In November 2003, I had the opportunity to go on a tour of World Tower organised for members of the Ozscrapers Forum. At the time, it was moderated by Richard Braddish (Model Maker, City of Sydney Council), who was able to organise it for the Sydney-based members at the time.
World Tower was still under construction at the time, with the tower topped out, but residents in the "Low Rise" section could start moving in.
For this entry, it should be noted that floor numbers are not a true indication of how high above the ground a location is. The ground floor in World Tower is level 10. Level 76 in reality is 66 levels above ground.
Below are some photos from level 76, which was still under construction at the time. The top third of the building (including level 76) was originally destined to be sold as private apartments at a then-to-be-determined time, but functions as serviced apartments under the Meriton Suites brand. The Two-Bedroom Horizon Suite and Three-Bedroom Penthouses are on this floor.
At the time of completion in 2004, it was not just the tallest skyscraper (to roof) in Sydney at 230 metres; it was also the tallest residential tower in Sydney, Australia, and the Southern Hemisphere.
The records it held at the time are gone. Crown Towers (271 metres tall) is the tallest tower in Sydney World Tower is currently the fourth tallest apartment tower in Sydney, behind Towers 1 and 2 of One Sydney Harbour (247 and 230 metres respectively) and the Greenland Sydney Centre at 237 metres. Australia 108 in Melbourne is the tallest residential tower in Australia, at 317 metres, with 100 levels.
We were also shown one of the apartments in the "Low Rise" section.
Some of the facilities available to residents include a virtual golf driving range, cinema, gym and swimming pool.
Below is a 2002 newspaper advertisement promoting Aspect, located in Cunningham Street in the city (adjacent to World Square). Apartments ranged from $295 000 to just under $1.1 million for three bedroom apartments.
Source: Jones Lang LaSalle. 2002. "Aspect: A smarter way of living". The Sunday Telegraph, October 27: 9 (Homeowner Liftout).
On August 31 1965, Bebarfalds closed its city store (at the corner of Park and George Streets, directly opposite Sydney Town Hall), which was located in what is now the Woolworths Building, home to Australia's busiest Woolworths Supermarket and a small-format BigW store. The closure was due to losses at its city store and the decision to concentrate on its profitable suburban and regional stores.
Source: Anonymous. 1965. "Bebarfalds Ltd. to close city store on August 31". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 24: 4.
The reason for its closure was increasing losses at the city store. Suburban stores traded under the Bebarfelds name until 1973, when they became part of Macy's Emporium Pty. Ltd.
The current tenant (Woolworths) would lease the space shortly following Bebarfalds closure Woolworths would open its Town Hall store the following year. 2026 is sixty years of Woolworths at its present city location.
Source: Anonymous. 1965. "Mr Theo Kelly at Lovers' Corner". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 3: 11.
Source: Anonymous. 1963. "A look into the future". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 17: 15.
Over the years, I have come across a few clippings relating to proposals to redevelop the blocks adjacent to Circular Quay Railway Station.
In 1963, the Sydney Cove Area Development Committee unveiled a proposal to redevelop the blocks immediately to the South of Circular Quay Railway Station. This included the construction of skyscrapers around the height of the AMP Building in the blocks adjacent to Circular Quay Railway Station, i.e., north of Bridge Street. Customs House would have been preserved as part of any redevelopment of the area.
The model was displayed for two weeks in the vestibule at the Sydney Town Hall.
Sourced From: Anonymous. 1963. "A look into the future". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 17: 15.
The residents of Bennelong Apartments have not had the best week, following news that the State Government is easing restrictions and regulations on hosting events on the Sydney Opera House forecourt.
Below is a 1999 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale in the building itself.
Source: Colliers Jardine & Jones Lang LaSalle. 1999. "Bennelong Apartments" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, November 27: 31A (Domain Liftout).
In 1978, the NSW Government announced plans to construct what would become the Regent Hotel (now Four Seasons Hotel), one of Sydney's most prestigious and famous hotels. The hotel was opened in 1982 with 531 rooms.
Did you know that the 30-storey hotel had a different design proposal when it was announced? Below is a 1978 article from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Source: Anonymous. 1978. "$40m luxury hotel planned for Quay". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 23: 10.
1 O'Connell Street, as we know it, was designed by Peddle Thorp Walker. The 36 level/166 metre tower was completed in 1991 and is topped of by a spire inspired by spires on other Sydney buildings such as the Queen Victoria Building and Lands Department Building. It replaced the CSR Building, built in the 1960's and was demolished to make way for the tower.
However, this may not have happened as an earlier design for the tower did not consider a spire, but rather a much more standard roof.
Not proceeding with this scheme was a good decision, as Sydneysiders were rewarded with a tower featuring a notable architectural feature. The site itself commands never to be built views, meaning that any tower built had to be a focal point. Peddle Thorp Walkers' design achieves it.
Source: Chancellor, J. 1987. "Highest high-tech floors may notch $850 sq m". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 8: 33.
