Property Advert of the Week: Abbotsford Cove Grand Opening (1997)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1997 promoting the grand opening of the Abbotsford Cove estate at Abbotsford. 

Source: Richardson & Wrench Project Marketing. 1997. "Abbotsford Cove" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24: 22 (Real Estate Liftout). 

The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - New Skytower Article (1987)

In 2018, I presented a series of entries on the evolution of the Citigroup Centre at 2 Park Street, focusing on the proposals to redevelop the former Waltons site during the 1980's and 1990's.

One entry focused specifically on a 1987 proposal for the 102 storey/421 metre tall Skytower to be built on the site. If built, it would have been the second tallest building in the world at the time.  In 1987, the tallest skyscraper in the world was the 442 metre Willis Tower in Chicago.  

Recently as I was organising my collection, I came across a 1987 article from The Daily Telegraph that reported that the Bond Corporation were still confident that they would receive approval as they attended to planning problems and also shifted the tower towards Park Street to allow sunlight to filter to street level. 

 

Source: Anon. 1987. "Bond is certain Skytower will get go-ahead". The Daily Telegraph, November 12: page unknown. 

Property Advert of the Week: The Carnarvon, Potts Point (1995)

Below is a newspaper advertisement promoting the sale of studio apartments of "The Carnarvon" in Potts Point dating from 1995. Prices commenced at $99 000.

 

Source: Charles & Stuart. 1995. "The Carnarvon Pott's Point" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 86. 

1965: How the Wentworth Hotel got its name

Source: Anon. 1965. "New hotel is Wentworth". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 26:14. 

The Wentworth Hotel in Phillip Street is one of Sydney's most prestige hotels and has been operating since 1965. Originally developed by Qantas, the hotel is currently part of the Sofitel group of hotels. 

I found an article from The Sydney Morning Herald that was published on August 26, 1965 that explains how the hotel got its name. 

The public were asked to provide submissions - Qantas Hotel was suggested, but was dismissed as Qantas would not own the hotel. Matilda and Waltzing Matilda were also other names suggested. 

In the end it was named the Wentworth Hotel for the following reasons:

• Continue the name and tradition of the original Wentworth Hotel in George Street which Qantas was due to close and demolish for the Qantas Centre (Suncorp Centre).
• Tribute to William Charles Wentworth who has been recognised as the founder of constitutional government in NSW.

Property Advert of the Week: 173 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo (1999)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1999 promoting the sale of apartments in a boutique development at 173 Cathedral Street Woolloomooloo. Studio apartments were on sale from $185 000, one bedroom apartments from $199 000 and two bedroom terraces were on sale from $370 000 to $390 000.

 

Source: Charles & Stuart. 1999. "173 Cathedral Street" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 5: 23RE (Real Estate Liftout). 

1964: Sydney's first ring roads

With traffic congestion increasing in Sydney roads during the 1960's, motorists needed to be guided through the metropolitan area to avoid congested urban centres. 

The response by the Main Roads Department was to create a network of ring roads. A ring road in Sydney comprised of main roads that were connected together. Ir meant that drivers could bypass Central Sydney altogether if they needed to. 

In Sydney, ring roads or "Metroads" guided drivers between 1964 and 2013. Ring roads are now alphanumerically numbered e.g. Metroad 3 is now A3. 

Below is an article published in The Daily Telegraph in 1964 which focused on the inroduction of the original ring roads. 

 

Ring Road 3 (later Metroad 3 and now A3) was the first to be commissioned. The original route largely follows the current A3 with some differences e.g. The original route went through Belfield, Strathfield and Concord as Roberts Road, Centenary Drive and Homebush Bay Drive were yet to either be converted into main roads or yet to be built. 

Two other ring roads were soon commissioned:

Ring Road 1 - Ran along the southern fringe of the Sydney CBD.

Ring Road 5 - Hurstville to Hornsby via Parramatta.

The original ring roads system lasted until 1974, when  they were incorporated into a network of State Roads. 

Property Advert of the Week: Grantham Heights Estate, Seven Hills (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1966 promoting the sale of homesites at Seven Hills in the Grantham Heights Estate. £95 pounds ($190)  was required for a deposit or could be purchased outright from £1225 ($2500).

Access to the estate was via Harwood Street. 

Source: Hooker-Rex (Sales). 1966. "Grantham Heights Seven Hills" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 12: 44. 

Real Estate Super Sales: Craig-y-Mor (1988)

As my collection of media clippings has grown, I have also managed to obtain a few articles relating to house sales at the top of the Sydney housing market or sales that may be of interest.

In 2021, Australia's most expensive dwelling is:

• Located in Sydney
• Located at Barangaroo
• Under Construction
• An apartment

The apartment is a penthouse in the One Sydney Harbour complex at the top of its tallest tower nearly 250 metres above street level with views that are unlikely to never be built out including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. 

To own the penthouse, the buyer paid $140 million. 

Source: Anon. 1988. "$12.3m for harbourside home". The Daily Telegraph, March 8: 3. 

In 1988, Sydney's property market as in 2021 was booming. That year Point Piper Mansion, Craig-y-Mor was sold for an then Australian record at the time - $12.3 million, which is less than one-tenth of the price paid to purchase the most expensive home in Australia today. 

The buyer was the Gary Rothwell of the Winten Property Group.

The estate covered 2600sq/m of land, which was subdivided. The mansion was sold for $7.14 million to Chris Corrigan and his wife Valerie in 1991.

A decade later (2001), stockbroker Rene Rivkin and his wife purchased it from Corrigan for $10.7 million. Three years later, Rivkin sold it to businessman Ben Tilley for $16.15 million.

Just four years later, the mansion set another record for the sale of a home in Australia, sold for $32.4 million to former Chinese vice-president Zeng​ Qinghong​, and wife Jiang Mei. Ownership was transfered to their son Zeng Wei in 2015.

Craig-y-Mor was demolished in 2014 and was replaced by a new four storey residence. 

Property Advert of the Week: Hopeton Keys, Birchgrove (1997)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1997 promoting the Hopeton Keys development at Birchgrove. Apartments were on sale from $310 000, while townhouses started at $460 000. If a buyer wanted a marina berth, they could purchase it for at least $80 000.

Source: Greencliff & Summit Property Services. 1997. "Don't Miss The Boat" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24: 22 (Real Estate Liftout).