1979: Syd Enfield Drive opens

Full Citation Below.

On January 9, 1979 the Bondi Junction Bypass (renamed as Syd Enfield Drive in 1988) was opened to traffic just two years after approval was given.

Source: Anon. 1979. "By-pass today, mall tomorrow". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 10: 1. 

The 1.3-kilometre road bypasses the Bondi Junction CBD, starting at Oxford Street and Ocean Street in Woollahra and ending at the intersection of Oxford Street, Old South Head Road and Bondi Road, Bondi Junction. 

 

Source: Anon. 1979. "Taking traffic out of Bondi Junction". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 10: 8. 

With traffic diverted from Oxford Street, it allowed for the closure of Oxford Street between Newland Street and Grosvenor Street to vehicular traffic. It was converted into the pedestrian mall that is seen today. 

All photos were taken by the Author (2025).

In 2025, Oxford Street between Grosvenor Street and Adelaide Street is restricted to buses only. 

Above: Oxford Street between Grosvenor Street and Adelaide Street is a bus-only thoroughfare. Photo taken by the Author (2025).

Property Advert of the Week: Epping Land Release (1970

Below is a 1970 newspaper advertisement promoting a land release at Epping near the Epping Aquatic and Leisure Centre. According to the information provided, the lots appeared to encompass Pembroke Street and Raymond Place, a cul-de-sac, and the map features a cul-de-sac.

Blocks were on sale from $13,000, equivalent to spending $ 184,500 today (RBA Inflation Calculator).

 

Source: L. W. Roth & Co. 1970. "Land Sale". The Sun, December 18: 58.

1994: Closure of the original Yagoona McDonalds

McDonald's Yagoona is Australia's first McDonald's restaurant, opening in 1971. It closed in 1994, following restaurants opening in Bass Hill and Bankstown, which took away business from the Yagoona store. In 2021, McDonald's reopened on the site, with a contemporary design incorporating historical elements from its first incarnation.

Source: Mason, D. 1994. "Original Macs faces the chop". The Sunday Telegraph, August 23: 7. 

The closure of any McDonald's restaurant was rare back in that time. Since 2000, the closure of McDonald's restaurants has increased, but it is still outnumbered by store openings. Some closures result from a decision to relocate or in some instances beyond their control, e.g. McDonald's Pitt & Park Street closed to make way for the Sydney Metro around 2017. 

Another decision to close the restaurant was that the facilities in other stores were more modern, which was difficult to achieve on the site at the time.

After closure, it was converted into a building for commercial use. According to Google Streetview, extensions to the original restaurant were "tacked on" before the redevelopment back into a McDonald's restaurant which saw the demolition of the structure and the modern restaurant that occupies the site today.

Property Advert of the Week: 1 Georgina Street, Newtown (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement promoting the sale of 1 and 2-bedroom apartments in the  One Georgina Street complex in Newtown. Prices started from $230,000.

   

Source: Anon. 1998. "One Georgina Street" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 35 (Real Estate Liftout).

1965 - First Direct Flight from the United States to Sydney

Source: Anon. 1965. "End of the big hop". The Daily Telegraph, March 9: 17. 

Did you know that this month is sixty years since the first non-stop flight by a commercial jet from the United States to Australia? It was now possible for Australians to fly from Australia to the United States and vice versa without having to stop en route in either direction. It wold mark a significant milestone for Australian aviation

The first non-stop flight did not carry passengers. It was a delivery flight for Qantas who were accepting delivery of a Boeing 707 jet, named the City of Townsville.

To save petrol, the jet was towed to the runway at San Francisco International Airport, where it departed on March 6 1965. Due to crossing the international dateline (adding one day heading west), it landed at Sydney Airport on March 8 1965.

Flight time was 14 hours and 32 minutes, impressive when compared with the 13 hours and 20 minutes used by more prominent and more advanced jets. 

In 2025, flight times (non-stop) to American Cities flying from Sydney Airport are as follows.

