The Sydney General Post Office was built in stages from between 1866 to 1891 and is the most notable work in the city by colonial architect James Barnet who was appointed in 1862.
At the time it was heralded as an iconic building which would project Sydney onto the world stage much as the Houses of Parliament at Westminster symbolise London or the Eiffel Tower, Paris.
Construction required the resumption of St Martins Lane for a block between Pitt and George Streets. At the opening of the first stage, the Post Master General, Francis Wright, declared the General Post Office 'will not be surpassed by any other similar structure in the Southern Hemisphere'.
The second stage however made slow progress and some adverse comment about the carved figures on the Pitt St and Martin Place facades attracted massive controversy.
Questions were asked in Parliament about the sculptures and a Select Committee was set up to decide whether they should be removed. Fortunately, the Parliamentary report recommending the sculptures be 'immediately removed' was ignored by the Post Master General and the 'offensive' carvings remain.
The Cenotaph is located directly in front of the GPO in Martin Place.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
City of Sydney Website
Sydney Architecture