Property Advert of the Week: Aquarelle, Milsons Point (2003)

Below is a 2003 newspaper advertisement promoting the launch of Aquarelle at Milsons Point. The complex is located at 7 Northcliff Street. The image itself is not from the building. 

Source: Cramer Property Agents. 2003. "Aquarelle" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, June 8: 11 (homeowner liftout). 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Milsons Point "Chirpy" Tower (2004)

Full Citation Below

The Metro Edgely Consortium (Multiplex and Edgely Family) were the owner of Luna Park in 2004. In January 2004, just over two months prior to reopening the amusement park, the park proposed a plan to renew the site. This included a 14-storey office tower on the hill adjoining the park, designed by architects Denton Corker Marshall.

The argument for the tower, to be built alongside a cinema complex within the amusement park, would ensure the park's financial future.

Source: Richards, S. 2004. "Dim view of latest Luna Park fun and games". The Daily Telegraph, January 30: 13. 

Residents opposed the project on the grounds that it would block views. There was also support towards the site acting as a park and a restaurant to be built alongside the park

Plans for the tower were rejected in 2005 by NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor, who approved a seven-storey building on the site instead. 

No building was ever built on the site. It became Northcliff Park, which was opened in 2019.

Above: Northcliff Park. Photo taken by the Author (2021)

Remember This? Luna Park Unlimited Rides Ad (1987)

Back in 2019, I posted a 1986 newspaper advertisement for Luna Park offering $6.50 Unlimited Rides Passes for the May School Holiday Period (at the time, NSW had three terms in a school year instead of four). The following year, the same passes were on offer for $5 during the July School Holiday break. 

1987 was the first year that NSW Schools adopted a four-term year, with School Holidays of two weeks in Autumn, Winter and Spring, alongside the six-week summer break. Prior to that, there was no winter holiday period; school holidays fell in May and August.

According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, the unlimited rides pass would cost the equivalent of $15 today.

As of January 2026, Unlimited Rides passes cost $55 and can be purchased online. Like visiting more than three times a year, an annual pass will set one back $149.

  

Source: Luna Park. 1987. "Luna Park. Just For Fun, Just for $5!" (Advertisement). The Sun, July 2: 15.

Property Advert of the Week: 20 Crows Nest Road, Waverton (1970)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1970 for 20 Crows Nest Road, Waverton. Note that it is advertised as Wollstonecraft. One bedroom apartments were on sale for $16 000, two bedroom for $23 600 and three bedroom apartments from $28 600. 

Source: Gilbert, Kemp Pty. Ltd. 1970. "Wollstonecraft No. 20 Crow's Nest Rd." (Advertisement). The Sun, June 12: 52. 

1973: North Sydney's booming skyline

Source: Donaldson, J. 1973. "$800 million building boom". The Daily Telegraph, April 26: 9. 

Above is a newspaper article that was published in The Daily Telegraph in 1973 reporting on the skyscraper boom that was being experienced in North Sydney. It was claimed that the value of commercial properties in the North Sydney CBD had doubled in just six months to $800 million (equivalent to $8.5 billion in today's money according to the RBA Inflation Calculator). 

The photograph of the skyline was labelled with buildings either under construction or recently completed.

Recently, I decided to grab a photo of the skyline from Neutral Bay (Where the original photo was taken) as close as I could to where the original photograph was taken to provide a comparison photo to show the change over the past half-century. The "tall" buildings of 1973 are now dwarfed or even blocked while Northside Gardens (right) is currently being redeveloped into a luxury apartment complex.

Photo taken by the Author (2023).

1964: North Shore Council Restructure

 

Source: Anon. 1964. ""Impracticable," Mayor protests". The Daily Telegraph, February 4: 7.

Above is a 1964 newspaper clipping from The Daily Telegraph with a map of new North Shore council boundaries proposed by the Northside Advancement Committee to the Local Government Boundaries Commission.

