SYDNEY DEPARTMENT STORES: Waltons Town Hall closing day (1987)

I was motivated to share this post after a recent posting of newspaper advertisements from a previous entry on the Old Shops Australia Group on Facebook.

I shared the advertisements, but I did have a newspaper clipping from the last day of trading at Waltons Store at Town Hall on 9 February 1987 before it would be demolished for the Park Plaza/Skytower complex.

It was anticipated that Waltons would return by October 1988, but that did not eventuate as the Bond Corporation struggled to obtain approval for their tower, and eventually sold the site to Kumagai Gumi and Sogo (Japanese Department Store chain) for approximately $278 million in 1989.

 

Source: Andrews, M. 1987. "Half-price clearance as an old shop shuts". The Daily Telegraph, February 10: 7. 

With items marked down to half price, an estimated 100 000 shoppers ventured through the doors creating an atmosphere like that of the Boxing Day sales. 

The Sydney Morning Herald (10 February 1987) reported that it took over an hour to clear the store as staff funnelled customers down towards the ground floor when the doors closed. For those still there, bargains of up to 80% were on offer 

Later that month, Waltons was sold by Bond Corporation to the Venture chain, marking the end of the Waltons Department Store chain. Waltons Town Hall was no more.

Related Entries

Remember this? - Waltons Town Hall Closing Down Sale (1987)

You may also find my series on the Evolution of the Citigroup Centre worth viewing as it was the redevelopment of the site that was behind the closure and demolition of Waltons Town Hall.

• Original 1982 Scheme
• Park Tower (1986)
• Skytower (1987)
• Park Plaza (1988)
• Park Plaza IV (1988)
• Park Tower (1990)
• Park Tower II (1994)
• Citigroup Centre (2000)
• Citigroup Tower & Galeries Victoria in 2018
• "What if" (What might have eventuated had any of the unbuilt schemes had proceeded.)

SERIES: The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - What if...?

For two months, we have explored the evolution of 2 Park Street from its former life as a Waltons Department store into a major city building and retail complex.

But I have not answered a question that I put forward when looking at never built visions and concepts?

What would have happened had the proposal became reality? How would this have impacted the city?

1982 Scheme

• The office space would have required a refit in the past decade to compete with existing city towers. 
• With Waltons sold in 1987 and rebranded as Venture, the new owners may have scaled back the city store.
• Any replacement Department store would not be trading in 2018.
• The retail complex would have required redevelopment to reflect changing consumer retail trends. With the inability to attract a department store, mini-majors would be the anchors in the centre today, like what is there today.
• Owners would in recent years have explored the option of a second building e.g. hotel or adding extra commercial levels above the existing podium. 

Park Tower (1986)

• Similar outcomes with the retail complex as featured in the 1982 scheme, though the public garden would be popular with city workers. I could foresee under this scheme, possibly rooftop cafes, bars and restaurants eventually occupying the space today. 
• Would be a fairly reputable complex for major firms. 
• Architecturally, it would appear "dated" against other city towers. 

Skytower/Park Plaza (1987)

This scheme was never going to be approved under planning guidelines. However, I'll suggest possible impacts that the tower would have had on Sydney. 

• International recognition for the tower due to its height. It would be associated with Sydney architecture with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Tower. 
• Would be the tallest skyscraper in Australia for the foreseeable future.
• Change to flight paths for Sydney Airport. 
• Similar outcomes to previous schemes with the retail complex - upgrades required and subdivision of the department store space into mini-majors. 
• The tower would have most likely been completed during the recession of the early 1990s and this would have created a situation where large portions of the tower would have been without tenants. A tower of this size would have contributed to increases in office vacancy rates. 
• Large sections of Hyde Park South would be subject to overshadowing.
• An observation deck would have been provided given it would be around 150 metres higher than Sydney Tower.

Park Plaza (1988)

The scheme was not going to be approved. However, Ill suggest possible impacts that the tower would have had on Sydney.

