NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Shangri-La Hotel, Haymarket (1983)

In 1982, plans were unveiled to build a 26 level hotel and convention centre atop what is presently Paddys Markets at Haymarket. It would be managed by the Shangri-La Hotel Group. Sydney City Council were keen to have it cut to twelve storeys. 

It was planned with the impending redevelopment of Darling Harbour but also to take advantage of being at the door of the newly completed Sydney Entertainment Centre. 

Source: Coultan, M. 1983. "Council keen to limit Haymarket hotel height". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 5: 2. 

Property Advert of the Week: Mariners Cove at Sydney Olympic Park (2000)

One of the first developments at what is now known as Wentworth Point was Mariners Cove. Back in 2000, the price of a three or four bedrooom unit cost just $475 000.

 

Source: CB Richard Ellis. 2000 "Mariners Cove at Olympic Park" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 10: 34A (Domain Liftout). 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Village Cinema Centre Redevelopment (1990)

Meriton Tower in 2013. Photo taken by the Author.

Meriton Tower is a 48 level tower located on the former site of the Village Cinema Centre in George Street. The tower designed by Harry Seidler was completed in 2007 and also the headquarters of the Meriton Group.

Prior to Meriton developing the site, there were at least two proposals to redevelop the site. One was in 1990 for a 41 level office tower rising above a rebuilt cinema complex with 10 screens and retail podium. The site area was larger, also encompassing the site of the Greater Union Cinema Complex. Though Village Cinemas and Greater Union were separate chains, they were apart of The Greater union Organisation, a subsidiary of Amalgamated Holdings (Currently known as Event Hospitality & Entertainment). 

Source: Harbour, D. 1990. "New Look for Cinema Strip". The Sunday Telegraph, February 4: 36.

The development was also proposed at the same time as plans were also proposed to redevelop the Hoyts Cinema and Regent Theatre sites. 

It was anticipated that work would commence that year.

Source: Walkley, P. 1990. "New Sydney movie complex". The Australian Financial Review, February 6: page unknown. 

A second plan was unveiled in 1998 focusing on a 50 level hotel and apartment complex which formed the basis for Meriton's future development of the site. Under this scheme designed by architect,Steve Zappia, the tower would be built by developer George Drivas.

Meriton Tower would focus on an all residential configuration, but the hotel component would include serviced apartments. 

Source: Totaro, P. 1998. "$200m tower plan for cinema strip". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 17: 3. 

Source: Skelsey, M. "Hotel tower to bury village". The Daily Telegraph, April 17: 6. 

Meriton Tower was approved around 2002 (Need confirmation on this) but demolition work commenced towards the end of that year before completion in 2006. 

Property Advert of the Week : Bass Hill Land Release (1968)

Below is a 1968 newspaper advertisement from The Daily Mirror promoting a land release from Hooker-Rex at Bass Hill. While we know its bounded by Johnson Street, Denman Street, Rex Road and Flinders Road, the southern boundary cannot be established.  $100 secured your deposit but one could purchase outright for $3975. 

Source: Hooker-Rex. 1968. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, April 5: 54.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Commonwealth Bank Tower, Martin Place (1989)

Above: A rendering of the proposed Commonwealth Bank Tower from 1989. Full citation below

In 1989, the Commonwealth Bank unveiled plans to build a major tower above it's former Pitt Street head office.

The proposed tower rose 39 levels but was set back from Martin Place. The tower would have risen where the current 5 Martin Place tower rises. It was anticipated that the tower with around 43 000sq/m of office space would be completed by 1993. The recession of the early 1990's put an end to plans. The non-heritage section of the building at its eastern end would have been demolished.

Source. Harley, R. 1989. "Commonwealth Bank plans major upgrading in Sydney". The Australian Financial Review, May 17: page unknown. 

The site was zoned only to permit a 29 level tower, yet council approved the extra levels on the condition that it would fund the construction of a new public library for Sydney City Council. The library also had to be fully furnished. Approval was formally given in September 1990. 

