Property Advert of the Week: Wentworthville Land Release (1962)

Below is a 1962 newspaper advertisement promoting a land release at Wentworthville. A ten pound deposit ($20) secured your block of land. Albert & Co. Pty. Ltd (subsidiary of Stocks and Holdings) were the agents associated with land sales.

   

Source: Albert & Co. Pty. Ltd. 1962. "Wentworthville Delightful Land..." (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 14: 47. 

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Sydney CBD Road Tunnels (1990)

Source: Anon. 1990. "Tunnel solution to city traffic jams". The Daily Mirror, October 5: 17. 

This is the second entry in our first Visions of Sydney series. In 1990, Deputy Lord Mayor Ross Bonthorne, proposed a network of underground road tunnels running through the Sydney CBD to address traffic congestion at street level.

The network proposed four tunnels. Motorists could use the tunnels to access carparks or delivery zones.

One tunnel would run under Park Street. This became reality through the Cross City Tunnel, completed in 2005. However the Cross City Tunnel was a designated motorway to provide a bypass underneath the Sydney CBD to connect the eastern and western suburbs of the city.

The second tunnel would run underneath Goulburn Street to serve the southern CBD.

The third road tunnel was to run east-west near Martin Place and would connect with the Cahill Expressway. Three possible routes were proposed.

The fourth tunnel running underneath Pitt Street would connect the three east-west tunnels. 

Next week, we will continue with the next entry in the series. 

Property Advert of the Week: "Living 68 " by Hooker Homes, Winston Hills (1968)

Below is a 1968 newspaper advertisement by Hooker Homes to promote their Exhibition Village at Winston Hills. The "Living 68" centre was located at the corner of Lanham's Road and Hillcrest Avenue. 

 

Source: Hooker Homes. 1968. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, June 8: 43. 

Property Advert of the Week: Edgeview Tower, Surry Hills (1997)

Our Property Advert of the Week is a 1999 newspaper advertisement for apartments in the Edgeview Towers Apartment Complex in Riley Street, Surry Hills. Studio apartments were on sale from $145 950 and one bedroom apartments were on sale from $183 000.

 

Source: Charles & Sturt. 1997. Untitled (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24: 16RE (Real Estate Liftout).

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Hyde Park United (1989)

I am introducing a new series of posts that will be themed Visions of Sydney which I will post from time to time.

The Never Built series has focused on major building developments that were either proposed to be built or were approved by planning authorities but still was not built.

Visions of Sydney posts will focus on what our planners had in mind for our city, whether it involved widespread redevelopment within the Sydney CBD and surrounds or new developments in our suburbs. 

This will include transport or civic projects that were planned for Sydney, but either remained a drawing on a sketchboard or a line on a map.

And this will include with individual architects or planners had in mind as their "answer" to improving our city e.g. My 2020 posting on Harry Seidler's 1957 proposed residential scheme for McMahons Point would satisfy this as Seidler had a vision for the future of McMahons Point.

The first entry in this series of entries was a proposal to rejoin Hyde Park which has been split in two by Park Street in 1989.

The rejoining of the park was to be made possible through the construction of the Cross City Tunnel (not completed until 2005) along with a supplementary tunnel for local CBD traffic.

It was envisioned that Hyde Park would according to Lord Mayor Jeremy Bingham would be "one of the most beautiful urban parklands in the world" but would also provide "a sweeping vista of lawns and gardens".

This was a lost opportunity for Sydney when the Cross City Tunnel eventuated to keep traffic out of central Sydney.

Finally it does mention of the proposed Civic Square for the site of Woolworths and adjoining buildings opposite the Sydney Town Hall which is still on the council's "to-do" list. 

Source: Turner, 1989. "Sweeping Park Vista in Skyline. The Daily Mirror, December 1: 27.

Property Advert of the Week: Red Gum Estate, Northmead (1968)

A few weeks go, I shared a  1966 newspaper advertisement by Parkes Developments for a land release at Northmead. This week, I stick to the same suburb but fast forward two years to 1968 and HookerRex were offering homesites for a $100 deposit on the Red Gum Estate. 

 

Source: Hooker-Rex Pty. Ltd. 1968. "Northmead Homesites" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, April 5: 48. 

1971: When the first play was performed at the Sydney Opera House

In 1971, The Sydney Opera House was still two years away from completion but for five hundred construction workers, they became the first audience to watch the first play. On 13 November 1971, The Q Theatre Group presented The Chocolate Frog.  

Source: Anon. "Theatre comes to the Opera House". The Daily Telegraph, November 14: 3. 

Property Advert of the Week: Crestwood, Blacktown (1992)

Below is a newspaper advertisement by Australian Housing & Land promoting the sale of townhouses and villas in the Crestview development in Reservoir Road, Blacktown. Prices started at $125 950. 

 

Source: Australian Housing & Land. 1992. "Crestview" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph Mirror,  March 28: 9. 

SYDNEY DEPARTMENT STORES: When McDowells was rebranded as Waltons (1972)

Source. Waltons. 1972. "Grand Opening Mighty May Sale" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 27: 18-19. 

McDowells was regarded as one of Sydney's smaller department store chains when compared against Grace Bros, David Jones, Anthony Horderns and Marcus Clark. The chain traded between 1889 and 1972 when it was taken over by rival Waltons at a cost of $6.6 million.

Following the takeover, its flagship city store at the corner of King and George Streets was closed and demolished for what is now known as IAG House. Six suburban stores - Bondi Junction, Caringbah, Dee Why, Eastwood, Hornsby and Rockdale were rebranded as Waltons. "Grand Opening" sales were used to promote the rebranding.

Source. Waltons. 1972. "New Department Stores" (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, April 26: 20-21. 

Property Advert of the Week: Jubilee Towers, Hornsby (1996)

Below is a newspaper advertisementt from 1996 by Meriton Apartments for the Jubilee Towers in Hornsby. Located at the southern end of the central business district, it is a five minute walk to Westfield and ten minute walk to the railway station.

Apartments started at $159 000 for a one bedroom apartment, $179 000 for a two bedroom apartment and $239 000 for a three bedroom apartment.

 

Source: Meriton Premier Apartments. 1996. "Jubilee Towers" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 22: 11RE (Real Estate Liftout).