VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Bondi Junction Piazza (2001)

Full Citation Below

This is the last entry in our current series of Visions of Sydney. In 2001, Waverley Council had plans to build a Piazza in Bondi Junction to revitalise the Oxford Street mall. Retailers were struggling to attract customers into the mall following the opening of the undercover Bus/Rail Interchange, along with the redevelopment of Westfield Bondi Junction (completed 2004). 

Piazza-style malls were a trend at the time in Sydney, as reflected with The Forum at Leichhardt (1998) and Kogarah Town Square (2003). Apart from retail, the malls were surrounded by a residential population residing in apartment buildings (low to mid-rise). 

The piazza was to be centred on the site of Bronka Arcade and buildings adjacent to it. Low-rise apartment buildings would surround the Piazza along its western and eastern ends, while the podium of Eastgate Plaza would be moved forward into Spring Street to connect the complex with the piazza. This would have required the closure of Spring Street between Bronte Road and Newland Street.

   

Source: Harley, R. 2001. "Council is thinking outside the square". The Australian Financial Review, September 4: page unknown. 

1979: Syd Enfield Drive opens

Full Citation Below.

On January 9, 1979 the Bondi Junction Bypass (renamed as Syd Enfield Drive in 1988) was opened to traffic just two years after approval was given.

Source: Anon. 1979. "By-pass today, mall tomorrow". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 10: 1. 

The 1.3-kilometre road bypasses the Bondi Junction CBD, starting at Oxford Street and Ocean Street in Woollahra and ending at the intersection of Oxford Street, Old South Head Road and Bondi Road, Bondi Junction. 

 

Source: Anon. 1979. "Taking traffic out of Bondi Junction". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 10: 8. 

With traffic diverted from Oxford Street, it allowed for the closure of Oxford Street between Newland Street and Grosvenor Street to vehicular traffic. It was converted into the pedestrian mall that is seen today. 

All photos were taken by the Author (2025).

In 2025, Oxford Street between Grosvenor Street and Adelaide Street is restricted to buses only. 

Above: Oxford Street between Grosvenor Street and Adelaide Street is a bus-only thoroughfare. Photo taken by the Author (2025).

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Gardens (1987) - The mega advertisement

I have posted two advertisements promoting apartments for sale in Eastgate Towers in Bondi Junction (links below), but this one covers the entire page of a broadsheet newspaper (A2) size. It was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on April 11 1987.

Source: Laing & Simmons Pty. Ltd. 1987. "Eastgate Gardens". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 11: 36. 

Related Entries

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Gardens, Bondi Junction (1988)

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Towers, Bondi Junction (1987)

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Gardens, Bondi Junction (1988)

Below is a newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale in the Twin Tower Eastgate Gardens complex at Bondi Junction from 1988. Two-bedroom apartments were on offer from $330 000 but were "very limited".

Source: Laing & Simmons Project Marketing. 1988. "Eastgate Gardens" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, April 23: 3.

Related Entry

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Gardens, Bondi Junction (1987)

Property Advert of the Week: Seapoint, Bondi Junction (1995)

Below is a 1995 newspaper advertisement by Mirvac promoting apartments in the twin tower Seapoint complex. No prices were advertised but note that it was advertised as being located in Woollahra when technically it was located in the Bondi Junction CBD.

A fantastic location that offered great city views, shops and transport at the door.

 

Source: Mirvac. 1995. "Your Passport to an International Lifestyle" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 84.

Property Advert of the Week: Harbourview Bondi Junction (1997)

Below is a 1997 newspaper advertisement advertising apartments for sale in the Harbourview tower at Bondi Junction. It is located at 257-259 Oxford Street where Oxford Street intersects with Old South Head Road and Syd Enfield Drive. 

Studio apartments started at $185 000, two bedroom apartments from $450 000 and three bedroom apartments for $675 000. 

 

Source: Walker Corporation. 1997. "Style Beautiful Finishes Views" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24: 15RE (Real Estate Liftout).

MILESTONE: Opening of Syd Enfield Drive (1979)

This year is forty years since Syd Enfield Drive was completed. Originally the road was known as the Bondi Junction Bypass. The section of road was part of a vision to form the (never built) Eastern Suburbs freeway that would connect Bondi Junction to the city.

It would also form part of the commercial redevelopment of the suburb along with the construction of the Eastern Suburbs railway line, and would eliminate through traffic through the centre of Bondi Junction.

Construction took less than two years before being opened to traffic on 9 January, 1979. The road was opened by local State MP and Minister for Consumer Affairs - Syd Enfield.

In 1988, the bypass was named Syd Enfield Drive in honour of the former MP.

With traffic now bypassing the commercial heart of Bondi Junction, it led to creation of the Oxford Street mall.

Source: Anon. 1979. "By-pass today, mall tomorrow". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 10:1. 

Property Advert of the Week: Oscar on Hollywood, Bondi Junction (1995)

This week, we head to Bondi Junction where Meriton were selling apartments in the Oscar on Hollywood complex.

Source: Meriton Premier Apartments. 1995. "Oscar on Hollywood" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 84. 

Property Advert of the Week: Opus 1 Bondi Junction (1998)

This week, we head to Bondi Junction where $315 000 bought you an apartment in the Opus 1 Tower in 1 Adelaide Street in 1998. Westfield Bondi Junction was yet to be expanded, but within a few years, it would come right to their door.



Source: PRD Reality. 1998. "Feel the Rhythm of Sydney" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 11: 17 (Real Estate Liftout). 

And as a bonus, a photo of the building taken by yours truly.

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Towers, Bondi Junction (1987)

Source: Laing & Simmons Pty. Ltd. 1987. Eastgate Towers Advertisement, The Sydney Morning Herald, April 11: 36.