NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Novotel Brighton Beach (1986)

Source: Dainford Limited. 1986. "Unique Hotel" (Advertisement). The Weekend Australian, May 10: Page Unknown.

This is the last entry of our current series of Sydney's "Never Builts". 

Novotel Brighton Beach opened in 1990 as The Resort Hotel Brighton Beach before accquiring the Novotel Name in 1993. The four and a half star hotel rises 12 storeys above the suburb and replaced the Brighton Hotel.

Dainford Limited built the current hotel and retail complex, but in 1986 called for tenders to either manage the hotel/tavern operation or for an owner operator to joint venture the total complex.

The "Registration of Interest" as published in The Weekend Australian featured a different design to what was built. It appears that a taller, slender tower was proposed at around 19 storeys tall and was to be positioned in the south-western corner of the site. 

However, there was nothing else which mentioned this proposed scheme, not even in the local newspaper - The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader. 

Dainford faced hurdles just to have a major hotel complex approved. It was opposed bv residents who feared that it could set the precedent for large scale developments along the western shores of Botany Bay while Rockdale Council supported the development for attracting tourists and commercial activity to the area. 

Property Advert of the Week: Plaza Apartments Rockdale (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments in Tower A of the Plaza Apartments Complex at Rockdale. It is part of a three tower development that was built in the late 1990's. Residents are located above Rockdale Plaza Shopping Centre and is one of the very first shopping centre developments to incorporate highrise towers above the retail complex.

Source: Colliers Jardine & Richard Ellis. 1998. "Life's on Display: Plaza Apartments" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald. June 11: 33RE (Real Estate Liftout). 

Remember This? Gerry Harvey returns to Arncliffe (1992)

In 1961, Gerry Harvey and his business partner Ian Norman opened an electrical and furniture store on the Princes Highway at Arncliffe that would evolve into the now defunct Norman Ross Discounts.

Through Norman Ross, Harvey remained connected with the Arncliffe Store until he was sacked in 1982 following its takeover from Bond-Waltons.

His sacking led to him starting a new chain of electrical and furniture stores - Harvey Norman and evolved to become one of the biggest retailers in Australia.

In 1992, Norman Ross collapsed. For Harvey it presented an opportunity to acquire some of the former Norman Ross stores and convert them into Harvey Norman stores including Arncliffe.

For Harvey, it meant that the site that began his career in retailing was back in his hands and could reconnect with the people of the St George region that he had served for decades. It was also where he would experiment with extended trading hours on Saturdays and Sundays. He identified loopholes in legislation and risked prosecution for breaching trading laws.  However, he would set a precedent for the trading hours that shape shopping in 21st Century Sydney.

Harvey Norman would trade at Arncliffe for several years before it was closed (along with their Westfield Miranda store) when a new store at Caringbah opened.

Below is an advertisement for Harvey Norman at Arncliffe as published in the March 26, 1992 edition of The St George and Sutherland Leader.

1990: Highrise apartment scheme for the Hotel Sans Souci (Mick Moylan's) site - Sans Souci

I have developed an interest of the former Hotel Sans Souci which was owned by Mick Moylan and the former Prince of Wales Hotel.

Karen Pentland wrote The Pub on the Point for the 2013 Ron Rathbone History Prize organised by the former Rockdale City Council. It is recommended and contains some great oral accounts, especially from its final years.

However, I am curious as to what led to its closure and conversion into a residential estate.

My memories of Mick Moylans (as the locals refer) go back to my days as an infant. I attended the Sans Souci Community Pre School (1989-90) which was a short walk up Clareville Avenue at Sandringham.

In the late 1980's Mick Moylan's had opened an outlet of the Billabong Family Bistro's which from my understanding were a national chain of fast casual dining restaurants. This was posted recently (below) to the St George District Memories and Old Shops Australia Facebook Groups. The newspaper advertisement was published in the December 22, 1988 edition of The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader. 

Source: Billabong Family Bistro. 1988. "Untitled" (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, December 22: 27. 

I recall going to birthday parties there during my pre school days and even had my sixth birthday there in 1990. Bill & Bindy were dressed in a more professional koala costume than the advertisement shows. My brother also had his sixth birthday there in 1992. I remember going to the beach outside Mick Moylans in January 1993, and recall seeing fences around the site. Mick Moylan's was gone forever; to be replaced with a residential estate.

Source: Murphy, R. 1990. "Development plans submitted to council for San [Sans] Souci site". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, April 12, 31.

