Property Advert of the Week: The Cascades Estate, Kellyville Ridge (2004)

Below is a 2004 newspaper advertisement for The Cascades Estate at Kellyville Ridge. The homes on the estate are located within walking distance of The Ponds Shopping Centre. The four-bedroom and "2 1/2" bathroom homes were on sale from $460 000.  

 

Source: Mirvac. 2004. "The Cascades at Kellyville Ridge". The Daily Telegraph, April 10: 17. 

Property Advert of the Week: Waterpoint, Shepherds Bay [Meadowbank] (2004)

Below is a 2004 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale in the Waterpoint complex at Shepherds Bay (Meadowbank). It is directly opposite the Meadowbank Ferry Wharf, enabling residents an easy ferry commute into the city and a short walk to Meadowbank Railway Station.

Source: Anonymous. 2004. "Waterfront Shepherds Bay" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, April 4: 12 (homeowner liftout).

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Milsons Point "Chirpy" Tower (2004)

Full Citation Below

The Metro Edgely Consortium (Multiplex and Edgely Family) were the owner of Luna Park in 2004. In January 2004, just over two months prior to reopening the amusement park, the park proposed a plan to renew the site. This included a 14-storey office tower on the hill adjoining the park, designed by architects Denton Corker Marshall.

The argument for the tower, to be built alongside a cinema complex within the amusement park, would ensure the park's financial future.

Source: Richards, S. 2004. "Dim view of latest Luna Park fun and games". The Daily Telegraph, January 30: 13. 

Residents opposed the project on the grounds that it would block views. There was also support towards the site acting as a park and a restaurant to be built alongside the park

Plans for the tower were rejected in 2005 by NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor, who approved a seven-storey building on the site instead. 

No building was ever built on the site. It became Northcliff Park, which was opened in 2019.

Above: Northcliff Park. Photo taken by the Author (2021)

2004: End of Sharpies Golf House

Above: Sharpies Golf Store in 2006. The store had closed in 2004, but the facade was still intact from its day of closure. Photo taken by the Author.

Elizabeth Street was home to Sharpies Golf Store (Originally known as The Golf House), an independent retailer popular with golfers.

In 2004, the decision was made to close the shop after 45 years of trading on Elizabeth Street and relocate to a new store at Taren Point as its lease ended. 

Source: Miller, L. "City icon's last round". The Daily Telegraph, December 15: 13. 

The store was famous for its neon signage atop the building, depicting a golfer hitting a ball into the 19th hole, which was played three times a minute. The exact date of when it was put up was unknown. Some believe it was placed at the time the store opened, and others think that it was in 1964.

In 2002, the signage was heritage listed, and following its closure, it was dismantled (2007) and donated to the Powerhouse Museum. 

Above: Sharpies Golf Store after removal of signage (2010). Photo taken by the Author.

The site was redeveloped into Golf House, a luxury apartment complex, completed in 2019. Below are two photos of the complex, taken by me in 2023. 

Property Advert of the Week: Centennial North Randwick (2004)

Below is a 2004 newspaper advertisement from The Sydney Morning Herald promoting the Centennial apartment complex at 88-98 King Street, Randwick. The apartments were on sale from $475,000.

What is not advertised is that it is located next to the Randwick Bus Depot.

Source: Anon. 2004. "Centennial North Randwick". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 5, 19A (Domain Apartments Liftout).

Remember This? : Daytripper Tickets Ad (2004)

In Sydney, daily transport fares for adults are capped at $17.80, and if the $50 weekly cap is reached, travel is free for the remainder of the week.

Before Opal Cards were introduced and the ability to pay fares directly from a debit or credit card, a person had to purchase a Daytripper ticket to access unlimited travel on the day of travel.

However, there were limitations compared with Opal fares—the ticket was not valid on light rail services and services operated by private bus operators.

Source: Sydney Ferries, Sydney Buses & CityRail. 2004. "Daytripper" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, January 16: 27. 

Is the Opal Travel Daily Cap cheaper than a Daytripper ticket in 2004?

According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, a Daytripper ticket purchased in 2004 for $15 equates to a person spending $24.96 today. Therefore, a commuter can have unlimited travel on public transport at a cheaper price in 2024.

2004: Breakfast Point takes shape

During the early 2000's one of the many new residential developments that were taking shape along the Parramatta River was Breakfast Point. Now it is a suburb in its own right.

Here is a photo that I snapped that year.

2004: Spirit of Tasmania unloads its cargo

A photo I took at Sydney Tower of the Spirit of Tasmania unloading cars and buses in October 2004 at East Darling Harbour (Barangaroo).