Westpac Place
Westpac Place (commonly referred to as the Palace as it is Westpac's premier working environment above all others) is a commercial skyscraper located in the north-western corridor of the Sydney central business district, Australia. The building is fully leased to Westpac until 2029, and is the bank's Australian headquarters.
The building was built for the Westpac Office Trust, being included in the sale of the trust to Mirvac in 2010. In July 2014, Mirvac sold a 50% share in the building to Blackstone Real Esate Asia.
Opening
Westpac Place was officially opened by Prime Minister John Howard on 4 August 2006, marking the completion of the project developed by Leighton Properties.
Architecture
The architectural roof feature on top of Westpac Place has become a major part of the Sydney city skyline. This feature incorporates a weather beacon barometer, and is a key component of the overall composition of the project. It was also a principal element of Johnson Pilton Walker's Design Excellence competition winning design for the site in 2001. The barometer is a particular response to 'place', and alludes to the maritime history of the precinct. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the site was at the harbour's edge, being the heart of Sydney's maritime trade, and was the principal trade route into the city centre.
