Dear Members and Friends,
Thank you for all the messages we have received noting your advocacy for the MLC Building at North Sydney. The ongoing voice of the public that the effective demolition of this building is not acceptable is very important. There is more to do!
IDA Approval granted to effectively demolish the Former MLC Building North Sydney
The North Sydney Planning Panel has now approved the application for commercial use that effectively demolishes the State Heritage Register-listed building. The Integrated Development Application (IDA) had been lodged with Council to demolish the east wing of the building, demolish the central core of the building that linked the east and west wings, demolish all the facades of the west wing and remove the former upper ground floor level of the west wing to create a high entry level lobby to the remnant building.
The project had been lodged as an adaptive re-use of the building and was approved by the Heritage Council of NSW in its 14 July 2025 meeting, despite noting in the minutes that “the proposal could be considered as full demolition which cannot be approved under the Heritage Act” and “concerns were re-iterated about the lack of input from a heritage architect and a specialist heritage structural engineer noting that the involvement of such specialist may have resulted in an approach which may have achieved the retention of a greater level of fabric.”
Despite these important and pertinent misgivings, the proposal was approved with the Chair casting her deciding vote in favour of the proposal. Docomomo Australia is most concerned about this as the decision appears to be in breach of the Heritage Act because the approval of a proposal effectively demolishes the building with the exception of the columns and most of the floor plates of only the west wing. The building’s distinctive curtain wall and end tiled walls were approved for demolition.
What to do now:
Please write to the people below noting your concern that in approving the effective demolition of a state listed item the Heritage Council of NSW has acted in breach of the Heritage Act and calling for a full enquiry.
Tim Smith- Director Assessments, Heritage NSW
heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au
Sally Barnes- Chair Heritage Council NSW,
heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au
Penny Sharp, Minister for Heritage –
contact form on webpage
SDD: New University Campus, 105-153 Miller Street, North Sydney (SSD-83956216)
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/new-university-campus
More importantly there is also a State Significant Development application currently underway to convert the MLC Building North Sydney into a new university campus.
Whilst the commercial use IDA was being assessed by North Sydney Council another application was made to the NSW Government, using the State Significant Development pathway, for an educational conversion of the building. The impact on the fabric of the building was identical to the commercial use project and much of the documentation submitted for the SSD application was identical to the commercial use DA to North Sydney Council. Docomomo Australia made a similar submission of objection to the Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure regarding this SSD proposal.
The Heritage NSW also provided publicly available comments requiring major changes to the application to avoid significant heritage impacts. The response form Heritage NSW noted:
“..the SSD would involve the demolition of more than 90 percent of the Miller Street Wing. The works would also significantly alter the architectural design of the exterior of the Miller St Wing. Whereas the Heritage Council supports the adaptive reuse and ongoing viability of the Miller Street Wing, the cumulative impacts of the proposed works are of concern. We continue to advise that the retention and conservation of significant spaces and fabric should be prioritised.”
Additional changes were also required by the State Design Review Panel and North Sydney Council.
The SSD is currently in the Response to Submissions phase until October 31st.
It is essential to put pressure on the Department of Planning to demand the SSD is not approved in its current form.
Please write to the following people noting the community’s expectation that the state significant MLC Building will be preserved and only sympathetic redevelopment options are acceptable.
Re: State Heritage Register item MLC Building North Sydney (former) (SHR 02069) and SSD-83956216 determination:
David Gibson- Delegate for the Planning Secretary
david.gibson@planning.nsw.gov.au
David Gainsford – Deputy Secretary for Development Assessment and Sustainability
david.gainsford@planning.nsw.gov.au
Megan Fu- Planning Officer Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
megan.fu@planning.nsw.gov.au
CC Tim Smith, Delegate for Heritage Council NSW
heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au
CC Sally Barnes, Chair Heritage Council NSW
heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au
Your continued focus on this is very important, in particular prior to the application being determined.
Thank you