NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Alternative scheme for the Westpac Place site (1999)

Source: Skelsey, M. "City block bulldozed for units". The Daily Telegraph, March 10: 5.

The block bounded by Kent, Erskine, Napoleon and Sussex Streets (KENS) is home to Westpac Place, which is regarded as one of Sydney's largest buildings in terms of office space (also in terms of space per floor).

Twenty years ago, there was a scheme for the site that involved the construction of three 80 metre apartment towers which caused tremendous controversy for Sydney City Council. The council refused to approve the scheme because the towers were too close to each other, but were willing to approve the scheme if one tower was removed.

Developer Multistar took this to the Land and Environment Court and won approval.

Even the tower we see today had its difficulties in gaining approval - bulk, height and wind tunnel concerns were problems, but construction began in 2003 and was officially opened in 2006.

Fast forward a decade and a half and the Barangaroo development makes the building appear small.

Source: Skelsey, M. 2001. CBD tower's glaring faults: Authority warns of problems. The Daily Telegraph, July 4: 14.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Original Wales Bank Scheme (1964)

At the eastern end of Martin Place and directly opposite to the headquarters of the Reserve Bank of Australia is the Westpac Building.

Today I will share a clipping relating to the evolution of the building that occupies the site.

In 1964, a 20 level building was proposed, which would have been according to The Sydney Morning Herald as about the same height as the Reserve Bank Building directly opposite. It would have been a "giant" for Sydney but today would be a "dwarf" against the 70 and 80 levels that some Sydney towers are or will be.

Source: Anonymous. 1964. "Office Giant for City." The Sydney Morning Herald, November 6: 3. 

However, in 1967, we saw the conception of the eventual design. The tower would end up being 30 levels or 119 metres tall.

Source: Anonymous. 1967. "381ft over Martin Place". The Daily Telegraph, December 8: 9. 

It was completed in 1970 and would be the headquarters for the Wales Bank (rebranded Westpac) until 2006 when it relocated its headquarters to in Kent Street.

The tower as seen from Sydney Tower. Photograph taken by the Author. 

The building has been upgraded since. The podium was enlarged. Westpac still has offices in the complex. However, a development application has been lodged with Sydney City Council to demolish the structure and replace it with a taller tower. Hassall has designed a 35 storey (139 metre) tower. The tower would also overhang St Stephens Uniting Church, though the plans have been criticised by those associated by the Church.

The proposed tower to replace the existing Westpac Building. Sourced from the Skyscrapercity Forums.