Martin Place, Sydney

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Martin Place is a pedestrian mall in the business district of Sydney, Australia and is one of the most iconic public spaces in Australia. It runs between George Street and Macquarie Street, and has a railway station below street level. Other cross streets include Pitt Street, Castlereagh Street, Elizabeth Street and Phillips Street.

Made traffic-free in 1971, Martin Place is surrounded by many heritage buildings and features the 1927 World War I ANZAC Cenotaph, water fountain, entertainment area, railway access and pedestrian seating. It is very popular at lunchtime, often crowded with office workers and bicycle couriers.

Buildings on Martin Place include:

• The original Sydney General Post Office, now refurbished as a Westin hotel and Macquarie Bank office tower
• Commonwealth Bank historic building
• MLC & Colonial Building, also containing the Sydney newsdesk of the Seven Network, one of Australia's television networks. The studios are also used for the broadcast of the Sunrise breakfast program and the 2005 series of The Mole, both of which allow a live audience to watch the show through the window.

Martin Place often lures skateboarders, with its smooth ground, stairs and ledges used for skaters performing various tricks. The stage area, which is used for performances is known infamously to Sydneys skateboarders as 'The Pit', a large set of 4 stairs that is featured in many international skateboarding videos.

[edit] Media

The water fountain on Pitt Street was featured in the movie "The Matrix," where Neo is distracted by the Woman in Red. The fountain has been rebuilt since the film was made. Martin Place was also the location of the final fight between Neo and Agent Smith in "The Matrix Revolutions."

In 2006, Martin Place was also featured in the movie "Superman Returns," where Superman saves Kitty Kowalski from a car accident.

Martin Place and the bar Hotel Chambers (located on the Elizabeth Street corner) were prominently featured in the Australian telemovie Go Big.

Martin Place was also part of a roadblock in season 2 of The Amazing Race.