MILESTONE: Channel Ten Sydney Opens (1965)

In August last year, Channel Ten ran a special presentation to celebrate fifty years since the creation of the Ten Network (originally known as 0-10 Network) in Melbourne when ATV0 began broadcasting for the first time.

On Easter Sunday (April 5), it will be fifty years since the Channel Ten  became Sydney's fourth television channel and began broadcasting  in Sydney for the first time under the callsign TEN10,

The origins of Channel Ten date back to 1963 when United Telecasters were awarded the licence for Sydney's third commercial network. The consortium included: AWA, CSR, Email Ltd and the Bank of NSW (Westpac).

Source: Anonymous. 1963. "Channel 10, Sydney, in 18 months: AWA Group Gets TV Licence." The Daily Mirror, April 5: 1-2. 

The studios were built at North Ryde and channel ten remained there until 1990 when they relocated to inner-city Ultimo. In 1997, they moved again to their current location at Pyrmont.

Network Ten Studios at Pyrmont. 

Photo was taken by the Author.

I have managed to collect some promotional material from the Sydney papers relating to its launch in April 1965. The Daily Telegraph was the only paper to promote the new network. Below is a two-page advertisement to promote the opening night of programming including the first night's programs. "TV Spells Magic" involving hundreds of performers was to be the feature program in a 75 minute spectacular.

Source: United Telecasters Sydney Ltd. 1965. "Turn to Ten Tonight (Advertisement). " The Daily Telegraph, April 5: 12.

And here is an advertisement to promote talent. The faces were not so well known because they wanted people that would be the stars of the future. A new channel was to comprise of new faces.

Source: United Telecasters Sydney Ltd. 1965. "Ten's got the talent team (Advertisement). " The Daily Telegraph, April 2:12. 

Source: United Telecasters Sydney Ltd. 1965. "Turn to Ten" (Advertisement).  The Sunday Telegraph, April 4: 100-101.

Only The Sun provided a report on the opening night.

Source: Kessell, N. 1965. "A first night cast of 260." The Sun, April 6: 68.

And Frank Packer made sure that everyone knew that TCN9 was number one. Still, I wonder why he'd be happy to advertise the competition in his papers?

Source: TCN9. 1965. "9 is Still the No. 1 Station (Advertisement). " The Daily Telegraph, April 7: 4.

This was the original ident that screened on channel ten in Sydney. In 1975 it was turned into colour. It remained the same until the mid-1980's.

 

Property Advert of the Week: The Goldsbrough, Pyrmont (1993)

This weeks property advert takes us to inner-city Pyrmont. In 1993, apartments at The Goldsbrough went on sale to the public. as the former woolstore was to be turned into an apartment block. The building also contains serviced apartments which are managed by Oaks Hotels and Resorts.

Source: Landmark Properties. 1993 "The Goldsbrough - Darling Harbour (Advertisement)." The Daily Telegraph Mirror, December 11: 59.

Royal Easter Show Flashback: 1990

With the Easter Show set to start on Thursday at Sydney Olympic Park, I thought I'd look back through my collection to gain an insight into what the Easter Show was like 25 years ago.

1990 was the first Easter Show I can remember going to as a five and a half-year-old though my parents say that they had taken me as a baby. I have not missed an Easter Show since that time. What a feat. I can also where possible add my own reflections or insights.

The 1990's would be the final decade for the show being held at Moore Park. The Greiner Government had made it clear it was being relocated to a new site at Homebush Bay (where the State Abattoirs were located). This was not going to be changed.

Originally, the showgrounds would form a redeveloped Homebush Bay which would be the site for the 1996 Olympics which Sydney had placed a bid for alongside Melbourne in 1988. Melbourne was selected by the Australian Olympic Committee as the Australian bid for the 1996 Olympic Games and would eventually lose to Atlanta.

In 1990, the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) was given approval by the State Government to build the new showgrounds at Homebush Bay to be ready for the 1994 Easter Show at a cost of $160 million. Olympics or no Olympics, it would still form apart of an international sporting complex.

A render of that proposed complex is shown below. Apart from enlarged facilities, the obvious difference between this concept and the eventual showground complex was that parking would be provided for 20 000 cars. While being close to public transport, there was still a large provision for people to drive. As we know, we waited until 1998 for our new showgrounds to become reality.

Source: Anonymous. 1990. "Homebush site now on." The Sunday Telegraph, April 1: 155.

