Property Advert of the Week: Hooker Housing Group Home Display Centre Ad (1988)

Below is a 1988 newspaper advertisement by the Hooker Housing Group promoting their Home Display Centres at Prospect, Casula and Castle Hill.

 

Source: Hooker Housing Group. "Your first step to a richer family life" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 15. 

1960: State Government "Declares" 5 Historic Homes

Source: Anon. 1960. "These historic homes will be preserved". The Daily Telegraph, August 5: 12. 

In 1960, the NSW Government declared five colonial homes as "places of historic interest". This would ensure that the buildings would be preserved and would be a forerunner to their eventual inclusion on the NSW State Heritage Register

 

Source: Anon. 1960. "Govt. "Declares" 5 Historic Homes". The Daily Telegraph, August 4: 7. 

Inclusion on the NSW State Heritage Register

The Heritage Act, 1977 (NSW) led to the creation of the NSW State Heritage Register, which oversees the protection of items identified as historically, culturally or architecturally significant. To obtain a state-level heritage listing, it would need to be heritage-listed at a local (i.e., council) level before moving to regional listing. If listed at the regional level, it may be considered for heritage listing at the state level.

The five buildings listed in 1960 were added to the State Heritage Register in 1999.

Property Advert of the Week: Stock & Holdings double page spread (1968)

This week, I am posting a double-page spread from Stocks & Holdings Projects, which appeared in The Sun on August 2, 1968. The double-page spread features three advertisements:

• Ocean View Units (Maroubra Beach) - With spectacular views of the ocean, Maroubra Beach, Sydney CBD and the Blue Mountains.
• Woodlyne Park Estate (Baulkham Hills)
• The Pines, Manly

Sources:

Maroubra Beach Units

Stocks & Holdings Projects. 1968. "Maroubra Beach Ocean View Units (Advertisement). The Sun, August 2: 52 & 53. 

Baulkham Hills Land Release

Stocks & Holdings Projects. 1968. "Woodlyne Park" (Advertisement). The Sun, August 2: 52. 

The Pines, Manly

Stocks & Holdings Projects. 1968. "The Pines, Manly" (Advertisement). The Sun, August 2: 52. 

1963: 2SM's "Shark Danger" Advertisment

Since 2022, three people have died in Shark Attacks in Greater Sydney (two of which have occurred recently - September 2025 and January 2026). Prior to 2022, Sydney had gone fifty-nine years without a fatal shark attack.

On January 28 1963, actress Marcia Hathaway was killed by a shark in Middle Harbour at Sugarloaf Bay, Castle Cove. 

Any shark attack is bound to cause concern and panic amongst swimmers at beaches. We have seen it this summer, along with the increased monitoring of waters for sharks.

Sydneysiders had the same sentiments in 1963. 

Recently, David Lillicot posted a 1963 newspaper advertisement from radio station 2SM promoting its weekend beach and marine reports in the Facebook Group - Old Sydney Album. I got my own copy from the same publication (The Daily Mirror) on Microfiche at the State Library of NSW.

Source: 2SM. 1963. "Shark Danger" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, February 1: 8. 

The advertisement screams out "Shark Danger" in capital letters at the top of the screen 

In addition to providing the usual weather, boating, marine, fishing, and beach forecasts, their patrol boat and plane would also monitor shark activity in Sydney waterways.

Let's move forward six decades...

Radio is considered legacy media, a traditional medium of communication alongside newspapers and television. It can still communicate important information to the community, especially during extreme weather and disasters.

The advertisement is a reminder of a time when radio stations could fund their own newsrooms and information services, even with sponsorship. With shrinking audiences and advertising dollars moving online, it is increasingly difficult for a radio station to support or justify providing such a service.

However, we have seen the influence of radio wane in terms of sourcing information, as there are more options available. The internet allows a person to find out what the weather, maritime and surf conditions could be. The Bureau of Meteorology has its own website that contains a wealth of weather information, constantly updated. The NSW Government operates a Beachwatch website providing full details of conditions at beaches across New South Wales.

Mobile apps on phones and other smart devices allow one to obtain that information in real time from anywhere. Want to know if sharks are in the water? The SharkSmart app will give you an answer. The Weather Bureau has its own app.

Aerial shark patrols still operate, but are also aided by drones.

Shark tagging allows us to monitor shark movements and also helps scientists research shark behaviour and movement. 

