Below is a 1965 newspaper advertisement promoting the Oakdale Estate at Old Toongabbie. The estate, located along Old Windsor Road near Fitzwilliam Road, offered house-and-land packages from £4850 ($9700). According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, this was equivalent to spending around $165,150 today.
Source: G. L. H. Young Pty. Ltd. 1965. "Brand New Homes" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, June 5: 28.
In November 2003, I had the opportunity to go on a tour of World Tower organised for members of the Ozscrapers Forum. At the time, it was moderated by Richard Braddish (Model Maker, City of Sydney Council), who was able to organise it for the Sydney-based members at the time.
World Tower was still under construction at the time, with the tower topped out, but residents in the "Low Rise" section could start moving in.
For this entry, it should be noted that floor numbers are not a true indication of how high above the ground a location is. The ground floor in World Tower is level 10. Level 76 in reality is 66 levels above ground.
Below are some photos from level 76, which was still under construction at the time. The top third of the building (including level 76) was originally destined to be sold as private apartments at a then-to-be-determined time, but functions as serviced apartments under the Meriton Suites brand. The Two-Bedroom Horizon Suite and Three-Bedroom Penthouses are on this floor.
At the time of completion in 2004, it was not just the tallest skyscraper (to roof) in Sydney at 230 metres; it was also the tallest residential tower in Sydney, Australia, and the Southern Hemisphere.
The records it held at the time are gone. Crown Towers (271 metres tall) is the tallest tower in Sydney World Tower is currently the fourth tallest apartment tower in Sydney, behind Towers 1 and 2 of One Sydney Harbour (247 and 230 metres respectively) and the Greenland Sydney Centre at 237 metres. Australia 108 in Melbourne is the tallest residential tower in Australia, at 317 metres, with 100 levels.
Below is a 2002 newspaper advertisement promoting Aspect, located in Cunningham Street in the city (adjacent to World Square). Apartments ranged from $295 000 to just under $1.1 million for three bedroom apartments.
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| Above: The official opening of Parramatta Stadium on March 5, 1986. Full citation below. |
Below is a 1973 newspaper advertisement by Hamden Developments promoting various villa and apartment developments at Bexley, Campsie, Dee Why, Lakemba and Queenscliff.
Sydney Tower is just weeks away from celebrating its 45th Birthday, but this 1981 newspaper feature focused on delays in its opening.
It was not meant to open in September 1981, but plans had it opening early that year, except that it was too windy and rainy to warrant an opening. July was also considered as an opening date.
For retailers in Centrepoint, it was frustrating that they wanted the tower to open as soon as possible to lure tourists to their shops, but they were still optimistic. Sydney Tower would open, and the hordes would come.
Fast forward 45 years, ownership has changed hands. AMP sold the centre and tower to Westfield in 2001, and it was rebranded as Westfield Centrepoint. In 2009, a major redevelopment project merged Westfield Centrepoint, Imperial Arcade and Skygarden into one retail complex. Westfield also acquired Sydney Central Plaza in 2003 and, in recent years, under the Scentre Group, purchased the former David Jones Market Street store, which is now a mixed-use retail, commercial, and residential complex, to expand its footprint in central Sydney.
Westfield Sydney is regarded as a flagship retail complex within the Scentre Group and has been highly successful in attracting major labels and luxury brands into the centre. A total of 269 retailers trade in the complex
And, as in 1981, the overwhelming majority still have to reach the entrance to Sydney Tower through the centre and navigate the escalators and shops en route.
Myer at Roselands Shopping Centre was meant to close in July, but will remain in the shopping centre until January next year, when its lease concludes. By its closure, it would have traded for 61 years, opening originally as Grace Bros, before rebranding in 2004 (alongside all Grace Bros Stores). Grace Bros was also the original owner of the centre.
During its decades of trade, its lowest moment was on June 13 1969, when a fire broke out at the store, estimated at $3 million. The top floor of the department store and roof caught fire. The roof also collapsed. There was water and smoke damage to the rest of the store and the shopping centre itself.
The fire began around 4:15 pm and was likely triggered by an electrical fault in the switchbaord.
Above: Coverage from The Daily Telegraph, June 14, 1969.
Source: Anonymous. 1969. "Roselands store wrecked by fire". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 14: 1 & 9.
"The smaller shops on the lower floors" (The Sun, June 14 1969) were reported to have reopened the next day, while Grace Bros was able to resume trading exactly one week after, even if it was a partial reopening.
Source: Davis, G. 1969. Sprinklers off as fire raged. The Sun, June 14: 2.
Last week, I posted newspaper clippings related to the 1974 fire that damaged the Manly Ferry South Steyne and consequently led to cuts to Manly Ferry services, as only two ferries were available to transport commuters.
The Manly Daily, concerned by the cuts to ferry services as a result, decided to report on overcrowding after claims by the Minister for Transport, Milton Morris, denied any claims of overcrowding.
One reporter and two photographers travelled on the ferries. As the pictures show from The Manly Daily (September 5, 1974) , it was standing room only and even commuters were sitting on the stairs, scenes normally reserved for our rail network.
The Manly Daily also raised concerns that patronage figures were being underreported as season ticket holders were not required to access turnstiles, as reported on page 1 on September 7, 1974
For decades, the Manly Ferry South Steyne was regarded as the flagship of the Manly Fleet. It was the largest ferry itself, with a capacity for 1700 and had entered service in 1938
On Sunday, August 25, 1974, while berthed at Mort Bay in Balmain, it caught fire. It is believed the fire started in a boiler room before 5pm, and firefighters were called to fight the fire.
Source: "Biggest ferry burns, solving Govt selection problem". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 26: 1.
The ferry was extensively damaged.
At the time of the fire, the Manly Ferry route was operated by the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company and was to be taken over by the NSW Government in December 1974. Given the cost of repairs (estimated at $1 million at the time), the NSW Government decided to focus on operating a two-ferry service upon handover.
Given the damage sustained, it was anticipated that the ferry would be scrapped. It never returned to service as a commuter ferry. It was restored n the 1980s and was recommissioned in 1988.
During the 1990's it spent part of the decade as a floating restaurant before moving to Darling Harbour, where it served as the Olympic Information Centre and, post-Olympics (2000), as a function centre.
In 2016, it was moved to Berry's Bay as it could no longer be accommodated at Darling Harbour and has remained there since.
Impact on Commuters
Commuters were severely impacted by the fire and withdrawal of South Steyne with services reduced. Frequencies were reduced from 30 minutes to 45 minutes. It had added to service cuts due to the retirement of another two ferries - Dee Why (1968) and Bellubera (1974).
Below is a 1964 newspaper advertisement promoting 150 homesites on offer at Killarney Heights. The homesites on offer started from £2100 ($4200), which, according to the RBA Inflation Calculator, was equivalent to spending around $74 200 today.
In 1991, the average price of a home in Sydney was $183,000 which is miniscule by todays prices.
However one home buyer managed to secure a home in Tempe that same year for just $40,000. Even after renovations estimated at $35,000, the home buyer would still have a bargain on his hands.
The home featured in the article is located at 34 Barden Sreet, Tempe.
Source: Howe, M. 1991. "$40,000: Sydney's cheapest home". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 19: 7.
