Rural Bank Building, Martin Place

The Rural Bank Building, completed in 1936 and designed by architect Frank William Turner in the Inter-war Art Deco style, was a prominent commercial building in Sydney's central business district. Serving as the headquarters for the Rural Bank of New South Wales until 1982, it was celebrated for its architectural significance and heritage value, recognized as one of Australia's finest Art Deco structures. Despite community efforts to preserve it, the building was controversially demolished in 1983 to make way for the State Bank Centre, sparking a movement to protect Sydney's architectural heritage. The building featured unique design elements, including ram's head plaques symbolizing the wool industry, and utilized predominantly Australian materials in its construction.