Fab Sydney Flashbacks: June 2024

Monday 24 June 2024

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The protests (1997)

East Circular Quay NIMBY ad May 28 1997 daily telegraph 17

Source: Anon. 1997. "Protest Rally" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, May 28: 17.

The redevelopment of East Circular Quay was controversial. The posts in this series have highlighted the controversy surrounding how to redevelop the precinct. Concerns were associated with the building's proximity to the Opera House and the Royal Botanical Gardens.

By the summer of 1996/1997, Bennelong Apartments had topped out as part of its construction, giving one an idea of its height and bulk. After years of viewing artists' impressions, architectural drawings and plans, Sydneysiders could now judge with their eyes whether or not the redevelopment was suitable for its location.

Up until this point, criticism was confined to the media—calls to radio stations, letters to newspapers, newspaper commentaries, and interviews.

This continued through the first weeks of 1997. The NSW Government ruled out halting construction as the cost to NSW taxpayers of halting the development would be $700 million, spending that was not justified in light of other spending priorities such as health and education. The State Government response in 1997 will be looked at in an upcoming entry, given the content now warrants a separate entry.

East Circular Quay January 22 1997 SMH 7

Source: Vass, N. 1997. "Halt to quay development ruled out". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 22: 7.

Opponents saw an opportunity and began a campaign of demonstrations to persuade the NSW Government to halt the development and purchase the site to stop any further development. This would have included the deconstruction of the buildings being built.

East Circular Quay February 15 1997 SMH 1 enlarged

Source: Totaro, P. & Wainwright, R. 1997. "Our towering eyesore...how Carr set the ball rolling in 1988". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 15: 35.

On February 14, 1997, 3,000 people gathered at the Sydney Opera House forecourt, calling for construction to stop. NSW Premier Bob Carr sought Federal Government intervention.

East Circular Quay February 16 1997 Sun Herald 3

Source: Anon. 1997. "Federal funds can save Quay". The Sun Herald, February 16: 3.

Another demonstration was held on April 6, attracting 3,500 people. This also included a concert.

East Circular Quay Protest Ad March 31 1997 SMH 3

Source: Save East Circular Quay. 1997. "Public Rally & Jazz Concert (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, March 31: 3.

East Circular Quay protests April 7 1997 SMH 1 enlarged

Source: Susskind, A. & Riley, M. 1997. "'Tiny crack' in the wall buoys Quay protestors". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 7: 1 & 4.

One demonstration was organized outside Parliament House on May 28. Clover Moore (MLA, Ind. Bligh) presented a petition with 40,000 signatures against the development.

East Circular Quay May 28 1997 SMH 3 (2)

Source: Totaro, P. & Wainwright, R. "City Council was told it could block Quay building". 1997. The Sydney Morning Herald, May 28: 3.

As the protests and opposition against the development continued, the developer wanted Sydneysiders to "give us a chance".

Source: Hilferty, T. & Skelsey, M. 1997. "Give us a chance: Quay developer's plea to the people of Sydney". The Daily Telegraph, September 11: 8.

On September 21 1997, a group of protestors decided to try and pelt the unfinished building with tomatoes and rotten eggs.

East Circular Quay September 22 1997 SMH 2

Source: Anon. 1997. 'Protestors take aim against the quay's rotten egg". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 22: 2.

Harry Seidler regarded the redevelopment as an "insult", though he had proposed a low-rise scheme a decade earlier but had shifted in that time to the one tall building at the Cahill Expressway with the remainder of the precinct, opened up.

Source: Susskind, A. 1997. "An insult to Opera House, Seidler says of Quay Plan". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 7: 4.

Even the suburban mayors joined in.

East Circular Quay February 21 1997 SMH 3

Source: Wainright, R. 1997. "Mayors speak out over Quay 'eyesore'". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 21: 3.

Finally, this was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on April 15 1997, summarising architects' views on the development and their concerns.

East Circular Quay February 15 1997 SMH 35 Architects

Source: Susskind, A. 1997. "The architects: A 'monument to compromise'". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 15: 35.

For the next four weeks, I will do a mid year Remember This? Series, before resuming this series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay.

Entries in this Series

Saturday 22 June 2024

Property Advert of the Week: Forestville Land Release (1964)

Below is a 1964 newspaper advertisement promoting homesites at the Glenview Estate in Forestville. Prices ranged from £1,475 ($2950) to £1895 ($3790).