The earliest source that suggested residential development on the site was from 1986 when The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reported that the owner Laurie Beaumont was exploring options for housing including three storey unit blocks or single homes. Under planning guidelines, Rockdale Council would permit construction of free standing dwellings. However, there would be a loss of parking for beach users and a road would be required for access to the boat ramp.

Source: Anon. 1986. "Homes plan for hotel landmark". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, February 6, 11.

In 1990, plans ramped up when proposals for two six level buildings were unveiled to maximise public access. Norfolk pines and the famous Moreton Bay fig trees would be retained. A bistro or restaurant would be also be included. Mick Moylans would still have a presence of some sort on the site.

Source: Anon. 1990. "Developer wants to turn hotel into flats". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, August 21: 5. 

This plan didn't proceed and Rockdale Council approved the construction of 15 luxury townhouses to form The Sandringham estate. It is a gated development. Public beachfront access was retained with a path running along the beachfront.

The boat ramp was also lost.

I have not yet found further details as to how the scheme was scaled back and why. Neither have I found as to when in 1992 did Mick Moylan's close. Was it even announced?

The What if question comes into mind had the council approved the twin six storey apartment towers?

• We would still have "Mick Moylans" in some form even if under another name.
• The Beach Kiosk may have been converted into a cafe going by the conversion of Kiosks at Brighton-Le-Sands and Dolls Point in recent years into cafes. Ramsgate Beach ended up with a restaurant.
• The Moreton Bay fig would probably still be on the beachfront.
• The Norfolk pines and Cook Pine that were knocked down may have removed irrespective, whether it was in 1990's or more recent years. 
• The public would have possibly more access to the beachfront with the boat ramp retained. 

Below are photos of the former Sans Souci Hotel site as seen from Dolls Point (2017). Photos taken by the author. 

Property Advert of the Week: Sandringham on the Beach, Sandringham (1993)

In 1993, construction began on the Sandringham on the Beach estate at Sandringham. The estate is built on the former site of the Hotel Sans Souci or to the locals - Mick Moylans (He was the owner).

It was a controversial development for locals, most notably for the loss of Moreton Bay figs and Norfolk Pine trees but also the loss of access to the beachfront.

As construction began, the advertisements to promote the new estate began in earnest. 

Source: John Greig First National. 1993. "Sandringham on the Beach" (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, April 6: 46.

Why were the (1928) Brighton Baths demolished?

In May, The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader published a Flashback Friday Feature on the demolition of the 1928 swimming enclosure at Brighton-Le-Sands in 1980.

While the article was based on the content available within the archives of the newspaper, I felt that it didn't provide an explanation as to why or how its fate was determined.

The argument presented was that one storm in May 1968 all but sealed its fate, along with rising maintenance costs and declining patronage (access was via paid entry). The storm was reported to be one of the worst ever to impact on Botany Bay. The storm swells generated massive erosion of the beachfront at Brighton-Le-Sands, including the collapse of a number of Norfolk pine trees and a historic cannon. Homes were flooded at Kurnell, when waves crashed over Prince Charles Drive. Scans from the May 22, 1968, edition of The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader are included below including the editorial from page 2.

I wanted to also consider other sources as well. I consulted the local history collection of the former Rockdale City Council but also some of the scanned material that I have managed to obtain through my ongoing scans.

A search of the image collection through Bayside Council revealed images of significant storm damage to the baths as early as 1962. I found one image that had a concrete staircase overhanging from 1965. In addition, the beachfront at Brighton had been damaged in a number of storms in the lead up to 1968. The walkway on the perimeter of the baths had buckled during storms, forcing the baths to close

I found an article by former Rockdale Mayor and Alderman Ron Rathbone (date unknown) in a vertical file. Rathbone mentioned that council had prior to the 1960s faced difficulties in managing the baths. Patronage had declined as swimmers flocked to free enclosures located in nearby suburbs. Costs of maintenance had increased.

In 1970 the council struck an agreement with the Maritime Services Board and the Department of Lands and Planning to demolish the baths and replace it with a pier and floating net.The Seymour Pavillon was also to be demolished.

The former dressing sheds were converted into the Le Sands restaurant, opening in 1972. In 2017, the restaurant celebrates 45 years of trade.

A report in 1978, identified major structural concerns and it was recommended that the baths be demolished immediately. The following year, demolition took place.

Source: Anon. 1979. "Just a Rusting Ring of Mesh: Brighton baths may be rebuilt". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, February 14: 19. 

In mid 1980, the tender to construct the new floating net and pier was awarded by Rockdale Council. By the end of 1980, the new baths were completed at an estimated cost of $160 000. It was in fact bigger than the one that it had replaced. In the 2000's the council demolished the pier.

