Property Advert of the Week: Fairfield Land release (1977)

Below is a 1977 newspaper advertisement promoting a land release near Fairfield. Based on the map provided, the land release was in St Johns Park, near the Bonnyrigg Town Centre. Stocks and Holdings were advertising the lots on sale from $12,800, equivalent to around $90,000 today (RBA Inflation Calculator).

Source: Stocks and Holdings Projects. 1977. "Land for Sale: Fairfield" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, January 15: 53.

Technology Issues

You may be wondering why today there is no regular entry and why there wasn't one last Monday.

Unfortunately, I have had issues with my Desktop PC at home, which have affected my access to the folders where I keep my collection of newspaper clippings.

It has meant that I have had to back up the hard drive that hosts the collection and troubleshoot the issue, which has also led me to restore the PC to its factory settings.  

Fortunately, nothing was lost, as I always back up my data and files. 

It has meant that I have been unable to produce new entries or do any editing work on my PC related to the clippings themselves. For example, I tried to save a clipping, but it caused the computer to crash while writing to the drive hosting the files. 

I do not know how long it will take to have everything back to normal, but I will need time to set up my PC and have the backup systems fully in place before I resume.

This doesn't affect Property Advert of the Week, as I have organised the material over time into a gallery that I can access at any time. That will continue as usual. Tune in each Saturday for that.

In the meantime, feel free to explore the blog; there are 12.5 years of entries that should keep you occupied for a while. 

Property Advert of the Week: St John's Wood, Gordon (1992)

Below is a 1992 newspaper advertisement promoting "St John's Wood" at Gordon. The development comprised townhouses and apartments. In addition, residents received 24-hour security, and facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse.

Source: Australian Housing & Land. 1992 "St John's Wood" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, December 5: 83. 

Property Advert of the Week: Windsor Country Village (1988)

Below is a 1988 newspaper advertisement for Windsor Country Village at Vineyard. Villas were on offer from just $49,950. It is not explicitly stated but the village itself is a retirement village catering to those over fifty-five. On their website, indicative prices for villas start at around $260,000 today. 

 

Source: Windsor Country Village. 1988. "Windsor Country Village" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, August 26: 71. 

MILESTONE: Westfield Burwood turns 60 – More from its 1966 opening

Sourced from: Anon. 1966. "Keynote is functional elegance". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 11: 21. Aerial photograph; photographer uncredited.

Westfield Burwood celebrates its 60th anniversary on 11 October 2026. Ten years ago, we explored the opening of the shopping centre in 1966. To mark this milestone, we're taking another look at its opening and sharing additional newspaper articles and advertisements from the time that have not previously been featured on this blog.

Official Opening

Source: Anon. 1966. "Shopping Town Open". The Daily Telegraph, October 11: 7. 

NSW Premier Robert Askin performed the official opening on 10 October 1966 in a private ceremony inside the shopping centre attended by 1000 people in evening dress.

Source: Anon. 1966. "Gowns Modelled at  Opening". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 11: 5. 

Farmers Advertisements

Below are three newspaper advertisements from Farmers that were not featured in the 2016 entry.

Source: Farmer's. 1966. "Farmer's Comes to Burwood with a New Concept in Service, Comfort and Variety" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, October 11: 23.

Source: Farmer's. 1966. "Tomorrow...All Sydney Will Join In" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 10: 15.

Source: Farmer's. 1966. "Ten Day Celebrations to Introduce Our Beautiful New Store at Burwood" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 10: 16–17.

Construction Feature

Below is a feature article from The Sydney Morning Herald, published on 7 June 1966, as construction of the centre was progressing towards opening.

Source: Anon. 1966. "Burwood $8m drive-in centre well advanced". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 7: 14.

And finally, a leasing advertisement that was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 7 June 1966.

Source: Westfield Development Corporation. 1966. "Westfield Development Corporation Has Plans for You" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 7: 14.

Related Entries

• MILESTONE: Westfield Burwood opens (1966) - The original 2016 entry that looks at the opening of the centre, including key facts.
• 1964: Westfield Burwood Plans released 
• 2000: Westfield Burwood Redevelopment

Property Advert of the Week: Macquarie Green, Macquarie Park (1974)

Below is a 1974 newspaper advertisement promoting the Macquarie Green development at Macquarie Park (advertised as Ryde at the time). The estate comprising of cottages, townhouses and apartments was marked by Hooker Home Units.

 

Source: Hooker Home Units. 1974."Macquarie Green" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, May 29: 31. 

1988: Pymble Interchange opens

The original proposal for the Pymble Interchange. Full Citation below.

The Pymble Interchange is the intersection of the Pacific Highway with Mona Vale and Ryde Roads at Pymble. Mona Vale Road and Ryde Road intersect beneath a short road tunnel that carries the Pacific Highway above. It was completed in 1988. 

Prior to 1988, it was a typical intersection, but by the early 1970's it had created traffic problems for North Shore motorists.

The intersection of the Pacific Highway, Ryde Road and Mona Vale Road in 1973. Full Citiation below.

In 1973, the NSW Government proposed a three-level interchange. The first level would carry traffic for Mona Vale Road and Ryde Road. The second level would serve as on- and off-ramps for traffic approaching or exiting the Pacific Highway, and the Pacific Highway would be raised to form the third level. Under the scheme, through traffic on the Pacific Highway would be signal-free as they cross the intersection. 

The rail bridge crossing Mona Vale Road, which carries the North Shore Railway line, had to be realigned and shifted eastwards to accommodate the interchange. 

Source: Anonymous. 1973. "Plans for first 3-level interchange in Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 4: 3. 

The interchange was not completed until 1988. It was opened to traffic on December 21 1988. 

Source: Silverman, N. 1988. "$21m present for motorists". The Daily Mirror, December 20: 7. 

The same article also described an earlier scheme in which an overpass would carry through traffic on the Pacific Highway, as in the original 1973 scheme, but traffic signals would be placed to manage traffic entering or exiting the Pacific Highway at the same level as Mona Vale Road and Ryde Road. I've enlarged it for your viewing.

Property Advert of the Week: Hallmark Estates, Leumeah (1960)

Below is a 1960 newspaper advertisement for Hallmark Estates at Leumeah. Blocks of land were available for £600 ($1200), which is equivalent to just $13 000 in today's money (RBA Inflation Calculator). There was a home display village on-site as well, centred on Homann Avenue.

 

Source: Stewardson, Stubbs & Collett Pty. Ltd. 1960. "Hallmark Estates Leumeah" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, August 6: 53.