Below is a 1971 newspaper advertisement promoting homesites at Hobartville, near Richmond. homesites were on offer for from $4300, which is equivalent to one spending around $51 150 today (RBA Inflation Calculator).
Source: Proud Projects Pty. Ltd. 1971. "Sewered Land" (Advertisement). The Sun, September 17: 69.
Below is a 1971 newspaper advertisement promoting the sale of homes in the "Lani Gardens" complex in Bexley. Prices for villas started from $19,750, which would be equivalent to around $272,000 today (RBA Inflation Calculator).
Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1971 promoting the sale of apartments in a small complex at 3 Kairawa Street, South Hurstville. The complex only contains six apartments, each with two bedrooms. Prices were close to identical (from $ 16,750), with buyers only paying $200 extra for apartments on the first floor.
At Strathfield, there is a three or four-level unit block that backs onto Raw Square. If you drive on this road regularly, you may not notice it.
This week, the unit block at 19 Evla Street will feature in our Property Advert of the Week. It is just one block from Strathfield Station and the shopping centre.
Below is a 1971 newspaper advertisement promoting two-bedroom apartments for sale starting at $17,900. According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, that would equate to spending $ 232,000 today, well below the median unit price of $717 500 according to realestate.com.au
Below is a 1971 newspaper advertisement by Stewart Upton Homes promoting the sale of new four and five-bedroom homes in French's Forest and Belrose. One of the homes featured was on offer for $36 500, and the other for $38 500.
Plans were unveiled in 1969 (Click here for last week's entry) to redevelop the site of the Trocadero into a cinema complex with a hotel tower rising 44 stories.
Source: Anon. "$30 million hotel with 5 theatres". The Daily Telegraph, November 4: page unknown.
In 1971, detailed plans were released for the Hoyts Cinema Centre including what became the Hoyts Cinema Centre and hotel tower that would rise above the complex.
The tower was designed by architect Sir Roy Grounds, famous for his design of Wrest Point Casino in Hobart. Hoyts Theatres were to build the 450-foot (137 metre) tower in partnership with AMP and hotel chain Sheraton International.
Unfortunately, the hotel didn't eventuate but the Cinema Complex was completed in 1976.
In 1999, Hoyts and Greater Union merged into one cinema complex which eventually became controlled by Greater Union (now Event Cinemas).
More recently, plans were approved by Sydney City Council in 2020 for an eighty-storey apartment tower to rise above the original Hoyts Cinema Complex to be developed by Mirvac and Coombes Property. However, it is "on hold".
Sourced from: Cummins, C. 2018. "George Street grows upwards with $1 billion skyscraper". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 19: 8.
Event Cinemas are also seeking to redevelop the section of the current cinemas that lies on the original site of Greater Union with a 43-storey hotel and residential tower to rise 160 metres above street level. An amended development application has been recommended for approval by the Sydney Central Planning Committee when they meet on Thursday (11 May).
Related Entry
NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Hoyts Cinema Centre Tower (1969)
Below are two photos that were published in a photo feature The Changing City, in The Daily Telegraph on 13 May 1971. The photos focus on the demolition of homes for the Eastern Suburbs Railway Line. The second photo also features highrise development taking place in the area, with the Kingsgate Hotel rising in the background. Note that Kings Cross, Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo at the time were being subject to rezoning for highrise development, and proposals for highrise buildings had also been lodged, which were set to transform the area. However, with a few exceptions, the highrise developments did not proceed, and the area was allowed to retain its current densities and streetscapes.
The Pyrmont Bridge has evolved as Sydney has grown and changed. For decades it served as a major arterial connecting western Sydney with the Sydney CBD. The Western Distributor may have made the bridge redundant, but was reborn into a pedestrian walkway with the redevelopment of Darling Harbour.
But half a century ago, Sydney was facing the possiblity of losing it forever, and the lost opportunities that went with it.
In 1971, the first stage of Western Distributor from the Harbour Bridge Tollgates to Day Street was under construction while plans to extend the freeway from Darling Harbour to Glebe were underway.
The freeway would render the Pyrmont Bridge redundant and would be demolished, when the expressway was in full operation by 1978.
In 1971, The Sydney Opera House was still two years away from completion but for five hundred construction workers, they became the first audience to watch the first play. On 13 November 1971, The Q Theatre Group presented The Chocolate Frog.
The MLC Centre has recently undergone a $170 million renovation of the 67 level tower and retail centre.
Designed by Harry Seidler and completed in 1977, it was the tallest skyscraper in Sydney at 228 metres for a quarter of a century.along with being the tallest skyscraper in Australia from 1977 to 1985.
Plans for the site as we see it date from 1973, but one scheme from 1971 proposed two towers instead of one,
Construction was proposed to be undertaken in two stages. State One would have seen contruction of the tower facing Martin Place with mid 1974 as the anticipated completion date. It was reported to have been thirty five storeys tall, but appears as being only 29 storeys tall. Stage two would see the construction of a 42 storey tower towards King Street.
Source: Anon. 1971. "$70 Million Project". The Daily Telegraph, June 22: 3.
Upon reflection, I am glad that this scheme for the MLC Centre did not proceed. I think one tower has worked well for the site but also providing public space in the podium has worked well. Martin Place in front of the MLC Centre has been traditionally the most active stretch of the space, enhanced by the performance space in front which allows for entertainment and other cultural activities to occur.
Source: Anon. 1971. "$45Million Investment...Rents to aid SCEGGS' Costs". The Daily Telegraph
In 1971, the Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School (SCEGGS) lodged plans with Sydney City Council for a twin tower development on land that was partially owned by the school in Darlinghurst. The development was bounded by William, Forbes and Bourke Street's.
Source: Anon. 1971. "SCEGGS Plans $45m Complex". The Daily Mirror, September 16: 7.
The scheme proposed comprised of two towers. One tower would be forty stories tall with the second tower rising twenty stories.
Cost of construction would have cost $45 million but for SCEGGS, the income stream from rental of commercial space in the towers would have kept fee increases to a minimum.
Unfortuantely, I do not have any information about why the scheme did not proceed.
Source: Anon. 1971. "SCEGGS As A Developer". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 17: page unknown.
I would regard this photo as one of the best weather themed photos taken in Sydney, but also on our ferry network as well.
Below is a photo that was published.in The Daily Telegraph on February 1971. The photographer's identity is unknown.
The photo was taken on the lower deck of the Manly Ferry South Steyne as it navigated its way through Sydney's heads in high seas. Apart from the photographer, there is a deckhand on the outside deck, presumably trying to keep his balance. At right is the sea and has the appearance its about to go right over. I think the ferry was heaving down amongst the swell as the image was taken. It would have been a very rough and stomach churning ride for commuters.
The old steamers had a very good reputation for being very good at managing the swells, even with more than a thousand onboard. The Freshwater Class could not manage that same reputation, though the Freshwater Ferries in rough seas could keep everyone inside dry.
