In 1997, Frenchman Alain Robert climbed up Sydney Tower. Robert is famous globally for climbing up skyscrapers or notable structures in cities without the aid of any climbing equipment. In addition to Sydney Tower, Robert scaled The Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2003, Aurora Place (2009) and the Lumiere Tower in Bathurst Street (2010).
But did you know that a decade earlier (1987), there were two incidents that involved people climbing the tower
In February 1987, one individual managed to climb all the way to the top. The Daily Mirror referred to the person as a "human fly" and a "daredevil". They did use a rope to scale the tower.
Source: Anon. 1987. "Centrepoint climb; Sydney's Human Fly". The Daily Mirror, February 2: 1 & 6.
Five months later, three men decided to climb up Sydney Tower, not for the sake of climbing, but rather to protest against nuclear arms. The banner was unfurled around halfway up the tower. They were arrested. Greenpeace accepted responsibility for the incident.
Source: Moor, M. & Crouch, B. 1987. "Centrepoint Spidermen: 3 climbers arrested after midnight stunt". The Daily Mirror, July 10: 1-2.
Above: Promotional poster featured in The Sunday Telegraph on 28 December 1997.
Saturday is New Year's Eve in Sydney, and it will feel well and truly back to normal this year. Last year would rank among the quieter New Year's Eves because of the spread of the Omicron Variant of COVID-19, which meant that many decided not to risk infection by staying home. On 31 December 2021, 22 577 people across NSW tested positive for COVID-19. A reported 30 000 gathered to watch the fireworks, but the figure would likely be higher given that those with views of Sydney Harbour would have been able to watch from their home.
The previous year (2020) saw access heavily restricted under the Zero Covid policy that NSW and the Commonwealth applied at the time. Key vantage points were closed to the public to avoid mass gatherings as the Northern Beaches experienced an outbreak. Those in the Northern Beaches were subjected to stay-at-home orders.
It will be a quarter of a century before we explore 2020 and 2021, but let's wind back the clock a quarter of a century to 1997.
The story so far...
Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations had their origins in 1989. Back then, it was a thirty-minute fireworks show held at 9pm, which continued each year. Midnight fireworks commenced at midnight on 1 January 1994, though confined to Sydney Tower and Darling Harbour.
The midnight display was first screened on television on the Nine Network to usher in 1997 at midnight on 1 January 1997, while the 9pm show was first broadcast on 31 December 1994, though delayed until midnight. The first live broadcast of the 9pm show was on 31 December 1996.
What was new in 1997?
Source: Totaro, P. 1997. "$2m spectacular to welcome 1998". The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 December: 2.
Sydney City Council's aim was to make the celebrations bigger for each year leading up to 1999, and they did not let people down:
The introduction of the first bridge effect - a smiley face.
Extended entertainment program - Children's concert began at 4pm at Hyde Park and a flotilla of boats shooting fireworks every four seconds from 8:30pm.
A fireworks barge located west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the first time to "double the impact" of the fireworks.
Fireworks were to be launched from Star City Casino alongside Sydney Tower at midnight.
While the fireworks were directed by Ric Birch, two companies provided the fireworks - Syd Howard Fireworks International & Foti's.
Above: Vantage points to view the fireworks as published on Page 4 of The Daily Telegraph on 31 December 1997.
Compared with the previous year, a similar number of fireworks were to be released - 20 000 fireworks with five tonnes of explosives.
The projected cost of the festivities was $2 million, up from $1.5 million the previous year.
The Nine Network provided live coverage of the fireworks for a second year, with 2UE providing a simulcast of the soundtrack featured in the show.
Transport Arrangements
Below are the public transport arrangements for New Year's Eve 1997 as advertised in The Sunday Telegraph on 28 December 1997. By now, Sydney was mastering the art of transporting the hordes in and out of the city.
Driving was not recommended, given large sections of the Sydney CBD and The Rocks were closed to vehicular traffic. Despite the fireworks, several lanes of the Sydney Harbour Bridge remained open.
Fireworks Wrap Up
Below is coverage of the festivities from The Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald on 1 January 1998.
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Daily Telegraph
A final word...
I wish each person a safe and enjoyable new year, regardless of how you want to mark it.
Above: A poster promoting viewing points for the New Year's Eve fireworks as published in The Sunday Telegraph on December 29 1996.
As custom, our final entry for the year will look back at how Sydney marked New Years Eve 25 years ago.
Our year of focus is 1996.
If you have viewed my entries from previous years, you would have noticed the evolution of how Sydney welcomes the new year in the way that it does today.