Like other proposals, there would have been the need to reconfigure the retail space to accommodate changes in retailing. Like the Skytower proposal of 1987, filling the office space was going to be challenging, though not to the extent with Skytower with 22 fewer levels of office space. It may not have had the international acclaim that Skytower could have but would still be one of the most prominent buildings in Sydney and with national recognition.

Park Plaza IV (1988)

Architecturally, it may appear out of date today but given that it was 54 levels, it would have been half the struggle as with Skytower to attract tenants during the 1990's recession. As with all schemes, an upgrade or redevelopment of the retail space would have been required by now.

Park Tower

 

Leasing of office space would have been an initial challenge, but architecturally would have looked contemporary and imposing on the city skyline, especially around Town Hall which was in need of a real landmark tower. I look at Melbourne Central (Melbourne) and nearly three decades after completion, still maintains a contemporary look on the Melbourne skyline. The retail complex would be similar to Melbourne Central with a variety of retailers, even though it would have around 50 % less. Its appeal would probably be bigger than the Galeries that we see today.

Park Tower II (1994)

Given the similarities in the shape and form to the site today, it would have evolved in a similar fashion to the Citigroup Centre today, though the retail complex would have more than likely resembled a typical shopping centre.

This entry concludes our series on the evolution of the Citigroup Centre at 2 Park Street. I hope you have enjoyed exploring the various schemes in the 1980s and 1990s to redevelop the site of the Waltons Department Store and the dramas associated with just placing a building on the site including the infamous hole in the ground which lasted for a decade.

Previous Entries in the Series

• Original 1982 Scheme
• Park Tower (1986)
• Skytower (1987)
• Park Plaza (1988)
• Park Plaza IV (1988)
• Park Tower (1990)
• Park Tower II (1994)
• Citigroup Centre (2000)
• Citigroup Tower & Galeries Victoria in 2018

SERIES: The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - Citigroup Tower & Galeries Victoria in 2018

This week will see a drift from what is normally posted. I would like to share some photos that I have taken in recent times of The Galeries (formerly Galeries Victoria) and Citigroup Centre as I reflect on the complex today.

Over the past two months, I have posted about the drama just to build on the site which lasted nearly two decades. It took eighteen years from the release of the first proposal before the site was developed.

Coincidently, it has been eighteen years since the complex was opened to the public.

What have the past eighteen years been for the complex?

As for the tower itself, it has been popular with commercial firms attracted by premium grade office space. As of October 31, 2018, only level 8 was vacant. It's just not the quality of the office space that attracts the tenants, but also the location. It is nearly right above Town Hall railway station with direct access to the station, and easy walk to Pitt Street Mall, Hyde Park and Darling Harbour.

The Galeries Victoria has become a popular shopping centre within the Sydney CBD. It may lack the history or prestige of the Queen Victoria Building and Strand Arcade, it has shone in its ability to innovate how people shop in central Sydney.

The Sydney Arcade introduced Sydneysiders to enclosed laneway shopping, but the Galeries Victoria provided multiple laneways that connects to a square in the centre of the complex. Apart from escalators and staircases, skybridges were also constructed to link shops in each section.

In the square itself, there is a full height atrium, which allows natural light to filter in, even in the shadows of nearby towers.

2 Park Street rises over the full height atrium of The Galeries. 

With the retailing offering itself, it has also been innovative focusing on lifestyle, fashion and dining. JB Hifi opened their first CBD store in the basement level over a decade ago. Since then another four JB-Hifi stores have opened in central Sydney.

It is the only CBD shopping centre that has a furniture store - Muji. Freedom Furniture traded for a number of years as well. There are also retailers trading in the centre that you may not find elsewhere e.g. Kinkoyounya.

Finally the former Sydney Mechanical School of Arts Building (1836) is home to the popular Arthouse Hotel which opened in 2001.

I wonder what the next eighteen years will bring.

