor of New South Wales
(1810–1821), and was designed as a ceremonial thoroughfare. Macquarie initiated the construction of Sydney's first public buildings of any real permanence and set the boundaries of Sydney's grid of streets. It became the colony's preeminent residential address.
Macquarie Street is the location of Sydney Hospital
, the Hyde Park Barracks
and St. James Church
, which were all Macquarie projects.
Macquarie Street was widely known as the Harley Street
of Sydney from the late 19th century until recent decades. The Royal Australian College of Physicians Building at 145 Macquarie Street was the Georgian residence of John Fairfax
until 1848. The British Medical Association's 1920s BMA House at 135-137 Macquarie St still houses medical chambers and lecture hall.
Today, Macquarie Street is also the location of Parliament House
, the State Library of New South Wales
, Sydney Mint
and the Reserve Bank of Australia
. Part of the street is adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens
, which is the location of Government House
and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
.
At the northern end of Macquarie Street is a group of buildings including an apartment block known as "The Toaster Building
". "Arguably the most universally disliked development in decades", it also includes offices, restaurants, a hotel and cinema.
Between 61 Macquarie Street the heritage sandstone Moore Stairs (1868) lead down to East Circular Quay.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. Macquarie Street extends from Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Sydney
Hyde Park is a large park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Hyde Park is on the eastern side of the Sydney central business district. It is the southernmost of a chain of parkland that extends north to the shore of Port Jackson . It is approximately rectangular in shape, being squared at the...
at its southern end to the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
at its north.
Description
Macquarie Street is named after Lachlan MacquarieLachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
, an early Governor of New South Wales
Governors of New South Wales
The Governor of New South Wales is the state viceregal representative of the Australian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who is equally shared with 15 other sovereign nations in a form of personal union, as well as with the eleven other jurisdictions of Australia, and resides predominantly in her...
(1810–1821), and was designed as a ceremonial thoroughfare. Macquarie initiated the construction of Sydney's first public buildings of any real permanence and set the boundaries of Sydney's grid of streets. It became the colony's preeminent residential address.
Macquarie Street is the location of Sydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital is a major hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Macquarie Street in the Sydney central business district. It is the oldest hospital in Australia, dating back to 1788, and has been at its current location since 1811. It first received the name Sydney Hospital in 1881.Currently...
, the Hyde Park Barracks
Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney
The Hyde Park Barracks is an internationally significant, impressive brick building and compound designed by convict architect Francis Greenway between 1818–19; originally built at the head of Macquarie Street to house convict men and boys....
and St. James Church
St. James Church, Sydney
St James' Church is an Anglican church in King Street in Sydney, Australia. Consecrated on 11 February 1824, the church was designed by the transported convict architect Francis Greenway during the governorship of Lachlan Macquarie, and is part of the historical precinct of Macquarie Street...
, which were all Macquarie projects.
Macquarie Street was widely known as the Harley Street
Harley Street
Harley Street is a street in the City of Westminster in London, England which has been noted since the 19th century for its large number of private specialists in medicine and surgery.- Overview :...
of Sydney from the late 19th century until recent decades. The Royal Australian College of Physicians Building at 145 Macquarie Street was the Georgian residence of John Fairfax
John Fairfax
John Fairfax , English-born journalist, is notable for the incorporation of the major newspapers of modern day Australia.-Early life:...
until 1848. The British Medical Association's 1920s BMA House at 135-137 Macquarie St still houses medical chambers and lecture hall.
Today, Macquarie Street is also the location of Parliament House
Parliament House, Sydney
Parliament House in Sydney is a complex of buildings housing the Parliament of New South Wales, a state of Australia. It is located on the east side of Macquarie Street in Sydney, the state capital. The facade consists of a two storey Georgian building, the oldest public building in the City of...
, the State Library of New South Wales
State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Macquarie Street, Sydney near Shakespeare Place...
, Sydney Mint
Sydney Mint
The Sydney Mint in Sydney, Australia, is the oldest public building in the Sydney Central Business District. Built between 1811 and 1816 as the southern wing of the Sydney Hospital, it was then known as the Rum Hospital. In 1854 a mint was established on the site with the hospital building used...
and the Reserve Bank of Australia
Reserve Bank of Australia
The Reserve Bank of Australia came into being on 14 January 1960 as Australia's central bank and banknote issuing authority, when the Reserve Bank Act 1959 removed the central banking functions from the Commonwealth Bank to it....
. Part of the street is adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, are the most central of the three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney....
, which is the location of Government House
Government House, Sydney
Government House is located in Sydney, Australia alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens, overlooking Sydney Harbour, just south of the Sydney Opera House...
and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
.
At the northern end of Macquarie Street is a group of buildings including an apartment block known as "The Toaster Building
The Toaster Building
The Bennelong Apartments, otherwise known colloquially as the "Toaster building", is a controversial residential apartment building in Sydney's Circular Quay. It was part of a development designed by Andrew Andersons and PTW Architects, known as Bennelong Apartments which was completed in 1998...
". "Arguably the most universally disliked development in decades", it also includes offices, restaurants, a hotel and cinema.
Between 61 Macquarie Street the heritage sandstone Moore Stairs (1868) lead down to East Circular Quay.