Fab Sydney Flashbacks: October 2024

Monday, 28 October 2024

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Completion (1999)

East Circular Quay September 7 2000 SMH Domain 22 enlarged

From: Blok, M. 2000. "Ferry nice". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 7: 22 (Domain Liftout).

The end is in sight for this series on East Circular Quay as the focus shifts to the completion of the redevelopment.

1999 saw the completion of the main residential development, comprising Bennelong Apartments, 3,5 and 7 Macquarie Street, and Mirvac's Quay Grand project. Two decades later, the separate redevelopment of the Coca-Cola Amatil building would complete the transformation of the area.

Either love it or hate it

The original twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York were never architecturally impressive. When they officially opened in 1973, they struggled to attract tenants. What ultimately made the Twin Towers successful was what they offered inside the building, such as open floor plans without columns, which catered to the needs of corporate firms. In the 1990s, it became one of the most prestigious addresses to base a company in New York City.

This development may not have been architecturally attractive, but it succeeded based on what was inside the building. As residential buildings, they are amongst the best located in Sydney. It was as close to the Sydney Opera House as one could get and had spectacular views of the city, harbour, and its icons and luxurious living. Shops, restaurants and a cinema were available at ground level and a short walk to buses, trains and ferries. Had a city office? You could walk to it.

Those with big wallets were prepared to pay for a slice of the action.

East Circular Quay April 18 1999 Sun Herald 25

Source: Mitchell, A. 1999. "$14m for slice of Toaster". The Sun Herald, April 18:25.

Retail & dining restrictions

For retail and dining tenants at the base of the buildings, restrictions were placed on their operations, such as trading hours, the type of furniture and fit-outs. Nightclubs were not permitted, and a 2am curfew. This would be enforced by the Strata Corporations in the buildings.

East Circular Quay April 15 1999 daily telegraph 15

Source: Skelsey, M. 1999. "Toaster's pub with no cheers". The Daily Telegraph, April 15: 15.

Rules for residents

Residents were expected to be on their "best behaviour." Swearing, walking around naked, and hanging laundry to dry on balconies were not permitted.

East Circular Quay April 9 1999 daily telegraph 15

Source: Skelsey, M. 1999. "How to behave in a toaster". The Daily Telegraph, April 9: 15.

Upgrades to the footpath outside the buildings were undertaken to create the colonnade that we see today.

Next week, I will post the final entry in the series, focusing on the Opera Residences development, which involved converting the former Coca-Cola Amatil Building from an office complex into a residential tower.

Entries in this series

Saturday, 26 October 2024

Property Advert of the Week: Huxley Homes (1984)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1984 by Huxley Homes. Five model homes were on display, which could be built on one's own block of land or combined with a house and land package. The display village was located on Epson Road, Chipping Norton.

Huxley Homes Ad May 12 1984 daily telegraph 10

Source: Huxley Homes. 1984. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, May 12: 10.

Monday, 21 October 2024

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The protests continue (1998)

In my series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay, I continue to focus on 1998. So far, I have looked at the completion of the Bennelong Apartments and last week shared clippings in which Sydney Opera House architect Jorn Utzon expressed his concerns over the redevelopment.

While one building was completed and others were still under construction, critics continued to lobby to halt the redevelopment and demolish the buildings.

Last week, I posted this clipping (below) and focused on Jorn Utzon delivering his message to opponents of the project that had gathered at a meeting in June 1998. Utzon did not attend in person but had sent a written message that was presented to the one thousand that gathered inside Sydney Town Hall.

Source: Totaro, P. "Utzon tells Opera House protestors: I'm a with you". The Sydney Morning Herald, May 21:2.

A month earlier, Utzon had told The Daily Telegraph that the land should be purchased and the redevelopment stopped.

While Lord Mayor Frank Sartor could not attend, he was happy to provide the town hall for free. The protest wanted one outcome - that the site be purchased by either the State or Federal Government and the buildings demolished.

