Chief Secretary's Building
The Chief Secretary's Building (originally the Colonial Secretary's Building) is a heritage-listed state government administrative building of the Victorian Free Classical architectural style located at 121 Macquarie Street, 65 Bridge Street, and at 44–50 Phillip Street in the Sydney central business district of New South Wales, Australia. The ornate five-storey public building was designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and built in two stages, the first stages being levels one to four completed between 1873 and 1881, with Walter Liberty Vernon completing the second stage between 1894 and 1896 when the mansard at level five and the dome were added.
| Chief Secretary's building | |
|---|---|
The building as viewed from Bridge Street and Phillip Street | |
Chief Secretary's building Location in greater Sydney | |
| Former names | Colonial Secretary's building |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Government administration |
| Architectural style | |
| Address | 121 Macquarie Street, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°51′49″S 151°12′44″E |
| Current tenants | |
| Construction started | 1873 |
| Completed | 1886 |
| Opened | 1881 |
| Cost |
|
| Renovation cost | A$32 million (2005) |
| Client | Colonial Secretary of New South Wales |
| Owner | Government of New South Wales |
| Technical details | |
| Material |
|
| Floor count | 5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) |
|
| Architecture firm | Colonial Architect of New South Wales |
| Developer | Government of New South Wales |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect(s) | Government Architect's Office |
| Awards and prizes |
|
New South Wales Heritage Register | |
| Official name | Chief Secretary's Building; Colonial Secretary's Building |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Criteria | a., c., d., e., f. |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 766 |
| Type | Other – Government & Administration |
| Category | Government and Administration |
| References | |
The sandstone building was the seat of colonial administration, has been used continuously by the Government of New South Wales, and even today holds the office of the Governor of New South Wales. Its main occupant is the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales; several of the larger rooms are now courtrooms.
...(this) pile of a building like a veritable 'poem in stone' adorns the northern portion of Macquarie Street.
— Illustrated Sydney News, 28 February 1891