1972: The Concorde arrives in Sydney (as covered by "The Sun Herald")

My 2015 entry on the 1972 visit by the Concorde has proven to a popular entry with visitors to this blog. A few months ago, I landed clippings from its arrival on June 18, 1972. Below is coverage from The Sun Herald (19 June, 1972).

20 000 watched proceedings in and around Sydney Airport. There were also a group that gathered to protest citing concerns over noise (and it's sonic boom) that the plane generated. 

Related Entry

1972: The Concorde arrives in Sydney

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1960: An even earlier proposal for Transport Oriented Development at North Sydney

In 2016, I published an entry on an early scheme for Transport Oriented Development at North Sydney dated 1968. 

Recently, I came across an even earlier proposal dating from 1960. The key differences between this and the 1968 scheme is:

• The Hotel was planned to be a hostel.
• The office building (13 Blue Street) was originally planned as a 22 storey apartment tower.
• The 9 storey office building (Zurich Building) appears to be longer.

Anticipated completion was 1962.

Source: Anon. 1960. "The Changing Face of North Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 20: 37.

Related Posting

1968: Early proposal for Transport Oriented Development at North Sydney

Property Advert of the Week: Eastlakes (1965)

I have posted two entries featuring advertisements for homes and apartments at Eastlakes, but recently unearthed this one from 1965.

Source: Parkes Developments Pty. Ltd. 1965. "New Home Units Open for Inspection" The Sun Herald, December 19: 23.

Property Advert of the Week: 3 Tranmere Street, Drummoyne (1971)

Below is an advertisement for apartments in a three storey unit block located at 3 Tranmere Street, Drummoyne.

Source: Multiple Real Estate Pty. Ltd. 1971. "Drummoyne: Must Built Home Units" (Advertisements). The Daily Telegraph, June 12: 44. 

One bedroom apartments were on sale for $16 500 (equivalent to $183 000 in todays money) while a two bedroom apartments were available for $23 000 (equivalent to $255 000 in todays money).

Domain has listed sales of units in recent years and one apartment sold for $821 000 in 2014.

Price equivalents in todays money were sourced via the RBA Inflation Calculator.

Remember This? Stadium Australia Gold Packages (1996)

I remember the commercials back in 1996 when people were invited to purchase a limited number of Stadium Australia Gold Packages which were traded on the Australian Stock Exchange.

For $10 000, you would be guaranteed a seat at every session held in the stadium during the 2000 Olympic Games. You would not have needed to even enter the ballot for tickets, stadium membership (annual fee payable) which would entitle you to free seating at most events, priority bookings, and access to special facilities for thirty years from 1999 (when the stadium opened).

For a sports fan, this would have been the ultimate return on their investment. 

Below is an advertisement that was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on October 19, 1996, which was a huge double page spread. Sadly I don't have the page numbers for it.

Remember This? CityRail Fare Evasion advertisement (1991)

Fare evasion on Sydney trains has always been a constant problem. Below is a 1991 advertisement from Cityrail warning commuters if they cannot be bothered buying a ticket, Cityrail will give one out for you (which would be more expensive than the ticket you were meant to buy).

Even with Opal Cards, the message is still relevant in 2018. It is still fairly easy to evade, especially where a station has no ticket barriers. However, it is pleasing to note that ticket inspectors are on the trains more regularly than they were in previous years, which makes evading a fare a little harder.

Source. CityRail. 1991. "If you can't be bothered buying a ticket, we'll give you one" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, September 13: 131.

Remember This? Norm Provans Discount Stores Advertisement

The problems with our photohosting has meant that there has to be some changes in our weekly postings.

Until all posts have been checked and images are hosted, I will be scaling back to one entry per week. I will run the Remember this? series through the summer, though I will post a snapshot of how Sydney marked the Christmas and New Year period in 1993 on December 24 and 31 respectively.

This week, I share with you an advertisement dating back from 1971 for Norm Provan's Discount Stores, who were owned by rugby league immortal - Norm Provan (St George ,1951 - 1965). His advertisements would occupy the back page of The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader for a number of years.

The chain of stores was based in the St George and Sutherland Shire, though stores operated at Bankstown Square and Marrickville.

Source: Norm Provan's Discount Stores. 1971. "Huge Summer Sell-Out" (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, January 13: 60.

Property Advert of the Week: George Hudson homes advertisement (1962)

George Hudson Homes were offering homes for a 460-pound deposit at Blacktown in the early 1960's. Ex-servicemen were promised special conditions and you would only have to wait two weeks to move in.

Source: George Hudson Homes. 1962. "Untitled" (advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 14: 39.

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

Property Advert of the Week: Parkes Home Units at Eastlakes (1966)

Below is a 1966 advertisement for home units at Eastlakes. These were built by Parkes Developments. The 4750 pounds would equate to $9 500. According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, the price of the units would cost approximately $122 500 in today's money.

While decimal currency had been introduced around three weeks before publication of the advertisement, prices were still advertised in pounds.

Source: Parkes Developments. 1966. "Anyone can afford a Parkes home unit" (advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 31. 

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.

Property Advert of the Week: Moore Park Gardens (1997)

Last year, I posted a 1999 advertisement for the Moore Park Gardens complex at East Redfern. Here is one from 1997.

Source: Anon. 1997. "MPG SYD" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, November 22: 28 (Real Estate Liftout). 

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)

Property Advert of the Week: Engadine Land Release (1967)

In 1967, Treloar Reality was selling blocks of land on a 45-pound ($90) deposit in Jerrara Street, Engadine.

Note that this advertisement lists prices in pounds. This was permitted for two years following the introduction of decimal currency in 1966.

Here is a Google Streetview link to view Jerrara Street today.

Source: Treloar Realty Pty. Ltd. 1967. "Engadine" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, August 19: 54.  

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)

Property Advert of the Week: Macquarie Fields "Garden" estate (1960)

For 3370 pounds ($6740) in 1960, you could have your own home and block of land at Macquarie Fields.

Source: A.T.A Homes Pty. Ltd. 1960 "Macquarie Fields" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, September 30: 41.


According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, this was the equivalent of $109 000 today.

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)

Property Advert of the Week: Neeta Constructions Exhibition Home Fair (1968)

Below is a 1968 advertisement from The Daily Mirror, promoting its Exhibition Homes Fair at Guildford.

Source: Neeta Constructions exhibition homes fair. 1968. "If you're comparing homes...try these for size" (advertisement). The Daily Mirror, April 5: 33. 

Here is a Google Streetview image of the former site as of November 2017, with the former display homes still on site.

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

A render of Park Plaza IV. A citation is featured in the article below.

Last week, we looked at another setback for the Bond Corporation in their attempts to build a major tower on the former Waltons Department Store site in Park Street when plans for a 79-level office tower were scrapped, knowing that the plans were not going to be approved.

Source: Chancellor, J. 1988. "Will it be fourth time lucky for Bond?". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 13: 30.

In September, plans were unveiled for a scaled-down 56-level tower, which had similar setbacks to the 79-level scheme. Crone & Associates continued to remain as architects.

It would be the last proposal bought forward by the Bond Corporation. In January 1989, it sold the site to a Japanese Consortium comprising Japanese companies Kumagai Gumi and Sogo (Japanese Department Store chain) for approximately $278 million.

Previous Schemes

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