Saturday, 25 April 2026

Property Advert of the Week: Mt Pritchard Land Release (1964)

 In 1964, homesites were on offer at Mt Pritchard for a deposit of £10 ($20) or £850 ($1700) each. According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, this is equivalent to about $ 30,000 in today's money.

Mulgoa Road likely refers to what is now known as Elizabeth Drive. 

Liverpool Land Release Ad May 23 1964 daily telegraph 36

Source: G. P. Grey Pty. Ltd. 1964. "Homesites at Liverpool" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, May 23: 36.

Monday, 20 April 2026

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: 109 Pitt Street (1988)

Pitt Street Office Tower February 23 1988 SMH 65 enlarged
Full citation below.
 
Never Built Sydney is back for another series. In this entry, I look at a 1988 proposal for a 26-level office tower at 105, 107, and 109 Pitt Street. The tower, which was to comprise 21,000 sq/m of office space, was never built. 

"Innovative engineering design" was to be a key feature of the tower, to be developed by Hooker Projects and the State Superannuation Board.

  Pitt Street Office Tower February 23 1988 SMH 65

Source: Anonymous. 1988. "City block will feature major innovations in building and design". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 23: 65. 

In 2002, I photographed a model of the tower prepared for the City of Sydney Model. Thank you to Richard Braddish (Sydney City Council) for organising it at the time. 

MVC-323X

105 Pitt Street, 107 Pitt Street and 15-25 Hunter Street are currently subject to an innovative development of its own - a 55 level office tower that when completed will be the worlds tallest hybrid building, It will beat the 39 level/183 metre Atlassian Central Tower at Central Station which when completed later this year or early next year will be the tallest hybrid timber tower in the world. As of April 2026, the demolition of buildings is in progress.

105-107 Pitt Street Render

Source: Anonymous. 2024. “A $370m skyrise building has been given the green light in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.” Image in “City of Sydney pushes limits to add another CBD skyscraper”. The Daily Telegraph, August 29. Accessed April 19, 2026. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-sydney/1525-hunter-st-and-105107-pitt-st-development-gets-green-light-for-55storey-skyscraper/news-story/a423d0a5fb8e5a0e0247b4c6289c6317



 

Saturday, 18 April 2026

Property Advert of the Week: The Mill, Marrickville (2002)

Below is a 2002 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale at "The Mill" at 11-21 Gordon Street, Marrickville. 

The Mill Marrickville Ad October 27 2002 Sunday Telegraph Homeowner 8
Source: Landbiz. (2002). "The mill" (Advertisement). The Sydney Telegraph, October 27: 8 (homeowner liftout). 

Monday, 13 April 2026

1986: The return of the Green & Yellow on Sydney Ferries

Did you know that 2026 marks 40 years since Sydney Ferries revived the green-and-yellow livery that adorned the ferries in earlier decades of the 20th century?

The reason for its introduction was that the First Fleet Ferries, to replace the older Lady Class Ferries, were funded by the Australian Bicentennial Roads Development (a misnamed fund) as part of transport upgrades for the Bicentennial, which was held in 1988. It was meant to symbolise that the Federal Government funded the ferries, not the State Government.

First Fleet Ferries February 19 1986 SMH 4

Source: Coultan, M. 1986. "Ferries let us see colour of their money". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 19: 4. 

They would replace the dark blue and off-white livery of existing ferries.

The successor Lady Class Ferries (post-1968), along with the Manly Freshwater Class Ferries, would eventually be repainted green and yellow.

Ferries introduced during the 1990s and 2000s, including the Jetcats, Rivercats, Harbourcats and Supercats, did not adopt the green-and-gold livery during their working lives.

Since the introduction of the Emerald Class Ferries in 2016, every new Sydney ferry entering service has adopted the green and yellow livery along with the Minicat, River and Parramatta River class ferries. In 2026, 100% of Sydney's ferry fleet will be adorned in green and yellow.



Saturday, 11 April 2026

Property Advert of the Week: Long Homes (1985)

Below is a 1985 newspaper advertisement from Long Homes. Display Homes could be inspected at Edensor Park (Fairfield), Macquarie Fields, St Andrews and Kingswood.

Long Homes Ad January 12 1985 daily telegraph 27

Source: Long Homes. 1985. "No repayments until June '85" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, January 12: 27.

Monday, 6 April 2026

2002: Feature Article on Wharf Redevelopments

In 2002, The Sunday Telegraph supplement homeowner published a feature article on the redevelopment of Sydney wharves into apartment complexes.

At the time, the finger wharf at Woolloomooloo had already been redeveloped into "The Wharf", while at Walsh Bay, the former piers were in the process of redevelopment. Darling Island, once a wharf itself, was also in the process of undergoing redevelopment. 

The Walsh Bay redevelopment would be completed in stages from 2003, while Darling Island would be completed in 2004.

A key selling point for apartments in those projects was "absolute waterfront", though that term can be applied to any home that adjoins the water, i.e. you can step from your property onto the water. Many harbourside homes can boast about absolute waterfront. 

Wharf Developments July 7 2002 Sunday Telegraph Homeowner 10-11

Source: Wills, J. 2002. "Reclaim the sea". The Sunday Telegraph, July 7: 10-11 (homeowner liftout). 


Saturday, 4 April 2026

Property Advert of the Week: 'Highpoint on the Park', Parramatta (2003)

Below is a 2003 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale at 'Highpoint on the Park' in Parramatta. Two and three-bedroom apartments were on offer.

  Highpoint Parramatta Ad April 27 2003 Sunday Telegraph Homeowner 14

Source: Moxham's Real Estate Pty. Ltd. & Raine & Horne Parramatta. (2003). The Sunday Telegraph, April 27: 14 (homeowner liftout).