As of December 2018[update] the anchor tenant was Norton Rose Fulbright, formerly Henry Davis York, an international law firm.

Major insurance companies were formed in Victorian Australia, often with British assets, to cover the problems of world trade, internal communication, retirement and the constant hazard of fire.

[1] During 1936 the Mutual Life and Citizen's Assurance Society held a two stage competition for the design of its new building to be erected on the site.

Bates Smart & McCutcheon were a distinguished Melbourne-based firm since 1926, although the experience of the principals went back to the nineteenth century.

The building's architect Osborn McCutcheon was a man who garnered national respect from his peers, his work was recognised by the award of the RAIA Gold Medal in 1965 and he was knighted in 1966.

A relief sculpture on the prominent tower above the corner of Martin Place and Castlereagh Street depicting the company's logo "Strength in Unity" a man attempting unsuccessfully to break up a bundle of rods.

"Princes' Restaurant (now demolished) occupied the basement level while the sub-basement accommodated air conditioning plant and other services.

The main assurance chamber on the ground floor of rare scale and high quality finishes survives in substantially intact condition.

[1] It is a major pre-war example of the work of Bates, Smart & McCutcheon, a noted 20th century Australian firm of architects.

Its quality of design and use of materials make it one of the principal contributors to the architectural character of Martin Place which is recognised as one of Sydney's finest urban spaces.

It is associated with the well known Melbourne architects Bates, Smart & McCutcheon, and as the winner of a design competition, reflects the architectural taste of the period.

The MLC Building is a major pre-war example of the work of Bates, Smart & McCutcheon, a noted 20th century Australian firm of architects.

The buildings designer, Osborn McCutcheon's contribution to Australian architecture was recognised in 1965 by the award of the RAIA Gold Medal and he was knighted in 1966.

[1] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

The building contains rare examples of early porcelain enamel finished fluted steel spandrels beneath the windows.

Its quality of design and use of materials make it one of the principal contributors to the architectural character of Martin Place which is recognised as one of Sydney's finest urban spaces.

[1] The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

[1] The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The building contains rare examples of early porcelain enamel finished fluted steel spandrels beneath the windows.

Its quality of design and use of materials make it one of the principal contributors to the architectural character of Martin Place which is recognised as one of Sydney's finest urban spaces.

It contains a substantially intact suite of late 1930s commercial executive rooms, including the lift lobby, ante-room and boardroom, which is the largest and most formal of its type surviving in Sydney (the finishes of some of these spaces have been dismantled and stored.