Christmas Snapshot: 1998

Merry Christmas, everyone.

For the first time since 2017, Christmas Day falls on a Monday and its perfect timing for our Christmas Snapshot, focusing on how Sydneysiders marked Christmas 25 years ago.

The year of focus is 1998.

Christmas Services

The Daily Telegraph provided its readers with an overview of what would open and what would be closed on Christmas Day, and generally, there has been little change over the past 25 years.

 

On December 26, The Daily Telegraph provided a summary of how the city marked Christmas Day. Ashfield Uniting Church hosted 2500 people for Christmas Lunch, led by Rev. Bill Crews. Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor acted as Santa while former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and wife Blanche d'Alpuget waited on attendees

Their work has expanded over the years. Apart from Christmas Lunch at Ashfield, the Bill Crews Foundation will have delivered hampers to thousands of homes in the lead-up to today.

10,000 people, mainly backpackers, converged on Bondi Beach for their traditional Christmas Day gathering. The weather played its part, providing attendees with perfect skies. 

Carols in the Domain was on 19 December 1998 and was compered by Hugh Jackman.

Boxing Day Sales on Boxing Day

 

Source: Ryan, R. 1998. "City stores don Boxing Day gloves". The Daily Telegraph, December 26: 7.  

In 1998, Sydney CBD retailers traded on Boxing Day for the first time, which gave Sydneysiders an opportunity to obtain bargains on Boxing Day without having to leave the Sydney Metropolitan area. However, suburban retailers were still prohibited from trading. Under the legislation, the Sydney CBD was deemed to be a tourist area, alongside centres in NSW that were also designated as tourist centres for the purposes of retail trading on Boxing Day. This had been allowed for years, but retailers refused on their own accord to do so.

One retailer that did not participate in Boxing Day trading in central Sydney was David Jones. 

This arrangement continued until 2003. In 2004, Sydney CBD retailers were not permitted to trade on Boxing Day as it fell on a Sunday, and a public holiday in lieu was given (27 December 2004). 

Sydneysiders voted with their feet, with 100,000 shoppers travelling into the city to take advantage of the bargains on offer, led by department stores Grace Bros and David Jones. 

Source: McCabe, K. "Shoppers create a retail heaven". The Sunday Telegraph, December 27: 7. 

1999: Mark Latham and Badgerys Creek Airport - Feature

In 1999, the Federal Government announced that a second Sydney Airport would be located at Badgerys Creek. This did not imply that approval to build the airport was given. It gave certainty that if a second Sydney Airport was built, it would be at Badgerys Creek. It was not until 2014 that the Federal Government under Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that construction would go ahead, leading to the new airport due to open in 2026. 

Mark Latham (ALP, Werriwa) may have sat on opposition benches at the time but agreed that Sydney needed the second airport at Badgerys Creek, not to mention that those in his electorate of Werriwa were set to benefit. Latham was also mayor of Liverpool from 1991 to 1994 and identified the benefits that it would bring to it.

Source: Latham, L. 1999. "Get ready for take-off from Badgerys Creek". The Daily Telegraph, June 11: 11. 

1998: Variable Speed Limit Signs is introduced

This year is 25 years since Sydneysiders were introduced to variable speed signage signs. 

There were speed advisory signs on the F6 Motorway (now known as Princes Motorway) when it opened in 1975, but they were primarily used to alert drivers of hazardous road conditions and recommend that they slow down.

The variable speed limit signs, which are now standard on Sydney motorways, were introduced first on the M4 Motorway in 1998. Below is a newspaper advertisement that was used to educate drivers on the new signs. 

 

Source: Roads and Traffic Authority. 1998. "Coming to the M4". The Daily Telegraph, December 14:14.

Property Advert of the Week: Century Tower (1997)

This week is the last of our Property Advert of the Week entries for 2023. Below is a 1997 newspaper advertisement for Century Tower. Two bedroom apartments were on sale from $378 600.

Source: Sunlord. 1997. "Century Tower" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, July 5: 13RE (Real Estate Liftout).

Property Advert of the Week will return on the first Saturday in February 2024.

1965: Idle Peak Hour Trains

In 1965, The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader published a feature by Tom Mead rebutting claims by NSW Transport Minister John McMahon (ALP) that all available electric carriages were in service during peak hours. As evidence, a photograph of trains stationed on sidings at East Hills during the evening peak period. 