Property Advert of the Week: Plaza Apartments Rockdale (1997)

Here is a treat for those in southern Sydney this week - An old advertisement for the first tower in the Plaza Apartments in Rockdale in 1997. For those of you not familiar with southern Sydney, the Plaza Apartment towers are located directly above Rockdale Plaza. It is actually one of the first shopping centres in Sydney where apartment blocks were built directly above the complex.

 

Source: City Freeholds. 1997. "Plaza Apartments" (advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24: 27RE (Real Estate Liftout). 

Property Advert of the Week: President Towers, Brighton-Le-Sands (1974)

This week, we head to Brighton-Le-Sands when in 1974 apartments in the newly completed President Towers were available for sale. Four decades later, those views cannot be built out due to restrictions on building heights for developments along The Grand Parade by Rockdale Council.

Source: Lidan Realty Pty. Ltd. 1974. "President Towers" (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, April 2, 30. 

Property Advert of the Week: 17 Trafalgar Street, Brighton-Le-Sands (1971)

This week's property advertisement takes us to Brighton-Le-Sands where apartments at "Seventeen" (17) Trafalgar Street were on sale. There was also a historical feature included giving a history of the suburb. 1971 was a significant year for the area given that Rockdale Council was celebrating its centenary.

Source: J. Haryison Real Estate. 1971. "Seventeen Trafalgar Street Brighton-Le-Sands (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, September 8: 64-65.

Property Advert of the Week: Panorama Gardens, Banksia (1963)

I came across this one just recently while going through some files. It is for the Panorama Gardens apartment complex at Banksia in Kimpton Street. Apartments were going for 4750 pounds but it did have something not many unit complexes at that time (or dating from that period), a swimming pool.

Source: R. T. Golby Pty Ltd. 1963. "Panorama Gardens" (Advertisement). The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, November 27: page unknown.

Property Advert of the Week: McArthur Court, Monterey (1968)

It's not often I come across a property ad for a street that either I live (or have) resided in. This week, I head to my childhood neighborhood of Robinson Street, Monterey.  In 1968 villas in McArthur Court were on sale. As pointed out recently, Monterey did not become a suburb until 1972, and in this advertisement, Robinson Street happens to be in Brighton-Le-Sands.

The exact address is 39-41 Robinson Street, Monterey.

 

Source: Gavan & Shallala. 1968. "If you want to live modern..." (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, November 13: 36.

Property Advert of the Week: Banksia Land Sale (1962)

This week's property advert sends us into the Rockdale area where in 1962 blocks of land in Chestnut Drive, Oak Place, Tamarix Cresent and Shaaron Court.

Source: J. K. Callinan Estate Agent & Tome Bros Estate Agents. (1962). Land Auction Sale: Rockdale" (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, November 28: page unknown.

1972: The area with no name becomes Monterey

For eighteen years, I was raised in the suburb of Monterey (approximately 13km south of the city). Even in 2015, many Sydneysiders wouldn't have a clue of where it is nor its existence. The development of the area dates back to around a century ago when the area was subdivided into what it is today. My childhood home in Robinson Street (no 22) I believe dates back to this time. But for this area, there was the question to be asked, where did they belong?

For decades people were giving their address as either Brighton-Le-Sands, Kogarah or Ramsgate. The first edition of the Gregorys Street Directory in 1934 would list streets like Robinson (Annie Street as it was known) as being in Rockdale.

But there were signs of a possible name - Monterey. A section of the suburb when subdivided was referred to as the Monterey Estate. The streets within the estate had Californian names like Pasadena Street. A small shopping centre developed in Chuter Avenue between Scarborough and Monterey Street. This included a post office (now a Pizza Cafe) which was known as the Monterey Post Office
So Rockdale Council in 1972 had to put the matter to rest. It surveyed people in what would become Monterey but also Ramsgate. 250 submissions were made from residents and Rockdale Council at a meeting in February settled on what is now the current boundaries. There were proposals to include parts of Kogarah and Ramsgate.

   

Source: Anonymous. 1972. "Monterey Name for New Suburb of Rockdale".  The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, February 23: 15.

 In November, it was officially gazetted by the Geographical Names Board.

Source: Anonymous. 1972. "Area of No Name Will Now Become Monterey". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, November 8: 42. 

Monterey to this day still remains a quiet suburb, even as Sydney changes around it. Many of the older homes have been knocked down and replaced with large modern homes. Just this year, it attained a median house price of $1 000 000. It certainly has won favour with people, especially families and easy access to local shops, services, Sydney Airport, City and Botany Bay.

