NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Moore Park Trademart (1988)

Did you know that the Moore Park Supa Centre was initially planned to be a Trademart? A trademart is where businesses can sell their products to other businesses. Therefore, the original plans for the site focused more on businesses as opposed to consumers. It was proposed by developer Sir Sid Londish, and his company Comreality

The decision to axe the trademart stemmed from the process of approving the third runway for Sydney Airport. For Londish, he wanted to capitalise on the opportunities associated with the increased capacity that a third runway would bring for Sydney Airport, i.e. increased tourism and business opportunities. The recent extension of Southern Cross Drive (1988) to connect it with Sydney Airport meant that South Dowling Street, which fed onto Southern Cross Drive, became a central transport corridor for those travelling to and from the airport.

 

Even though it was approved and completed (1994), Londish didn't see himself as a hypocrite and stood firm to his word. He would also sell the land. Fortunately, it also had approval for a bulky goods centre, which Londish could have pursued if he had not wanted to proceed with the Trademart. 

And out of the ashes would rise the Moore Park Supacenta, one of Sydney's first bulky goods centres. 

Source: Howard, J. 1988. "Londish plans 'trade city' for wholesalers". The Weekend Australian, August 21: 45. 

Property Advert of the Week: Newtown Silos (2003)

Below is a 2003 newspaper advertisement for The Newtown Silos apartment complex. The former flour mill located in Gladstone Street, Newtown, was converted into an apartment complex and was completed in 2005.

Source: Cromer Property Agents and Peter Shield Real Estate. 2003. "This is silo : new life, new living space, Newtown" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, June 8: 11 (homeowner liftout). 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Grace Bros Chatswood Office Tower (1969)

Full Citation Below

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Grace Bros were focused on expansion into the suburbs. Grace Bros had opened in Chatswood in 1961 and were keen to expand the store. In 1969, a proposal was submitted to Willoughby Council for a retail development. An enlarged Grace Bros department store would anchor the centre, along with specialty stores and additional parking, which would cross over Anderson Street (as Westfield does at present) into the block bounded by that street, along with Albert Avenue, Spring Street, and Victoria Street. 

The footprint, in effect, encompasses the current Westfield complex. If Grace Bros had proceeded with their expansion plans, the layout of Westfield Chatswood would likely be different today and would have had implications for any future expansion or development that Westfield undertook. With Grace Bros having a more established shopping centre, Chatswood Chase may not have been built, meaning Chatswood may not have two major shopping centres today.  

 

Source: Anonymous. 1969. "$20 M Bonanza". The Daily Mirror, March 6: 2.  

Westfield would eventually develop the block that was to have been developed by Grace Bros, opening in 1986. The expansion of the department store did proceed, opening the following year (1970), which was featured as Stage 1 of the project. The store would be integrated into Westfield Chatswood in 1999 as part of an expansion of the centre. 

Property Advert of the Week: "The Big 3 in New Homes" (1988)

Source: Anonymous. 1988. "The Big 3 in New Homes" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, June 18: 21. 

In 1988, Landcom, Hooker Housing Group and the St George Building Society (Now St George Bank)  teamed up to provide a house and land package. Landcom provided the block, Hooker Housing Group would build the home and the St George Building Society provided the loan. Only 200 homes were on offer, priced from $69,950 to $109,500. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Cronulla Hotel & Heliport Proposal (1960)

Full Citation Below

In 1960, plans were unveiled for an 18-storey hotel, topped with a heliport, at Cronulla in Gerrale Street, opposite Cronulla Park and Cronulla Beach. From the information that I have, an exact location is not known, but based on maps, this development would have to be located in or around the intersection with Surf Road, which intersects with the park.

The estimated cost was around £3 million ($6 million).

Concerns were raised about the overshadowing of Cronulla Park and Cronulla Beach (also known as South Cronulla to locals), the loss of views, and noise concerns associated with the placement of a heliport atop the hotel, as well as parking issues. 

Sutherland Council rejected the proposal in June 1961, ensuring "no future for this hotel plan". 

