1987: No New Years' Eve Fireworks

Source: Aubin, T. 1987. "Why the New Year won't begin with a bang". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 21: 1. 

In two weeks, I will do the annual lookback at how New Year's Eve in Sydney was marked 25 Years ago (New Year's Eve, 2000 is this year's focus), but let's look back at a year that there wasn't a fireworks spectacular on New Year's Eve.

That year was 1987.

But why?

The focus, according to the Festival of Sydney Organisers, was on 26 January 1988 - Australia's Bicentenary. This was confirmed on December 21, ten days before New Year's Eve. Stephen Hall (General Manager, Bicentennial Committee and Director of Special Bicentennial Events) told The Sydney Morning Herald (December 22, 1987) that the decision not to have a fireworks show was made the previous year

By then, it was too late for Harbour Cruise operators, city hotels and restaurants, some of whom expected a show and had advertised New Year's packages around it.

Was this the right decision?

No

New Year's Eve festivities in the 1980s were incorporated into the Sydney Festival and were regarded as the festival's launch. It lacks the scale of celebrations in recent years, but there was an expectation that a public event would be organised for Sydneysiders to welcome the new year. The first official New Year's Eve fireworks show on Sydney Harbour was held at midnight on New Year's Eve 1976 to welcome in 1977.

To use the Bicentennial celebrations on January 26 as an excuse was not justified. Any fireworks show was not going to overshadow what would happen just weeks later. The program on January 26 1988, was a day-long affair, with the fireworks spectacular just one of a number of major events on that program, which included the arrival of the First Fleet re-enactment ships and the Tall Ships parade. A fireworks show at midnight to welcome in 1988, would have been a good means to launch the Bicentennial Year in Sydney, even if it was only a scaled back version of what was planned for January 26.

Do we use New Year's Eve as an excuse not to have a fireworks show on Australia Day because both are just weeks apart - we don't. There is still a fireworks show for Sydneysiders on January 26. In recent years, it has shifted to Circular Quay just off the Sydney Opera House and is integrated with a concert on the Sydney Opera House forecourt and the Sydney Harbour Bridge is lit up. It is even relegated the Darling Harbour Fireworks Show, which has been the traditional Australia Day fireworks show for Sydneysiders, to the side

It also meant that Melbourne could claim bragging rights to the biggest New Year's Eve party in Australia that year as they organised a midnight fireworks show to launch the Bicentennial Year, which also coincided with celebrating the arrival of the Tall Ships at Port Melbourne. The event was televised on Channel Seven and Prime Minister Bob Hawke led the countdown to midnight

How did Sydneysiders welcome in 1988?

Extra public transport services were provided to give Sydneysiders a chance to travel to the city to welcome in the New Year. An estimated 150,000 people gathered at The Rocks, while 20,000 were reported to have gathered at Kings Cross. No fireworks meant it was quieter than past years according to The Rocks police. 

Below is a two page spread from The Daily Mirror (January 1, 1988)

Police ensured that they had a tough presence. Even before the sun set the first arrest had already been made.

Source: Brown, M. "Handcuffs at 7.15 started a quiet New Year's Eve". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 1: 2.

And believe it or not, organisers decided not to do one to welcome 1989. The reason given by the organisers of the Sydney Festival of fears of violence or "rowdy behaviour"

Another lost opportunity as well - It could have closed off the Bicentennial Year with a "bang".

New Years Eve 1989 marked the return of New Years Eve fireworks to Sydney with the main show (promoted as Skyshow) at a friendlier time of 9pm. This would encourage families to attend and to enable people to celebrate either at home or elsewhere at midnight.  

Entry of Interest

New Years Eve 25 Years Ago:1989

 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Office Tower proposal for 171 Gloucester Street (1989)

In 1989, EIE International Corporation was shortlisted as one of five developers by the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority to develop a site at The Rocks bounded by Essex Treet, Gloucester Street, Grosvenor Street and Cumberland Place.

Their plans envisaged a 24-storey office tower with 40 000sq/m of office space. stepping down from the Essex Street end to Grosvenor Street, presumably to protect sun access into Lang Park. 

