1964: The Royal Exchange Building closes its doors

1964 ended an era for wool trading in Sydney when the Royal Exchange Building held its last trades. The Royal Exchange Building was pulled down for 56 Pitt Street, a 28 level office tower which kept the name of the original building. However, the wool exchange did not return, despite the developers as a condition of approval for the tower, had to provide space for an exchange.

 

Source: Anon. 1964. "Doors Close on 100 Years' Trading". The Daily Telegraph, July 10:11.

The office tower was completed in 1966.

Watch this space...

It is interesting to note that the building is currently undergoing an exterior refurbishment despite plans to construct Australia's tallest office tower rising 305 metres tall to roof level. 

It would be the:

• Third tallest skyscraper in Australia. The tallest skyscrapers are Q1 on the Gold Coast (322 metres/78 storeys) and Australia 108 in Melbourne (317 metres/100 stories).
• Second tallest skyscraper to roof height in Australia. Australia 108 in Melbourne as mentioned above is 317 metres tall. 
• First skyscraper in Sydney to be at least 1000 feet tall.

Dexus is set to develop the tower and at this stage with a projected completion date of 2028.

1997: Attempt to sell off the Education Department Building

With the NSW Department of Education Building recently sold off alongside the Lands Department of Building by the NSW Government, it came to my attention that it was not the first attempt to do so. Here is a clipping from 1997.

But instead of becoming a hotel, it was going to become home to the ASX. They ended up in Bridge Street, but at Exchange Square.

 

Source: Anon. 1997. "Landmark HQ a fair exchange for ASX".  The Daily Telegraph, September 26: 36.

Property Advert of the Week: Bridgeport Ad (1997)

This week, our property advert of the week is for the Bridgeport Apartments at Bridge Street in central Sydney from 1997. Apartments were selling solidly in the tower. As of July 1997, 60 % of apartments had been sold. Studios started at just under $200 000, with Penthouses on sale from $1.382 million.

  

Source: Australand Properties. 1997. "Setting the Mark for City Living Bridgeport (Advertisement)". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 5: 14 [Real Estate lift out].