Monday 28 December 2020

New Years Eve 25 Years ago: 1995


Source: Anon. 1995. "1995 Sydney Skyshow" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph Mirror, December 30:18. 

On Thursday evening, we will mark the end of 2020 and usher in 2021. Due to COVID-19, celebrations have been scaled back and it will be ticketed access only to major viewing sites to allow for social distancing between attendees.

It will be interesting how we will look at this in 25 years from now which is a long way off in the future. Instead of focusing on now or how I may present this years festivities in the future, lets rewind back to 1995 and look at how Sydney welcomed 1996. 

Like 2020, there were challenges and actually threatened the night itself.

Staging an event costs money. The major sponsors from the previous years had pulled out, threatening the show. There was only one show at 9pm.

Sydney City Council intervened to save the now annual tradition while The Sunday Telegraph sponsored the event.  

The Sunday Telegraph prepared a poster for its readers providing details on viewing locations and transport in its edition of December 31.


The SkyShow maintained the traditional launch points - The Sydney Harbour Bridge and one near the Sydney Opera House. The one near the Opera House was shifted eastwards to a point North East of the Sydney Opera House. This opened up even more areas of Sydney Harbour for viewing. 


Source: Dean, A. 1995. "Bang goes another year". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 30:2. 

Syd Howard continued to coordinate the show and managed to keep costs down. It cost only $175 000 compared with $220 000 the year before. Media reports estimated attendance on Sydney Harbour at 500 000 as in previous years.

For those unable to attend (or those who attended but wanted to see it again), Channel Seven broadcast the show on delay at midnight across the nation. The video is below but no sound is featured. Anne Fulwood presented the show from Cremorne Point. Channel Nine would pick up the baton one year later and turn it into a live TV event. 



Darling Harbour provided a very good alternative. In addition to a 9pm fireworks show, there was also a midnight fireworks show with fireworks released from Cockle Bay and Sydney Tower  Entertainment was also provided in Tumbalong Park. Sydney City Mission also encouraged partygoers to support its "Mission 96" fundraiser.


Source: Sydney City Mission. 1995. Untitled (Advertisement). The Sun Herald, December 31:94.

CityRail combined with the State Transit Authority for the first time to produce a combined newspaper advertisement for public transport arrangements. Many bus routes operating to the city were subject to diversions to accommodate for traffic congestion and road closures. Sydney Harbour Bridge remained opened to vehicular traffic during the fireworks but pedestrians were banned. 



Source: CityRail & State Transit Authority. 1995. "New Year's Eve Bus, Train & Ferry Services". The Sun Herald, December 31: 8. 

New Years' Celebrations have become page one news, but our newspapers on January 1 1996 did not feature the celebrations on the cover.

The Daily Telegraph Mirror ran coverage on Page 3. For the paper itself, it was its final day under The Daily Telegraph Mirror before reverting to The Daily Telegraph. 


 
Police patrols were stepped up at Bondi Beach following a riot on Christmas Day (for more details, read my Christmas entry from last week) but it had been reported of clashes with revellers and police. It was estimated that as many as 100 000 could have converged in the area for the evening.

The Sydney Morning Herald published a photo of the fireworks released from the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Page 2, but focused more on Hogmanay celebrations amongst Sydney's Scottish community and sales of French Champagne.

Finally, I wish all of you a very safe and happy new year. 

Monday 21 December 2020

Christmas Snapshot: 1995 (Part II)

This is Part 2 of our Christmas Snapshot of 1995. Last week, we focused on the gift ideas and specials provided by major retailers.

Now to the day itself...

12 000 people (largely backpackers) descended on the beach for Christmas celebrations. However that evening was marred by a riot that was initiated by the locals. Hundreds were involved with police in riot gear pelted by bottles.


Before the riot, the crowd was well behaved. There were concerns over noise from an amplifier which led to it being shut down by police. 

Also, it was reported that Sydney Harbour Casino was the first casino in Australia to open on Christmas Day without restrictions. Hundreds of bookings were received for lunch and some would linger afterwards for some gambling.

The Exodus Foundation at Ashfield served Christmas lunch to 1100 people. 

On December 23, 100 000 people attended Carols in the Domain compered by Rob Guest.


Source: Gora, B. 1995. "100,000 carol singers". The Sunday Telegraph, December 24: 12. 

In the week prior to Christmas, the Wesley Mission did the Darling Harbour Christmas Pageant in Tumbalong Park. Apart from carols, attendees were treated to a reenactment of the first Christmas. It was televised on Christmas Eve on Channel Seven.


Below are messages from the Churches but also an overview of services available over Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It has become standard for cinemas to now open across Sydney on Christmas Day.


And how did the retailers fare?


Source: Brennan, W. 1995. "Xmas tills ring in last-minute spree". The Sunday Telegraph, December 24:3.

The Sunday Telegraph on December 24 provided some assistance to last minute shoppers given Christmas Eve was on a Sunday for the first time since 1989.


Source: Green, P. 1995. "Crisis Shopping!". The Sunday Telegraph, December 24: 22.

Retailers felt that trade over the Christmas season fell from 1994 and noted that the anticipated last minute surges did not happen.Were people waiting for the sales? The past decade has seen the sales moved forward with retailers offering discounts but also embracing "Black Friday" from the United States to attract Christmas sales. Post Christmas still remains large but there isn't the rush or need to wait as the past.