Sydney - San Francisco:              13h, 20 min

Sydney - Los Angeles:                 13 h, 40 min

Sydney - Dallas:                           15 hours

Sydney - Houston:                        15 h, 35 min

Qantas introduced non-stop flights from Sydney to Los Angeles in 1984. when Boeing 747 jets could carry a full load of passengers across the Pacific without stopping. They had to use a smaller variant (747SP) which was designed to cover greater distances than other 747 jets operating at the time. 

 

Source: Anon. 1965. "First Flight Non-stop Over Pacific". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 10: 8.

Real Estate Advert of the Week: Pioneer Homes Australia - Sydney Advertisement (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement for Pioneer Homes Australia promoting house and land packages in New South Wales. Sydney locations included Narellan, Glenmore Park and Quakers Hill.

Hazel Hawke was the marketing ambassador. You may remember her from television commercials from around this time promoting the company. I recall the line "Rent money is dead money" in the television commercials as mentioned in the newspaper advertisement.

Repayments started at $199 per week. 

 

Source: Pioneer Homes Australia. 1998. "Builder pays deposit" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, January 3: 7 (Homes Liftout). 

1999: Customs House Square extension

Source: Ryan, R. 1999. "Quay to the city". The Daily Telegraph, February 15:16.

In 1999, Alfred Street at Circular Quay was closed to all vehicles between Young Street and Loftus Street. This enabled Customs House Square to be extended and therefore connect the square directly to Circular Quay Station. 

The closure commenced on the evening of 14 February 1999. This meant that vehicles could no longer use Alfred Street, particularly buses, taxis, and coaches, to cross the city in either an easterly or westerly direction. It meant that they had to use Bridge Street.

Alfred Street between Loftus and George Street became one way for westbound traffic only, while two-way traffic remained in the section between Young Street and Phillip Street.

Sourced from: Ryan, R. 1999. "Quay to the city". The Daily Telegraph, February 15:16.

A consequence meant that bus services commencing or terminating in Alfred Street had to be shifted to new bus stops.

In 2015, Alfred Street was closed to all vehicles between Loftus and George Streets to enable the construction of the terminus for light rail services operating in the Sydney CBD, which opened in December 2019. In effect, it extended the square further. 

Below are some photos I recently took. It was interesting to note that the kerbs on Alfred Street at Customs House Square were retained.

This photo shows how the kerbs for Alfred Street were retained despite being integrated in Customs House Square.

 

Property Advert of the Week: Lansvale Waterfront Land Release (1972)

Below is a 1972  newspaper advertisement promoting homesites at Lansvale on offer from $9990. According to the Reserve Bank Inflation Calculator, this equals spending around $ 126,000 today. The exact address in Lansvale is not given but it was a case of "following the signs". 

 

Source: Kennedy Realty P/L. 1972. "Waterfront Land Sale... This Weekend!" (Advertisement). The Sun, March 17: 86. 

2004: End of Sharpies Golf House

Above: Sharpies Golf Store in 2006. The store had closed in 2004, but the facade was still intact from its day of closure. Photo taken by the Author.

Elizabeth Street was home to Sharpies Golf Store (Originally known as The Golf House), an independent retailer popular with golfers.

In 2004, the decision was made to close the shop after 45 years of trading on Elizabeth Street and relocate to a new store at Taren Point as its lease ended. 

Source: Miller, L. "City icon's last round". The Daily Telegraph, December 15: 13. 

The store was famous for its neon signage atop the building, depicting a golfer hitting a ball into the 19th hole, which was played three times a minute. The exact date of when it was put up was unknown. Some believe it was placed at the time the store opened, and others think that it was in 1964.

In 2002, the signage was heritage listed, and following its closure, it was dismantled (2007) and donated to the Powerhouse Museum. 

Above: Sharpies Golf Store after removal of signage (2010). Photo taken by the Author.

The site was redeveloped into Golf House, a luxury apartment complex, completed in 2019. Below are two photos of the complex, taken by me in 2023. 

Property Advert of the Week: Altair (2001)

Below is a 2001 newspaper advertisement to promote apartments for sale in the Altair complex at Rushcutters Bay.

Source: Australand. 2001. "Altair Rushcutters Bay" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, April 7: 26A (SMH Domain Liftout).