He joined his mother and sister at number 138, and was still living here when his first poem, A Song of the Republic, was published by The Bulletin on 1 October 1887.

Located along Phillip Street are a number of office buildings, including the premises of a large portion of Sydney's legal profession, as well as the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Federal Court of Australia, High Court of Australia and St. James campus of the Sydney Law School.

Other prominent buildings along the street include Aurora Place, Chifley Tower, and Deutsche Bank Place, Commonwealth Parliament Offices, Sydney and the headquarters of the Reserve Bank of Australia, as well as St James' Church.

[2] A variety of cafés and restaurants located along the street service these institutions.

Railway stations located on or near Phillip Street include St James, Martin Place, and Circular Quay.