It started in 1989 with a thirty minute fireworks show at 9pm which was at the time a corporate event and launch event for the Festival of Sydney. In the years that followed, the show grew bigger and bigger. In 1993, the first midnight show was held featuring fireworks at Sydney Tower and Darling Harbour. The following year (1994) the SkyShow was broadcast for the first time, though it was it screened on delay.
The 1996 fireworks was the largest fireworks show held in Sydney since the Bicentenary in 1988 and would be a teaser to December 31 1999 and the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when the world would be treated to a special fireworks display as part of the festivities.
Celebrations were "new-look" with Ric Birch producing the event at an estimated cost of $1.5 million. With the Olympic Games in 2000, he claimed that he would need ten times the amount for the 2000 Olympic Games fireworks display given the area that would need to be covered to provide the best experience for crowds gathered on Sydney Harbour. For Birch and Sydney City Council, this was a test event which they could learn from as they prepared for 2000.
Source: Totaro, P. 1996. "Sartor's $1.5m cracker for 1997". The Sydney Morning Herald, November 28: 3.
Source: Papadopoulos, N. 1996. "Fireworks a dress rehearsal for 2000". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 31: 2.
Channel Seven had the rights to the fireworks for the 1994 and 1995 SkyShows. Channel Nine began a decade long association as the official TV broadcaster in 1996 and for the first time, the 9pm fireworks was broadcast live right across Australia.
There was also a short broadcast of the midnight fireworks at Sydney Tower from 11:57pm to 12:02am. Below is the broadcast of the midnight display. Channel Nine's coverage was anchored by Catriona Rowntree and Richard Wilkins. The midnight show focused on fireworks launched from 10 points from in a southward direction from North Sydney to Sydney Tower in the 10 seconds leading to midnight where Sydney Tower exploding in fireworks to resemble an Olympic Torch on the stroke of midnight.
Some time back, it was possible to view the full 9pm show but I believe copyright restrictions led to its removal. However there is an edited version of the live coverage if the short highlights package was not enough.
2UE provided the live simulcast of the soundtrack featured in the show.
As in previous years, the show lasted thirty minutes. However for 1996, there was a prelude to the main event. At 8:50pm, shells were launched at North and South Head. Two Riverboat ferries with fireworks sailed from opposite ends of Sydney Harbour. One started at the Gladesville Bridge and the other at the heads before meeting at the Sydney Opera House. The fireworks launching points increased to 25, which included buildings in central Sydney and North Sydney. The main fireworks barges were located near the Sydney Opera House. The now present boundaries for the New Years Eve fireworks were now set as people were encouraged to watch the show from vantage points anywhere along Sydney Harbour or the Parramatta River that had a view of the harbour bridge. People could stay local if they desired.
Source: Rogers, J. 1996. "A blazing good time". The Daily Telegraph, December 31:6.
The theme for 1996 was Masquerade. Those attending New Years Eve celebrations were encouraged to wear a mask in the shape of the Sydney Opera House. The masks were distributed with The Sunday Telegraph on December 29 1996.
The mask was designed by Peter England
Source: Anon. 1996. "Man behind the mask". The Daily Telegraph, December 24: 15.
Syd Howard was appointed as fireworks producer for yet another year which involved the release of 16 000 individual fireworks shells.
Source: Anon. 1996. "Sparks will fly for '97". The Daily Telegraph, December 17: 18.
Transport
Source: Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries & CityRail. 1996. "New Year's Eve Bus, Train & Ferry Services" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, December 27: 28 (Metro Liftout).
Comparing transport arrangements for this year with 1996 is ineffective due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has meant that transport arrangements must reflect public health guidelines and COVID-19 safe practices, especially capacity limits on public transport. There was no pandemic in 1996.
Capacity is determined by the placement of green dots. At the time of writing, all seats on public transport could be utilised but limited scope for standing especially on trains. With limitations on standing, all modes cannot operate at the maximum capacity.
For 1996, a "small army" of drivers and staff were given the challenging job of transporting the hordes.
Trains operated throughout the entire evening to ensure no-one was left stranded.
Source: Phillips, M. 1996. "New year a moving time for the buses". The Daily Telegraph, December 27: 23.
Outside the city
For those who didn't want to travel into the city, Australia's Wonderland provided a whole nights entertainment for just $11.95 after 5pm with entertainment from The Wiggles, John Paul Young and a midnight fireworks show.
Source: Australia's Wonderland. 1996. "Happy New Year From Wonderland" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, December 29: 12.
Bondi Beach was also another alternative for revellers, though there had been concerns of possible violence.
