VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Bondi of the future exhibition - revisited (1968)

Sourced from: Grace Bros Bondi Junction. 1968. "See Bondi of the future" (Advertisement). The Wentworth Courier, November 13: 19.

Back in 2014, I posted an entry which would appear under Never Built Sydney, focusing on a 1968 Exhibition at Grace Bros, Bondi Junction, involving University of New South Wales Architecture students displaying their visions for Bondi in the year 2000.

I have posted this entry under Visions of Sydney as it aligns with "never builts" or future visions for redevelopment of suburbs that never proceeded or were early or alternate schemes or in this instance, university students predicting how Bondi may look over thirty years into the future.

Below is a newspaper advertisement from Grace Bros showing one of the proposed schemes. It is the same featured from the article I posted back in 2014, but with Ben Buckler in the foreground. Its familiar midrise unit blocks would not have survived. It would have been completely rebuilt from scratch, incorporating a mixture of residential and tourist development. Having a hotel located there would have utilised not just the views of the beach, but also those of the ocean. If the idea had evolved into a real proposal and then been built, it would likely have been amongst Sydney's most famous hotels, simply for its headland location.

Source: Grace Bros Bondi Junction. 1968. "See Bondi of the future" (Advertisement). The Wentworth Courier, November 13: 19.

And there is one feature from The Wentworth Courier (20 November 1968) that either shows another scheme or could be part of the initial scheme. I think the featured model could be one of how Campbell Parade may have been envisioned as looking in the year 2000.If so, much taller, larger buildings were predicted line the strip than in 2000 and 2026, six decades later. 

Source. Anonymous. 1968. Untitled. The Wentworth Courier, November 20: 4. 

Related Entry

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Bondi of the Future Exhibition (1968)

Christmas Snapshot: 2000

Source: Lamba, B. & Sofios, S. (2000). "'Tis the season to serve up goodwill". The Daily Telegraph, December 26: 14-15. 

Christmas Day is on Thursday, and it is appropriate that this week I post the annual Christmas Snapshot, looking at how Sydney marked Christmas 25 years ago.

The year of focus is 2000.

So did Sydneysiders mark it?

Carols in the Domain - December 16

Carols in the Domain was held on Saturday, December 16, attracting 100,000 people into The Domain. 

Source: Sorenson, T. 2000. "Record crowd flocks to carols". The Sunday Telegraph, December 17: 29.

The lead-up to December 25

The Sunday Telegraph on December 24 2000 (Below) did a two-page spread on the lead-up to Christmas. For those leaving Sydney to visit family for Christmas or spend the summer holidays away from home, some encountered difficulties, whether on the road or in the air. 

Several Ansett Boeing 767s were grounded over the Christmas period, leading to flight cancellations. This was because they had not been subject to compulsory maintenance inspections. The grounded 767s resumed operations on Boxing Day, in time for the post-Christmas Rush.

For the airline itself, it would be its final Christmas, as it entered administration in September 2001 and ceased operations in March 2022.

Late-night shopping in the lead-up to Christmas is a tradition, though it is not as strong in 2025 as it was a quarter of a century ago. Online retailing was in its early stages, but our retailers had yet to embrace it, and the technology had not advanced enough for easy online ordering. 

To buy gifts, you had to buy them in person. It meant braving the crowds, fighting for a spot in full carparks and finding time to shop alongside other day-to-day aspects of life, such as work.  Late-night Christmas shopping meant there was no need to rush after a long day at the office.  

These days, it's possible to order online from a computer, tablet, or phone at any time, from any location. Black Friday sales have taken off in recent years, meaning gifts can be sought at reasonable prices a month out from Christmas. Want a bargain back in 2000? That had to wait until Boxing Day. 

Some still love the thrill of late-night shopping, and even some in Generation Z embrace it. One student at school told me in the lead-up to Christmas this year that they love doing it themselves. 

Source: Murray, K. & Grant, P. 2000. "Late closing for final rush". The Daily Telegraph, December 20: 24. 

Christmas Day - December 25

The Daily Telegraph feature on December 26, 2000, focused on the Churches and the lunches they put on for the poor and disadvantaged, including the Exodus Foundation (Ashfield), Matthew Talbot Hostel (Woolloomooloo), Wayside Chapel (Kings Cross) and the Salvation Army at Redfern. The Matthew Talbot Hostel recorded a forty per cent increase in volunteers, aided by the volunteer spirit triggered by the Sydney Olympics three months earlier. 

An estimated 4000 people were reported to have attended midnight mass at St Mary's Cathedral, and standing room only for its 10:30 am mass on Christmas morning.

Bondi Beach

According to The Daily Telegraph, backpackers and tourists accounted for the 25,000 who chose to spend their day at the beach. A party zone was explicitly created for those who wanted to celebrate the day. 3000 gathered at Coogee. 