Source: Seymour, T. 1995. "Waiting for the rush". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, December 25: 7.

But this article seems to indicate that retail trade was perhaps not as bad???


Source: Brennan, W. 1995. "Xmas tills ring in last minute spree". The Sunday Telegraph, December 24: 3.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. 

Saturday 19 December 2020

Property Advert of the Week: SMH Australand Advertisement (1998)

In our final Property Advert of the Week for 2020, below is a newspaper advertisement by Australand promoting developments across Sydney that was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on June 13, 1998.

The advertisement promoted new estates at Belrose, Castle Hill and Thornleigh along with its Bridgeport Tower in Bridge Street in the Sydney CBD and Huntleys Cove (which today is a stand alone suburb).  

I will resume Property Advert of the Week in February when the property market is back in full swing. 

Australand Ad June 13 1998 SMH 3RE

Monday 14 December 2020

Christmas Snapshot: 1995 (Part 1)

With Christmas approaching, it is an annual custom to look back at how Sydneysiders marked Christmas 25 years earlier.

This year we will focus on 1995.

Given the amount of material that I collated, I am breaking this into two parts.

Part 1 will focus on what retailers were providing for Christmas shoppers while Part 2 (next week) will focus on the day itself.

In 1995, computers and electronics were in vogue.

Coles recently decided to sell factory refurbished iPhones. In 1995, Strathfield Car Radios had their own second hand offers. This advertisement was published in The Daily Telegraph Mirror on December 16 1995.



You needed around $3000 to secure a good desktop computer. In 2020, you can buy a more powerful and advanced computer for several hundred dollars. A Canon inkjet printer cost $699. A basic printer can be found in 2020 for as little as $50. Below is a Grace Bros advertisement that was published in The Sunday Telegraph on December 17, 1995. 




Bing Lee offered good computers at lower prices.


Other Advertisements of interest are featured below:

Chandlers 
December 17 1995, The Sunday Telegraph




BigW 
The first advertisement was published in The Sunday Telegraph on December 10 1995 while the second advertisement was published in the same newspaper on December 17 1995. 




Kmart 
December 20 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror


Brashs and Target attempted to lure shoppers by offering days where all items were reduced. This included the famous Target 12 1/2 % off everything sale. 

Target
December 3 1995, The Sunday Telegraph



Food & Drink

Woolworths
December 20 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror





Coles
December 21 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror




Liquor Stax
December 20 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror



Macs Liquor
December 20 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror

Saturday 12 December 2020

Property Advert of the Week: 99 Carver Road, Baulkham Hills (1966)

 Below is a newspaper advertisement for 99 Carver Road, Baulkham Hills dating from 1966.

Baulkham Hills House Ad October 14 1966 the sun 48

Source: L.J. Hooker Limited. 1966. Untitled (Advertisement). The Sun, October 14: 48. 

Monday 7 December 2020

MILESTONE: ANZAC Bridge turns 25 (1995-2020): Conception & Construction

Last week, I published an entry relating to the opening of the ANZAC Bridge (originally known as the Glebe Island Bridge) in 1995.

This week, I will share clippings associated with its conception and construction.

Plans for a new Glebe Island Bridge to replace the original Glebe Island Bridge (1903) were unveiled in 1988. It's design was immediately compared to the Golden Gate Bridge. It was intended that work would commence the following year (1989) with completion slated for 1993.


Source: Grimshaw, P. 1988. "'Golden Gate' to span Harbor". The Daily Telegraph, September 22: page unknown.

Formal approval was given in 1990. The completion date had moved back one year to 1994 with an estimated cost of $160 million for construction.


Source: Barbeliuk, A. 1990. "Golden Gate for Sydney". The Daily Telegraph, February 2: 15. 

In 1992, there was controversy over the height of the span and that it did not need to be high.



Source: Koch, P. 1992. "Uh oh, a bridge too high". The Sunday Telegraph, October 18: 7.

Sydney City Council decided to take legal action against the Roads and Traffic Authority because of its visual impact. 25 years later and any visual impact tends to be positive!!!


Source: Cook, C. 1992. "Council's legal action may thwart Glebe bridge". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 11: 5.

Below are assorted feature reports on the construction of the bridge, mostly focusing on the spans meeting in the middle in June 1995.

September 1993


Source: Bishop, K. 1993. "Motorists get room to view Glebe Is bridge". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 16: 6.

June 1994


Source: Woodford, J. 1994. "Bridging the gap to international fame". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 25:5. 

December 1994




Source: Brennan, W. 1994. "Span a hit with visitors". The Sunday Telegraph, December 11:23. 

June 1995 - The spans meet


Source. Anon. 1995. "Together at last - our new bridge". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, June 20:1. 


Source: Keogh, K. 1995. "Landmark to make ends meet". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, June 7:23.


Source: Bekoff, K. 1995. "Bridging the gap". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, June 21: 9.

Saturday 5 December 2020

Property Advert of the Week: The Wharf Terraces, Woolloomooloo (1997)

Below is a newspaper advertisement to promote the launch of sales for apartments in the Wharf Terraces in Woolloomooloo Bay from 1997.


Source: Anon. 1997. "All Ashore!" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 14: 3.