While Sydney waited, the show went on and it was at Moore Park.

I have found the preview guides in the newspapers to be highly valuable in terms of what was happening in 1990.

Dates: April 6 to April 17 1990

Admission:

It may appear to be more affordable to the average person, but remember you could purchase either a show entry ticket only or the all in one ticket like today where you pay a flat admission charge and includes public transport to and from the show on all modes. Cityrail offered Showlink Tickets which included a return rail fare to Central and bus to Moore Park, and was based on zones. The ticket prices had been the same as in 1989.

Adults: $10.50 (Showlink - From $13.00)
Children: $5 (Showlink - From $6.00)
Pensioners: $5

Family Super Saver Tickets were available for $39.50

This year, an adult will be charged $39.50 for Easter Show admission.

Highlights:

• South Korea as the guest nation. Porcelain and electrical goods were on display in the International Pavilion along with a restaurant and delicacies in the Banquet Hall.
• Moonlight Concerts featuring a roster of artists including Johnny Diesel & The Injectors, The Angels, Julie Anthony, Athol Guy & Bruce Woodley (The Seekers) and Slim Dusty.
• Easter Alive - Retelling the story of Christ's death and resurrection compered by Dawn Lake & Bobby Limb on Easter Sunday. 
• 1990 Australian Showjumping Championships.
• US Marine Corps Band based at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. 
• The Grand Parade

A popular pavilion was the Police Pavilion. Here is an advertisement promoting their exhibition for 1990.

Source: NSW Police Service. 1990. "Come and Work the Beat With us at the Royal Easter Show (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 5: 33.

Show bags

In 2015, there are over 300 bags available. Obviously there is alot of choice today but in 1990, one still had plenty to choose from and many favourites are still with us today. Bertie Beetle was and still is $2 though you can choose from several other Bertie Beetle Bags that retail for up to $15. There are two show bag advertisements that I've included for you to get a feel of what was available.

Sources:

1. Anonymous. 1990. "The Best Value Show Bags at This Year's Royal Easter Show (Advertisement)." The Daily Telegraph. April 5: 37.

2. Anonymous. 1990. "Top Value Show Bags (Advertisement)." The Daily Telegraph. April 5: 35.

The most popular show bags according to the RAS were Mars, Bubble Yum, Rowntree Hoadley Bag and the Worlds Biggest Showbag.

Key Statistics

According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald on April 18, 1990:

• Total attendance was 856 000 (Up 67 000) on the previous year. The Sunday Telegraph reported on April 15 that 167 000 had attended the show on Good Friday, the busiest Good Friday since 1975. 
• 1 100 children were lost
• Approximately 145 000 buckets of hot chips were sold along with 1037 metres of hamburgers (piled up on each other) and eight kilometres of hot dogs if laid side by side.
• The Country Womens Association sold 1000 scones per day.
• 20 000 casuals were employed.

Source: Stapleton, J. 1990. "Visitors flood the show, despite those rainy days." The Sydney Morning Herald, April 18: 7. 

Property Advert of the Week: The Glencairn by Denham Homes (1967)

This week, I share with you an advertisement for the Glencairn, a model home that was available from Denham Homes for around $10 500 in 1967 ($122 000 in today's money according to the RBA Inflation Calculator). The key feature was the big living and kitchen areas. The living room was 31 feet by 14 feet long. Model homes were on display at Baulkham Hills and Yagoona.

Source: Denham Homes Pty. Ltd. 1967. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, March 18: 41. 

1988: First NSWRL Game at the Sydney Football Stadium

I love my Rugby League, and to mark off the start of the NRL season, why don't we mark it by sharing some articles of the very first game to be held at the new Sydney Football Stadium all the way back on March 4 1988. The stadium had been built at a cost of $65 million.

The match was between Eastern Suburbs and St George. The visitors (St George) won the game 24-14 before a crowd of 20 000.  This was despite wet weather.

Source: Anonymous. 1988. "Saints shine at league's new home." The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 1.

The back page of the same paper with coverage by Ray Chesterton.

Source: Chesterton, R. 1988. "Saints Draw First Blood." The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 142 & 144. 

 The captains of both teams posed at the new stadium ahead of the game.

Source: Anonymous. 1988. "It's kick off time for a spectacular stadium." The Daily Telegraph, March 4: Page unknown. 

