Saturday 30 April 2016

Property Advert of the Week: Vivere Apartments, Surry Hills (1998)

Our Property Advert of the Week is from 1998 for the Vivere Apartment complex in Campbell Street, Surry Hills.  

Vivere Apartments Surry Hills SMH May 2 1998 22RE

Source: Winten Project Marketing. 1998. "vivere apartments" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 22RE (Real Estate Liftout). 

Monday 25 April 2016

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: What Concord Oval might have been!!! (1987)

I was a toddler when these plans for Concord Oval came out, in 1987 but to discover this about a year ago really impressed me. I had heard over the years especially in the 1990's plans to enlarge it, but this has never happened. 

But the question I might have to ask myself is why the Australian Rugby Union felt the need to build its own purpose-built stadium when Sydney was getting a 45 000 seat football stadium that could accommodate them along with Rugby League and Soccer. The three sports co-exist at Moore Park very well and every weekend has seen one (if not two codes) make use of the ground. 

It was probably about prestige and the fact that maybe one huge 45 000 seat rectangular stadium for Sydney was not enough. The idea of an Olympic Stadium or an ever bigger stadium was yet to emerge. 



Source: Australian Rugby Union. 1987. "Rugby Union announces plans for 39, 800 seat stadium at Concord" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 11: 12.

It was the Sydney Football Stadium and Stadium Australia (ANZ Stadium) that killed off the plans ultimately. Apart from the facilities that the stadiums offer, Concord Oval is surrounded by homes which make expansion difficult along with access to transport. Parramatta Road which runs along the southern side is Sydney's busiest road. The major stadiums offer better transport options. Stadium Australia is serviced by rail at Olympic Park while the Sydney Football Stadium is served by buses and not far from the Sydney CBD. Stadium Australia is only about five kilometres away as well, and double the size of what Concord Oval might have been.

Canada Bay Council, recently expressed its desire to see the venue get a decent upgrade with the hope of attracting some major events like NRL or A-League games. However that will be hard to pursue as the NSW Government injects over $1 billion into ANZ and the Football Stadium along with Parramatta Stadium. Suburban Grounds will still get some funding as part of the plans with a dollar for dollar deal.




Saturday 23 April 2016

Property Advert of the Week: The Edinburgh by Stuart Homes (1967)

In 1967, Stuart Homes offered the Edinburgh which was about maximising the space and yet leave a covered area for the inevitable second car.

  Stuart Homes Ad May 6 1967 daily telegraph 30

Note: Advertising in pounds, shillings and pence was permitted in 1967 as part of a two year transition to decimal currency from 1966.  

Source: Stuart Homes. 1967. 'The "Edinburgh' (Advertisement).The Daily Telegraph, May 6: 30.

Monday 18 April 2016

1992: Leichhardt Council Vs The State Government on local development.

Those on the Balmain Peninsula have been critical in plans to redevelop the former wharves at Glebe Island and surrounds along with plans to redevelop the site of the Balmain Leagues Club at Rozelle. In 1992, locals had lost the battle for medium and high-density housing to be built at five sites in the area, which were former industrial sites.

  

Source: Scott, S. 1992. "Council loses fight over housing plan". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, February 22:2. 

By the end of the decade, the sites were redeveloped into highrise residential estates like the former Balmain Power Station, which become Balmain Shores.



Above: Balmain Shores. Photos were taken by the Author.

The Colgate Palmolive Factory buildings were spared the bulldozer, along with three of the original buildings at the Lever Brothers Site.

However, the scale of the development has to be put into question. It is the density and scale of the buildings. I find the buildings to be too close to each other. You might be better off making them taller and slimmer, but locals would object to that. With highrise buildings, sometimes it is better to increase the height of the building and cut on the bulk. That might have worked. Otherwise, I would have suggested a scaling back. However, it seems that everyone in Sydney wants their piece of harbourside land and yet have become desirable places to live.

Locals did have a victory of some sort. The Caltex Site at Ballast Point was bought by the State Government in 2002 for $16 million and was converted into a public park.

Saturday 16 April 2016

Property Advert of the Week: Santa Rosa, Potts Point (1998)

In 1998, just $142 000 could land you an apartment in Macleay Street, Potts Point. 

Santa Rosa Potts Point Ad SMH May 2 1998 22RE

Source: Bay Developments. 1998. "Santa Rosa Potts Point" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 22 (Real Estate Liftout). 

Monday 11 April 2016

1966: The (new) Roseville Bridge Opens

This month marks a milestone for a Sydney bridge - The Roseville Bridge. It was officially opened on April 2, 1966, by NSW Premier Sir Robert Askin.



Source: Anon. 1966. "New Bridge to North:  6-lane link". The Sunday Telegraph, April 3: 7.

It was built to replace the original low level, single lane bridge which had opened to traffic in 1924. The original bridge would not be demolished until 1974, though there were calls to preserve the bridge for historical purposes.

The new bridge was six lanes wide, spanned 377 metres and was supported by six pylons.

It would allow for further development of the Northern Beaches, particularly Forestville, Frenchs Forest & Belrose, but also would open another route for commuters to travel into Sydney from the north and avoid the congestion around the Spit Bridge.

Saturday 9 April 2016

Property Advert of the Week: Princeton, Sydney (1995)

Here is another classic advertisement from Meriton Apartments in 1995- This time for Princeton in Pitt Street, almost directly opposite the art-deco Water Board Building.

Princeton June 24 1995 SMH 87

Source: Meriton Premier Apartments. 1995. "Princeton" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 87.

Monday 4 April 2016

1966: Sydney's Opera House tops out

Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be fifty years to the day since the Sydney Opera House topped out when the final section of the tallest sail of the Opera House roof was fitted and bolted into place. It was anticipated that the Opera House would be ready within a year of the photo being taken
but was not completed until 1973.




Source: Anon. 1966. "Top Note on the Opera House." The Daily Telegraph, April 6: 5.  

Saturday 2 April 2016

Property Advert of the Week: Sydney Mansion, Surry Hills (1998)

In 1998, $215 000 bought you a one bedroom apartment in the Sydney Mansion complex in Surry Hills.

Sydney Mansion SMH May 2 1998 21RE

Source: McGrath Partners &  Jones Lang Wooton. 1998. "The Dream Comes to Life... Sydney Mansion Now Under Construction".  The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 21 (Real Estate Liftout).