VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Circular Quay facelift (1972)

Over the years, there have been several visions to give Circular Quay a facelift, many of which have never become a reality, either in part or in whole.

Below is one vision from 1972 that was published in The Daily Telegraph. In summary, the vision was to:

• Renovate the wharves with glazing (renovations did not occur until the 1990s, and Wharf 3 was rebuilt in the 1980s to accommodate the Freshwater Class ferries and their automated gangways.)
• Covered walkway from the Sydney Opera House would be extended down to the Cahill Expressway.
• A waterfront public square, tavern and restaurant along the waterfront at East Circular Quay.
• New paving
• Electric Train with open-air carriages (carnival style)
• New lighting

 

Source: Anon. 1972. "Our Quay to the future". The Daily Telegraph, December 13: 28. 

1999: Customs House Square extension

Source: Ryan, R. 1999. "Quay to the city". The Daily Telegraph, February 15:16.

In 1999, Alfred Street at Circular Quay was closed to all vehicles between Young Street and Loftus Street. This enabled Customs House Square to be extended and therefore connect the square directly to Circular Quay Station. 

The closure commenced on the evening of 14 February 1999. This meant that vehicles could no longer use Alfred Street, particularly buses, taxis, and coaches, to cross the city in either an easterly or westerly direction. It meant that they had to use Bridge Street.

Alfred Street between Loftus and George Street became one way for westbound traffic only, while two-way traffic remained in the section between Young Street and Phillip Street.

Sourced from: Ryan, R. 1999. "Quay to the city". The Daily Telegraph, February 15:16.

A consequence meant that bus services commencing or terminating in Alfred Street had to be shifted to new bus stops.

In 2015, Alfred Street was closed to all vehicles between Loftus and George Streets to enable the construction of the terminus for light rail services operating in the Sydney CBD, which opened in December 2019. In effect, it extended the square further. 

Below are some photos I recently took. It was interesting to note that the kerbs on Alfred Street at Customs House Square were retained.

This photo shows how the kerbs for Alfred Street were retained despite being integrated in Customs House Square.

 

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay 'Ideas Quest' (1992)

Source: Sydney City Council. 1992. "East Circular Quay 'Ideas Quest'" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph Mirror, January 6: 12.   

A fortnight ago, I posted Colonial Mutual Limited's (CML) proposal to build a $700 million commercial development at East Circular Quay in 1991. Sydney City Council rejected the proposal because it did not comply with the site's planning guidelines.

This led to Sydney City Council reviewing the site's planning guidelines. In January 1992, it invited the public to submit ideas on how the site should be developed. Architect Ken Woolley assessed the submissions. 

In March 1992, the submissions were placed on public exhibition. 

Source: Sydney City Council. 1992. "Exhibition of the East Circular Quay Ideas Quest". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, February 29: 23. 

Below is a feature article from The Daily Telegraph Mirror featuring some of the submissions.

Source: Bye, C. 1992. "Quay shapes up for the future". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, March 4: page unknown.

Following the exhibition, new guidelines were drawn by the panel led by Ken Woolley. For the site owned by Colonial Mutual Limited (CML), a maximum height limit of 42.5 metres was set, which was lower than four of the buildings that either occupied the site or had been demolished. South of Moore Steps, future development would be capped at a maximum of 65 metres. 

Source: O'Brien, G. 1992. "No great heights at Quay site". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 10: 4. 

The guidelines also recommended:

• Provision of a cultural facility
• Utilise part of the existing roadway for pedestrian use
• Ground and lower floors to accommodate restaurants, retail, entertainment and tourist facilites.
• Possible use of land under Macquarie Street for public use. 

The National Institute of Architects objected to the new guidelines.

Source: Anon. 1992. "Architects call for new Quay design". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 11: 8. 

As I will be away during the school holiday period, I will have two Remember This? entries for the next two Mondays and will resume this series on May 6.

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)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
5. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)
6. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme
7. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's Bennelong Centre (1991)
8. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The Revolving Office Tower Scheme (1991)

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The Revolving Office Tower Scheme (1991)

Source: Cameron, F. 1991. "Revolving idea attracts foreign interest". The Weekend Australian, November 30: page unknown.

Last week, I posted Colonial Mutual Limited (CML) 's 1991 proposal for the Bennelong Centre at East Circular Quay, which Sydney City Council rejected.

