Property Advert of the Week: Newtown Silos (2003)

Below is a 2003 newspaper advertisement for The Newtown Silos apartment complex. The former flour mill located in Gladstone Street, Newtown, was converted into an apartment complex and was completed in 2005.

Source: Cromer Property Agents and Peter Shield Real Estate. 2003. "This is silo : new life, new living space, Newtown" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, June 8: 11 (homeowner liftout). 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: AML & F Redevelopment Proposal (1989)

Full Citation Below

In 2023, I posted an entry on the fire that destroyed the Australian Mercantile Land & Finance Co. Building at Ultimo in 1992. 

At the time of the fire, the site was facing redevelopment. In 1989, Essington Developments Lrd. (owned by Kerry Packer) proposed a plan to convert the building into a hotel and apartment building. There would be 150 apartments along with a four star hotel. A small office building along with retail would also be provided. The redevelopment was projected to cost $200 million.

Source: Dixon, A. 1989. "New life for a grand old building" . The Sydney Morning Herald, March 29: 2. 

The restoration of the former woolstore would have been similar to the Goldsborough Mort Woolstore located further up Harris Street. However had this had gone ahead and there was no fire to the woolstore itself, it have meant that those in Ultimo would not have the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre which occupies part of the present site. The Harry Seidler-designed building is a local landmark in itself.

Related Entry

1992: Ultimo's Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Co. Building destroyed by fire

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)

Source: Anon. 1988. Untitled (illustration). The Weekend Australian, April 2: 1 (Property Liftout).

In part three of our series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay, I look at the proposal to redevelop Unilever House through the conversion of the office building into a hotel.

Unilever House was completed in 1958 and was 16 storeys tall. It was located far northern end of East Circular Quay (Location of 1 Bennelong), predating the Sydney Opera House by 15 years.

Source: Kent, S. 1986. "Lang Hancock Plans Hotel for Choice Quay Site". Good Weekend Magazine (The Sydney Morning Herald), February 22: 5.

Last week, I mentioned that Unilever House was bought by Molena Holdings for $22.8 million in 1983. In 1986, plans were lodged with Sydney City Council to redvelop the office building into a 223 room hotel. The structure was to remain, with the top two floors demolished and rebuilt to contain hotel suites.

The estimated cost of redevelopment was placed at $75 million. Conditional pproval was given in 1986. 

Source: Childs, P. 1986. "Opera House hotel plans get the nod". The Sun Herald, April 6: 23. 

Next week, I will revisit the Opera Gardens Scheme which was also in the planning mode in 1986.

Other Entries in this series

1. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)
2. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme (1984)

Property Advert of the Week: Top of the Town (2001)

For around 35 years The Top of the Cross/Town Motel was a popular hotel in Kings Cross. In 2001 apartments went on sale before it was formally converted to an apartment tower in 2003.

When I see this advertisement, it feels like its not from 2001 at all. Even the render looks old.

Source: Cramer Property Agents & Hayson Sales. 2001. "Top of the Town" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, February 17: 18A (Domain liftout). 

Property Advert of the Week: The Concierge Apartments Cremorne (1999)

At the end of the 1990's, the former Metropole Hotel at Cremorne was converted into an apartment complex while some former hotel rooms ended up as serviced apartments.

Source: The Hayson Group. 1999. "The  Concierge Apartments" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 5: 10RE (Real Estate Liftout).

1993: Esso House becomes Highgate

The early 1990's recession created a glut of office space in central Sydney with vacancy rates reaching 25%.  Meanwhile, Sydney City Council was encouraging people to move from the suburbs into the city to improve activity. Residential developers saw that money could be made from turning aging office blocks into upmarket apartment towers. One of the first office towers in central Sydney to be converted into an apartment tower was ESSO House. In 1993, it gained approval for Highgate, which was to be the name of the apartment tower. Crone & Associates were behind the design which included adding an extra eight levels to make the building 28 storeys or 100 metres tall. Work began that same year and was completed just one year later.

  
Source: Brooks, D. 1993. "Getting living room from empty offices". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, July 22: 54. 

Sales were strong for apartments despite the "quiet" marketing"

Source: Koch, P. 1994. "On A High: The Highgate Development". The Sunday Telegraph, July 17: 63-64. 

It has become of the most desirable addresses in central Sydney like its neighbours Stamford on Kent & The Observatory. This has been due to its proximity to The Rocks and the city. The views of Sydney Harbour from the units have been unparalleled, though the Barangaroo development will take out the views west. Another feature has been its facilities for residents including a gym and swimming pool and security access.

Highgate as seen from Observatory Hill. Photo taken by the Author (2011). 

Property Advert of the Week: Sydney Mansion, Surry Hills (1998)

In 1998, $215 000 bought you a one bedroom apartment in the Sydney Mansion complex in Surry Hills.

Source: McGrath Partners &  Jones Lang Wooton. 1998. "The Dream Comes to Life... Sydney Mansion Now Under Construction".  The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 21 (Real Estate Liftout).

Property Advert of the Week: The Goldsbrough, Pyrmont (1993)

This weeks property advert takes us to inner-city Pyrmont. In 1993, apartments at The Goldsbrough went on sale to the public. as the former woolstore was to be turned into an apartment block. The building also contains serviced apartments which are managed by Oaks Hotels and Resorts.

Source: Landmark Properties. 1993 "The Goldsbrough - Darling Harbour (Advertisement)." The Daily Telegraph Mirror, December 11: 59.