Previous Entries in the Series

• Original 1982 Scheme
• Park Tower (1986)
• Skytower (1987)
• Park Plaza (1988)
• Park Plaza IV (1988)
• Park Tower (1990)
• Park Tower II (1994)
• Citigroup Centre (2000)

Update on Photo hosting Issues

As mentioned a fortnight ago, I have had to change the photo hosting location of images featured in this blog. Since then, all posts from 2014 have been checked and all images are available again for each entry. I am now working through posts from 2015.

SERIES: The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - Citigroup Tower & Galeries Victoria (2000)

The Citigroup Centre. The photo was taken by the Author (2018).

Over the past few weeks, we have explored the evolution of the tower that we see at 2 Park Street today. We have covered over a decade and at least six or seven schemes. Now we have reached our final scheme - Citigroup Centre; the tower that we see today.

The Park Tower II proposal (1994) which I shared with you last week would set the parameters for the final design of the Citigroup Centre including height limits and the size of the building.

In 1996, Kumagai and Sogo unveiled new plans which were lodged with Sydney City Council. This one is quite similar to the 1994 scheme. The tower was 50 levels tall rising to a height of 243 metres (Tip of spire). The height to the roof is 206 metres.

There is only one spire in the postmodern design by Crone and Associates who despite the obstacles, still remained involved in the development.

Interest was high, most notably Citibank who wanted to consolidate their Sydney offices into the one building. At the time, they were based in Clarence Street.  NIKE was interested in the retail space, seeking to open a three-level department store.

Source: Anon. 1996. "Squabbles put skyscraper in doubt". The Daily Telegraph, December 20: 4.

Council Approved the scheme on December 19, 1996. However, Citibank wanted 350 parking spaces which was refused. Citibank threatened to withdraw their interest if the spaces were not approved.

Source: Totaro, P. 1996. "Japanese giants to fill city crater". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 20: 4. 

By August 1997,  Ipoh (owners of the Queen Victoria Building) had purchased the $120 million retail component and Multiplex had been awarded the rights to construct the tower. MTM Funds Management and Bankers Trust would also team up to fund construction.

Sydney City Council had also been offering incentives to start construction on empty construction sites.

Source: Totaro, P. 1997. "Millions up for grabs in bid to rid city of craters before Games". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 25: 6.

By the start of 1998, the pieces were in place to construct the tower which was estimated to cost $600 million and be the largest office building built in Sydney since Grosvenor Place a decade before.

Source: Bourlioufas, N. "New plan for gaping city building site". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 21: 5.

In May, funding had been secured for the tower, which was estimated to cost $600 million to build. Citibank had also confirmed that it would act as the anchor tenant.

Source: Hughes, A. 1998. "Green light for $600 million Park Plaza complex. The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 102.

Construction commenced in May 1998 and was completed in July 2000. Galeries Victoria opened in late 2000. Below are a few photos from the ArchivePix Image Library at Sydney City Council

"Early" 1999

Source: Cole, T. 1999. Construction of Citibank Centre. Photograph. Accessed October 18, 2018,  http://photosau.com.au/coslib/jpeg/017/017649.jpg


March 1999

Source: Cole, T. 1999. Construction of the Citibank Centre building. Photograph. Accessed October 18, 2018, http://photosau.com.au/coslib/jpeg/017/017124A.jpg

April 1999

Source: Cole, T. 1999. Citibank Centre building under construction. Photograph. Accessed October 18, 2018, http://photosau.com.au/coslib/jpeg/017/017150.jpg

The official opening was on August 30, 2000, conducted by the Lord Mayor - Frank Sartor.

Source: Anon. 2000. Column 8. The Sydney Morning Herald, August 30: 24. 

However, the public was allowed to access the Galeries Victoria retail complex, which was opened on July 30, 2000, as part of Open City. I recall going there and taking a look.

Source: O'Brien, G. 2000. 'City uncovers more of its elegant Victorian past'. The Sydney Morning Herald, July 29: 11.

The development of the site included a full restoration of the Sydney Mechanic School of Arts Building in Pitt Street, which is now the Arthouse Hotel.

