MLC Building

The Mutual Life & Citizens building located at 38-46 Martin Place in the Sydney CBD is now known as the Henry David York building. It was also known as the Minter Ellison building.

The Mutual Life & Citizens building is aesthetically significant as one of the best Inter-War commercial office buildings in Sydney. It is also the best example in Australia of the exterior use of Egyptian-derived motifs in such buildings.

The building was designed by Bates Smart & McCutcheon and built from 1936 - 1938.

MLC tower detail

THe tower has sculptures with ancient Egyptian motifs and influences and were designed by A & K Henderson.

Main entrance

The carved relief panel above the front entrance proclaims "UNION IS STRENGTH". A thought provoking image.

Foyer area


Sources:

  • Sydney Heritage Listings

Comments

  1. Wow I hadnt seen the lobby before - fantastic ! Always thought the Melbourne one was much the same as this one but while ours, also completed in 1938, had the same general lines and tower with matching 'MLC man' sculpture, it didnt have all those Egyptian flourishes ! Bates Smart & McCutcheon had fun there. The Melbourne one was by A & K Henderson, a more traditional firm, so a more sober result. Be interesting to know who designed the major outline that BSM then played with. Interesting that both were Melbourne firms.

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    Replies
    1. My father was Claims Manager for MLC in the 1960s and 1970s. When I was a child we visited regularly. His office was at the end of the entry corridor. I recall the art deco detailing around the lifts, but have no memory of the Egyptian columns or the massive light sconces. I feel that these are embellishments associated with more recent renovations of the building. I would be pleased to be proven wrong.

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