Towards the end of 1991, Hassell Architects unveiled a proposal to construct the first revolving office tower in the world on the site. While the proposal attracted global interest, CML was not interested. Three years earlier, CML had secretly rejected the scheme. 

Source: McDougall, B. 1991. "A new tower to turn heads". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 26: 1-2.

Hassell Architects was no longer bound by the agreement and could make it public. They wanted Australia to have the first tower of its type built in the world.

The rotating tower would rise thirty-six stories and turn 180 degrees each day, tracking the sun. Tenants would have harbour views every second day. It was designed in the shape of a leaf, and the circular core of the building would remain stationary. 

Given CML's lack of interest, this proposal didn't go far. 

It also attracted criticism from planning experts and environmentalists.

Source: Scott, S. & Bisset, K. 1991. "Turning tower in trouble". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 27: 9.  

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)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
5. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)
6. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme
7. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's Bennelong Centre (1991)

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's Bennelong Centre (1991)

From: O'Brien, G & Chancellor, J. 1991. "Too high, too wide, too big: Quay tower rejected". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 26: 1. 

With Easter now over, I resume our series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay.

Three weeks ago, I mentioned how Colonial Mutual Limited (CML) had spent $250 million in 1988 and 1989 to purchase four adjoining properties or sites to add to their existing ownership of Bennelong House. This opened up opportunities to redevelop the block. In 1990, plans for an office complex known as the Bennelong Centre were leaked to the public, sparking opposition.

Source: Hawes, R. 1991."'Ugly' Quay gets new look". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, June 27: 1 & 4. 

In June 1991, a more conservative scheme known as the Bennelong Centre was unveiled. It complied with Sydney City Council's planning guidelines, restricting the height to seventeen storeys. The estimated cost of redevelopment was $700 million. However, it would exceed the height limits and width dimensions by three metres. Council also recommended a maximum of 46 000 sq/m of floorspace, but CML proposed 56 000 sq/m of floorspace.

Apart from office space, three levels of retail space were provided, with an open colonnade and a concealed bus interchange underneath Macquarie Street to replace the existing street-level terminus. The creation of the Colonnade and building onto the Macquarie Street footpath enabled the extra 10,000 sq/m of space, which was needed to make the development economically viable. 

Graham Rogers, Director and General Manager of CML, presented their case for the development based on the argument that it complied with guidelines. 

Source: Rogers, G. 1991. "Quay proposal 'follows guidelines'". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 23: 25.

And opinion was stacked against it.

Source: Briggs, L. 1991. "Cool response to $300m Quay plan". The Weekend Australian, June 29: 1 (Property Review Section).

NSW Opposition Leader Bob Carr called for a public inquiry into the site's development and considered a possible land swap for other government-owned land west of the Sydney CBD.

Source: Romei, S. 1991. "Carr calls for Quay inquiry". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, July 24: 10.

The majority of Aldermen at Sydney City Council also expressed their opposition. 

Source: Catalano, A. 1991. "Helen leads Quay fight". The Sun Herald, July 21:15. 

The Sydney Morning Herald approached nine architects to share their insights. 

Source: Chancellor, J. & Nixon, A. 1991. "Opinion is stacked against the Bennelong Centre". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 15: 26. 

The Central Sydney Planning Committee rejected the proposal on July 25 1991, as it did not comply with planning guidelines, given it had exceeded its height, width and bulk. This would lead to CML withdrawing their development application within a fortnight of its rejection.

  

Source: O'Brien, G. & Chancellor, J. 1991. "Too high, too wide, too big: Quay tower rejected". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 26: 1.

The series continues next week. 

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)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
5. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)
6. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme

In part six of our series, focusing on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay, I am going to focus on 1989 and 1990 as Colonial Mutual Life (CML) undertook further acquisitions of buildings and sites on the block and proposed their plans to redevelop the site.

Last week, I posted this article from The Sydney Morning Herald from 1988 because it focused on why Unilever House was demolished. The article focused on CML acquiring Lend Lease House for $57 million, which adjoined Bennelong House, which it already owned.

 

Source: Sing, T. & Chancellor, J. 1988. "Space bonus for Quay block". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 7: 34.

In February 1989, it was reported in The Sydney Morning Herald that CML had purchased another three sites - Hope House, 35-37 Macquarie Street and Unilever Hotel Site. All purchases were undertaken separately and had cost CML $250 million.

