1970: The Origins of Shorelink

I was having a look at the proposed corridor for the proposed Shorelink tunnel and noticed that the route is virtually identical to that proposed by the NSW Government in 1970.

The only difference between the 1970 and 2017 is that the 1970 proposal was above ground whereas it will be tunneled under this plan.

1970



Source: Anon. 1970. "Bridge for Middle Harbour". The Daily Telegraph, April 3: 3.

2017



Source: NSW Government (2017). [image] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-18/spit-bridge-tunnel-map/8718496 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2017].

Below is the full article on the 1970 scheme as covered by The Daily Telegraph. This included a proposal for a double-decker bridge over Middle Harbour. The estimated cost was $70 million ($781 million in today's money). Compare it with the estimated $3 billion to be spent with the 2017 scheme which is tunneled. Estimated completion - 1980.

Source: Anon. 1970. "Bridge for Middle Harbour". The Daily Telegraph, April 3: 3.

Property Advert of the Week: The Concierge Apartments Cremorne (1999)

At the end of the 1990's, the former Metropole Hotel at Cremorne was converted into an apartment complex while some former hotel rooms ended up as serviced apartments.

Source: The Hayson Group. 1999. "The  Concierge Apartments" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 5: 10RE (Real Estate Liftout).

1987: Pitt Street Mall Opening Feature (The Daily Mirror)

Back in September, I posted an entry to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Pitt Street Mall in September 1987.

I have since scanned in a supplement that was published in The Daily Mirror on September 23, 1987. It was to promote the retailers that were based in the mall (reported to be 500).

They did foresee the mall becoming a fashion destination!!!

The Daily Mirror was even predicting further closures of city streets to traffic, along with more underground walkways and skybridges by 2001. What happened to this idea? Why aren't we raising this in 2017? Sydney City Council at present has banned construction of skybridges for the fact they wreck the streetscape and views along city streets.

Also, I found this preview article from the September 18, 1987 edition of The Daily Mirror. 

Source: Darmody, J. "At Last, The Mall will be Opened". The Daily Mirror, September 18: 12 & 13.

Grace Bros (and other retailers) were permitted to trade through to midnight on September 23 as the mall marked its first night of Thursday night trading. Some advertisements do feature in the scans above.

Prouds was not in the mall but took advantage of its proximity to join in the celebrations.

Property Advert of the Week: The 10 pound block of land (1966)

We have heard of the ten pound Pom's, but in 1966, ten pounds bought you a block of land (deposit) at Campbelltown, which was being marketed as our first Satellite City.

Source: Parkes Development Pty. Ltd.  1966. "Campbelltown: Sydney's First Satellite City" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 7: 47.

SYDNEY DEPARTMENT STORES: The end of Grace Bros Broadway (1992)

In November 1992, Grace Bros closed its flagship store at Broadway after 107 years of trading on the site.

Source: Molloy, R. 1992. "Graceful Departure: Staff give their regards to Broadway". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 6: 7. 

In the lead up to its closure, there were specials to rid the store of stock and on its final day (November 8), the bargains got bigger. A special lunch had also taken place in the former auditorium.

Source: Coles Myer Ltd. 1992. "Broadway Closing Sale Ends November 8 (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, November 1: 12.

As for its demise? It can be said that it began as early as 1933 when trams were diverted away from the store. The Sydney Harbour Bridge had opened the previous year and other transport changes saw retailing drift away from Central and Broadway towards midtown.

But it was the 1980's that began the beginning of the end. In 1983, Grace Bros was purchased by Myer. Myer had a store in Pitt Street (accquired through the purchase of Farmers decades earlier) which was the flagship store for Myer (Farmers).

On January 22, 1992, it was announced that the "Model Store" would close by January 1993. Less retailing space was required along with increasing costs of maintaining a presence at Broadway. Grace Bros was prepared to consider opening a store in the inner west if a suitable site was found. Otherwise, shoppers would have to head to either Pitt Street, Burwood or Bondi Junction.

Employees at Broadway were to be redeployed to Burwood and Bondi Junction. No one lost their job.

In 1998, one of the buildings was incorporated into the new Broadway Shopping Centre while the other building was converted into student accomodation - UniLodge to cater to students attending universities nearby.

Both buildings are currently heritage listed.

Property Advert of the Week: 379 King George's Road, Beverly Hills (1966)

This week, I remain in 1966. I found this advertisement for a red brick unit block at 379 King George's Road in Beverly Hills. This is one block of units that I drive pass on a regular basis. I now know when they were built.

Source: Cripps & Cripps Pty. Ltd. 1966. "Home Units Strata Title Beverly Hills" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 7: 46.

The advertisement claims that Beverly Hills Station is 300 yards (approximately 275 metres) away but the real distance is around 500 metres. 

MILESTONE: East Hills line connected to the South Line (1987)

Source: State Rail Authority of NSW. 1987. "East Hills - Glenfield Line" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 21: 17.

In a few weeks, it will be thirty years since the opening of the extension to the East Hills Rail line that connected the line with the main South Line, providing another route for services to operate from the city to Campbelltown.

An extension to the southern line had been envisioned for over a decade. It was formally announced by NSW Premier Neville Wran in 1983 with the aim of having it completed in three years (1986). The challenge was that the rail corridor would trek through the Holsworthy Army base and required negotiations with the Commonwealth. This was successful with the line running towards the northern boundary.

Two stations were initially proposed, but only one station (Holsworthy) was built.

As part of the extension, the line between Riverwood and East Hills was duplicated to accommodate the additional trains that would operate to and from Campbelltown

On December 21, 1987, the extension was opened. A report from the ABC is featured below.

The biggest winners out the extension were those residing in the Campbelltown region, with reduced travel times to and from the city by rail.  It also opened up development in suburbs including Holsworthy and Wattle Grove.

Building this extension has provided planners with further options to expand the network further. The South West Rail Link (2015) can operate services to the city via the East Hills line, though they operate via the South Line at present.

With the second airport at Badgerys Creek a decade away, it is proposed that the South West Rail Line be extended through to Badgerys Creek and then possibly connect with the Western and North West Rail lines.  I can see foresee the ability for an orbital rail line to be connected. The East Hills Line would be one piece in the jigsaw. It is also connected to the Airport Line (2000) and an extension to Badgerys Creek would allow travelers to travel directly between the two airports.

Property Advert of the Week: Padstow Heights Land Release (1966)

In 1966, ninety pounds ($180) bought you a block of land at Padstow Heights. Road access had improved during the 1960s following the completion of the bridge over Salt Pan Creek in 1962, providing residents with easy access to Hurstville. Note that the price is advertised in pounds, which was legally permitted for two years following the decimalisation of currency earlier that year.

Source: Parkes Investments Pty Ltd. 1966. "Water Panorama: Padstow" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 7: 47.