Fireworks Wrap up
The Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald presented glowing reviews of the fireworks which was attended by at least 600 000 people, with 200 000 of those reported at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. Some estimates by police placed the crowds at one million, the most attended fireworks since the Bicentennary in 1988. I remember there was also international coverage of Sydney's celebrations on news bulletins and programs from around the world. The world had taken interest in Sydney's celebrations.
A Final Word...
I would like to wish you all a safe and wonderful new year. During January, look forward to weekly installments of Remember this?.
Source: Anon. 1995. "1995 Sydney Skyshow" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph Mirror, December 30:18.
On Thursday evening, we will mark the end of 2020 and usher in 2021. Due to COVID-19, celebrations have been scaled back and it will be ticketed access only to major viewing sites to allow for social distancing between attendees.
It will be interesting how we will look at this in 25 years from now which is a long way off in the future. Instead of focusing on now or how I may present this years festivities in the future, lets rewind back to 1995 and look at how Sydney welcomed 1996.
Like 2020, there were challenges and actually threatened the night itself.
Staging an event costs money. The major sponsors from the previous years had pulled out, threatening the show. There was only one show at 9pm.
Sydney City Council intervened to save the now annual tradition while The Sunday Telegraph sponsored the event.
The Sunday Telegraph prepared a poster for its readers providing details on viewing locations and transport in its edition of December 31.
The SkyShow maintained the traditional launch points - The Sydney Harbour Bridge and one near the Sydney Opera House. The one near the Opera House was shifted eastwards to a point North East of the Sydney Opera House. This opened up even more areas of Sydney Harbour for viewing.
Source: Dean, A. 1995. "Bang goes another year". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 30:2.
Syd Howard continued to coordinate the show and managed to keep costs down. It cost only $175 000 compared with $220 000 the year before. Media reports estimated attendance on Sydney Harbour at 500 000 as in previous years.
For those unable to attend (or those who attended but wanted to see it again), Channel Seven broadcast the show on delay at midnight across the nation. The video is below but no sound is featured. Anne Fulwood presented the show from Cremorne Point. Channel Nine would pick up the baton one year later and turn it into a live TV event.
Darling Harbour provided a very good alternative. In addition to a 9pm fireworks show, there was also a midnight fireworks show with fireworks released from Cockle Bay and Sydney Tower Entertainment was also provided in Tumbalong Park. Sydney City Mission also encouraged partygoers to support its "Mission 96" fundraiser.
Source: Sydney City Mission. 1995. Untitled (Advertisement). The Sun Herald, December 31:94.
CityRail combined with the State Transit Authority for the first time to produce a combined newspaper advertisement for public transport arrangements. Many bus routes operating to the city were subject to diversions to accommodate for traffic congestion and road closures. Sydney Harbour Bridge remained opened to vehicular traffic during the fireworks but pedestrians were banned.
Source: CityRail & State Transit Authority. 1995. "New Year's Eve Bus, Train & Ferry Services". The Sun Herald, December 31: 8.
New Years' Celebrations have become page one news, but our newspapers on January 1 1996 did not feature the celebrations on the cover.
The Daily Telegraph Mirror ran coverage on Page 3. For the paper itself, it was its final day under The Daily Telegraph Mirror before reverting to The Daily Telegraph.
Police patrols were stepped up at Bondi Beach following a riot on Christmas Day (for more details, read my Christmas entry from last week) but it had been reported of clashes with revellers and police. It was estimated that as many as 100 000 could have converged in the area for the evening.
The Sydney Morning Herald published a photo of the fireworks released from the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Page 2, but focused more on Hogmanay celebrations amongst Sydney's Scottish community and sales of French Champagne.
Finally, I wish all of you a very safe and happy new year.
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An advertisement published in The Daily Telegraph in September 1981 to promote the opening of Sydney Tower. I recall it was published on September 24.
It took thirteen years for the vision of Donald Crone and the AMP to become a reality. Construction of the tower began in 1974 and took 7 years to complete.
Source: Warnock, S. 1981. "Some guys can afford to be smiling...when they're at the top". The Daily Telegraph, September 24: 2-3.
In September 1981, the public was finally allowed inside Sydney's tallest structure. The official opening was on September 23, 1981, by NSW Premier Neville Wran. He received a gold token that gave him free access for life. The public gained access two days later to the observation deck and two revolving restaurants.
The Sydney Morning Herald published a special supplement on September 25, 1981, focusing mainly on the construction of the structure.
This is believed to be one of the first commercials to promote Sydney Tower.
Since 1981, it has been the main observation deck in the Sydney CBD. The observation deck at Australia Square closed immediately after the completion of Sydney Tower. However, the observation deck (and museum) on the southern pylon of the Harbour Bridge continues to be open decades after opening.