A quarter of a century later, it now faces competition from Bronte Beach, which has gained widespread appeal amongst backpackers. However, Bronte, which is smaller, struggles to cope with the 10,000 who attend and has raised concerns, particularly about garbage.

Back at Bondi in 2000, garbage left behind by revellers was also a problem, and Waverley council was very quick to point fingers - British Backpackers

Source: Smith, R. 2000. "Filthy Poms". The Sunday Telegraph, December 31: 7. 

Christmas Lights

Adorning your home with lights at Christmas has become a standard way of celebrating in Sydney's suburbs, and a quarter of a century ago, the competition for the best-lit street in Sydney was taking off. The late 1990s would mark the genesis of such competition, given that last year's snapshot (1999) mentioned Bonnet Bay and its Christmas Lights. Locals would claim that their tradition began in the mid-1970s, as the suburb was new, developed from the late 1960s onward. 

The Daily Telegraph had several features on Christmas Lights in streets in Sydney, but will post one below focusing on Stutz Place, Ingleburn. Campbelltown Council was running a local competition to determine the street with the best Christmas lights. 

Source: Saleh, L. 2000. "Silent night, holy light". The Daily Telegraph, December 11: 9. 

A Final Word

As this Christmas approaches, many Sydneysiders will be marking the season while also carrying grief following the tragic events at Bondi Beach on Sunday, December 15. The loss of life, the injuries suffered, and the trauma experienced by those who witnessed what occurred have left a profound and lasting impact on families, first responders, and the wider community. 

This look back at Christmas 2000 is written with an awareness that places central to Sydney’s summer traditions can hold both joy and sorrow across time. Yet in the days that followed the events at Bondi, the way people have supported one another through care, compassion, restraint, and solidarity reflects values long associated with Christmas itself. 

In that sense, light has not been overcome by darkness, even as many continue to grieve. With that in mind, 

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, extending my thoughts to those who are mourning, recovering, or carrying the weight of what they saw, and to everyone seeking peace and reassurance in a difficult season.

Stay safe, everyone.

Remember This? This is Sydney at 97.3 Degrees (1956)

Above: Bondi Beach. Full citation below.

A weather-themed entry for this week, fitting in with summer. Below is a feature from The Daily Telegraph from December 31 1956. 

On December 30 1956, temperatures peaked at 97.3 degrees Fahrenheit in Sydney (36.2 degrees Celsius).

An estimated 320,000 people converged on beaches in Sydney, Newcastle, and the Central Coast to keep cool. 

Sydney's hottest day this summer to date (2024/2025) is December 27, 2024, when temperatures peaked at 37.4 degrees at Observatory Hill. I've enlarged the table from the article below to show the temperatures recorded at various times on the day.

   

 

Source: Anon. 1957. "Hottest day in city for 2 years". The Daily Telegraph, December 31: 5.

Christmas Snapshot: 1997

Each year, it has become a Christmas custom for me to post an entry focusing on how Sydney marked Christmas 25 years earlier.

The year of focus is 1997.

I have decided to change focus to the actual celebration of Christmas and media coverage and dispense with the retail advertisements as I have done in previous years.

Above is a list of the services available for Christmas Day and Boxing Day as published in The Daily Telegraph on 25 December 1997. 

On Christmas Day, Hotels are still allowed to trade from noon to 10pm, but only dining areas and that alcohol can only be purchased with a meal.

Generally, there has been little or no change to the services provided. However, there have been changes such as Cinemas being permitted to trade longer hours or fast food outlets electing to open, particularly McDonalds.

Below is Page 4 from The Daily Telegraph (25 December 1997), containing a summary of Christmas Messages from Prime Minister John Howard and Church Leaders, and a typical summer weather forecast for the day with 26 degrees.

The Sydney Morning Herald has maintained a tradition of not publishing on Christmas Day. Below is coverage of Christmas Day as reported in its edition of 26 December 1997.

Below are two clippings relating to how the day was marked across the city, including the homeless and disadvantaged.

 

Source: Hill, K. 1997. "Day of giving: less holy but wholehearted". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 26: 4.

There was even a feature on church services attended by prominent Sydneysiders. 

 

Source: Pitt, H. 1997. "Jockey's lean days are over". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 26: 4. 

For the followers of consumerism, retailers were happy with sales in the leadup to Christmas. Given the headline spread across the page, there is also a photo of backpackers spending the day at Bondi Beach, a feature on seafarers marking Christmas and preferred destinations for the summer break by Sydneysiders.

Source: Cummins, C. & Jamal, N. 1997. "Retailers reap best harvest in years". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 26: 4. 

Finally, I would include a newspaper clipping of Carols in the Domain which was held on 20 December 1997. Sadly, I could not locate an article on it for 1997, but I can provide the finale which was uploaded to Youtube by Daniel Celeno.