Source: Anonymous. 1961. "No future for this hotel plan". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, June 28: 13. 

 

Property Advert of the Week: De La Salle Exclusive Homes (1971)

Below is a 1971 newspaper advertisement promoting model homes from De La Salle that promise easy construction of a home. 

 

 Source: De La Salle. 1971. "Exclusive Homes" (Advertisement). The Sun Herald, May 9: 23.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Early Westfield Hurstville Scheme (1975)

Source: Anon. 1975. "Big New Shopping Complex". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, December 3: 3. 

Westfield Hurstville was opened in 1978. At the time of opening, it had 120 stores anchored by Waltons, Coles and Nock & Kirbys. It was confined to a block bound by Park Road, Cross Street and Humphreys Lane before being extended over Park Road in 1989/1990.

Before the expansion at the end of the 1980s it also had the Snowy Hill Park, open to the public at all hours of the day. 

In 1975, an ambitious proposal was lodged with Hurstville Council (now Georges River Council), which envisioned an even larger park spread on its roof (equivalent to a town square) and an office building, which had become standard with any Westfield development at the time. Three levels of retail would be provided. 

Jake Harproff had recently posted scanned images from a document to the Old Shops Australia Facebook Group.

The cross sections from three different angles gives one the perspective of the layout, which would differ significantly from what would be built within the original section of the centre. 

• Snowy Hill Park would be built atop a three-level car park located at the Humphreys Lane end, with footbridges connecting the centre to Forest Road. It would act as a town centre for central Hurstville.
• An office block with three levels of office space to be built above the rooftop car park. This component was scrapped.
• Three levels of shops, but would become two levels when the design was modified to the eventual original layout, and the retail area was extended down to Humphreys Lane, while Snowy Hill Park was reduced.
• As originally planned, the department store (Waltons) would be located towards the Park Street end. Coles would be located on level 1 (and has been since opening in 1978). 
• Provision of space for a discount department store (didn't eventuate in 1978).

Would this have affected its subsequent expansion over Park Road to encompass the block bounded by The Avenue, Cross Street, Park Road and Humphreys Lane in 1989-1990? The layout of that block in its current form would have been possible, but the famous sloping of shops in the complex (which allows shoppers to use the centre without using stairs or escalators) would not have occurred. Escalators and stairs would have been used to move up or down each floor. It's likely, though, that the current centre may have fewer stores than it has in its current layout.

Property Advert of the Week: Eastlakes Home Units Ad (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1966. Parkes Developments was promoting apartments for sale at Eastlakes. However, it doesn't go into specifics. Deposits started at $1000, and if you wanted more information, "enquire at Parkes Caravan".

Source: Parkes Developments Pty. Ltd. 1966. "East-lakes" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 21: 65. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Reschs Brewery Redevelopment Scheme (1983)

The former site of the Reschs Brewery at East Redfern is home to the Moore Park Gardens estate, a residential development comprising 575 apartments in 11 buildings. the brewery was closed in 1983 and the residential development was completed in 1996. 

Source: Johnston, M. 1983.  "Homes for 600 at old Resch's brewery". The Daily Telegraph, August 20: 7. 

Below is the original 1983 proposal to redevelop the former brewery. This coincided with Tooths being taken over by Carlton & United Breweries (CUB). Production of Reschs then shifted to the CUB Brewery at Broadway (now home to Central Park, Sydney). CUB no longer brews beer in New South Wales, either brewed in Melbourne or at Yatala in Queensland. 

Six office buildings (up to 18 storeys tall) were proposed as part of the redevelopment along with town houses and apartments to house around 600 people. Nine of the former brewery buildings would be incorporated into the redevelopment, and a public park would also be provided.

Source: Coultan, M. 1983. "$250m plan for brewery site". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 20: 4.

The development was planned in a way that the office buildings would create a buffer zone that separated the residential component from the nearby industrial area. 

Source: Anonymous. 1983. "Draughting a new village". The Daily Telegraph, August 27:  page unknown.

It was anticipated that construction would be completed in stages over seven years, meaning full completion by 1990. By 1990, the site was empty and still undeveloped.