It is typical in Sydney to argue that trains are overcrowded, whether it was in the 1960s or now. The question the article raised was why couldn't additional services be provided to reduce the overcrowding. The East Hills Line was the focus, arguing that the idle trains could have made one return trip each from East Hills to the City. 

Mead would be elected as a State MP for Hurstville two months later, holding onto the seat until 1976. 

Source: Mead, T. 1965. "Electric trains idle as people fight for hold". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, March 3: 1.

Property Advert of the Week: 20 Crows Nest Road, Waverton (1970)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1970 for 20 Crows Nest Road, Waverton. Note that it is advertised as Wollstonecraft. One bedroom apartments were on sale for $16 000, two bedroom for $23 600 and three bedroom apartments from $28 600. 

Source: Gilbert, Kemp Pty. Ltd. 1970. "Wollstonecraft No. 20 Crow's Nest Rd." (Advertisement). The Sun, June 12: 52. 

1998: Olympic Boulevard opens

This week marks 25 years since Olympic Boulevard was open to pedestrians (and vehicles) on 30 November 1998. Costing $33 million, this was to be the main artery for pedestrians accessing venues at Sydney Olympic Park as part of the 2000 Olympic Games.

When no events are held, one can drive their car down the boulevard as a local road.

 

Source: McDougall, B. 1998. "The road to glory". The Daily Telegraph, December 1: 17. 

Property Advertisement of the Week: Horizon Towers, Hornsby (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale in the Horizon Towers in Hornsby.

 

Source: Meriton Premier Apartments. "Horizon Towers" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 14RE (Real Estate Liftout).

1973: North Sydney's booming skyline

Source: Donaldson, J. 1973. "$800 million building boom". The Daily Telegraph, April 26: 9. 

Above is a newspaper article that was published in The Daily Telegraph in 1973 reporting on the skyscraper boom that was being experienced in North Sydney. It was claimed that the value of commercial properties in the North Sydney CBD had doubled in just six months to $800 million (equivalent to $8.5 billion in today's money according to the RBA Inflation Calculator). 

The photograph of the skyline was labelled with buildings either under construction or recently completed.

Recently, I decided to grab a photo of the skyline from Neutral Bay (Where the original photo was taken) as close as I could to where the original photograph was taken to provide a comparison photo to show the change over the past half-century. The "tall" buildings of 1973 are now dwarfed or even blocked while Northside Gardens (right) is currently being redeveloped into a luxury apartment complex.

Photo taken by the Author (2023).

Property Advert of the Week: Domus Designs Model Homes (1966)

Below is a 1966 newspaper advertisement promoting model homes by Domus Designs. The model homes could be inspected at Carlingford and Northmead.

Source: Domus Designs. 1966. "Are you an individualist?" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, October 8: 27. 

1999: Why Bankstown lost the Olympic Road Cycling Races

In the 2000 Olympic Games, Bankstown hosted track cycling events at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Bass Hill, which was built specifically for the Olympics. It is currently the only indoor cycling venue in New South Wales.

Did you know that Bankstown Council was to host Olympic road cycling events until The Sydney Morning Herald stepped in?

Why Bankstown?

The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) had initially been selected for the Eastern Suburbs. The Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox Studios did not want the course running through its "front door".

In response, SOCOG moved the road cycling events to Bankstown because of lower operating costs and "fewer roundabouts". Track Cycling events were being hosted at Bankstown (Bass Hill), and their onsite media centre could be utilised by media agencies covering the road events. 

The Sydney Morning Herald adds its two cents

On May 28 1999, The Sydney Morning Herald published a report on Page 1 written by Olympics Editor Matthew Moore. Two leading cyclists - Brett Dutton and Stephen Hodge, tested the course around Bankstown.

It was deemed "too flat" and would not attract leading international cyclists while praising the course running through the Eastern Suburbs. 

SOCOG backflips

Days after the article was published, SOCOG withdrew plans to undertake the road cycling events in Bankstown on the grounds of traffic congestion on local roads. This decision was not welcomed by Bankstown locals, including Bankstown Council. A modified course for the Eastern Suburbs was prepared and ultimately was the route used during the Olympic Games. 

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Source: Trute, P. 1999. "A suburb betrayed". The Daily Telegraph, June 3: 9. 

I can understand why Bankstown locals were unhappy, and it comes down to equity and the east vs. west rivalry that is so common in Sydney. Bankstown is real suburbia and would have given the locals an opportunity to experience the Olympic Games in their own neighbourhood without having to pay for the privilege or travel to the eastern suburbs to watch the race. 