Source: Dixon, A. 1990. "Bank looks at $30m windfall". The Sydney Morning Herald, November 6: 28. 

Below is a photo I took in 2002 of a scale model of the tower as featured in the City of Sydney model. Thank you to Richard Braddish of Sydney City Council who was able to show the model to me. 

A decade later (2013), I managed to get better photos of the model. Again this was organised by Richard Braddish (Sydney City Council).

This gives an idea of how it would have looked on our city skyline as viewed from the west.

 

In 2015, a twenty level building was built as part of a redevelopment of the entire building (including the moneybox building). 

Photo taken by the author (2016).

Property Advert of the Week: The Madison, Sydney (1997)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1997 promoting the sale of apartments in The Madison which is located in Pelican Street. One bedroom apartments were on sale from $197 000 and two bedroom apartments on sale from $319 000.

 

Source: City Unit Sales Project Marketing. 1997. "Come Home to the Madison" (Advertisement)". The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24: 16RE.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Capitol Theatre Redevelopment Plans (1989)

The Capitol Theatre is one of four major theatres located within the Sydney CBD and its immediate surrounds. It's main competitors include the State Theatre, Theatre Royal and the Lyric Theatre at The Star.

The theatre is nearly a century old, completed in 1928 with a capacity for around 2000 people. It was closed in 1983 and reopened in 1995 after a redevelopment of the site which included a retail complex and a hotel facing Pitt Street.

In 1989, tenders were called for the redevelopment of the site. 

Winner

Ipoh Constructions

This is what the eventual redevelopment was based on with the redeveloped theatre, hotel and retail complex. The retail complex includes the atrium that is found there today. The hotel building was eventually redesigned. Architect was Andrew Andersons of Peddle Thorp Walker.

Alternative Schemes

Bond Corporation

Redevelopment of the theatre also included a 30 Storey office tower facing George Street and a 13 level hotel facing Pitt Street. 

Capital Land Corporation

Along with a restored theatre, redevelopment plans included a 42 level office tower facing George Street and a 300 room, four star hotel facing Pitt Street.

Essington

In addition to the existing theatre, a second theatre with a capacity for 1 200 patrons was planned for the Pitt Street side of the site along with a thirty level office tower facing George Street.

 The artists impressions were sourced from the following articles:

Evans, B. 1989. "Capitol Ideas". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 22: 76.

Harley, R. 1989. "Sydney Council weights options for Capitol". The Australian Financial Review, May 17: 54. 

Nance, J. 1989. "Capitol rivals put on a real variety show". The Weekend Australian, May 20: page unknown. 

Property Advert of the Week: Stocks and Holdings Projects Ad (1966)

Below is a double-page newspaper advertisement that was published in The Daily Telegraph on April 9 1966 by Stocks and Holdings Projects to showcase a selection of land releases that were on offer across Sydney.

Source: Stocks & Holdings Projects. 1966. "For Sydney's Best Land Values Follow These Signs" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 9: 36-37. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: SCEGGS Darlinghurst Redevelopment (1971)

Source: Anon. 1971. "$45Million Investment...Rents to aid SCEGGS' Costs". The Daily Telegraph

In 1971, the Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School (SCEGGS) lodged plans with Sydney City Council for a twin tower development on land that was partially owned by the school in Darlinghurst. The development was bounded by William, Forbes and Bourke Street's.

Source: Anon. 1971. "SCEGGS Plans $45m Complex". The Daily Mirror, September 16: 7. 

The scheme proposed comprised of two towers. One tower would be forty stories tall with the second tower rising twenty stories.

Cost of construction would have cost $45 million but for SCEGGS, the income stream from rental of commercial space in the towers would have kept fee increases to a minimum.

Unfortuantely, I do not have any information about why the scheme did not proceed. 

Source: Anon. 1971. "SCEGGS As A Developer". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 17: page unknown.