NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Harry Seidler feature on his McMahons Point redevelopment scheme (1957)

In the 1950's, architect Harry Seidler was asked by a group of locals at McMahons Point to design a residential scheme for the area. This was in response to plans by the Cumberland County Council to zone the area for industrial use.

Below is an article that Seidler wrote in 1957 for The Sydney Morning Herald where he explains his vision for McMahons Point.

Source: Seidler, H. 1957. "Experts Plan Lay-Out for McMahon's Point". The Sydney Morning Herald,  September 10: 10.

Seidler kept his scheme simple. He wanted four types of buildings. While the scheme would have led to more highrises had it become reality, the towers would not appear as clustered as many multi building developments in Sydney are today.

He believed that while there would be taller buildings, there would be more parkland and public space at street level. The layout of buildings across the suburb reflected the desire that apartments would have maximium access to views of Sydney Harbour.

This resulted in the construction of Blues Point Tower (1961), but was built as a residential tower. The original scheme called for an international hotel. It also influenced the construction of apartment buildings in the suburb during the 1960's but did not reflect the broader scheme that Seidler envisioned.

1972: The suicide of a city (Feature Article)

The Daily Telegraph published a feature article in 1972.  Evan Whitton wrote an article about the failure of planning authorities to adhere to the 1948 Cumberland Plan.

1972 was nearly 25 years since the Cumberland Plan had come into existence, with a focus on creating a green belt on what was then the outer boundaries of Sydney which would separate the city from the outer regions including Campbelltown and Penrith.

There would be wedges of open space among st the suburbs of Sydney.

Under the plan, the population of Sydney was to be contained at 3 million people. During the 1970's Sydney's population reached 3 million.

The Cumberland Plan never came into effect.

Note that it was projected in 1968, Sydney would have a population of 5 million by the year 2000. Sydney would only reach 4 million by 2000 and 15 years later hit 5 million.

The article was published on December 13, 1972.