Property Advert of the Week: Hawkesbury Waterfonts (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1966 promoting the sale of 22 lots on the Hawkesbury River. Based on the map and Google Maps, I believe the lots featured in the advertisement are in Holmes Drive, Cumberland Reach

The lots themselves do not reach the waterfront, as there is a section of sealed road that runs at the rear of the properties, which can be accessed by the public, while an unsealed dirt road goes behind the remaining properties. 

Source: "N & K Developments Pty. Ltd. "Hawkesbury Waterfronts" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 52.  

1985: Saving the Brooklyn Hotel from demolition

The Brooklyn Hotel on the northwest corner of the intersection of Grosvenor, George and Bridge Streets was built in 1912 and was heritage-listed in 1980. The hotel also incorporates the Johnson Corner Buildings. 

In the 1980s, the Grosvenor Place development was approved. One condition of its development was that the Brooklyn Hotel, along with the neighbouring Royal Australian Naval House and Federation Hotel, be preserved and incorporated into the development, which included the 44-level/180-metre Grosvenor Place tower. 

On September 8 1985, fire swept through the building.

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Source: Anon. 1985. "Arson probe at historic sites". The Daily Telegraph: September 9: 3. 

Architect Harry Seidler and developers Kern Corporation submitted plans to demolish the buildings, citing fire damage and questions over its structural integrity. While this was withdrawn, the Minister for Planning and Environment Bob Carr, had to remind them that the restoration of the building was a condition of the approval of the Grosvenor Place development

 

Source: Glascott, J. 1985. "Seidler halts demolition on Grosvenor site". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 19: 5. 

In 1987, a second attempt to demolish the building was proposed for a public square. Carr had to remind them again that demolition was not permitted, and the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority also ruled that demolition was not allowed. That attempt failed.

Source: Hawkes, H. 1987. "Row over historic buildings". The Daily Mirror, February 16: 17.

The following year, it was announced that the buildings would be formally restored at a cost of $10 million. This was undertaken in 1989. 

Source: Bita, N. 1988. "$10m rescue for historic city buildings". The Daily Telegraph, September 15: page unknown.

Property Advert of the Week: "The Charlotte", Ultimo (1995)

Below is a newspaper advertisement dating from 1995 for "The Charlotte" at Ultimo. Apartments were on sale from $ 179,500. 

 

Source: Colliers Jardine & Charles & Stuart. 1995. "Take a look at - The Charlotte" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 87.

1990: Old Fairfax Building demolition collapse

Source: Anon. 1990. "Building crashes on city workers". The Daily Telegraph, August 9: 1. 

Walking down Hunter Street in 2023, one may notice that the former Hunter Connection Office Building is being demolished as part of the new Hunter Street Metro Station construction. A new building will replace the 21-level/89-metre building from 1986.

Directly opposite is 20 Hunter Street, a 16-level office building constructed by Leda Holdings and completed in 1998. Initially, the tower was to have preserved the facades of the four buildings occupying the site, including the old Fairfax Building.

 

Source: Anon. 1990. Untitled. In Paul Pottinger and Jonathan Chancellor, "Rest of unsafe facade to come tumbling down", The Sydney Morning Herald, August 14 1990: 27. 

Just before 1pm on August 8 1990, scaffolding and brickwork from two buildings collapsed onto Hunter Street, injuring seven people. Given the magnitude of the damage, it is amazing that no one was killed, including one construction worker who fell twenty metres. The other six injured comprised of five pedestrians and a motorist. 

Below is coverage from The Daily Telegraph from 9 August 1990.

I have enlarged the photographs for your viewing.

This photograph shows which facades collapsed.  

After the collapse in 1990, the facades were demolished and not incorporated into the building that was built. 

Source: Pottinger, P. & Chancellor, J. 1990. "Rest of unsafe facade to come tumbling down". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 14:27.

Property Advert of the Week: Flowerdale Estate Liverpool (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1966 promoting the Flowerdale Estate in Liverpool. Homesites were on offer from £995 ($1990).

 

Source: Lucas & Tait (Sales) Pty. Ltd. 1966 "Flowerdale Estate Liverpool Sewered Homesites" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, October 1: 49.

Note: Advertising of goods and services in pounds, shillings and pence was permitted for two years following the introduction of decimal currency on 14 February 1966.

1964: North Shore Council Restructure

 

Source: Anon. 1964. ""Impracticable," Mayor protests". The Daily Telegraph, February 4: 7.