The suburb did achieve some fame in 1987 when Mental as Anything filmed the video clip He's Just No Good for You in Scarborough Street, in which the residents were invited to all take part.

 

Plus Solander Street is home to the first villa complex built in NSW back in 1967, even before the suburb got its name. 

Property Advert of the Week: Richelieu, Ramsgate (1965)

This weeks property advertisement takes us to Ramsgate where you could buy units in The Richelieu apartment complex in Florence Street. For 4750 pounds ($9500), you could have your own unit within a short walk of the shops and Lady Robinsons Beach. According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, that is the equivalent of $117 000 today.

Source. E. L. Rostron & Co. 1965. "Presenting Beautiful "Richelieu (Advertisement)". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, November 10: Page Unknown. 

SYDNEY TRANSPORT: Captain Cook Bridge Opens (1965)

The Captain Cook Bridge as seen from Taren Point. The gates to the former punt are still there five decades later. 

On Friday (May 29), it will be fifty years since the Captain Cook Bridge was officially opened. Before 1965, there was only one bridge spanning the Georges River that linked the Sutherland Shire with Sydney - Tom Uglys Bridge at Sylvania. The original three-lane bridge was opened in 1929. Two punts were also in operation. One was downstream at Sans Souci at the end of Rocky Point Road, linking the suburb with Taren Point. There was also the Lugarno Ferry at Lugarno.

The end of World War II fuelled a population boom in the Sutherland Shire. The land was subdivided into new housing estates. By 1961, the region had a population of 112,000. Yet there was one road crossing. At Tom Uglys Bridge, Sylvania motorists were forced to wait in long queues to access the bridge, particularly at weekends. Each lane was carrying as much, if not more, traffic than a typical lane on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader was first published in 1960, and its lead story on its launch edition on June 29 1960, called for a bridge to replace the punt at Sans Souci. It would form a section of the proposed (and still is) Southern Expressway linking Wollongong with Sydney.

Page 1 of the first edition of The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader in June 1960 was calling for a new crossing over the Georges River.

Not long after this, tenders for a new bridge were called. The span would be 473 metres long  (road deck was 506 metres long) and contain six lanes to carry motor traffic.

Source: Anonymous. 1961. "Jumping-off Point".  The St George and Sutherland Leader, August 9: 1.

Construction began in 1962. John Holland was named as the winning tender.

Source: Anon. 1962. "New Bridge Goes Up". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, July 25: 1.

Here is a photo of construction from 1964 taken by Craig Birdsell as seen from Sylvania.

Source: Birdsell, Craig. 1964. "Untitled (Photograph)." 

Just months before opening, the spans met.

Source: Anon. 1965. "Bridging Distance". The Daily Telegraph, January 14: 11.

Below is a rare aerial of the completed bridge and punt taken days prior to the bridge opening.

Source: Anonymous. 1965. "Named for Captain Cook". The Daily Telegraph, May 27, 5. 

The bridge was opened to traffic on May 29 1965, after it was officially opened by NSW Governor Sir Eric Woodward. Five thousand people attended. A number of plaques were unveiled. They are located at both ends of the bridge and in the middle of the bridge.

The public was invited to walk over the bridge before motorists could finally use the bridge. In fact, that afternoon, the normally busy Tom Uglys Bridge was deserted as people wanted to see the new road for themselves, leading to significant congestion on the bridge approaches which lasted for the entire weekend.

Source: Anonymous. 1965. "Having a Look at the Bridge". The Daily Telegraph, May 31: 7. 

On that same day, the punt operated for the last time before being move upstream to Lugarno where it provided the punt service until 1974, one year after the opening of the Alfords Point Bridge.

I've also included the front page from The Propeller, which I scanned several years back to mark the opening of the bridge.

And last but not least, a photo spread from page three of the June 2, 1965 edition of The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader.

Finally, here is a newsreel clip courtesy of British Pathe that documented the opening of the bridge.

Updated November 2018 with the addition of a newspaper clipping. 

1986: Shark Attack warning in Botany Bay

The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader decided to dedicate a front page during the summer of 1986 to warn people of the dangers of swimming in Botany Bay. As a youngster of the (late) 1980s, I recall those simple signs reminding people of the possible dangers. Rockdale Mayor, Ron Rathbone believed that calm waters, plenty of food (fish) along with the dredging of the bay for the development of Port Botany and Sydney Airport had increased the risk of shark attack.

At the beach, were normally told to swim between the flags. Rockdale Council wanted swimmers swimming in between the nets (netted bathing pools) as a means of keeping people safe in the water.