Under the proposed scheme:

• Lane Cove Council would be enlarged by around 25% to encompass parts of the Willoughby Council area west of the Pacific Highway. It became a predominantly residential area.
• Mosman Council would be enlarged by around 25% to encompass part of the North Sydney Local Government Area. Like Lane Cove, it would also be a predominantly residential area.
• Willoughby and North Sydney Councils would be merged to form a new local government area focusing on commercial development.

The restructuring was simply to aid commercial development on the North Shore and provide residents north of the harbour with increased employment opportunities, avoiding the need to cross the harbour to seek employment. This was the same approach taken with Sydney City Council at various stages in its history, where the boundaries reflected commercial activity. 

Source: Anon. 1964. "Scheme to develop Nth. Shore". The Daily Telegraph, February 3: 8.

Town planning expert Dr. Ivan Boileau supported the plan as it encouraged "a twin commercial" (two cities) centres.

 

Source: Anon. 1964. "Expert sees value in N. Shore plan". The Daily Telegraph, February 5: 14.

While the proposal never came to fruition, such a proposal today would not be popular going by attempts to merge North Sydney, Mosman and Willoughby Councils into one council in 2016. 

Property Advert of the Week: Wondakiah, Wollstonecraft (1997)

Below is a 1997 newspaper advertisement for the Wondakiah Estate at Wollstonecraft. The estate is a brownfield development built on what was formerly the North Shore Gasworks which operated on the site between 1913 and 1987. Prior to that, the land was a sugar mill for Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) and was even an explosives factory.

In 1997, apartments were on offer from $395 000, but residents had access to resort-style facilities such as a marina, jetty, clubhouse, tennis courts, swimming pools, cafe, security and exotic gardens.

Source: KYKO Property Sales. 1997. "Wondakiah" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24: 10 (Real Estate Liftout). 

Property Advert of the Week: The Forum, St Leonards (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale in The Forum at St Leonards. Apartments were on sale from $220 000, compared with the $177 000 they had on offer the previous year (link at the bottom of entry to view a 1997 advertisement).

Back in the late 1990's uninterrupted panoramic views were the standard, but sadly those views south and east are now increasingly blocked due to tall towers built in recent years along the southern side of the Pacific Highway.

Source: Winten Project Marketing. 1998. "New Forum" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald,  May 2: 14 (Real Estate Liftout). 

Related Entries

Property Advert of the Week: The Forum, St Leonards (1997)

1999: The Forum Development at St Leonards

Property Advert of the Week: Craiglea, Kirribilli (1996)

Below is a 1996 newspaper advertisement promoting the Craiglea at 88 Kirribilli Avenue, Kirribilli. Three bedroom apartments were on sale from $750 000.

  

Source: Greencliff Developments. 1996. "Craiglea At Kirribilli" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 22: 11 (Real Estate Liftout). 

Property Advert of the Week: Greencliffe, Kirribilli (1996)

Below is a 1996 newspaper advertisement for the Greencliffe development in Kirribilli focusing on the sale of Apartment 408. The three bedroom apartment was on sale for $2.7 million. How much do you think it would sell for in 2022? 

Source: Greencliff Developments. 1996. "Greencliffe" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 22: 11RE (Real Estate Liftout)..

Property Advert of the Week: The Cosmopolitian, Crows Nest (1998)

Our Property Advert of the Week is from 1998, when apartments were on sale in "The Cosmopolitian" on at 236 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest. Prices started at $225 000. 

 

Source: Realty Marketing. 1998. "The Cosmopolitian" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2 1998: 18RE (Real Estate Liftout). 

Property Advert of the Week: 21 Harrison Street, Cremorne (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement promoting "Twenty-One" at 21 Harrison Street, Cremorne dating from 1966. It was advertised as being located in Neutral Bay given that its location is two blocks from the main shopping strip on Miltary Road. 

Note: Following the introduction of decimal currency in 1966, advertising goods and services in pounds, shillings and pence was permitted for two years following its introduction. 

As 

Source: Anon. 1966. "'Twenty-One' 21 Harrison Street, Neutral Bay" (Advertisement). The Sun, October 7: 46.