Source: Chancellor, J. 1989. "The best block of land in the country cost only $250m". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 10: 1. 

Therefore, the purchases would extinguish the hotel that was to replace Unilever House and the Jedobo development next door. 

CML presented their plans to redevelop the now combined site that same year to Sydney City Council, though it would be the following year before the first plans were made public.

Source: Chancellor, J. 1990. "Controversial plan for Circular Quay East like a 'wingless 747'". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 24: 8. 

The plans were leaked to the public and were "likened to a wingless 747 about to hit the Opera House". The architect was Dino Burattini, the architect behind Melbourne's Rialto Towers and the State Bank Building (52 Martin Place) in Martin Place. The building would rise up to 30 storeys tall.

While that plan didn't get off the ground, CML Would unveil a more realistic scheme the following year, which will be the focus of the next entry in the series. However, next week, with the Royal Easter Show due to commence, I will spend two weeks looking at the 1999 Royal Easter Show as I turn back the clock a quarter of a century. 

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)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
5. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)

Welcome to Part 5 of our series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay. This week, we return to the redevelopment of Unilever House into a hotel. 

A fortnight ago, I shared clippings relating to the 1986 proposal by Molena Holdings Pty. Ltd. to convert the 16-level Unilever House (current site of 1 Bennelong) from an office building into a hotel with 223 rooms. The estimated cost was $75 million.

In 1986, conditional approval was given, with final approval granted in 1987.

 

Source: Howell, A. 1987. "Go-ahead for $100 million hotel at Quay". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 30: 2. 

The hotel was to be known as The Grand Luxe Hotel, managed by the Beaufort International Group. Hotel rates were to range from $500 per night to $2000 per night. It was anticipated that the development would be completed by December 1988. Demolition began later that year.

Demolition work came to an abrupt halt in 1988. Civil and Civic were tasked with demolition works but had to vacate the site. The company was unable to respond to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald on February 23 1988. Speculation about the development arose - Was it going ahead? Were there plans to buy 35-37 Macquarie Street and propose an even bigger development? Would it still remain a hotel development, or would an office building be built?

Source: Boson, N. 1988. "Questions remain about Quay hotel project". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 23:32. 

However, in March 1988, the demolition of the concrete shell of the building was approved. It was reported that concrete cancer was discovered but was rejected by the developers, citing that the "internal structure did not suit the hotel development". 

 

Source: Reader, R. 1988. "Concrete cancer, bureaucracy cause delays to quay project". The Weekend Australian, March 26-27: 2 (Property Section).

Source: Sing, T. & Chancellor, J. 1988. "Space bonus for Quay block". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 7: 34. 

The article above makes a reference to plans by Colonial Mutual Limited (CML) to demolish two buildings it owned further down the strip (Bennelong House and Lend Lease House) and build one office building spanning both sites. CML's plans for East Circular Quay will be the focus of upcoming entries as they become the main player on the block for the first half of the 1990s. 

There was criticism of the proposed hotel. Firstly, the concrete shell of Unilever House remained, gaining eyesore status. Simply, demolition of what was left had to occur. Secondly, it was an intrusion, like the other buildings at East Circular Quay, blocking the view of the Sydney Opera House from Circular Quay. The demolition of Unilever House had started to open up the view. Thirdly, the hotel would not cater to tourists who travel on a budget.   

The Daily Telegraph explored this in depth on May 20 1988.

 

Meanwhile, at 35-37 Macquarie Street, Jedobo Pty. Ltd. were still planning to proceed with the development of their site but had shifted to a mostly commercial development with two floors to comprise part residential and part office space. The building was to be 20 storeys tall. 

Our series continues next week.

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)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)

Welcome to Part 4 of our series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay.

The Story so far...

Redevelopment plans for East Circular Quay date back to 1979, with plans unveiled to build an apartment block at 35-37 Macquarie Street. Construction commenced and was reported as "under construction" throughout the first half of the 1980s.

Plans for the Opera Garden Centre scheme were unveiled in 1984 by Lend Lease to redevelop the entire block and build two major towers at the southern end while constructing a lowrise development on the remainder of the block with the Royal Botanic Gardens extended to Circular Quay through burying Macquarie Street.

In 1983, Molena Holdings bought Unilever House (Current site of 1 Bennelong) for $22.8 million in 1983 and in 1986 unveiled plans to convert the office building into a hotel.

