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.
For the majority of the year, Bennelong Apartments was draped in scaffolding. The building had topped out early in the new year.
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.
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme (1984)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's Bennelong Centre (1991)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The Revolving Office Tower Scheme (1991)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay 'Ideas Quest' (1992)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Mirvac Hotel Scheme - 61 Macquarie Street (1992)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): New Planning Guidelines unveiled (1993)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The shift towards residential development (1993)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Residential Scheme unveiled (1994)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction commences (1995)
- East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction continues (1996)
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