Property Advert of the Week: Emu Plans Land Release (1973)

Below is a 1973 newspaper advertisement for a land release offered by Neeta Land Sales. Only $100 was required as a deposit, with blocks starting at $10,400. This is equivalent to spending around $123,500 in today's money (RBA Inflation Calculator).

Source: Neeta Land Sales. 1973. "Emu Plains...Great Land! Great Value" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 19: 45.

2006: The end of Gowings

Source: Gowings. 2006. "Closing Down Sale" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, January 16: 6. 

This year (2026) marks 20 years since Department Store Gowings closed after 138 years of trading, leaving Sydney with just two major department stores: David Jones & Myer.

It may have been a distant third behind the two majors in Sydney Department store chains, but it wanted to keep competing and also offered Sydney shoppers something different. 

Also, Gowings had outlasted many larger chains that either collapsed or were absorbed by competitors. 

But what saw its end?

Back in 2000, the department store arm was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) as Gowings Retail. In 2005, it was renamed as G Retail

In the years leading to its demise, it sought to expand into the suburbs for the first time, opening stores in Wynyard, Darlinghurst, Parramatta, Sydney Airport, and Hornsby. It was even planned to open stores interstate and turn it into a national chain.

The suburban expansion was unsuccessful, with the stores operating at a loss. Parramatta was of most concern, with millions lost and failing to accommodate the demographics of western Sydney.

In November 2005, an administrator was appointed to G Retail following reported losses of $13 million. The menswear chain Lowes had expressed serious interest in acquiring Gowings, but talks fell through. By December, administrators at Deloitte had decided to wind up the company, as no buyer could be found. On December 16, 2005, employees were notified that the stores would cease trading by the end of January 2006. The remaining stores were progressively closed, with the Market Street store closing on Sunday, January 29, 2006.190 employees lost their jobs as a consequence of the closure

Source: Brown, M. 2006. "Gone to Gowings no more". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 30: 3.

Following the store's closure, Gowing Bros sold the building to Amalgamated Holdings for $68.6 million.

Source: Stevens, J. 2006. "End of an era in store". The Daily Telegraph, January 28: 6.

Two decades later, the makeup chain Mecca occupies the space formerly occupied by the store. British fashion chain Topshop Topman replaced Gowings until its Australian stores stopped trading in 2020. Like Gowings, the Sydney CBD store was the last one to close. The rest of the building, along with the adjoining State Theatre, was converted for hotel use and now houses the QT Sydney hotel. 

While the Department Store no longer exists, Gowing Bros (the company that ran the store) still operates as a fund investment company, and the famous Gowings signage along its George Street side remains and is heritage-listed.

On January 27 2006, I managed to take these pictures of Gowings in its final days. They may not have liked me taking the pictures, but they do make a historical record of what it was in its final days.

Michael Evans wrote the following feature on the demise of Gowings, which was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on January 23, 2006.

Source: Evans, M. 2006. "This time next week it really will be gone". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 23: 17 & 18.

Property Advert of the Week: Balmain Cove (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement for Balmain Cove at Rozelle. Terraces, townhouses, and

Apartments were priced from $ 495,000. 

 

Source: Balmain Cove. 1998. "This is living" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 33RE (Real Estate Liftout).

Related Entries

Property Advert of the Week: Balmain Cove & Balmain Shores (2000)

Property Advert of the Week: Balmain Cove (1998)

1976: Farmers Rebranded as Myer

Source: Anon. 1976. "Farmers moving back to quality". The Sun Herald, May 9: 127. 

1976 saw the end of an era in Sydney retailing when Farmers stores were rebranded as Myer. It was the first of two rebrandings by Myer as they acquired Sydney department stores. The second was in 2004 when Grace Bros stores were rebranded as Myer following their takeover by Myer in 1983 and later incorporation into the Coles-Myer Group.

Below is a 1976 newspaper article from The Sun Herald announcing that by the end of that year, all Farmers stores would be rebranded as Myer, including its flagship city store (Current location of Myer post 2004 rebranding of Grace Bros & Westfield Sydney Central Plaza).

Farmers merged with Myer in 1961, and over the next fifteen years, Myer engaged in Myerisation of its stores, which meant removing the services and products that gave Farmers its unique identity. In effect, Farmers stores had evolved into Myer stores except in name only. 

At the time, Farmers had stores in central Sydney, Miranda, Carlingford, Burwood, Blacktown and Gordon.

Myer would trade under its name on the site until 1983, when it acquired Grace Bros and rebranded the store to Grace Bros, along with any stores branded as Myer in NSW. 