Crown Sydney will offer an observation deck at a similar height to Sydney Tower when it is completed in 2021, but I think Sydney Tower will continue to attract the hordes.
The construction of Sydney Tower has profoundly impacted on the evolution of the city skyline. It's central location in the "midtown" precinct has meant that Sydney Tower appears to be in the middle when viewing the skyline from any vantage point in the metropolitan area. Sydney Tower hence appears as the "summit" on the city skyline. The photos below illustrate the arc as seen from various locations around the city.
Until recent times, it has also been a yardstick for city development. While planning guidelines control building heights to preserve streetscapes and protect city parks, streets and public spaces from overshadowing, it has also been used to protect the views from Sydney Tower.
As for the tower itself, visitors have been provided with additional experiences including the Skywalk (introduced in 2006) to provide an outdoor viewing experience, 4D cinema feature at ground level.
Currently, Sydney Tower is managed by Merlin Entertainment and is currently branded as the Sydney Tower Eye. Merlin Entertainment is also responsible for several tourist attractions in Sydney including Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife Park and Madame Tussauds. Tourists can buy integrated passes that allow access to those venues on one pass.
Sydney Tower and Centrepoint has been owned by Westfield since 2001 after it was sold by AMP. In 2011, Westfield relocated their headquarters into the office building after a major renovation. This included the redevelopment of the retail complex which also encompassed the former Imperial Arcade and Skygarden shopping centres to create one large city shopping centre - Westfield Sydney.
Westfield Sydney also includes the former Sydney Central Plaza directly opposite in the Pitt Street Mall.
Sydney Tower has been the defining structure on the city skyline since its completion in 1981. Getting there was a timely process.
The story of Sydney Tower dates back to 1968, when plans were unveiled by the AMP Society to build an 850 foot (259 metre) tower atop a new shopping centre and 15 level office building on a site bounded by Market, Pitt and Castlereagh Streets. The estimated cost was just $25 million.
Source: Anon. 1968. "$25 Million Plan Keeps Shoppers Safe From Cars". The Daily Telegraph, March 22: 1.
Sydney Tower is designed by architect Donald Crone. It is believed that the design (in fact the entire development) was conceived at a dinner party where he drew a sketch of the tower on a napkin.
Source: Anon. 1968. "Untitled" (Artists Impression). The Sydney Morning Herald, March 22, 1.
The initial proposal contained a four level turret with an observation deck and revolving restaurants as we see today. However the section above for the plant room did not feature with an antenna rising from a flat roof.
Within a year, the design was evolving into what would become the final product with the section for the plant room included with a small antenna rising above it. You will notice this from a 1969 article in The Sydney Morning Herald, where a scale model of the tower was being subject to wind tests.
Source: Anon. 1969. "Untitled" (photograph). The Sydney Morning Herald, August 14: 11.
A more detailed render had been published a few weeks earlier in The Sun Herald on June 29, 1969.
Source: Anon. 1969. "Untitled" (photograph). The Sun Herald, June 29: 9.
They were aiming for the tower to be completed by 1974, but completion was pushed back further and further.
Above: One of the advertisements promoting Sydney Tower as part of the Centerpoint Complex. The retail centre was opened in two stages (1972 & 1974 while the office component was completed in 1974.
Further refinements led to the final design that we see today, especially with the plant room, which also contains water tanks to be used in the event of a fire but also to minimise swaying.
The final height would be 309 metres, fifty metres higher than the earlier schemes.
In a fortnight, we will look at its opening in 1981, and the impact it has had on the city skyline.
Above: Signage atop Sydney Tower. Photo was taken by the Author (2012).
AMP was one of the official sponsors of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. As part of the Olympic Games, AMP wanted to erect its logo along with an Olympic Sign.
Source: Skelsey, M. 1996. "The people say no to a giant sign in the sky". The Daily Telegraph, November 20:15.
This was not popular with some Sydneysiders given the iconic nature of the building. In 1998, the AMP signage went up. However, AMP went for Olympic Artworks designed by Dominique Sutton. I remember this well from the TV news reports at the time. I recall swimmer Ian Thorpe and Seven Nightly News Sports Presenter (and former Olympian) Neil Brooks standing at the top of the tower alongside the sculptures.
Source: Anon. 1998. "Games art reaches new heights". The Daily Telegraph, July 27:9.
The sculptures remained atop the tower until 2003 when they were relocated to Sydney Olympic Park. In the early 2000's Westfield purchased Centrepoint from AMP and this included Sydney Tower itself. In 2011, Westfield was given the approval to erect its logo in place of AMP atop the tower.
