Reserve Bank, Central bank headquarters in Martin Place, Sydney, Australia

The Reserve Bank of Australia Building at 65 Martin Place, Sydney, is a tall rectangular tower with a grid of vertical white concrete fins and dark glass windows on its two visible faces. The narrower side has closely spaced horizontal white bands. Below the grid, a base section features wide dark glass windows set in horizontal white bands, topped by a projecting horizontal white canopy supported by thick white vertical columns. Designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works in 1959 and completed in 1964, it was built to accommodate more than 1,850 people at a cost of 10 million dollars.

The building opened in 1964, when the Reserve Bank of Australia took over monetary policy responsibilities from the Commonwealth Bank. This separation created an independent institution to guide the country's financial direction.

The museum inside shows how Australian money has changed over time, from the colonial period through to today's plastic notes. You can see the different designs and learn why the country switched to decimal currency.

The museum inside is open on weekdays, and security screening is required when entering the building from Martin Place. Arriving earlier in the day tends to make the visit smoother, as the entrance can get busier later on.

The museum holds a collection of Australian coins and banknotes spanning from the colonial period to the present day, including rare pre-decimal pieces. Australia was the first country to introduce polymer banknotes on a wide scale, and examples of the earliest versions are on display here.