Reserve Bank of Australia, Historical cultural heritage site in Canberra, Australia

The Reserve Bank of Australia is a modernist building at London Circuit featuring marble, timber, glass, and concrete across its multi-floor structure. The material choices and spatial organization reflect a thoughtful architectural language that combines function with visual quality.

The building was designed by Howlett and Bailey and constructed between 1963 and 1965, later receiving heritage recognition for its architectural importance. This acknowledgment reflects its significance as a testament to mid-20th century construction practices in Australia.

The copper artwork high on the southern wall of the banking chamber was sculpted by Margo Lewers in 1965 to a design by Gerald Lewers; it was long untitled and is now called 'Four Pieces'. A free-standing aluminium and fibreglass figure by Donald Brook, also untitled, stood in the roof garden from 1965 until the atrium became offices; it is now held by the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery.

The building stands at 20-22 London Circuit in the legal precinct near University Avenue, with all elevations treated as equally important and the banking chamber on the ground floor. The competition brief required a copper roof, air conditioning and heating on smokeless fuel, and no underground accommodation. The strong room has walls, floor and roof 0.76 metres thick.

The building maintains visual connections with the adjacent courts and contributes to the architectural unity of Canberra's legal district. This relationship shows a deliberate urban planning strategy that links different government buildings through visual and spatial harmony.