1966: When Epping wanted to go its own way.

With forced council mergers a big topic in communities across sydney, I found an article from 1966 when Epping wanted to create its own council to resolve the situation where the suburb was divided amongst three councils - Parramatta, Hornsby and Ryde. This was seen as causing headaches for locals. The existing councils opposed the idea. It never got off the ground, but under the NSW Government's policy of forced council mergers, the entire suburb of Epping was incorporated into the City of Parramatta Council in May 2016.

Source: Anon. 1966. "Epping Fights Hard for its Own Council". The Daily Telegraph, December 30: 9.

Property Advert of the Week: The Winston Hills Showcase of Homes (1966)

Our last property advertisement of the week for 2016 is again from 1966 featuring an advertisement promoting a home display village at Winston Hills known as The Winston Hills Showcase of Homes. It was managed by the Project Home Builders Group showcasing 12 homes by 8 builders. It was located off Churchill Drive.

   

Source: Project Home Builders Group. 1966. "The Winston Hills Showcase of Homes (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 12:29.

Due to Christmas Eve next Saturday, and New Year's Eve the following week, there will be no Flashback entry on Monday to accommodate the flashback features planned to be published for the next two Saturdays.

Next Week (December 24) - How Sydney marked Christmas in 1991.
December 31 - How Sydney bid farewell to 1991.

MILESTONE: ATN7 begins Transmission (1956)

This Friday (December 2), Channel Seven will celebrate 60 years of broadcasting in Sydney, under the callsign ATN7.

It was the third TV station to commence operations in Sydney following the opening of TCN9 in September 1956, and ABN2 (ABC) just a month before. The studios were located at Mobbs Lane, Epping, with the TV transmitter based at Gore Hill. ATN7 would remain at Epping until 2010 when they moved production facilities to the Australian Technology Park at Eveleigh. The original studios is now a housing estate. Several years before in 2004, its news department relocated to purpose-built studios at Martin Place. Local and national news bulletins and programs are produced there.

Source: Anon. 1956. Untitled (photograph). The Sun Herald, December 2:39. 

ATN7 was owned by Amalgamated Television Services comprising of a consortium of various radio, electrical and media interests including The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun. It was a subsidiary of Fairfax. The channel would eventually become the flagship of the Seven Network, even though HSV7 in Melbourne was the first channel in the network to go to air in November 1956. ATN7 and HSV7 formed the Australian Television Network (Seven Network) in 1963. It would eventually be joined by BTQ7 (Brisbane), SAS7 (Adelaide) & TVW7 (Perth).

Fairfax would have ownership of ATN7 until 1987 when Quintex owned by Christopher Skase bought out the Seven Network. This was due to changes in Commonwealth media laws which stipulated that Fairfax could only own either print publications or television stations. Fairfax opted for print publications. Today, the Seven Network is currently part of Seven West Media, owned by Kerry Stokes.

Source: Anon. 1956. "Television Station ATN Channel 7 Opened by P. M. G.". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 3:1.  

The transmission on opening night (December 2 ) commenced at 7:30pm with the official opening of the channel by the Postmaster General - Mr. C. W. Davidson. This was followed by A Shower of Stars, which was a live studio program at 7:45pm. The first feature film - It's Folly To Be Wise screened at 9pm. A news bulletin at 10:30pm would close the first night's transmission, closing at 10:45pm.

Source: ATN7. 1956. Untitled (advertisement). The Sun Herald, December 2, 39. 

A special supplement was provided in the December 3 edition of The Sydney Morning Herald to mark its opening. Selected extracts feature below.

Initially, TV broadcasts on ATN7 commenced at 4:30pm with transmission closing at around 10:30pm. On weekends, broadcast times were shorter.

Early shows included:

• Your Home featuring Del Cartwright
• At Seven on 7 with Howard Craven
• This I Believe with Eric Baume
• Sydney Tonight with Keith Walshe
• Caltex Theatre (Sunday Evening)

Below is a feature on its mobile broadcast unit (Click to enlarge).

Over the past sixty years, ATN7 has contributed significantly to the success of the Seven Network and bred stars of the small and eventually for some the big screen. Writing its achievements would need to be an essay. It has also been noted for pioneering programming formats on Australian television. For instance, Sydney Tonight was the first "tonight" show in Australia. Where would Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton and Don Lane be if it were not for this? At Seven on 7 was also the first current affairs show in Australia. ATN7 has also been an innovator. They were first with videotape equipment at Epping in the 1950s but also working with GTV9 in Melbourne to broadcast programs between Sydney and Melbourne with microwave links.

Seven Network Headquarters at Pyrmont. Photo was taken by the Author (2011).

Property Advert of the Week: Newington (1999)

Yes, I have posted one advertisement promoting apartments for sale at Newington, but this one from 1999 is nice to post as well.





Source: Mirvac Group & Lend Lease. 1999. "Blue chip" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 5:22 (Real Estate Liftout).

Property Advert of the Week: Carlingford Land Release by Stocks & Holdings (1966)

This advertisement was featured in the February 12 1966 edition of The Daily Telegraph, where two thousand pounds bought you a block of land at where I believe is Camelot Court, Carlingford.

And just two days before we embraced the dollars and cents!!!

In today's money, this was equivalent to around $50 000 according to the RBA Inflation Calculator.



Source: Stocks & Holdings Projects. 1966. "Carlingford: Land!" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 12:44.

Property Advert of the Week: Sherwood Park Estate, Northmead (1969)

This will be our final property advert of the week for 2014. Today, I will share an advert for the first release of home sites at the Sherwood Park Estate at Northmead in 1969. An unsewered block cost you just $2190 while a sewered site would cost you $3390. According to the RBA inflation calculator you could have your (un sewered block) for $23 986.
 

Source: Parkes Developments Pty. Ltd. "Northmead (Advertisement)." The Daily Telegraph, August 15: 47.

Our weekly property advert feature will return from January 31.

Property Advert of the Week: Spectrum 1 Home Show, Winston Hills (1970)

This week, I share with you an advertisement for a display home centre at Winston Hills. It was located on Caroline Chisholm Drive but homes were also on display in Latona and Ixion Streets. Nine of Australia's leading builders were showcasing their homes. The start of the 1970s were marked with 14 new homes on display.

Source: Spectrum 1 Home Show. 1970. "Bigger and Better!" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 7: 26-27.

Property Advert of the Week: Parkland Estate, Carlingford (1967)

This week, our advertisement takes us to Carlingford wherein 1967, you could buy a block of land for $3390 (1695 pounds). According to the RBA Inflation Calculator it would cost about $ 39 313  in today's money. Another great bargain to be had. 

Source: Marsdens Real Estate. 1967. "'Parkland Estate' Carlingford," The Daily Telegraph, April 29: page unknown

The estate would encompass the neighbourhoods bounded by North Rocks and Jenkins Roads at Carlingford.