{{use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{use Australian English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox building | name = Culwulla Chambers | image = Sydney Tower sky.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Culwulla Chambers with the J.P. Morgan Building and Centre Point Tower in the background. | address = 67 Castlereagh Street | location_town = Sydney | location_country = Australia | coordinates = {{coord|33|52|09|S|151|12|33|E|region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title}} | completion_date = 1912 | opened_date = 1 April 1985 (As a legal firm) | architect = Spain, Cosh and Minnett | building_type = Commercial | architectural_style = Chicago-style | height = 50.25 metres | floor_count = 14 }} The '''Culwulla Chambers''' is a heritage listed building located at 67 Castlereagh Street in Sydney, Australia. Its situated in the Central Business District of Sydney. The building is colloquially named as Sydney's first skyscraper, though it is of masonry construction rather than steel frame typically associated with the term.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sydney's first skyscraper {{!}} State Library of New South Wales |url=https://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au/archive/discover_collections/society_art/temples/skyscraper.html |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=www2.sl.nsw.gov.au}}</ref> Upon construction it became Australia's tallest habitable building to roof, exceeding the height of Melbourne's Australian Building by a few metres (though that building's architectural spire remained another 2 metres taller).
The building was designed by Spain, Cosh and Minnett and built by R. Wall & Sons. It was completed in 1912 as an office building with ground floor retail.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Federated Builders' Association of Australia. | author2=Master Builders' Federation of Australia. | title= [title]| journal=Building | orig-year=1907 | volume=15 |issue=89 |date= 12 January 1915 | location=Sydney | publisher=Building Publishing Co. | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-300842446 | id=nla.obj-300842446 | access-date=11 April 2024 | via=Trove}}</ref><!---needs a page no.---> Its construction was partly financed by solicitor and future federal MP Walter Marks, who named it after his birthplace and family property, Culwalla Homestead.<ref>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography|last=Lloyd |first= C. J. |authorlink= |year=1986 |id=A100405b |title= Marks, Walter Moffitt (1875-1951) |accessdate=19 September 2007}}</ref> The design is a Federation Freestyle Palazzo.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
Upon its completion, it became Australia's tallest building, at {{cvt|178 |ft}}. It became the focal point for debate in Sydney regarding restrictions on building height. This led ultimately to the ''Height of Buildings Act 1912'' being passed, placing a moratorium on constructing new buildings taller than {{cvt|150|ft}}. This height restriction was subsequently removed in 1955.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Report on Oceania| first =Henry J. |last= Cowan|url=https://global.ctbuh.org/resources/papers/download/1679-a-report-on-oceania.pdf#page=2| p=735-737| date=2001| series=Conference proceedings, CTBUH 2001 6th World Congress, Melbourne| publisher = Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat }}</ref><ref name=adbspain>{{cite web |last=Spearritt |first=Peter |website=Australian Dictionary of Biography | title= Alfred Spain (1868–1954) |date= 1990 |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/spain-alfred-8594 |access-date=11 February 2026 |quote = This article was published: in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, 1990; online in 2006.}}</ref>
The building is for commercial purposes. Historically, it was primarily an office space, but currently{{when|date=February 2026}} it serves as a business space for numerous companies as well as professionals, mainly lawyers. There are{{when|date=February 2026}} 20 barristers operating in Culwulla Chambers practising in a variety of jurisdictions.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
Original plans are held by the Institute of Architects New South Wales.<ref>''Art and architecture : the journal of the Institute of Architects of New South Wales''., v.8, no.6, 1911-11-01, p.10 (ISSN: 1833-2722)</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Office buildings in Sydney Category:Chicago school architecture in Australia Category:Federation Free Style architecture in New South Wales Category:Art Nouveau architecture in Australia Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1912 Category:New South Wales State Heritage Register sites located in the Sydney central business district