Three months earlier, the Save East Circular Quay Committee resumed its fight to lobby the State Government to stop the redevelopment. In addition, it was seeking intervention at the Commonwealth level.

Source: Susskind, A. & Riley, M. 1998. "Quay building opponents ready to resume the fight". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 11: 5.

In the same month, another protest took place in the vicinity of the redevelopment, though it did not receive the coverage that protests in the previous year did.

East Circular Quay March 28 1998 daily telegraph 18

Source: Anon. 1998. "Plea for $1bn to teardown Quay project". The Daily Telegraph, March 28: 18.

Over 100,000 signatures were collected for a petition in opposition to the redevelopment. The campaign also involved over 400 prominent Australians and international personalities.

Source: Totaro, P. 1998. "Thousands join fight to save East Circular Quay". The Sydney Morning Herald, May 16: 8.

The Royal Australian Institute of Architects, which represented Architects, called for the Federal and State Governments, along with Sydney City Council, to meet to discuss the demolition of the buildings.

East Circular Quay May 23 1998 daily telegraph 7

Source: Skelsey, M. 1998. "Pull the plug: Architects demand toaster showdown". The Daily Telegraph, May 23: 7.

Protestors and critics' quest to seek Federal Government intervention failed, and the State Government indicated that it would not allocate any funding to purchase the site. The buildings would be finished and allowed to remain.

Source: Skelsey, M. & E. Symons. 1998. "No bread for the Toaster". The Daily Telegraph, June 11: page unknown.

Next week, I will look at completion of the redevelopment and in the following week, the conversion of the Coca Cola Amatil Building into a luxury apartment complex which would complete the redevelopment of East Circular Quay.

Entries in this Series

Saturday, 19 October 2024

Real Estate Advert of the Week: Narellan Gardens Estate, Narellan Vale (1993)

Below is a 1993 newspaper advertisement promoting the Narellan Gardens Estate at Narellan Vale. Blocks of land were available from $57,500.

Source: Monarch Investments Group of Companies. 1993. "New Land Release" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph Mirror, May 1: 53.

Monday, 14 October 2024

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Jorn Utzon's perspective (1998)

I have returned from my August break from posting entries. Before the break, I continued a series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay. I had begun to focus on 1998 and the completion of Bennelong Apartments, which had become known as "The Toaster."

This entry will also focus on 1998.

During the year, the Sydney Opera House celebrated its silver jubilee, opening 25 years earlier in 1973.

Jorn Utzon, the architect of the Opera House, had been made aware of the redevelopment. In June, he expressed his support for those opposing it. A message prepared by Utzon was presented at a rally of 1200 people in the Sydney Town Hall. Like the protestors, he wanted the buildings demolished.

Source: Totaro, P. "Utzon tells Opera House protestors: I'm a with you". The Sydney Morning Herald, May 21:2.

A month earlier, Utzon had told The Daily Telegraph that the land should be purchased and the redevelopment stopped.

Jorn Utzon comments on East Circular Quay April 20 1998 daily telegraph 7

Source: Anon. 1998. "Utzon wants Circular Quay building stopped". The Daily Telegraph, April 20: 7.

A month later, Utzon elaborated on those concerns—he wanted a better connection between the Royal Botanic Gardens and Circular Quay and to avoid blocking views of the Opera House.

Utzon East Circular Quay scheme May 22 1998 SMH 2

Source: Totaro, P. 1998. "Utzon: flats ruin Opera House site". The Sydney Morning Herald, May 22: 2.

East Circular Quay July 19 1998 Sun Herald 30-31 utzon enlarged

East Circular Quay July 19 1998 Sun Herald 30-31

Source: O'Rourke, J. 1998. "Utzon's plan for Toaster pops up". The Sun Herald, July 19: 31.

The Sun Herald (July 19, 1998) published an artist's impression drawn by Utzon in 1962, which was available in the Mitchell Library at the State Library of NSW. At the time, he advocated a "wall of buildings" at East Circular Quay.

Next week, I will focus on the protests from 1998.

Entries in this Series