Noni Hazelhurst & John Jarratt (Better Homes & Gardens, Seven Network) returned for a second straight year to compere the evening. Have fun identifying the stars, but I will mention that a young Hugh Jackman performed on the evening. 

That is our snapshot for Christmas 1997. I wish each person a very safe and wonderful Christmas.

1970: Bondi - "It used to be the best place in the world" - (The Sun Article)

 

Source: Willey, K. 1970. Bondi - It used to be the best place in the world. The Sun, March 6: 4 & 8.

At the start of the 1970's, Bondi did not have the reputation that it holds today. Today, you will hear people say "It's the best place in the world" and Bondi Beach has a very good reputation overseas as one of the great beaches of the world. The Sun published an article on March 6, 1970 focusing on the decline of Bondi. Local resident Noel Balzer shared his recollections of growing up in the suburb and what it was now. 

The "old pine [Norfolk Pine] trees are dead", "garbage floating in the water", dumping of rubbish by Waverley Council into the ocean, litter in the streets, poor maintainence of public amenities and poorly maintained buildings were identified as some of the concerns raised by Balzer. He recalled some of the characters that made up the suburb and was concerned about the anti-social behaviour of New Zealanders that resided in the suburb. 

Bondi would contrinue to struggle through the 1970's and 1980's. The 1980's saw a focus on promoting the suburb to international tourists which increased as the decade progressed. High levels of beach pollution had made the beach increasingly unsafe to swim in, causing illness among swimmers and surfers as they swam in water contaminated with raw sewage and litter. Local residents could smell the stench from their homes. The 1990's saw the completion of the Deep Water Ocean Outfall which improved water quality for swimmers at Bondi. The suburb also became a tourist destination as international hotels opened in Campbell Parade.

The Norfolk Pines have returned, with the first trees planted in 1991, and today are becoming noticable as they slowly grow and mature.

Despite the revival of Bondi, it has come at some cost which I think would not impress Noel Balzer. House prices began rising in the 1980's, which meant that the working class residents which dominated the suburb could no longer afford to remain in the area. The median price of a home in Bondi is just $4 million, when compared with around $1.6 million for a typical Sydney suburb. Rising rents for shopfronts along Campbell Parade has seen many of the essential businesses that serve the suburb leave.

Christmas Snapshot: 1996 (Part II)

Click here to access Part 1.

This week is our second (and concluding instalment) looking at Christmas 1996. Lets focus on the festivities!!!

Carols in the Domain

On December 21, 100 000 attended the annual Carols in the Domain which was compered by Better Homes & Gardens Presenters - Noni Hazlehurst & John Jarratt. This was screened on the Seven Network right across the nation. 

Source: Snell, S. 1996. "Sydney's Christmas cheer: Carols attract 100,000". The Sunday Telegraph, December 22: 20. 

Below is a Youtube clip of the finale to the evening.

Christmas Eve

I don't know why I seem to enjoy Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day? Is it because its a normal day with the usual shops and services open as if the next day will be normal? Or is it because I can relax or in my family, the fact that have traditionally gathered that evening for Christmas Dinner like they do in Europe and Latin America. And yes, another family customs exchanging presents at midnight.

I do enjoy heading out to the city or even to a major suburban shopping centre and just observing proceedings along with a photo walk of the surrounding area on Christmas Eve. In the city, there is a sense of order, even amongst the panic last minute shoppers but the same in the suburbs. Grocery shopping on December 24 is where you may find an issue and in 1996 was the same thing especially at the Sydney Fish Markets. 

Also I enjoy reading old clippings relating to the "last minute" gift rush for Christmas. Some things never change, like the men who hold off buying gifts until December 24. Fortunately, a quarter of.a century later, we don't need to physically visit a shop to buy gifts, though this year people may have to visit a physical store with delivery times for online purchases increasing due to high delivery volumes within our postal system or those of private delivery companies. lingerie and cosmetics led the last minute gift purchases and gift cards believe it or not are now the most popular Christmas gift. 

 

Source: Gelastopoulos, E. 1996. "Men lead the last minute gift rush". The Daily Telegraph, December 25: 7.

Bondi Beach

The evening of Christmas Day the previous year saw a riot brake out. Police were determined that this would not be allowed to happen in 1996. Extra police would patrol the beach, Campbell Parade was closed to vehicular traffic and restrictions on the consumption of alcohol including designated areas for consumption. The closure of Campbell Parade was to prevent horns from bringing their cars into the area as they were identified as the trigger for the riots.

Source: Gee, S. 1996. "Police blitz on Bondi Party". The Daily Telegraph, December 23: 7.

In the end, it was peaceful. Trouble did not eventuate as reported by The Daily Telegraph on 26 December 1996.