Never Built Sydney is back for another series. In this entry, I look at a 1988 proposal for a 26-level office tower at 105, 107, and 109 Pitt Street. The tower, which was to comprise 21,000 sq/m of office space, was never built.
"Innovative engineering design" was to be a key feature of the tower, to be developed by Hooker Projects and the State Superannuation Board.
Source: Anonymous. 1988. "City block will feature major innovations in building and design". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 23: 65.
In 2002, I photographed a model of the tower prepared for the City of Sydney Model. Thank you to Richard Braddish (Sydney City Council) for organising it at the time.
105 Pitt Street, 107 Pitt Street and 15-25 Hunter Street are currently subject to an innovative development of its own - a 55 level office tower that when completed will be the worlds tallest hybrid building, It will beat the 39 level/183 metre Atlassian Central Tower at Central Station which when completed later this year or early next year will be the tallest hybrid timber tower in the world. As of April 2026, the demolition of buildings is in progress.
Source: Gowings. 2006. "Closing Down Sale" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, January 16: 6.
This year (2026) marks 20 years since Department Store Gowings closed after 138 years of trading, leaving Sydney with just two major department stores: David Jones & Myer.
It may have been a distant third behind the two majors in Sydney Department store chains, but it wanted to keep competing and also offered Sydney shoppers something different.
Also, Gowings had outlasted many larger chains that either collapsed or were absorbed by competitors.
But what saw its end?
Back in 2000, the department store arm was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) as Gowings Retail. In 2005, it was renamed as G Retail
In the years leading to its demise, it sought to expand into the suburbs for the first time, opening stores in Wynyard, Darlinghurst, Parramatta, Sydney Airport, and Hornsby. It was even planned to open stores interstate and turn it into a national chain.
The suburban expansion was unsuccessful, with the stores operating at a loss. Parramatta was of most concern, with millions lost and failing to accommodate the demographics of western Sydney.
In November 2005, an administrator was appointed to G Retail following reported losses of $13 million. The menswear chain Lowes had expressed serious interest in acquiring Gowings, but talks fell through. By December, administrators at Deloitte had decided to wind up the company, as no buyer could be found. On December 16, 2005, employees were notified that the stores would cease trading by the end of January 2006. The remaining stores were progressively closed, with the Market Street store closing on Sunday, January 29, 2006.190 employees lost their jobs as a consequence of the closure
Source: Brown, M. 2006. "Gone to Gowings no more". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 30: 3.
Following the store's closure, Gowing Bros sold the building to Amalgamated Holdings for $68.6 million.
Source: Stevens, J. 2006. "End of an era in store". The Daily Telegraph, January 28: 6.
Two decades later, the makeup chain Mecca occupies the space formerly occupied by the store. British fashion chain Topshop Topman replaced Gowings until its Australian stores stopped trading in 2020. Like Gowings, the Sydney CBD store was the last one to close. The rest of the building, along with the adjoining State Theatre, was converted for hotel use and now houses the QT Sydney hotel.
While the Department Store no longer exists, Gowing Bros (the company that ran the store) still operates as a fund investment company, and the famous Gowings signage along its George Street side remains and is heritage-listed.
On January 27 2006, I managed to take these pictures of Gowings in its final days. They may not have liked me taking the pictures, but they do make a historical record of what it was in its final days.
Michael Evans wrote the following feature on the demise of Gowings, which was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on January 23, 2006.
Source: Evans, M. 2006. "This time next week it really will be gone". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 23: 17 & 18.
Source: Anon. 1976. "Farmers moving back to quality". The Sun Herald, May 9: 127.
1976 saw the end of an era in Sydney retailing when Farmers stores were rebranded as Myer. It was the first of two rebrandings by Myer as they acquired Sydney department stores. The second was in 2004 when Grace Bros stores were rebranded as Myer following their takeover by Myer in 1983 and later incorporation into the Coles-Myer Group.
Below is a 1976 newspaper article from The Sun Herald announcing that by the end of that year, all Farmers stores would be rebranded as Myer, including its flagship city store (Current location of Myer post 2004 rebranding of Grace Bros & Westfield Sydney Central Plaza).
Farmers merged with Myer in 1961, and over the next fifteen years, Myer engaged in Myerisation of its stores, which meant removing the services and products that gave Farmers its unique identity. In effect, Farmers stores had evolved into Myer stores except in name only.
At the time, Farmers had stores in central Sydney, Miranda, Carlingford, Burwood, Blacktown and Gordon.
Myer would trade under its name on the site until 1983, when it acquired Grace Bros and rebranded the store to Grace Bros, along with any stores branded as Myer in NSW.
In 2004, all Grace Bros stores in NSW, including the city store, were rebranded as Myer, reintroducing the Myer name to what was once the home of Farmers.
Sydney Tower opened to the public on September 25 1981. Below is an advertisement was published in The Sun Herald on September 6 1981.
Source: Sydney Tower. 1981. "Tickets to the Top Available Now" (Advertisement). The Sun Herald, September 6: 6.
General admission was just $3.50, with pensioners and children paying just $1.50. Tickets to visit Sydney Tower can be purchased in advance at participating outlets, including Mitchell Bass and Grace Bros stores in the Sydney metropolitan area.