Several years ago, The Galeries Victoria was renamed as The Galeries.

Next week, we look at the impact that the Citigroup Centre and The Galeries have had on Sydney since completion. The following week, we will answer the What if? question as to what might had it been if any of the rejected schemes became reality.

Previous Schemes

• Original 1982 Scheme
• Park Tower (1986)
• Skytower (1987)
• Park Plaza (1988)
• Park Plaza IV (1988)
• Park Tower (1990)
• Park Tower II (1994)

SERIES: The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - Park Tower Scheme II (1994)

The citation is featured below.

Last week, I looked at the Park Tower proposal from 1990 for the former site of Waltons. The start of the 1990s saw Sydney (and Australia) enter the "recession that we had to have". Business confidence had been dampened reducing demand for office space. In addition, the property market had collapsed while the city experienced an oversupply in office space as existing projects were completed.

The excavated site from 1987 would spend most of the decade laying dormant and had become one of the most prominent of the 22 or so building sites that lay vacant across the city.

By the middle of the decade, Australia had slipped out of recession.

In 1994, Kumagai Gumi and Sogo unveiled their latest proposal. I don't have details about the number of floors but I would believe it would around 48 levels, consistent with their 1990 scheme but also for the eventual 2 Park Street tower that we see today.

It is this scheme that would form the basis for the tower that would eventually be built, noting the height, setbacks at the top of the tower but also the addition of two spires; which would be reduced to one in the final approved scheme

The artist's impressions were from an article in The Daily Telegraph Mirror that was published in April 1994.

Source: Jones, M. 1994. 'New Sydney to be 'living work of art'. The Daily Telegraph Mirror, April 19: 5.

The complex was proposed to be built in two stages with the retail podium in stage one including a Sogo Department store with the office tower to be built later.

By September, there was speculation that commencement of construction of the department store would commence.

Source: Reeves. 1994. "Department store set to fill eyesore hole". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 20: 9.

But despite the plans, the site would remain dormant for longer. Next week, we will see the light emerge when I post about the tower we see today and the accompanying Galeries Victoria.

Previous Schemes

• Original 1982 Scheme
• Park Tower (1986)
• Skytower (1987)
• Park Plaza (1988)
• Park Plaza IV (1988)
• Park Tower (1990)

SERIES: The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - Park Tower (1990)

More than 18 months had elapsed since Park Plaza IV had been proposed by the Bond Corporation for their site at 2 Park Street in the second half of 1988.

It was now March 1990. A year earlier, the Bond Corporation had sold the site to a Japanese Consortium comprising Japanese companies Kumagai Gumi and Sogo (Japanese Department Store chain). The total cost was approximately $278 million.

The new proposal was designed by Crone and Associates and Kisho Kurokawa, known as Park Tower. The podium would contain a shopping centre anchored by the Japanese department store chain Sogo with the tower rising above it.

Source: Chancellor, J. 1990. "48 storey tower for city's centre". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 6: 32.

The design of the tower itself is similar to Melbourne Central in Melbourne, which is triangular shaped. Kisho Kurokawa was the architect for the office and retail complex.

The photo was taken by the Author (2005). 

The photo was taken by the Author (2015).

The photo was taken by the Author (2015).

However, the eastern side was to be curved to maximise the harbour and ocean views.

Melbourne Central has two antennas, whereas Park Tower would have nil.

Soon afterwards, Sydney (and the rest of Australia) faced the recession that we had to have, which would only delay construction more. The hole would remain empty for even longer.

Previous Schemes

• Original 1982 Scheme
• Park Tower (1986)
• Skytower (1987)
• Park Plaza (1988)
• Park Plaza IV (1988)

SERIES: The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - Park Plaza (1988)

Bond Corporation's Park Plaza Scheme of 1988. Full citation can be found further down this entry.

