1989: Gateway Tower as Sydney's "last" glass building

The Sydney Morning Herald predicted in 1989 that the Gateway Tower would be the last glass building built in Central Sydney based around a review of planning across the Central Business District.

Source: Quddington, P. "Why this may be Sydney's last glass tower". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 8: 1.

Three decades later, if standing at Kirribilli or on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, turn your eyes to the right of the Gateway Tower and one will notice an even taller tower rising and it has a glass facade. Crown Sydney. 

Property Advert of the Week: Capistrano Heights land release, Wahroonga (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement for a land release at Wahroonga from 1966.

 

Source: L. W. Roth & Co. 1966. "Capistrano Highlands" (Advertisement). The Sun,  October 21: 58.

1960: An even earlier proposal for Transport Oriented Development at North Sydney

In 2016, I published an entry on an early scheme for Transport Oriented Development at North Sydney dated 1968. 

Recently, I came across an even earlier proposal dating from 1960. The key differences between this and the 1968 scheme is:

• The Hotel was planned to be a hostel.
• The office building (13 Blue Street) was originally planned as a 22 storey apartment tower.
• The 9 storey office building (Zurich Building) appears to be longer.

Anticipated completion was 1962.

Source: Anon. 1960. "The Changing Face of North Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 20: 37.

Related Posting

1968: Early proposal for Transport Oriented Development at North Sydney

Property Advert of the Week: Dulwich Hill Apartments by Parkes Developments (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement for a unit block in Dulwich Hill. However there is no exact address. The map indicates that the block was in Ewart Street.

 Source: Parkes Developments Pty. Ltd. 1966. Untitled (Advertisement). The Sun, October 21: 59.

1984: A real Big Dipper for Luna Park

From the opening of Luna Park in 1935 until 1981, the original Big Dipper was a draw card for the hordes that descended on Luna Park at Milsons Point. It's removed was associated with the rebuilding of Luna Park following the Ghost Train fire in June 1979 that killed six people

In 1984, there was a proposal for new and larger Big Dipper but residents of Lavender Bay & McMahons Point objected, citing noise concerns.

Source: Coultan, M. 1984. "Bumpy ride ahead for Luna Park's roller-coaster". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 8:1. 

The roller coaster did not eventuate while the park closed for a second time in 1988. A new Big Dipper appeared in 1995 when the park was reopened and lasted until its closure in 1996. This was smaller than the 1984 vision. 

Property Advert of the Week: Crown Gardens Woolloomooloo (1996)

Below is a newspaper advertisement for the Crown Gardens complex in Crown Street, Wooloomooloo from 1996.

 

Source: Richard Ellis Residential. 1996. "Untitled" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 22: 16RE (Real Estate Liftout).

1957: How did Sydney get the new Gladesville Bridge?

Source: Anon. 1957. "Artist's Impression of Proposed Bridge". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 9: 8. 

Earlier this year, I found an illustration of a proposed Steel Cantalever Bridge that was proposed to replace the (old) Gladesville Bridge at Gladesville.

By the 1950's congestion along the crossing was a concern. The original bridge (1881) was only two lanes allowing for one lane of traffic in each direction. It was a low level bridge; a swing bridge which was opened at regular intervals to allow boating traffic to navigate along the Parramatta River.

The Department of Main Roads (DMR) wanted a new bridge as part of the planned (and never built) North Western Expressway to link northern Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle to the Sydney CBD.

In 1957, tenders were invited by the DMR based on the steel cantilever bridge design with a span of 299 metres. The four tenders projected costs ranging from 2.51 million pounds ($5.2 million) to 3.87 million pounds ($7.77 million). A tender for a concrete arch bridge was submitted with a projected 2.39 million pound ($4.78 million) cost.

The DMR awarded the tender for a concrete arch bridge in 1959. The span was increased six metres to 305 metres and would cost 2.56 million pounds.

Deeper excavation of thrust blocks and the construction of the 10 lane northern approaches meant that the final cost was 3.6 million pounds. This converts to a cost of over $100 million today as based on the RBA Inflation Calculator.

Construction began in 1959 and was completed in 1964.

Additional Information:

Maxwell, M. "Gladesville Bridge - 50th Anniversary". PowerPoint Presentation. Accessed July 24, 2020. https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2017-01/Div_Syd_techPres_gladesville_bridge.pdf


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Property Advert of the Week: Riviera, Elizabeth Bay (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1966 for the Riviera at Elizabeth Bay.

Source: Parkes Developments Pty.Ltd. 1966. "Riviera" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 14: 49.

SYDNEY SKYSCRAPERS: The conception of Aurora Place (1996)

My favourite skyscraper in Sydney is Aurora Place. The tower in Phillip Street rises 41 storeys to a height of 219 metres (spire). I regard it as the skyscraper that most reflects Sydney - its architect Renzo Piano wanted the tower to "talk" to the Sydney Opera House.

The Sydney Morning Herald in 1996 published a feature behind his idea.

Source: Susskind, A. 1996. "A talking tower is Renzo's gift to Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald, November 9: 1 & 3. 

Ever noticed how the fin atop the tower reflects the Opera House sails?

Photo taken by the Author (2011)

Two decades later, Renzo Piano is again making his mark in Sydney as three major highrise apartment towers at Barangaroo South rise. The penthouse atop One Sydney Harbour has sold for $140 million, making it the most expensive property in Australia.Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
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Piano has stuck to a more functional design for his Barangaroo towers as the emphasis architecturally must be on the Crown Resort located right next to his towers. 

Property Advert of the Week: 14 Nerrim Road, Castle Cove (1967)

Below is a newspaper advertisement for the sale of 14 Neerim Road, Castle Cove dating from 1967.
 
Source: L.J. Hooker. 1967. "Castlecove" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, September 9: 20.