NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: John Andrews proposal for 2 Bond Street (1988)

This "never built" is one that deserved to become reality.

In 1986, a 31 level office tower for 1 Bridge Street was approved by Sydney City Council. As I mentioned in a blog entry in 2020, there were concerns over the tower blocking sunlight from filtering into Australia Square.

The McNamara Group assumed control of the site during 1988 from developer Warren Anderson.

By August 1988, a modified design was released.  Designed by architect John Andrews, The tower would be cantilevered fifteen levels above street level. This would preserve George Patterson House which occupied part of the site and remedy concerns of overshadowing at Australia Square. The number of floors increased to 37 levels and George Patterson House would be converted into a retail and residential complex. Construction costs were estimated at $600 million.

Source: Whittaker, M. 1988."Radical design to let sun in". The Weekend Australian, August 20, 3 (Property Section).

Modifications were made in the second half of 1988 with the southern half of the tower receiving the same glass facade as the northern half and a public area below the suspended section of the tower (see below)

Source: Chancellor, J. 1988. "Bond St tower go-ahead expected". The Sydney Morning Herald, November 1: 32.

In October 1989, Clayton Utz had managed to strike a deal to lease 12 000 sq/m or 37% of the available office space. However Clayton Utz refused to confirm the lease.

Source: Harley, R. 1989. "Bond St tower finds big tenant but seeks partner". The Australian Financial Review, October 13: page unknown.

The following month, the McNamara Group offered to sell 50% of the site.

Source: Walkley, P. 1989. "$1 bn-plus project for Sydney". The Australian Financial Review, November 3: 66.

The proposed tower was shelved in 1990. when no buyer could be found. Instead the McNamara Group decided to build a traditional office building.

Source: Dixon, A. & Chancellor, J. 1990. "Demolition threat to historic building".  The Sydney Morning Herald, December 4: 31.

It would not be until the second half of the decade that the site was developed. 2 Bond Street was developed into a mixed use hotel and apartment tower. The hotel is the Mantra George Street. 

Photo taken by the Author (2021).

Richard Braddish (model maker, Sydney City Council) let me take some photographs in 2013 of a scale model that he prepared for the City Model on display at Town Hall House. This gives an idea of how it may have looked in central Sydney.

Finally, I have included a video from Youtube (Uploaded by AusArchitects) of architect John Andrews explaining his design. He felt that the building did not proceed because of financing from the Japanese. They were worried that the building would topple. He feels that it was one of the "most exciting buildings" that he ever designed. 

Real Estate Advert of the Week: Baulkham Hills Fashion Village, 1968

Below is a newspaper advertisement by Lucas & Tait for the Baulkham Hills Fashion Village estate dating from 1968. 

 

Source: Lucas & Tait Sales Pty. Ltd. 1968. "Fashion Village Baulkham Hills". The Daily Telegraph, June 8: 42.

The estate was located off Seven Hills Road, around "2/3rds of a mile from Baulkham Hills shopping centre". The advertisement does not feature any street plans or name any streets.

Blocks were on sale from $3000 (Around $38 000 in todays money according to the RBA Inflation Calculator), which was great value for those seeking to have their own home on their own block of land.

NEVER BUILT: Early proposal for The Summit, George Street (1994)

Source: O'Brien, G. 1994. "Tower developer needs more time".  The Sydney Morning Herald, July 21: 4. 

In George Street, opposite World Square is "The Summit", a 34 level/103 metre tall tower which was built by Meriton Apartments and completed in 2000.

I have not been a fan of the building, personally viewing it was one of Sydney's uglier buildings and amongst the worst designed Meriton buildings.

It is even more saddening when compared with a 1994 proposal for the site. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on July 21 1994, plans by a developer (name unknown) to redevelop the site at 569-581 George Street. 

While it was residential, it was taller than "The Summit" at 42 levels. The artists impression featured in the article indicated that the building would be rectangular with then northern side of the building containing apartments that faced north.

The Central Sydney Planning Commission (CSPC) raised concerns over height, non compliance with planning guidelines for central Sydney and residential buildings. In addition, it would "impact on the character of the Haymarket Precinct".

Property Advert of the Week: Valentino's Apartments on Crown, Surry Hills (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement for Valentinos Apartments on Crown in Surry Hills. The complex at 277 Crown Street is located at the intersection with Campbell Street.

Apartments were on sale from $230 000.

Source: Sydney Prime Realty & Ray White Project Marketing. 1998. "Valentino's Apartments on Crown" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 13: 24RE.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Chatswood's "Twin Towers" (1985)

Source: Anon. 1985. "Twin towers planned for Chatswood". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 10: 13. 

Welcome to Part Five in our current series of "never builts". In 1985, plans were released by Girvan to build a commercial development in airspace above the North Shore Rail Line at Chatswood. This encompasses land on either side of the rail line north of Help Street up to O'Brien Street and bounded by Railway Street (Western side) and Cambridge Lane (Eastern side).

