1970: Plans for Sydney's "Landmark" MSB Ports Tower is unveiled

As you may have noticed as of late the MSB Port Tower is being pulled down after four decades of service in controlling port traffic on Sydney Harbour.

Demolition Works in October 2016. The photo was taken by the Author.

But how did it come about? Changes to communication with ships in the harbour facilitated the need but also a tower would give greater visibility when compared to Circular Quay where they were based at the time of its announcement in July 1970. It was hoped to be completed in 1971 but did not open until 1974. 

  

Source: Anon. 1970. "Landmark: 200ft. port tower for Millers Pt." The Daily Telegraph, July 17:7. 

When completed the structure raised 87 metres above sea level.

The MSB Port Tower just prior to its demolition (2015). The photo was taken by the Author. 

Last year, the NSW State Government announced its demolition as it did not fit in with the reconstructed headland at Barangaroo but the relocation of port activity from Sydney Harbour to Port Botany along with the relocation of vessel operations to Port Botany in 2011 made the structure redundant. 

The National Trust opposed its demolition as it was a reminder of the harbour's past as a trading port and had listed the structure on its register in 2010. 

And where do I stand on its demolition? For starters, it was not worthy of heritage listing as it as not in an architectural sense worth retaining. Does it fit in with the surroundings? No. It towers over the terraces of Millers Point and the park.

But there was an opportunity lost to redevelop it. I suggested at a Barangaroo Community Consultation Forum in Caringbah in 2010 to turn it into an observation tower. Peter Holmes-A-Court who was (quietly) seated at my table liked the idea and suggested a staircase be built on its exterior. If no use could be found, then pull it down. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Early scheme for Barangaroo (1992)

The Sydney Morning Herald in 1992 published a vision of what East Darling Harbour (now known as Barangaroo) could have looked like. The vision itself also included the King Street Wharf precinct, which underwent its redevelopment in the late 1990's through to the end of the first decade of the 2000's.

Peddle Thorp Walker was behind the vision.

Source: Dickinson, Michael. 1992. "Visions Plundered." The Sydney Morning Herald, July 16: 4a (Sydney Sesqui Liftout).

There are some that question the current scheme for Barangaroo for various reasons which include: overdevelopment, buildings that are too tall, a park that is "isolated" and inadequate public space. I'd like them to have a look at what are getting as opposed to what could have been.

But had we gone with the 1992 scheme would we have an 11-hectare park at the northern end including a rebuilt 1836 headland? Definitely not. I think the large parkland is a great public asset to Sydney and it does provide easy access to the harbour for all. It is the western CBD's answer to the Botanical Gardens and the Domain Parklands to the east. However, the article claims that 17 hectares of parkland would be provided.

And how did we get the park in the first place? By focusing on more intense (or dense) development at its Southern end (Barangaroo South). The buildings are taller which may be a negative to some, but sometimes we have to sacrifice something to get something good. The taller buildings and their floor plates also respond to current trends for office space in Sydney including energy efficiency and larger floor plates.

The larger parklands do have an advantage over the smaller park lands featured in the vision. The spaces front the harbour whereas the 1992 scheme largely had them set back from the harbour surrounded by buildings. Plus the Barangaroo park will allow for a wide range of community activities like live theatre and concerts. Even though the park is not yet finished, there has been a positive response to events held on the site like New Year's Eve, where thousands have managed to buy tickets to have a front-row seat to the Fireworks display.

One plus that the 1992 vision has over the current scheme is that there is a focus on residential development with housing for 20 000 which would have gone a fair way to improving the housing stock in central Sydney. About 3000 people will eventually live at Barangaroo, under the current scheme.

The vision was part of a broader feature by Michael Dickinson where he examined the visions for Sydney over the years and the failure to turn them into reality.

Barangaroo taking shape in October 2014.

Photo was taken by the Author.

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).