A striking Brutalist apartment complex in The Rocks, designed by architect Tao Gofers to house displaced public tenants and now recognised as an enduring work of Australian architecture.
At a glance
The Sirius Building stands as the only high-rise residential development in The Rocks historic district. Completed in 1979, it accommodated 79 apartments across one to four bedrooms, serving as a response to inner-city housing displacement. The building exemplifies Brutalist design principles combined with striking repetitive geometries influenced by Japanese metabolism.
History
Designed for the Housing Commission of New South Wales between 1978 and 1979, the Sirius Building emerged from a contentious moment in Sydney’s urban history. The complex was constructed to rehouse residents displaced by controversial redevelopment of The Rocks during the 1960s and 70s. Architect Tao Gofers created a distinctive structure that balanced modernist ideology with practical social housing needs. From 2015, the building became the subject of intense debate over proposed removal of residents and site redevelopment. The NSW Government declined heritage listing in 2017, despite recommendations from the Heritage Council of New South Wales, leading to the building’s sale. In 2018, the Sirius Building received the Enduring Architecture Award from the NSW Australian Institute of Architects.
What you see
The building’s Brutalist vocabulary dominates its visual presence—bold concrete forms and repetitive geometric patterns create a sculptural profile uncommon in The Rocks’ historic streetscape. The complex accommodates diverse household sizes through a mix of single-storey apartments and two-to-three-storey walk-ups. Geometric repetition reflects engagement with Japanese metabolist principles, offering an architectural dialogue between Australian public housing and international modernist movements.
Cultural significance
Sirius represents a crucial episode in Australian postwar social housing and modernist design. Its prominence within The Rocks—where heritage conservation typically emphasises 19th-century colonial and Victorian buildings—demonstrates modernism’s contested place in heritage discourse. The building’s survival and award recognition underscore growing appreciation for late-20th-century Brutalism as worthy of preservation.
Key facts
- Country: Australia
- City: Sydney, New South Wales
- Designed: 1978–1979
- Architect: Tao Gofers (Housing Commission of New South Wales)
- Apartments: 79 units (one to four bedrooms)
- Coordinates: −33.8577, 151.2079
Practical information & getting there
The Sirius Building is located in The Rocks, a historic precinct within Sydney’s central business district. The neighbourhood is accessible by public transport and walking distance from Circular Quay. Exterior viewing is available to the public; interior access depends on current residential use and availability.
Sources & resources
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