MILESTONE: ANZAC Bridge turns 25 (1995-2020)

It's Sydney's No. 2 Bridge - ANZAC Bridge. On Saturday, the bridge will celebrate 25 years of service to Sydney.

The ANZAC Bridge replaced the swing bridge that was opened in 1903. The swing bridge has been retained for heritage purposes. The bridge also improved road travel for commuters travelling along the Victoria Road corridor, eliminating the delays associated with the previous bridge and doubling road capacity (from two to four lanes each way).

For boaties, the new bridge was taller and boats could easily navigate in and out of Blackwattle Bay.

The bridge was formally named ANZAC Bridge on November 11 1998.

Below is media coverage from The Daily Telegraph Mirror.

On December 4, 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror published a special four page liftout focusing on the official opening ceremony. On the previous day around 65 000 Sydneysiders walked across the bridge before being opened to traffic that evening.

The same edition (PM edition) also carried a page one report on the first peak hour run for the bridge. For the first weeks of operation, only two lanes were open each way. Congestion on the western approaches was heavier than normal.

The Daily Telegraph Mirror attempted to identify the causes of the congestion the following day (December 5).

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Property Advert of the Week: 2 Bond Street (1996)

Below is an advertisement from 1996 promoting apartments for sale in 2 Bond Street. While it was not completed until 1998, people could buy into what was rare at the time - a George Street address and be in proximity to what central Sydney has to offer. It made it possible for one to walk home in the time it took them to walk to Wynyard Station to take their train home to their suburban residence.

$252 000 for a one bedroom apartment. Good price.

Source: Richard Ellis. 1996. "2 Bond Street, Sydney" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, October 12: 17RE (Real Estate Liftout). 

MILESTONE: ANZAC Bridge turns 25 (1995-2010) - Poster from "The Daily Telegraph Mirror"

This entry is a teaser for next weeks entry. At the end of next week (December 4) the ANZAC Bridge will celebrate 25 years of service to the people of Sydney.

Below is a A2 sized poster that was published in The Daily Telegraph Mirror on November 30 1995.

Property Advert of the Week: Blacktown Homes for sale (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement promoting new homes for sale at Blacktown from 1966. A $700 deposit (350 pounds) bought one their own home.

 

Source: Harry Leftwich & Co. Pty. Ltd. 1966. Untitled (Advertisement). The Sun, October 14: 48.

Note that products could be sold in pounds, shillings and pence for a two year period following the introduction of decimal currency in 1966.

1967: Day One at Macquarie University

Below is a clipping from The Daily Telegraph dated from March 4 1967, featuring a short report and photograph of the first lecture held at Macquarie University.

According to the Macquarie University website, 40 000 students are enrolled. and boasts of an alumni of 164 000. Compared to other Sydney Universities, it is the third largest by student numbers with Sydney University (73 000) and the University of NSW (62 000). 

Source. Anon. 1967. "The Birth of a University". The Daily Telegraph, March 4: 3. 

Update 6 January 2021: Mary Moxham via Facebook idenitfied the room featured in the photo as the E1 Lecture room. She recalled having her first lecture there on her first day of university in 1971. Thank you Mary for sharing this with us. 

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Property Advert of the Week: "Executive Home" by Hooker Rex (1969)

 At Winston Hills in 1969, a four bedroom "Executive Home" could be purchased for $18 250.

Source: Hooker-Rex Pty. Ltd. 1969. "Executive Home" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 18: 9.

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1985: The end of the Anthony Horderns Building

In 1985, NSW Environment Minister (and future Premier) Bob Carr announced that the Anthony Horderns Building would be demolished, but the Mark Foys building would be protected.

The argument was that the building had become "derelict", was built with "sub standard materials" and "poor workmanship". Given its uses over the years (even as a carpark in its later years), the reasoning behind its demolition has to be questioned.

It also allowed for Ipoh to proceed with their proposal to redevelop the site and the block bounded by George, Liverpool, Pitt and Goulburn Street into World Square. 

Demolition of the Anthony Horderns building occurred the following year.

Source: Glascott, J. 1985. "Hordern emporium for demolition". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 25: 5. 

Property Advert of the Week: Golden Crest Estate - Castle Hill (1966)

Below is a 1966 newspaper advertisement for the Golden  Crest Estate at Castle Hill. The release encompassed parts of Blackett Drive and Merrilong Street.

Source: Haining & Pearlman (Sales) Pty. Ltd. "Golden Crest Estate" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 14: 63.

1972: The Concorde arrives in Sydney (as covered by "The Sun Herald")

My 2015 entry on the 1972 visit by the Concorde has proven to a popular entry with visitors to this blog. A few months ago, I landed clippings from its arrival on June 18, 1972. Below is coverage from The Sun Herald (19 June, 1972).

20 000 watched proceedings in and around Sydney Airport. There were also a group that gathered to protest citing concerns over noise (and it's sonic boom) that the plane generated. 

Related Entry

1972: The Concorde arrives in Sydney

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