Glenview Estate Forestville Ad June 5 1964 The Sun 48

Source: Rivers Real Estate. 1964. "Rivers Magnificent Estates" (Advertisement). The Sun, June 5: 48.

Monday 17 June 2024

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unveiling "The Toaster" (1997)

The series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay has now reached Part 15. Last week, I focused on 1996. That year saw apartments in both developments by Colonial Mutual Limited (CML) and Mirvac go on sale along with construction, though the media thought that it was progressing slowly if anything at all.

The next three entries focus on 1997, which was marked by drama. Construction gained pace, but while that was happening, Sydneysiders rallied against the redevelopment. Even though its future had been set a few years earlier, critics of the redevelopment continued to push forward visions for the precinct.

This week's entry focuses on construction, while next week's entry focuses on the public protests. The third entry looks at the visions for redevelopment of East Circular Quay that were presented during that year as solutions to address public opposition and concerns raised by its critics.

Construction continued and gained pace during the year. It was clear that the buildings were going to be built to completion.

Source: Anon. 1997. "Quay project can't be stopped". The Daily Telegraph, April 4: 9.

In 1997, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotel Group were still proceeding with their plans to consolidate 3,5 and 7 Macquarie Street into one building with 220 hotel rooms.

Source: Skelsey, M. 1997. "Quay site turns into hotel on the harbour". The Daily Telegraph, May 2: 9.

For the majority of the year, Bennelong Apartments was draped in scaffolding. The building had topped out early in the new year.

East Circular Quay january 15 1997 daily telegraph 11 enlarged

Source: Darmann, J. 1997. Untitled. Photograph. The Daily Telegraph, January 15: 11.

The Daily Telegraph even posted construction updates to update readers on progress. Some of the updates are featured below.

Source: Anon. 1997. "Quay's finish in site". The Daily Telegraph, March 24: 14.

Source: Anon. 1997. "A guarded response". The Daily Telegraph, April 7: 16.

Below is an image taken from The Rocks taken around June 1997.

Sourced from: Wainwright, R. 1997. "Plan hatched in luxury suite". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 2: 8.

Bennelong Apartments gets labelled "The Toaster"

In September 1997, the hoardings came off the Bennelong Apartments, and for the first time, Sydneysiders got to see the building. Martin Alexander Middleton of Portsmouth, England, told The Daily Telegraph that it looked like a "toaster". The general sentiment by tourists was that of disapproval, and that would support locals who voiced their concerns about the development.

Source: Skelsey, M. 1997. "Covers off new Quay building". The Daily Telegraph, September 9: 2.

By the end of 1997, construction had shifted to the interior of Bennelong Apartments, while the other buildings were in their early stages of ascension.

Entries in this Series

Saturday 15 June 2024

Property Advert of the Week: Edgeview Tower, Surry Hills (1999)

Below is a 1999 newspaper advertisement for the Edgeview Tower in Surry Hills. In 2022, I posted a 1997 newspaper advertisement when apartments were being sold off the plan (Link provided below). Apartments could still be sought from $ 169,000.

Edgeview Surry Hills June 5 1999 SMH 22RE

Source: Charles & Sturt. 1999. Untitled (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 5: 22RE (Real Estate Liftout).

Monday 10 June 2024

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction continues (1996)

Last week, in the East Circular Quay Redevelopment series, I looked at 1995 and the commencement of construction, including the demolition of the buildings that remained on the site owned by Colonial Mutual Limited (CML).

This year will focus on 1996.

Changes to the design

Further changes were proposed. Simply, 3 and 5 Macquarie Street would have been merged into one building, with 7 Macquarie Street remaining separate, except that it would become a hotel (as mentioned last week). The heights of the buildings were to be increased by five metres. An observation lounge proposed for the sky bridge connecting Bennelong Apartments (1 Macquarie) with the other buildings was scrapped.

East Circular Quay September 27 1996 SMH 3

Source: Totaro, P. "Back to the drawing board for controversial $350m Quay development". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 27: 3.

Mirvac Vs CML

East Circular Quay November 24 1996 daily telegraph 31

Source: Gosman, K. 1996. "Millionaires row over penthouses with a view". The Sunday Telegraph, November 24: 31.

