A feature of the MacArthur Chambers building (and once of all buildings that were owned by the AMP Society) is a three-figure statue above the portico entrance of the Queen Street façade of the building, sculptured in Sicilian marble by Fred Gowan,[4] representing: "Strength, Plenty, Production and Growth".
Below the statue is the Latinmotto of the AMP Society -
The original AMP Society Building in 1898 on the same site — photo taken from Edward StreetQueen Street façade
The MacArthur Chambers building was constructed between 1930 and 1934 and with the exception of the war years was the Queensland headquarters of the AMP Society, a mutual insurance corporation, until 1977 when that organisation moved to new premises in Creek Street. The AMP Society has subsequently demutualised, becoming a company known as AMP Limited.
The AMP Society's board room was on the eighth floor, which became the location of General Douglas MacArthur's office.[5] By military order tenants from the second to ninth floors were compulsorily evacuated for the Hiring Department of the Defence Forces.[5]
The current 10 storey MacArthur Chambers building replaced a smaller 3 storey building also owned by the AMP Society, which had been constructed in the 1890s.[4] It also featured the "trademark" AMP Society three figure statue. After the AMP Society vacated the building, which then became known as MacArthur Chambers, it continued to be leased for office accommodation, a boutique hotel, and small shops on the ground and basement floors.
Redevelopment
Edward Street façadeEdward Street façade
The MacArthur Chambers building and sites adjacent to the building, comprising an entire city block, were subsequently redeveloped in the late 1990s. Today the redeveloped shopping mall is called the MacArthur Central Shopping Centre, and is part of an apartment and commercial shopping complex that includes MacArthur Chambers, Woolworths Supermarket, Big W discount department store, approximately 40 specialty stores and a food court.
In 2006, the MacArthur Central Shopping Centre was part of one of the largest property swap transactions in Australian history, valued at $186 million.[6][7][8] A private investment company called Precision Group acquired the property from the Investa Property Group for $119.5 million by swapping an office building located in Brisbane at 160 Ann Street, valued at $66.5 million, and making a cash payment.[6][7][8]
During 2009-10 a $20 million upgrade to the MacArthur Central retail complex was planned and carried out, and the first full-line supermarket (Woolworths) in Brisbane’s CBD was opened in the centre.[9][10][11]
MacArthur Museum
MacArthur Chambers, Queen Street and Edward Street facades
The MacArthur Museum (to commemorate General MacArthur's association with Brisbane), was opened by members of the General Douglas MacArthur Brisbane Memorial Trust in 2004.[12] Visitors are able to visit General Douglas MacArthur's office. Also on display is movie footage of the Second World War and all the front pages of "The Courier-Mail" from September, 1939 to August, 1945. The entrance to both the Museum and the MacArthur Chambers Hotel are on Edward Street.