This week, the focus continues on 1986, and the Opera Garden Centre scheme was still in planning mode. 

The 1986 Scheme

The first mention of the 1986 scheme was in The Sun Herald on March 16 1986. 

 

Source: O'Hara, J. 1986 "Circular Quay plan draws fire". The Sun Herald, March 16: 17.

The Sydney Morning Herald, on March 17 1986, reported on it as if it were something new altogether.

Source: Grealy, M. 1986. "Businessmen have $1 billion plan for Opera House Precinct". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 17: 

The next day, The Sydney Morning Herald published a feature including a photo of Mr Forgan with a model of his proposed development. The 1986 scheme proposed one tall tower of 56 levels (down from two smaller towers in the 30-40 storey range), a six-star hotel, along with a "huge" shopping complex. The Botanic Gardens would be extended over Macquarie Street as originally proposed. 

 

Source: Grealy, M. 1986. "The Forgan vision of Circular Quay". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 18: 2. 

As for the landholders on Macquarie Street, they felt that it would not happen, which time would eventually prove right to them.

 

Source: Grealy, M. 1986. "Owners doubt chances on Circular Quay project". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 19: 3. 

Next Week, I will revisit Unilever House and its proposed conversion into a hotel and the demolition of the building. 

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

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)

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme (1984)

Last week, I commenced our new series focusing on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay and focused on the first proposal to build a unit block at 35-37 Macquarie Street. There was little to be found on why it didn't proceed other than a reference in a 1982 newspaper article in The Sydney Morning Herald mentioning that it had been demolished and was under construction. 

In 1984, Lend Lease unveiled their plan to redevelop the entire block for $700 million. Lend Lease were tenants in one of the buildings and therefore had a connection the site.

Source: O'Hara, J. 1984. "The bold $700 million plan to rescue the heart of Sydney". The Sun Herald, September 16: 4-5. 

It was an ambitious but simple plan. Two office blocks between thirty and forty levels would be built at the Cahill Expressway end. The rest of the block would contain two levels of shops and restaurants. Above it would be an extension of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which would cross over Macquarie Street. A carpark would also be built for patrons visiting the Sydney Opera House.

However, there were challenges facing Lend Lease that could have killed the scheme quickly involving two sites within the block

1. 35-37 Macquarie Street

This article also references 35-37 Macquarie Street being "under construction".

2. Unilever House

Molena Holdings purchased Unilever House for $22.8 million in December 1983.

Our series continues next week. 

Other entries in this series 

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)

East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)

Above: The first proposal for an apartment block at East Circular Quay on the site of 35-37 Macquarie Street. Full citation below.

Welcome to the first entry in a new series focusing on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay. The story spans four decades.

In this series, we will look at the proposals to redevelop sites in the block bounded by the Cahill Expressway, Circular Quay East (now a pedestrian Mall) and Macquarie Street, along with the developments that eventuated to make the area what it is today.

At the end of the 1970s, East Circular Quay comprised of office buildings that averaged fifteen stories in height, built during the 1950s and 1960s.

There were also two buildings on the strip that were six storeys tall. One of them was 35-37 Macquarie Street, which was located next door to Unilever House. The building was built in 1953 and used as a Paper Store by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Ltd (CBC). In 1979, The CBC had made the decision to sell off the building as their Paper Store was now based at a warehouse in Alexandria 

Source: Jones Lang Wootton & Henderson & Horning Pty. Ltd. 1979. Untitled (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, March 15: 33. 

Source: Maddox, G. 1979. "Site near Circular Quay may be used for units". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 11: 25. 

An unnamed buyer purchased the building for $ 900,000, the equivalent of $5 million today, according to the RBA Inflation Calculator. The name of the buyer was initially unknown.

Source: Maddox, G. 1979. "Quay building goes to unnamed buyer." The Sydney Morning Herald, April 19: 11. 

In October 1979, the owners of the building, Jedobo Pty. Ltd unveiled plans for a 19-storey apartment tower to replace the building. 25 Apartments would be on sale for up to $500,000 or up to $2.8 million in today's money, according to the RBA Inflation Calculator.

Source: Maddox, G. 1979. "Quay units plan for a $1/2m city view". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 11: 1. 

However, the project would not proceed.

Five years would pass before the next phase in the redevelopment of East Circular Quay would commence.