Mirvac's Quay Grand Project had pulled off very strong sales for their apartments, many fetching $2 million. When apartments were released for sale in May, they were all sold by the end of the day that sales were launched.

Tycoon Bob Ell paid $3.5 million for his penthouse. He objected to plans to increase the height of the CML Buildings (3,5,7 Macquarie Street) by five metres.

Apartment Sales

East Circular Quay April 11 1996 daily telegraph

Source: Edwards, G. 1996. "Unit fetches $5m before a brick is laid". The Daily Telegraph, April 11: Page Unknown.

Even with the opposition building against it, there were plenty who were eager to call the area home and had the wallets to do so. Apartments were sold without any formal market.

One penthouse had been sold by April 1996 for $5.5 million.

Construction

I had nothing on file with actual construction photos from 1996 to share, but it was reported that the entire development (both CML and Mirvac) would be completed by 1998. The newspapers questioned the pace of construction and whether there was any progress at all.

The next three entries will focus on 1997, which was significant as the construction of the buildings fuelled further opposition, and the question of how to redevelop the precinct rose again.

Entries in this Series

Saturday 8 June 2024

Property Advert of the Week: Stage 4 Release - Abbotsford Cove, Abbotsford (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement for Abbotsford Cove at Abbotsford. Abbotsford Cove was developed on the site of the former Nestle Factory and is one of several "Brownfield" development sites located along the Parramatta River.

At the time, they were in the fourth stage of the release of apartments for sale. Two and three-bedroom apartments on sale ranged from $340,000 to $740,000

Source: Richardson & Wrench Project Marketing. 1998 "Abbotsford Cove" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 33RE (Real Estate Liftout).

Monday 3 June 2024

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction commences (1995)

Sourced from: Skelsey, M. 1995. "Gilding the Quay". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 3: 11.

This is Part 14 in the series of entries on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay. Last week's entry focused on the unveiling of the redevelopment scheme that would lead to what we see there today. In 1994, Colonial Mutual Limited (CML) and Mirvac won approval to redevelop their respective sites with a focus on residential development, along with space for a hotel, retail, dining, cinema, rehearsal space, and offices for the Australian Chamber Orchestra. The new buildings would range from 12 to 15 levels.

Work commenced in 1995, with the demolition of buildings still on the site. Multiplex won the contract to demolish and construct the buildings on the land owned by CML.

In November 1995, CML announced that the project had been split into two. The northernmost building (1 Macquarie Street) would be developed separately, while 3, 5, and 7 Macquarie Street would be built jointly. During 1995, 1996, and 1997, CML had proposed altering the usage of 3,5 and 7 Macquarie Street from all residential to a mix of hotel and residential but ultimately settled for residential.

Sourced from: Anon. 1995. "Sydney's Growing Pains". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 21: 11.

While apartments were yet to go on sale, prices were unveiled in November 1995. Seven penthouses in Bennelong Apartments (northernmost tower) were on offer for more than $4 million. This would have made it one of the most expensive apartments in Australia. At the time, the most expensive apartment in Australia was at Darling Point, valued at $4.2 million and was owned by Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.

Smaller penthouses (10) were on offer for less than $4 million, while remaining apartments were on offer from $750,000.

East Circular Quay November 3 1995 daily telegraph 11

Source: Skelsey, M. 1995. "Gilding the Quay". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 3: 11.

The series continues next week.

Additional Sources

Condon, T. 1995. "Multiplex poised to win controversial Quay job". The Australian Financial Review, May 4: 34

Smith, F. Jimenez, K. 1995. "Australia's most expensive view will cost upwards of $4m". The Australian Financial Review, November 2: 40.

Entries in this series

Saturday 1 June 2024

Property Advert of the Week: Wahroonga Land Release (1966)

Below is a 1966 newspaper advertisement for a land release in the vicinity of Roland Avenue, Wahroonga. The blocks were on offer from $2790 (£1395), which would be equivalent to paying around $ 43,500 today (RBA Inflation Calculator).

Wahroonga October 15 1966 daily telegraph 49

Source: Homewise Pty. Ltd. 1966. "Exclusive North Shore Land!" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, October 15: 49.

Note: Advertising in pounds, shillings and pence was permitted in 1967 as part of a two-year transition to decimal currency in 1966.