Above is a 1964 newspaper clipping from The Daily Telegraph with a map of new North Shore council boundaries proposed by the Northside Advancement Committee to the Local Government Boundaries Commission.

Under the proposed scheme:

• Lane Cove Council would be enlarged by around 25% to encompass parts of the Willoughby Council area west of the Pacific Highway. It became a predominantly residential area.
• Mosman Council would be enlarged by around 25% to encompass part of the North Sydney Local Government Area. Like Lane Cove, it would also be a predominantly residential area.
• Willoughby and North Sydney Councils would be merged to form a new local government area focusing on commercial development.

The restructuring was simply to aid commercial development on the North Shore and provide residents north of the harbour with increased employment opportunities, avoiding the need to cross the harbour to seek employment. This was the same approach taken with Sydney City Council at various stages in its history, where the boundaries reflected commercial activity. 

Source: Anon. 1964. "Scheme to develop Nth. Shore". The Daily Telegraph, February 3: 8.

Town planning expert Dr. Ivan Boileau supported the plan as it encouraged "a twin commercial" (two cities) centres.

 

Source: Anon. 1964. "Expert sees value in N. Shore plan". The Daily Telegraph, February 5: 14.

While the proposal never came to fruition, such a proposal today would not be popular going by attempts to merge North Sydney, Mosman and Willoughby Councils into one council in 2016. 

Property Advert of the Week: Cabramatta Units for sale (1971)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1971 promoting units for sale in Cabramatta. Prices started from $13 400 for a two-bedroom unit ($ 164500) in today's money according to the RBA Calculation Calculator). The exact address in Cabramatta is unknown, as 104 John Street is a commercial address.

 

Source: Stan. R. Freeman (Liverpool). Pty. Ltd. 1971. "Get out of town" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, June 12: 42.

Sydney Opera House Turns 50 - Official Opening Coverage (1973)

Last week, I shared some newspaper clippings focusing on wrap-arounds, supplements and features relating to the opening of the Sydney Opera House. 

This week will focus on coverage in the major newspapers of the official opening of the Sydney Opera House by Queen Elizabeth II on October 20, 1973, given that the fiftieth anniversary falls on Friday. 

The Sydney Opera House was officially opened on a Saturday. At the time, afternoon newspapers were still published on Saturdays (though this would end in May 1974), which allowed The Daily Mirror and The Sun to publish the first accounts of proceedings and photographs. 

The Daily Mirror - October 20 1973

The newspaper felt "It's one of the wonders of the world", and the wrap-arounds featured a view of the Opera House from Bradfield Park as crowds viewed the festivities from the northern shores of the harbour. Motorists and spectators were told to avoid driving into the city. The late edition included the Queen's quote, "I have much pleasure in declaring the Sydney Opera House open." Crowds were estimated at 500,000.

The Sun - October 20 1973

Page 1 was dominated by an aerial photograph of the Opera House, and the crowd gathered on the forecourt.

The main feature on page 2 did not record the Queen's quote to declare the Opera House open but emphasised that in her view, the building would become "one of the wonders of the world" like the Egyptian Pyramids, which themselves were subject to controversy. 

 

The Sun Herald - October 21 1973

It was a day of glory for the city. According to their reports, an estimated one million people gathered on the shores of Sydney Harbour. Their coverage was comprehensive as the clippings show below. One point of interest was the tight security that was placed around the opening to ensure the safety of the Queen and the 15 000 invited to attend the opening ceremony. 

 

The Sunday Telegraph - October 21 1973

There are two front pages - the souvenir wrap-around and a general page one cover. The headline "Happy and Glorious" reflects the regal nature of the ceremony. A great picture of the Queen addressing the crowd with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge rising behind her.

 

Below is a full page photograph of the fireworks spectacular from that evening.

 

The speech read by the Queen was also published for its readers on page three along with a feature on the gala concert.

Related Entry

Sydney Opera House Turns 50 - Newspaper preview features (1973)

Property Advert of the Week: A.O. Bentley & Co - Epping and Baulkham Hills Land Releases (1962)

Below is a 1962 newspaper advertisement from A.O. Bentley & Co. promoting new land releases at Epping and Baulkham Hills.

The land release at Epping is not as close to the station as it is in reality. It is in the vicinity of the M2 Motorway and appears to be closer to Beecroft and Cheltenham.

Source: A. O. Bentley & Co. 1962. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 14: 47.