   

Source: Poulus, J. 1986. "Swimmers risk death: Mayors' warning on shark attack threat." The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, January 16: 1. 

Even in the 1970s, the council was concerned. It even produced signage to alert swimmers in four languages (English, Italian, German and Macedonian). The calmer waters have always been popular with those from immigrant backgrounds, even to this day. In 1986, Rockdale Council believed that 80 % of swimmers at Lady Robinsons Beach were of immigrant background. 

Source: Anonymous. 1972. "Shark Warning In Four Languages." The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, September 20:11.

For the record, the last fatal shark attack in the Georges River/Botany Bay catchment was in 1946 at Oatley Bay in Oatley when Valma Tegel (14) died after having her left leg ripped off by a shark in water's just one metre deep. The last shark attack in the bay itself was in February 1940 when John William Eke sustained injuries to his arms at North Brighton (Kyeemagh). There have been no fatal deaths from a shark attack in the bay itself.

The risk of shark attack is still there but doesn't seem to be as of much concern as now. These days you are more likely to drown in Botany Bay due to the structure of the beach itself. A five-year boy drowned at Dolls Point in late 2013. The water depth increased sharply not too far offshore and people may not be able to see it. Currents in the bay have also played their part as well.

Updated November 2018 - Clearer image added.

1972: Inside the Sydney Airport Control Tower

This week, I share a feature from The Daily Telegraph in late 1972 that took readers inside the old control tower at Sydney Airport. In those days it had recently opened as part of the expansions to the airport during the late 1960's at a cost of $19 million. To build it today would equate to $200 000 000 according to the RBA Inflation Calculator. The control tower operated until 1996 when the current control tower opened on the opposite side of the North-South Runway.

The old control tower could handle up to 45 flights per hour (about half of today's maximum of eighty flights) while boasting that the radar covered the entire state of New South Wales.

The building has been remained idle, but there is the possibility it may be heritage listed in the future.

Source: Behr, J. 1972. "$19m nerve centre." The Daily Telegraph. December 1: 30-31.

Property Advert of the Week: Kimberley Court Ramsgate (1970)

This week's advert is for a three storey walk-up apartment complex known as Kimberley Court at Sans Souci. The advertisement does list as being at Ramsgate, but today it is in the suburb of Sans Souci.

I do walk past the complex once a week and it's still there. The units started at $14 750 which according to the RBA Inflation Calculator would be about $156 000 in today's money. I did some research to see how much a unit would sell for. In December last year, one apartment sold for $547 000.

Source: Parkes Developments Pty. Ltd. 1970. Kimberley Court Ramsgate (Advertisement)," The Daily Telegraph, February 14: 50. 

Property Advert of the Week: Boulevarde Towers, Brighton-Le-Sands (1970)

In the St George area, one of the first high rise towers was built at Brighton-Le-Sands. Below is an advertisement from The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader dating back to 1970 promoting apartments for sale in the Boulevarde Towers. It was the first high rise building built within the Rockdale Municipality.

The eight level building certainly guaranteed the best views in the area (ocean, bay and city) for a while. Soon after, just to the east of the building, in the same block, a building of the same height was constructed taking away some of the ocean and bay views. City views were then eaten away by development in streets to its north (Princess and Gordon Streets). In 1990, the Resort Hotel (now Novotel) was completed which also ate away even more at the sweeping views into the city and eastern suburbs.

Source: John Blight Real Estate. 1970. "Boulevard Towers Advertisement," The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, January 21: 24.

1972: Rare McDonalds Sans Souci opening advertisement

Source: McDonald's Australia. 1972. "Untitled” (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, August 2: 14.

McDonald's marketing has come a long way in Australia over the decades. Quite interesting to note in this advertisement for the opening of the McDonald's store at Sans Souci isn't dominated by the golden arches themselves (featuring only in the illustrations.

McDonald's was the "new kid on the block" in those days. They even had to explain who they were and were already claiming to be the biggest fast food chain in Australia. 20 cents got you a Big Mac and you could get fish and chips.

No breakfast menu's just yet but they did open until late 11pm or midnight depending on the night of the week.

McDonald's has shared the site with KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). A decade ago they managed to merge the site with the adjoining site of the former Post Office on Rocky Point Road and redeveloped the site. This meant the demolition of the original stores. They also swapped locations within the site. The rebuilt McDonald's also included a drive-thru service, playground and McCafe which was not available in the original store.

The current McDonalds store at Sans Souci.

 

KFC Sans Souci stands in the original carpark for the original McDonald’s Sans Souci.

Photos taken by the Author (2005).

Updated November 2018.