Source: Porter, J. 1996. "Christmas in a cage". The Daily Telegraph, December 26: 3. 

This gathering has continued over the years without trouble, but COVID-19 has packed a punch. Hopefully as travel restrictions ease for foreigners in 2022, this custom will revert to what it was pre-pandemic.

St Patricks Cathedral, Parramatta

In February 1996, St Patricks Cathedral at Parramatta was devastated by a major fire that was deliberately lit. Christmas Day marked the first worship services to be held in the Cathedral since the fire.

Source: McMillan A. 1996. "Mass return to St Pat's". The Daily Telegraph, December 25: 2. 

In 1996, The Daily Telegraph was printed on Christmas Day. As a newspaper reader, I am not a fan of the decision to not publish on Christmas Day as they do now (and before 1994) because news doesn't stop, newspapers provide an essential community service and journalists and reporters will still work on Christmas Day. The internet is no substitute. In the United States, newspapers are published as per routine on Christmas Day. Fairfax (Now part of Nine Entertainment) newspapers did not publish on this day. Below are the Christmas features and editorial from Pages 11 and 12.

And finally, I wish you all a very merry and safe Christmas. 

Christmas Snapshot: 1995 (Part II)

This is Part 2 of our Christmas Snapshot of 1995. Last week, we focused on the gift ideas and specials provided by major retailers.

Now to the day itself...

12 000 people (largely backpackers) descended on the beach for Christmas celebrations. However that evening was marred by a riot that was initiated by the locals. Hundreds were involved with police in riot gear pelted by bottles.

Before the riot, the crowd was well behaved. There were concerns over noise from an amplifier which led to it being shut down by police. 

Also, it was reported that Sydney Harbour Casino was the first casino in Australia to open on Christmas Day without restrictions. Hundreds of bookings were received for lunch and some would linger afterwards for some gambling.

The Exodus Foundation at Ashfield served Christmas lunch to 1100 people. 

On December 23, 100 000 people attended Carols in the Domain compered by Rob Guest.

Source: Gora, B. 1995. "100,000 carol singers". The Sunday Telegraph, December 24: 12. 

In the week prior to Christmas, the Wesley Mission did the Darling Harbour Christmas Pageant in Tumbalong Park. Apart from carols, attendees were treated to a reenactment of the first Christmas. It was televised on Christmas Eve on Channel Seven.

Below are messages from the Churches but also an overview of services available over Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It has become standard for cinemas to now open across Sydney on Christmas Day.

And how did the retailers fare?

Source: Brennan, W. 1995. "Xmas tills ring in last-minute spree". The Sunday Telegraph, December 24:3.

The Sunday Telegraph on December 24 provided some assistance to last minute shoppers given Christmas Eve was on a Sunday for the first time since 1989.

Source: Green, P. 1995. "Crisis Shopping!". The Sunday Telegraph, December 24: 22.

Retailers felt that trade over the Christmas season fell from 1994 and noted that the anticipated last minute surges did not happen.Were people waiting for the sales? The past decade has seen the sales moved forward with retailers offering discounts but also embracing "Black Friday" from the United States to attract Christmas sales. Post Christmas still remains large but there isn't the rush or need to wait as the past.

Source: Seymour, T. 1995. "Waiting for the rush". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, December 25: 7.

But this article seems to indicate that retail trade was perhaps not as bad???

Source: Brennan, W. 1995. "Xmas tills ring in last minute spree". The Sunday Telegraph, December 24: 3.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. 

Property Advert of the Week: Mornington, Bondi (1971)

The unit complex at 3 Campbell Street, Bondi is very noticeable on the landscape at the southern end of Bondi Beach. $35 000 bought you an apartment with "million dollar views" which certainly lives up to it five decades later.

Source: Home Units Pty. Ltd. 1971. "South Bondi headland:" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, January 2: 27.

1971: The first ever City to Surf

This Sunday (August 9) will be the 45th instalment of The City to Surf fun run. What began with just 2 000 participants in 1971, has grown into one of the great fun runs of the world with around 75 000 now taking part each year. While the route has been the same, the start line originally was at the Sydney Town Hall with runners running the full length of Park Street. The photo below shows the sea of runners making their way down Park Street. In those days, one could still park their car on the street on the day of the race and if you needed to cross Park Street, tough luck. You had to wait for all runners to run.

Source: Anonymous. 1971. "Here to Stay". The Sun, September 6: 3.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Bondi of the Future Exhibition (1968)

In 1968, Grace Bros at Bondi Junction held an exhibition where architecture students at the University of NSW were asked to create models of what they thought Bondi would be like in the year 2000.

Thank goodness Ben Buckler is still what it is. I prefer the older and smaller unit blocks.

Source: Anonymous. 1968. "Skyline 32 Years Ahead," The Daily Telegraph, November 19: 15.