50 Martin Place was built by and for the Government Savings Bank of NSW. In 1984, the Commonwealth Bank decided to make 50 Martin Place its head office, sparking a major refurbishment beginning in January 1985.

In 2012, Macquarie Group acquired 50 Martin Place as the new location for its global headquarters, reinvigorating the building to reflect the company’s contemporary philosophy around workplaces while respecting the heritage of the building and the land on which it was built. The restoration included the preservation of the building’s heritage features, upgrading the infrastructure to create a six Green Star building, enhancing the building by widening the atrium to allow more natural light to permeate, and adding an elegant domed roof and circular glass lifts. Winning multiple awards, the design sought a balance between the building’s past and present to create an office that supports the company’s future, especially as it is now integrated with the new 1 Elizabeth building to create a single campus for all Sydney-based staff.