In 2004, all Grace Bros stores in NSW, including the city store, were rebranded as Myer, reintroducing the Myer name to what was once the home of Farmers. 

Property Advert of the Week: Miranda Land Release (1965)

Property Advert of the Week has returned for 2026. Our first one is from 1965, promoting a land release at Miranda in the Sutherland Shire. 35 lots were on offer in the vicinity of Forest Road and Alkaringa Road. Prices ranged from £1895 ($3590) to £2500 ($5000). According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, this was equivalent to spending as little as $65 000 in today's money.

 

Source: Treloar Realty Pty. Ltd. 1964. "1st Sensational Release Miranda" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, October 2: 35. 

Sydney Tower Opening Advertisement (1981)

Sydney Tower opened to the public on September 25 1981. Below is an advertisement was published in The Sun Herald on September 6 1981.

Source: Sydney Tower. 1981. "Tickets to the Top Available Now" (Advertisement). The Sun Herald, September 6: 6. 

General admission was just $3.50, with pensioners and children paying just $1.50. Tickets to visit Sydney Tower can be purchased in advance at participating outlets, including Mitchell Bass and Grace Bros stores in the Sydney metropolitan area. 

Below is an advertisement from The Sun Herald, published on September 27 1981, just two days after opening. By this point, visitors and tourists could purchase directly at the door. 

Source: Sydney Tower. 1981. "Sydney Tower is now open...Come on up!" (Advertisement). The Sun Herald, September 27: 40.

Also, this is the first television commercial for Sydney Tower, which was screened in the 1980s. Video uploaded to YouTube by "Shadow Archive".

Remember This? Luna Park Unlimited Rides Ad (1987)

Back in 2019, I posted a 1986 newspaper advertisement for Luna Park offering $6.50 Unlimited Rides Passes for the May School Holiday Period (at the time, NSW had three terms in a school year instead of four). The following year, the same passes were on offer for $5 during the July School Holiday break. 

1987 was the first year that NSW Schools adopted a four-term year, with School Holidays of two weeks in Autumn, Winter and Spring, alongside the six-week summer break. Prior to that, there was no winter holiday period; school holidays fell in May and August.

According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, the unlimited rides pass would cost the equivalent of $15 today.

As of January 2026, Unlimited Rides passes cost $55 and can be purchased online. Like visiting more than three times a year, an annual pass will set one back $149.

  

Source: Luna Park. 1987. "Luna Park. Just For Fun, Just for $5!" (Advertisement). The Sun, July 2: 15.

Remember This? When The Beach Boys Rocked Narrabeen (1992)

During their 1992 tour of Australia, The Beach Boys did one concert in Sydney. Instead of opting for venues such as the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney Football Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground, they performed at North Narrabeen Reserve, North Narrabeen (home to Rat Park and Warringah Rugby Club).

The venue was within walking distance of Narrabeen Beach. Narrabeen is referenced in the Beach Boys’ 1963 hit “Surfin’ U.S.A.” as “Australia’s Narrabeen,” establishing a direct geographic connection between the 1992 concert site and the song’s roll call of surf locations.

20, 000 people attended the concert on Saturday, November 28 1992. Lead singer Brian Wilson did not perform, but John Stamos (Full House) was a guest drummer, as reported by The Sun Herald (November 29 1992), who was a "hit" with the "teenage girls". 

Source: Tubb, R. 1992. "Beach Boys Thrill Fans Again". The Sun Herald, November 29: 6

Remember This? Sydney Panorama from Olympic Park (2006)

In 2006, the Novotel at Sydney Olympic Park was the only high-rise building in the precinct, and for a small fee, one could visit the observation deck on level 18. It offered spectacular 360-degree views of the Sydney metropolitan area. 

I visited the observation deck that year and stitched a panorama of around 180 degrees, including Chatswood, St Leonards, North Sydney, the Sydney CBD, Burwood, and Strathfield.

Below is a close-up of the Sydney CBD with Sydney Tower perfectly positioned in the middle. 

Given the development at Sydney Olympic Park since, I am grateful that I was able to create the panorama as the views towards the city have been blocked by the high-rises. 

Remember This? Twin Cities Aerial (1973)

Remember This? is back for January. Below is a 1973 aerial of Sydney and North Sydney as captured by photographer Ern McQuillan. The aerial places the Sydney Harbour Bridge at the centre of the image while capturing what was referred to as the "twin cities". The photo was featured on Page 1 of the Wentworth Courier in its edition of July 4, 1973.