It was planned that the towers would rise above the railway line and enable both sides of the Chatswood Central Business District to be connected.

Source: North, N. 1985.  "Chatswood Connections will be a place for people". The Northern Herald, December 12: 14.

Two office towers containing a combined 105 000 sq/m of space was proposed along with a hotel, retail space, landscaped plaza, convention centre and cinemas. The tall building heights would enable for maximum utilisation of the site for public use.

Revised plans were released in 1989. 

Source: Anon. 1989. "Five star hotel for North Shore". The Daily Telegraph, December 5: page unknown.

The following year, Girvan Corp Limited (Developer) went into receivership and the site was placed for sale. The towers would not be built. 

Between 2002 and 2013, Mirvac developed the vacant sites, including four towers and one medium density building. 

On the Railway Street side, three major apartment towers were built. A common area was built over the railway line for the residents of the buildings on either side. 

Altura (2003) - 25 stories/75 metres

Epica (2005) - 33 Stories/96 metres

Era (2013) - 43 stories/135 metres

On the Eastern side of the Railway line, Cambridge 24 stories/85 metres (2007) was built along with B2M in Cambridge Lane.

Above: Cambridge Tower.

Above: B2M

A pedestrian walkway was built to link both sides of the railway line which goes under the North Shore railway line. Public spaces were also provided. A small landscaped park is located between Era & Epica in Railway Street and a small plaza is located at the Corner of Cambridge Lane & Help Street.

Above: Railway Street Park.

Above: Public Plaza at the Corner of Cambridge Lane & Help Street.

This was a lost opportunity for Chatswood as the proposal would have been a destination in itself but also could have possibly attracted a major firm (especially today) in terms of leasing office space within the towers. It was a project that would have truely connected both sides of the suburb. The redevelopment of Chatswood Interchange in the 2010's has helped with linking both sides of the suburb but would not make the impact that could have possibly had occurred. 

Skyscraper Data featured in this entry was sourced from Emporis. Photos were taken by the Author in 2021. 

Property Advert of the Week: Wattle Grove (1993)

Below is an advertisement promoting house and land packages at Wattle Grove from 1993. House and land packages started from just under $125 000. 

 

Source: Delfin Reality. 1993. "Wattle Grove" (Advertisement).  The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, March 23: 8.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Early Scheme for 2 Market Street (1984)

Welcome to Part four of our series of "Never Builts" in Sydney. In 1984, Sydney City Council approved a commercial development for a seven level carpark (2 levels below ground, five above ground) and eight levels of commercial space at 2 Market Street. The proposed tower occupies the site of the current Allianz Centre, completed in 1991. 

Allianz Tower comprises of 21 levels, but the early scheme only comprised of 13 levels. The offices were originally intended to be terraced. 

Architects were James Thiessen & Associates. 

Source: Anon. 1984. "$14m plan combines offices and parking". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 19: 20. 

This is a "never built" that did not deserve to be built. If built, the building would have aged quickly. The eventual building that rose on the site was designed by Crone Partners. The carpark is not as visible from the street even for the above ground levels and offers 40 000sq/m of office space. Major tenants include Allianz and Ampol. 

Property Advert of the Week: The Cambridge, Concord (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement for The Cambridge at Concord.  It is part of the Pelican Quays Development. Two and three bedroom apartments were on sale and located on the waterfront.

Source: Pelican Quays. 1998. "The Cambridge" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 13: 29RE (Real Estate Liftout).

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Hotel at The Gap (1964)

Welcome to Part III in our current "Never Built" series.  This week, we head to Watsons Bay where Goldberger and Kauffman Finance and Building Enterprises proposed an eighteen level or 59 metre tall hotel tower at The Gap. The hotel would contain 190 rooms and the top floor would be designated for a restaurant which promised sweeping views of the ocean and city.

If built, this tower would have been located at the main shopping strip of the suburb at the corner of Military and Gap roads. 

Source: Anon. 1964. "18-storey Hotel For The Gap". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 16:12.

The concept appears great as the hotel would have offered some of the most panoramic ocean views that any Sydney hotel could offer given its proximity to the coast line but also the elevation of the site which could be as high as forty metres. It would be on the recommended list of hotels to stay in Sydney, even today.

Even if converted into apartments in later years, the views afforded would have been the same and we would be talking about it being one of the best addressees in Sydney.

But the concern with the scheme was the height with nothing over two storeys and this would have dramatically altered the character of Watsons Bay altogether but having nothing tall in the area was part of the business case for the hotel. Highrise is not part of  the urban landscape in Watsons Bay.

Such a proposal would not get off the ground at all. Add heritage matters to the list of reasons why a hotel could not be built. 

Property Advert of the Week: The Rubicon, Newtown (1998)

Below is a newspaper advertisement promoting The Rubicon at Newtown from 1998.

Source: Anon. 1998. "The Rubicon Newtown" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 13: 29RE (Real Estate Liftout).