Treasury building, Sydney, Heritage government building in Sydney, Australia
The Treasury Building at the corner of Macquarie and Bridge Streets displays Victorian Neo-Classical architecture with Italian Palazzo influences, constructed from sandstone with detailed facades. The structure now houses the InterContinental Sydney Hotel and was fully restored to preserve its heritage features while introducing modern facilities for guests.
Construction began in 1849 and progressed through stages until 1919, with architects Mortimer Lewis, Edmund Blacket, Walter Liberty Vernon, and George McRae shaping its form. The site became significant when it hosted a major proclamation related to Australia's constitutional development, establishing its place in the nation's founding story.
The building shapes the streetscape at the Macquarie and Bridge Street intersection with its sandstone facades that frame the daily movement through this part of the city. It stands as a tangible reminder of how government institutions once displayed their importance through architecture that still commands attention today.
Access to the building is available through the public areas of the attached hotel, where visitors can view the architecture and explore the spaces. The best time to visit is during hotel business hours when the lobby and public areas remain open for guests to move through.
The building contains a fireproof Strong Room from the 1890s, revealing how architects thought about security when designing government structures. This hidden chamber shows the practical demands of protecting state finances during the early colonial period.
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