1999: Why Bankstown lost the Olympic Road Cycling Races

In the 2000 Olympic Games, Bankstown hosted track cycling events at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Bass Hill, which was built specifically for the Olympics. It is currently the only indoor cycling venue in New South Wales.

Did you know that Bankstown Council was to host Olympic road cycling events until The Sydney Morning Herald stepped in?

Why Bankstown?

The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) had initially been selected for the Eastern Suburbs. The Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox Studios did not want the course running through its "front door".

In response, SOCOG moved the road cycling events to Bankstown because of lower operating costs and "fewer roundabouts". Track Cycling events were being hosted at Bankstown (Bass Hill), and their onsite media centre could be utilised by media agencies covering the road events. 

The Sydney Morning Herald adds its two cents

On May 28 1999, The Sydney Morning Herald published a report on Page 1 written by Olympics Editor Matthew Moore. Two leading cyclists - Brett Dutton and Stephen Hodge, tested the course around Bankstown.

It was deemed "too flat" and would not attract leading international cyclists while praising the course running through the Eastern Suburbs. 

SOCOG backflips

Days after the article was published, SOCOG withdrew plans to undertake the road cycling events in Bankstown on the grounds of traffic congestion on local roads. This decision was not welcomed by Bankstown locals, including Bankstown Council. A modified course for the Eastern Suburbs was prepared and ultimately was the route used during the Olympic Games. 

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Source: Trute, P. 1999. "A suburb betrayed". The Daily Telegraph, June 3: 9. 

I can understand why Bankstown locals were unhappy, and it comes down to equity and the east vs. west rivalry that is so common in Sydney. Bankstown is real suburbia and would have given the locals an opportunity to experience the Olympic Games in their own neighbourhood without having to pay for the privilege or travel to the eastern suburbs to watch the race. 

Property Advert of the Week: "Santa Barbara Gardens", Yagoona (1972)

Below is a 1972 advertisement by Classic Projects for the "Santa Barbara Gardens" complex at Yagoona. You can also view how it appears from the street on Google Earth.

Source: Classic Projects Pty. Ltd. 1972. "Santa Barbara Gardens" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 8: 16.

MILESTONE: Bankstown Square Opens (1966)

Source: Anon. 1966. "New trends set by $17m regional project". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 20:20.

Today, Bankstown Central (formerly known as Bankstown Square) turns fifty. In 1966 there was a much fanfare when its doors opened for the first time to shoppers. Back then, it had the title of the biggest shopping centre in Australia, with more than 100 shops. It had seized the title from nearby Roselands, which itself had opened just 12 months before.

The centre was officially opened by Lady Cutler (wife of NSW Governor Sir Roden Cutler) on September 21, 1966. Lady Cutler Drive was named in her honour.

I'll keep it simple with a random assortment of clippings from The Torch which produced a special edition one day before its opening on September 20, 1966. 

The first clipping is a two-page spread documenting its construction, which occurred over a two year period.

Some photos of the opening on September 21 as published in The Torch on September 28, 1966. 130 000 were reported to have attended the opening.

I have included an editorial from the September 21, 1966, edition of The Torch which was the opening day

The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader published a map in its September 21 edition.

Facts of interest:

• Lend Lease were developers and construction costs were $17 million.
• The original centre had around 130 shops, compared with the 250 today. 
• Parking was available for 2500 cars. 
• Major tenants included David Jones, Nock & Kirby's, Woolworths and BigW. Woolworths and BigW are still based in the centre while David Jones left in 2007 (now occupied by Myer). 

Below are some advertisements for some of the major retailers:

David Jones

Woolworths

Woolworths Variety

Palmers

Nock & Kirbys

BigW

Property Advert of the Week: Panania Golf Course Estate - Milperra (1967)

This week's property advertisement dates all the way back to 1967. This time it is from Milperra where blocks of land were on sale from 1775 pounds ($3550). In today's money that represents a bargain at $39 815 according to the RBA inflation calculator. The blocks back onto the Bankstown Golf Club. So going by this advertisement, the land for sale was in what is now Inghram Avenue, Whittle Avenue and Keysor Place in Milperra.

Note again, that in 1967 housing advertisements were allowed to be advertised in pounds as part of the transition from pounds to dollars in 1966 for a two year period.

 

Source: Parkes Developments. 1967.  "Panania Golf Course Estate (Advertisement)". The Daily Telegraph, April 1: 41. 

Property Advert of the Week: Bass Hill Land Release (1963)

This weeks property advertisement is from 1963. We head to Bass Hill where a 65 pound deposit would seal yourself a block of land in the area, which I believe is in and around Denman Road at what is currently  Georges Hall. The advertisement mentions of a proposed shopping centre which is now Bass Hill Plaza (opened 1981) and a hotel.
 

Source: A.O. Bentley & Co. Pty. Ltd. 1963. "Bass Hill Land (Advertisement)." The Daily Telegraph, April 6: 51. 

Property Advert of the Week: The Glencairn by Denham Homes (1967)

This week, I share with you an advertisement for the Glencairn, a model home that was available from Denham Homes for around $10 500 in 1967 ($122 000 in today's money according to the RBA Inflation Calculator). The key feature was the big living and kitchen areas. The living room was 31 feet by 14 feet long. Model homes were on display at Baulkham Hills and Yagoona.

Source: Denham Homes Pty. Ltd. 1967. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, March 18: 41. 

Property Advert of the Week: Birrong Land Release (1965)

This week, I share an advertisement from October 1965 relating to a land release at Birrong in Sydney's south-west. The lots were located Wellington Road, Hill Road and what is now Andrew Place.



Source: John L. Nichols & Co Pty Ltd. 1965. "Birrong!! The Land Everyone Wants to Buy and Can Afford!! (Advertisement)." The Daily Telegraph, October 23: 47. 

I've provided a Google Streetview link to Hill Road at the intersection of Andrew Place. Notice the distinct difference in the housing between the side of the road featured in the advertisement and the opposite side of the road. Lots of red brick homes on the sites featured.