I came across a Youtube video posted by "rugbyleaguevideos" of highlights from that match, screened on Channel Ten. It doesn't even look like there are 20 000. The problem with the stadium has been the lack of shelter for fans. Some would have been forced to go under whatever shelter was available.

Property Advert of the Week: AVJennings Two Storey Home at a One Storey price (1970)

In 1970, AV Jennings offered to home builders the Chester. The Chester cost $13 740 which they claimed was the same price as building a one storey house. The argument was that by going up, less space at ground level was needed for building, freeing you up for a larger backyard.

Source: AV Jennings. 1970. "Just Built: The First Two Storey Home at a One Storey Price (Advertisement)." The Sunday Telegraph, March 29: 85. 

1995: McDonald's proposal for Moore Park

In the mid-1990's McDonalds wanted to build a store at Moore Park (Corner of Anzac Parade & Lang Park). South Sydney council refused their development application and the burger giant took them to the NSW Land and Environment Court. This had the support of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust.

Source: Skelsey, Michael. 1995. "Council bites back at burger giant." The Daily Telegraph Mirror, July 7: 18.

There was opposition to the outlet by locals and local state MP Clover Moore (Bligh). But what happened next? It ended up going to the NSW Court of Appeal and council was reordered to assess the application because it was a park "refreshment room" (Doesn't really look like one). By 2002 no new application had been made and since then nothing.

Clover Moore who was the member for Bligh (later renamed Sydney) and current Lord Mayor of Sydney has kept a webpage with an overview of the plans if you want to read a little more. One person mentioned has landed himself in some strife lately with businessmen.

Property Advert of the Week: Meriton Apartments Full Page Advertisement (1997)

Remember back in the late 1990's when The Sydney Morning Herald had the huge Real Estate Liftout in its very bumper Saturday editions? Meriton used to take out a full page advertisement showcasing apartment projects across the city I have got a few lurking around, but I'll pick 1997 this week. Meriton projects included:

• Regis Towers (City)
• Millennium Towers (City)
• Dalgety Square (Ultimo)
• The Darlington (Pyrmont)
• Newington Towers (Maroubra)
• Regal Court (Strathfield)

Source: Meriton Apartments Pty. Ltd. 1997. "Sensational Buys in Sought After Locations (Advertisement). " The Sydney Morning Herald, July 3: 19RE.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Early scheme for Barangaroo (1992)

The Sydney Morning Herald in 1992 published a vision of what East Darling Harbour (now known as Barangaroo) could have looked like. The vision itself also included the King Street Wharf precinct, which underwent its redevelopment in the late 1990's through to the end of the first decade of the 2000's.

Peddle Thorp Walker was behind the vision.

Source: Dickinson, Michael. 1992. "Visions Plundered." The Sydney Morning Herald, July 16: 4a (Sydney Sesqui Liftout).

There are some that question the current scheme for Barangaroo for various reasons which include: overdevelopment, buildings that are too tall, a park that is "isolated" and inadequate public space. I'd like them to have a look at what are getting as opposed to what could have been.

But had we gone with the 1992 scheme would we have an 11-hectare park at the northern end including a rebuilt 1836 headland? Definitely not. I think the large parkland is a great public asset to Sydney and it does provide easy access to the harbour for all. It is the western CBD's answer to the Botanical Gardens and the Domain Parklands to the east. However, the article claims that 17 hectares of parkland would be provided.

And how did we get the park in the first place? By focusing on more intense (or dense) development at its Southern end (Barangaroo South). The buildings are taller which may be a negative to some, but sometimes we have to sacrifice something to get something good. The taller buildings and their floor plates also respond to current trends for office space in Sydney including energy efficiency and larger floor plates.

The larger parklands do have an advantage over the smaller park lands featured in the vision. The spaces front the harbour whereas the 1992 scheme largely had them set back from the harbour surrounded by buildings. Plus the Barangaroo park will allow for a wide range of community activities like live theatre and concerts. Even though the park is not yet finished, there has been a positive response to events held on the site like New Year's Eve, where thousands have managed to buy tickets to have a front-row seat to the Fireworks display.

One plus that the 1992 vision has over the current scheme is that there is a focus on residential development with housing for 20 000 which would have gone a fair way to improving the housing stock in central Sydney. About 3000 people will eventually live at Barangaroo, under the current scheme.

The vision was part of a broader feature by Michael Dickinson where he examined the visions for Sydney over the years and the failure to turn them into reality.

Barangaroo taking shape in October 2014.

Photo was taken by the Author.