Last week, we looked at Bond Corporation's Skytower/Park Plaza scheme of 1987. After they couldn't garner support for Skytower/Park Plaza, they went straight back to the drawing board. By the middle of 1988, 22 levels had been removed from his 1987 scheme and lodged plans for a 79 level tower which was 305 metres tall. At the revised height, it was the maximum allowable height that the Civil Aviation Authority would accept. On the Sydney skyline, it would have been the same height as Sydney Tower. Crone and Associates remained as architects.

Source: Chancellor, J. 1988. "Bond to go it alone on Park Plaza". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 7: 35

By August, plans were scrapped as the Bond Corporation had been advised by Sydney City Council and the Planning Department that approval would not be given.

Next week, we will look at yet another scaled down proposal for Park Plaza.

SERIES: The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - Park Tower (1986)

This week, I was going to publish Alan Bond's Skytower proposal of 1987 as part of my series on the Evolution of the Citigroup Centre in Park Street.

Last week, I had mentioned of two schemes that followed the initial 1982 scheme that was bought forward by Bond Waltons. One was for a 35 level tower and another for 43 levels. I had no information on those schemes but assumed that they were very similar schemes with additional floors.

Richard Braddish, modelmaker at Sydney City Council contacted me during the week and provided me with an illustration of the 43 level scheme. I do not know who was the publisher was so I cannot provide a proper citation. I thank Richard for his contribution and providing information to assist me with this entry (but also with the upcoming entries).

The 43 level scheme is dated from 1986 and was named Park Tower. Like the 1982 scheme, the tower was located towards the south-east corner of the site. The height of the building was 176 metres.

While the entire building has a glass facade, I could some identify some similarities with 108 St Georges Terrace in Perth (Commonly known as the Bankwest Tower) which was under construction at the time for the Bond Corporation. The tower was to be triangular shaped but elements of the tower glass facade were also being embedded.

I am surprised that they went for a flat roof instead of an architectural feature or setbacks. One of the sides faced north-west, which I found odd given that office buildings in Sydney seek to maximise the harbour and ocean views provided by facing towers to face north and east like at the ANZ Tower (2013) which faces northeast to provide maximum exposure to views. It also maximises solar access on each floor.

Next Week, I will finally look at Skytower as Alan Bond sought to reach for the skies and make his mark on Sydney.

SERIES: The Evolution of the Citigroup Centre - Plans unveiled for Waltons Site redevelopment (1982)

Apart from World Square, there is one other city site where redevelopment proved to be a very long saga.

2 Park Street is home to the Citigroup Centre a 48 level tower that rises over the former Waltons Department store site.

Today, the building and the site are very well ingrained on our city streetscape. One can walk past yet forget the drama faced just to get a building on this site.

Growing up in the 1990s, I was used to one sight - hoardings, which hid one of the biggest "holes in the ground" in the city.

But how did we end up with the building that we see today along with the Galeries Victoria?

The story begins in 1982. Alan Bond had purchased the Waltons Department Store Chain and Norman Ross.

The flagship store on Park Street at Town Hall comprised of seven buildings including the Town Hall Hotel. Bond wanted the store in simply one building.

Source: Robertson, R. 1982. "New department store will boost jobs: The City's first for 50 years". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 1: 2. 

Donald Crone was commissioned to design a new store to replace the previous store, but also provide a retail complex and office tower. Plans were unveiled in August 1982 for the site. Apart from a new Waltons Store, there would be 90 shops, restaurant, tavern and 28 storey office building to house the headquarters of Bond Waltons (Waltons and Norman Ross). The estimated cost was $100 million and would be completed by 1985.

A clearer copy of the Artists Impression as featured in The Sydney Morning Herald article (above) from September 1, 1982.

The tower was to be placed on the Southeastern corner of the site at the intersection of Park and Pitt Street.

Approval was granted in January 1983.

Source: Coultan, C. 1983. "Council gets $2m...Waltons gets shopping centre". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 28: 2. 

As time wore on, Alan Bond had bigger plans brewing. The proposed building heights increased to 35 and then 43 levels.

Next Week, we will look at his most ambitious proposal - Skytower.