Last week, I commenced our new series focusing on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay and focused on the first proposal to build a unit block at 35-37 Macquarie Street. There was little to be found on why it didn't proceed other than a reference in a 1982 newspaper article in The Sydney Morning Herald mentioning that it had been demolished and was under construction.
In 1984, Lend Lease unveiled their plan to redevelop the entire block for $700 million. Lend Lease were tenants in one of the buildings and therefore had a connection the site.
Source: O'Hara, J. 1984. "The bold $700 million plan to rescue the heart of Sydney". The Sun Herald, September 16: 4-5.
It was an ambitious but simple plan. Two office blocks between thirty and forty levels would be built at the Cahill Expressway end. The rest of the block would contain two levels of shops and restaurants. Above it would be an extension of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which would cross over Macquarie Street. A carpark would also be built for patrons visiting the Sydney Opera House.
However, there were challenges facing Lend Lease that could have killed the scheme quickly involving two sites within the block
1. 35-37 Macquarie Street
This article also references 35-37 Macquarie Street being "under construction".
2. Unilever House
Molena Holdings purchased Unilever House for $22.8 million in December 1983.
Our series continues next week.
Other entries in this series
East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)
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