East Circular Quay Redevelopment: Opera Residences (2021)

Above: Opera Residences as viewed from the Royal Botanic Gardens. Photo by the Author (2024).

This is the final entry in the series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay. Last week's entry focused on the completion of the development of the four building Bennelong Apartments complex (Colonial Mutual Limited) and Quay Grand (Mirvac) in 1999.

With both developments complete, the southernmost building on the block, Coca-Cola Amatil Building (71 Macquarie Street), became the sole office building.

Coca Coca vacates 71 Macquarie Street

In 2010, Coca-Cola vacated the building at 71 Macquarie Street to relocate to North Sydney. They were the original tenants in the 15-level building, which was completed in 1966.

Following its departure, property owner AMP sought to redevelop the site into luxury apartments and partnered with Mirvac to redevelop the site. 

A concept plan was placed on exhibition in 2012.

In 2014, a Development Application was lodged with the Central Sydney Planning Committee for a 19-level apartment building containing 109 apartments (later revised to 104 apartments). 

Crone Architects, Tzannes and Make were the architects. 

The building was demolished in 2017. Construction commenced in 2019 and was completed in 2021. The final construction costs were approximately $140 million. 

Below are a few photos that I took of its demolition and construction

This was a photo of demolition in July 2017 taken from Circular Quay near Wharf 4. At this stage, the entire building was draped in scaffolding.

January 2020 - Construction at street level

November 2020

Nearing completion in March 2021

Final Remarks

I have reached the end of this series showcasing the redevelopment of East Circular Quay. It has encompassed more four decades, focusing on various plans to redevelop the site, whether on one site or the entire precinct, the role of planning authorities, Local, State, and even the Federal Government, the public backlash over its redevelopment in the 1990s, and its construction and completion.

I will leave it up to you to decide whether the redevelopment of East Circular Quay has been positive or negative.

Some positives of redeveloping East Circular Quay include:

• Removal of the roadway
• More space for pedestrians
• Development of a retail and dining precinct
• Provision of entertainment space - Cinema Complex
• Development of a residential precinct in Central Sydney

Negatives include:

• Views of Sydney Opera House from Circular Quay are obscured
• High cost of apartments - Unaffordable to most Sydneysiders
• Views to the Royal Botanic Gardens are blocked - lost opportunity to open the views.
• Height, bulk and design of the buildings
• Disrespects the location - close to the Sydney Opera House

The end

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)
17. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The protests (1997)
18. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Redevelopment Visions (1997)
19. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): NSW Government Response (1997)
20. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Completion of Bennelong Apartments (1998)
21. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Jorn Utzon's perspective (1998)
22. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The protests continue (1998) 
23. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Completion (1999)