 

Source: Dixon, A. 1989. "Mystery Rocks site developer revealed". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 24: 29. 

At one point, there were plans to build a hotel, but the success of the Cove Apartments opposite the site highlighted its potential for residential development on the site.

It was reported in The Australian Financial Review on June 17 2004, that the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority had sold the site to Stamford Land Corporation of Singapore for as much as $25 million

The site eventually became the Stamford Residences, a 30-storey (88 metre) apartment tower containing 122 apartments. Plans were submitted in 2005 and were approved in May 2006. Construction commenced in 2009 and was completed in 2011. 

Source: Harley, R. 1989. "EIE in running for project at The Rocks". The Australian Financial Review, October 24: page unknown. 

1989: Museum of Contemporary Art Plans Unveiled

This year is 30 years since the Museum of Contemporary Art opened its doors to Sydney art lovers. It was interesting to find articles relating to the announcement that Sydney was to get one.

The NSW State Government had vacated the Maritime Services Board (MSB) Building at West Circular Quay. In 1989 it leased the building to Sydney University for just $10 a week, allowing the museum to be created.

Source: Clifton, B. 1989. "Modern Art's Harbor Home". The Daily Mirror, March 22: 39.

Source: Grimshaw, P. 1989. "$100m gift for art". The Daily Telegraph, March 17: 9. 

This fulfilled the vision of former NSW Premier Neville Wran who announced in 1984 that a Museum of Contemporary Art would occupy the building.

Source: Anon. 1984. "Art gallery for Quay". The Daily Telegraph, November 24: 20. 

Through the creation of the Powerhouse Museum, it enabled the university to display the collection of Dr. John Power who bequeathed the university with his collection including artworks.

In 2001, the NSW Government became the main stakeholder for the museum. In 2012, a new five storey wing was completed that increased the size of the museum by 50%. 

1979: The Sirius is opened

The photo was taken by the Author (2015)

Last week, the NSW Government lost a court case against the NSW Heritage Council's council to proceed with the decision to list the Sirius Building on the State Heritage Register. This has set back plans by Housing NSW to sell the site to a building developer and allow for a private housing development to rise on the site.

Source: Berryman, M. 1977. Vast Rocks Unit Complex Will Change Skyline. The Sun Herald, September 4: 19. 

In 1977, there was some excitement when the plans for the building were unveiled. It was to be the first residential apartment complex to be built by The Rocks Redevelopment Authority which had been established in 1970. The complex was designed by Architect Theo (Tao) Gofers. An early scheme (below) included a second building, which was to be commercial.

Some might say its disjointed but it was for a reason - to reflect the disjointed skyline. It would form the shape of a Pyramid. In addition, it was to minimise the impact of the complex on the skyline itself. In addition, it was to follow the layout of the area.

The apartments were designed primarily for the aged and families. For instance, access to apartments in the Sirius was via lifts and no stairs could be found at the entrance. The first residents moved into apartments in 1979.

In addition, there was a community hall, library and a rooftop garden available to residents, except the garden was never really made available.

As of May, two residents remained in the complex, the NSW Heritage Council has recommended that it be listed on the NSW Heritage Register for its brutalist architecture, but also was a project that proceeded despite initial Green Bans on the site.

However, the NSW Government has opposed it and allowing its demolition would allow for the site to be sold for a higher price, and allowing greater scope for redevelopment. If Sirius was allowed only to be converted into a private housing complex, potential revenue from its sale would be lower.

The Sirius gave those from the working class and the disadvantaged an opportunity to share in the spoils that living around Sydney Harbour had to offer. The views themselves are worth millions. This era is set to come to an end, irrespective of whether or not the Sirius is allowed to remain.

Property Advert of the Week: Harrington Grande (1998) - NEVER BUILT

This week, we head to Harrington Street in the Sydney CBD where apartments in the Harrington Grande tower were on sale in 1998. One problem though, it never went ahead and was replaced with the Harry Seidler designed Cove Apartments in 2003 (Approved by Sydney City Council in 2000).

The developer is not mentioned unless they were trying to find a developer to purchase the development application.

Quite a rare find.

 

Source: Anon. 1998. "The Harrington Grande" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 23RE (Real Estate Liftout).