By ANNA USHER

North Sydney’s landmark MLC building could soon be reborn as a university campus, under a $354 million proposal to transform the heritage-listed site.

A State Significant Development Application (SSDA) by Investa Property Group is now on exhibition, outlining plans to adaptively reuse the historic tower at 105 Miller St to accommodate nearly 6,000 tertiary students and staff.

If approved, the project will deliver more than 48,000 square metres of gross floor area across new and existing structures. The plan includes restoring the site’s Miller Street wing and demolishing the Denison Street wing, which would be replaced with a 22-storey tower featuring educational spaces and ground-floor retail.

Built in 1957 by architects Bates, Smart, and McCutcheon, the post-war modernist structure was once the largest office building in the Southern Hemisphere. Its development into an education hub would mark a new chapter in the building’s storied history.

“The MLC Building North Sydney was constructed in an era where the decentralisation of cities was beginning and new buildings symbolised progression,” an Environmental Impact Statement submitted by Beam Planning says, “the proposed redevelopment acknowledges the building’s historical significance as an iconic architectural piece that has played a pivotal role in shaping the North Sydney we know today.”

Vacant since March 2022, Investa states the building is no longer suitable for commercial office use in its current form. Adaptive reuse, they say, will “preserve heritage characteristics” while ensuring the site is “fully appreciated and used”.

The project also includes 72 car spaces (including two accessible spots), 282 bicycle parking spaces and end-of-trip (EOT) facilities to support sustainable travel.

The EIS does not name a specific university partner, and Investa declined to comment further when approached by Mosman Collective.

North Sydney is already home to Australian Catholic University and Charles Sturt University, with Investa positioning the MLC site as a valuable addition to the area’s tertiary education landscape.

At the same time, they have also lodged a commercial redevelopment application (DA387/24), which is currently with the Council.

“Investa is exploring two options for 105 Miller Street that balance community, commercial and heritage considerations,” a spokesperson said.

“Both DAs are now under assessment by the respective authorities.”