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

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

 

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

1. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)
2. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme (1984)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
5. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)
6. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme
7. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's Bennelong Centre (1991)
8. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The Revolving Office Tower Scheme (1991)
9. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay 'Ideas Quest' (1992)
10. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Mirvac Hotel Scheme - 61 Macquarie Street (1992)
11. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): New Planning Guidelines unveiled (1993)
12. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The shift towards residential development (1993)
13. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Residential Scheme unveiled (1994)
14. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction commences (1995)
15. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction continues (1996)
16. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unveiling "The Toaster" (1997)