Below is an advertisement from The Sun Herald, published on September 27 1981, just two days after opening. By this point, visitors and tourists could purchase directly at the door.
Source: Sydney Tower. 1981. "Sydney Tower is now open...Come on up!" (Advertisement). The Sun Herald, September 27: 40.
Also, this is the first television commercial for Sydney Tower, which was screened in the 1980s. Video uploaded to YouTube by "Shadow Archive".
In 2006, the Novotel at Sydney Olympic Park was the only high-rise building in the precinct, and for a small fee, one could visit the observation deck on level 18. It offered spectacular 360-degree views of the Sydney metropolitan area.
I visited the observation deck that year and stitched a panorama of around 180 degrees, including Chatswood, St Leonards, North Sydney, the Sydney CBD, Burwood, and Strathfield.
Below is a close-up of the Sydney CBD with Sydney Tower perfectly positioned in the middle.
Given the development at Sydney Olympic Park since, I am grateful that I was able to create the panorama as the views towards the city have been blocked by the high-rises.
Remember This? is back for January. Below is a 1973 aerial of Sydney and North Sydney as captured by photographer Ern McQuillan. The aerial places the Sydney Harbour Bridge at the centre of the image while capturing what was referred to as the "twin cities". The photo was featured on Page 1 of the Wentworth Courier in its edition of July 4, 1973.
Wednesday is New Year's Eve, and as the norm at this time of the year, I look back at how Sydney welcomed the new year 25 years ago.
The year of focus is 2000.
Fireworks
The launch points for the fireworks are shown below. For 2025, they have stuck to the "traditional" launch points, but with added launch sites - Off Bradfield Park, Kirribilli, Off Garden Island, a second launch site to the west of Goat Island, and a launch site to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to complement the barge located off Kirribilli and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The duration of the display was reduced from 25 minutes to welcome in 2000 to 16 minutes. It would settle at 12 minutes, which is expected to be the approximate length of this year's display.
Sourced from: The Daily Telegraph. 2000. "New Years Eve - Official Guide". The Daily Telegraph, December 27: 48-49.
The Bridge Effect for 2001 was an eight-pointed Commonwealth Star with each point representing either a state or territory, with a Rainbow Serpent placed above it.
Source: Westwood, S. "Serpent a star in bridge's New Year test run". The Daily Telegraph, December 22: 3.
Transport
Revellers were encouraged to travel by public transport to both New Year's Eve and the Centenary of Federation events. Discounted rail and bus tickets with unlimited rail were available and were valid on the day of travel until 4am the next day, either on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. For $12, a combined rail/bus ticket was available, allowing for unlimited travel on Sydney Buses as well. The tickets were commemorative, as part of the Centenary of Federation celebrations.
Source: Sofios, S. 2000. "New Year party crush". The Daily Telegraph, December 23: 15.
Source: NSW Department of Transport. 2000. "Plan it right, for party time" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 22: 34.
Unfortunately, for New Year's Eve 2025, the regular daily fare cap for public transport in Sydney will be the standard $19.30, as it is not a public holiday. If travelling during regular peak periods on the trains, e.g. 3pm-7pm, you will also pay peak-hour fares as if it were a typical day. If New Year's Eve fell on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday this year, the cap would be $9.65.
Newspaper Coverage
At the top of the entry is the front page of The Daily Telegraph dated January 1, 2001.
Below is the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald from January 1, 2001.
Two general features from The Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald from January 1, 2001.
Source: Chesterton. R. 2001. "Twice the fun for New Year party's double celebration". The Daily Telegraph, January 1: 2.
Source: Stevenson, A. 2001. "Boom time in a city that never sleeps". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 1: 2.
Another highlight of the evening was the Lord Mayor's Party held at the Sydney Opera House hosted by Lord Mayor Frank Sartor.
Source: Chesterton, R. 2001. "Style, panache and fizz at Frank's Sydney soiree". The Daily Telegraph, January 1: 6.
Parramatta Stadium played host to a concert that was televised on Channel Ten featuring Vanessa Amorosi, Nathan Cavaleri, Human Nature, S2S and Madison Avenue
Below is the fireworks as broadcast on the Nine Network. Video uploaded to Youtube by "SydneyCelebrates".
Centenary of Federation - January 1
New Year's Day saw three major events to mark the Centenary of Federation on January 1, 1901.
State and Federal Leaders, along with Governor General Sir William Deane, gathered at Centennial Park to reenact the inauguration of the Federation of Australia on January 1, 1901. This was held in the Federation Pavilion (rebuilt in 1988).
As many as 500,000 Sydneysiders gathered to watch the Journey of a Nation parade, which ran down Macquarie Street, College Street and Oxford Street and down Anzac Parade to Moore Park.
In the evening, a concert was held at Centennial Park.
Below is a front page from The Sydney Morning Herald from January 2, 2001.
Finally, I'd like to wish you all a very safe and Happy New Year, and may 2026 be a year of success, prosperity and good health.
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