7-9 Macquarie Place was Northbourne’s first major Sydney City office development and involved the amalgamation of a site previously occupied by several buildings, a road and historic Laneway. The 15 storey building was a stepped back design providing tenants with break out balconies at each floor level. Northbourne secured high quality tenants, becoming the regional headquarters in Australia for Union Bank of Switzland, the giant Swedish bank, Svenska Handelsbanken, Baring Bros, Mercantile & General with the ANZ Bank having a branch at the ground floor.
The fact that it was built at all is testimony to Northbourne’s skill in obtaining planning against insuperable odds. Macquarie Place represents one of the most historically significant urban spaces in Sydney and Australia as it was first established less than 25 years after the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. The Obelisk erected in 1818, the HMAS Sirius Anchor & Canon take centre stage in Macquarie Place Park immediately in front of Northbourne’s building.