In the heart of Sydney's central business district, Martin Place is a broad pedestrian plaza that runs for several blocks between George and Macquarie Streets, flanked by grand banking halls, the General Post Office and the towers of the financial sector. Originally a narrow street, it was progressively widened and finally closed to most traffic to create a public space that functions as the civic and commercial centre of the city. The plaza is home to the Cenotaph, a war memorial where Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services are held, and it has long been a stage for public life, from lunchtime concerts and rallies to Christmas celebrations with a large tree and light displays. The Victorian-era sandstone of the former GPO, with its clock tower and colonnade, anchors one end, while modern office towers and a railway station entrance frame the rest. By day Martin Place fills with office workers, buskers and shoppers, and it serves as a thoroughfare and meeting point as much as a destination in its own right. Television news studios overlook the plaza, and its central position has made it a natural gathering place at moments of celebration and mourning alike, giving it a significance beyond its everyday role as a place to pass through or pause for lunch. Ringed by cafes, food halls and shops and served directly by its own train station, the plaza is easy to reach and pleasant to linger in, with seating and seasonal markets. Heritage buildings sit alongside contemporary architecture, telling the story of the city's growth from a colonial port to a financial hub. For visitors it offers a window into working Sydney, a handsome piece of urban design and a calendar of public events that bring the space to life through the year. Over the years the plaza has been the setting for national moments of grief and celebration, with impromptu memorials and gatherings forming here in response to major events, underlining its role as a civic heart. Surrounded by heritage banks now partly converted to bars, hotels and restaurants, it also reflects the changing use of the city's grand commercial buildings, and its fountains, public art and seating make it a pleasant place to pause amid the bustle of the centre.

Type: Street

Address: Martin Place, Sydney, Australia