Property Advert of the Week: Oakdale Estate, Old Toongabbie (1965)

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.

2003: World Tower Tour

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. 

We were also shown one of the apartments in the "Low Rise" section. 

Some of the facilities available to residents include a virtual golf driving range, cinema, gym and swimming pool.

Property Advert of the Week: Aspect Apartments Sydney (2002)

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.

Source: Jones Lang LaSalle. 2002. "Aspect: A smarter way of living". The Sunday Telegraph, October 27: 9 (Homeowner Liftout).

1986: Parramatta Stadium opened by Queen Elizabeth II

Above: The official opening of Parramatta Stadium on March 5, 1986. Full citation below.

 

The former Parramatta Stadium (1986-2016) was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 5 1986. 

It replaced Cumberland Oval, which by the early 1980's became run-down, and in 1981 the grandstand was burned to the ground as Parramatta fans celebrated their first NSWRL Premiership on September 27, 1981. 

Source: Jones, M. 1986. "35,000 Royalists: The Queen packs 'em in at Parramatta". The Daily Telegraph, March 6: 5. 

As for the opening itself, a crowd estimated at up to 35 000 gathered at the stadium. 

The Queen was accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. The Premier of NSW, Neville Wran and Federal Sports Minister (and local Federal Member) John Brown were among the political dignitaries present.

Source: Andrews, M. 1986. "But, says Sterling, little has changed:. The Daily Telegraph, March 17:2. 

The first event held at the stadium was a NSWRL (now NRL) round 2 fixture between Parramatta and St George on March 16, 1986. This featured a special pre-game ceremony. Below is a video containing highlights of the game and the pre-match ceremony, posted on the NRL's YouTube Channel. There are clippings at the start, with an overview of construction and the official opening by the Queen.  

Parramatta defeated the 1985 Grand Finalists 36-6. 

This year also marks 10 years since the stadium was closed, demolished, and rebuilt as Western Sydney Stadium. Its last event was on August 29 2016, when Parramatta and St George-Illawarra (originally St George) played in Round 25 of the regular season. These were the same teams who had played the first sporting fixture on the ground three decades earlier. Parramatta, as they did in 1986, beat St George-Illawarra 30-18.

Property Advert of the Week: Hamden Developments Ad (1973)

Below is a 1973 newspaper advertisement by Hamden Developments promoting various villa and apartment developments at Bexley, Campsie, Dee Why, Lakemba and Queenscliff.

Source: Hamden Developments Pty. Ltd. "Purchase same as rent" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 17: 48. 

Apartments could be sought for as $16 950 at Campsie, equivalent to around $201 200 today (RBA Inflation Calculator).

1987: Sydney Regional Centres Feature

Source: Pelly, M. 1987. "Suburbs that spawn cities within a city". The Daily Telegraph, August 1: 20. 

The Daily Telegraph in 1987 published a feature report on commercial development in three Sydney regional centres - Bondi Junction, Chatswood and Parramatta. The 1980s saw a boom in office development in these centres, already well established due to public transport (including being located on major rail lines), and also acting as established retail and entertainment centres. 

If we fast forward four decades, Parramatta has made the most progress. Even in the 1980s, it was a major growth centre and continues to be so. It is Sydney's Second Central Business District (CBD) and planning guidelines now allow development in central Parramatta to be treated as if it were being done in central Sydney.  Under the planning blueprint - The Sydney Plan (2018), Parramatta is regarded as one of three metropolises within Greater Sydney, alongside the Sydney CBD and Bradfield. Major skyscrapers that one would normally find in Sydney's CBD have made their presence felt. The tallest tower is the 225 metre/57 storey 6 & 8 Parramatta Square.

High-rise development continued into the 1990s for Bondi Junction and Chatswood, but the decade saw greater emphasis on residential towers, and both also continued to evolve as retail centres. 

Westfield expanded their retail complexes in both centres. The redevelopment of Westfield Bondi Junction (incorporating Bondi Junction Plaza, Carousel and the Grace Bros site) in the early 2000's into a single retail complex would make it a flagship centre for the Westfield Group upon completion in 2004. This cemented Bondi Junction as a retail destination for the Eastern Suburbs, attracting luxury labels from Double Bay or Oxford Street, Paddington. 

Chatswood has benefited from the construction of the Metro North West, City and Bankstown Line and its predecessor Epping-Chatswood Rail Line. This has opened up access to those at North Ryde and North West and, in late 2026, Bankstown. 

The Metro West Line (Hunter Street, City to Westmead) will provide those travelling between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD with a faster service, relieving the existing T1 Western Line when completed in 2032. Major towers are planned for the blocks located directly above the proposed Parramatta Metro Station and will be easily connected to existing Light Rail and heavy rail lines. 

Property Advert of the Week: Elm Place, Woolooware home sales (1964)

Below is a 1964 newspaper advertisement promoting the sale of three homes located in Elm Place, Woolooware. Two of the three houses featured in the advertisement can be confirmed as still standing six decades later. The one on the left of the image is 21 Elm Place, while the house at the bottom is 19 Elm Place. 

 

Source: L.J. Hooker. 1964. "Cronulla: 3 new brick veneer homes open for inspection". The Sun, June 5: 63.

The homes were on sale from £8300 ($16 600), which would equate to approximately $235, 500 in today's money (RBA Inflation Calculator).