NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: AML & F Redevelopment Proposal (1989)

Full Citation Below

In 2023, I posted an entry on the fire that destroyed the Australian Mercantile Land & Finance Co. Building at Ultimo in 1992. 

At the time of the fire, the site was facing redevelopment. In 1989, Essington Developments Lrd. (owned by Kerry Packer) proposed a plan to convert the building into a hotel and apartment building. There would be 150 apartments along with a four star hotel. A small office building along with retail would also be provided. The redevelopment was projected to cost $200 million.

Source: Dixon, A. 1989. "New life for a grand old building" . The Sydney Morning Herald, March 29: 2. 

The restoration of the former woolstore would have been similar to the Goldsborough Mort Woolstore located further up Harris Street. However had this had gone ahead and there was no fire to the woolstore itself, it have meant that those in Ultimo would not have the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre which occupies part of the present site. The Harry Seidler-designed building is a local landmark in itself.

Related Entry

1992: Ultimo's Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Co. Building destroyed by fire

Property Advert of the Week: "The Charlotte", Ultimo (1995)

Below is a newspaper advertisement dating from 1995 for "The Charlotte" at Ultimo. Apartments were on sale from $ 179,500. 

 

Source: Colliers Jardine & Charles & Stuart. 1995. "Take a look at - The Charlotte" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 87.

1984: City Housing Scheme - Ultimo

Above: Blackwattle House, Ultimo. Photo taken by the Author (2022). 

In 1984, Sydney City Council unveiled the first stage of an $8.5 million social housing project in Ultimo. The intended goal was to increase the population of the inner city.

The first block was Blackwattle House at the corner of Bay and Kelly Street in Ultimo. This is located next to the International Grammar School.

 

 Source: Anon. 1984. "Sutherland unveils $8.5mil project". The Daily Telegraph, February 29: 16.

1992: Ultimo's Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Co. Building destroyed by fire

Some readers may remember the fire that destroyed the Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Co. building at Ultimo in 1992.

Originally built in 1909, the former Woolstore in Ultimo had been abandoned and was facing redevelopment into an office, retail, apartment and hotel complex while preserving the heritage-listed building.

 

The fire began at lunchtime on 6 July 1992, but media reports reported that the fire "took hold" around 12:40pm. Being a former woolstore, lanolin, which had been embedded in the floors of the building, acted as an accelerant.

At around 12:51pm, a section of the wall along the western side collapsed, followed minutes later by sections of the eastern wall which lasted until 1:40pm.

Above: Coverage by The Sydney Morning Herald on 7 July 1992. 

The collapse of the eastern wall led to the destruction as many as 20 cars parked in Bullecourt Lane, catching alight as the heated walls rained down on them. Fortunately, the Monorail Depot escaped the carnage, though was hit by debris.

Firefighters from 15 fire stations fought the blaze, which took two hours to control but was smouldering for many hours afterwards. Four firefighters were injured.

Flames were reported to have risen as high as fifty metres into the air, with smoke visible from the suburbs.

Given the severity of the fire, 800 people were evacuated from nearby homes and businesses while thousands watched the fire burn from nearby vantage points.

The site eventually became the home of the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre and the Bullecourt apartment complex. The Aquatic Centre was opened in 2005 and was designed by Harry Seidler. 

Above: Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. Photo taken by the Author (2009).

Above: The Bullecourt Apartment Complex. Photo taken by the Author (2015). 

1987: Powerhouse Museum Construction Feature

In 1987, The Sunday Telegraph published a feature article on the construction of the Powerhouse Museum which was opened the following year (1988).

It is good reading and even provided a background to the decision in 1979 to establish a museum on the site.

Unlike the opposition to completely relocate the museum to Parramatta in recent years (resulting in the State Government deciding to maintain the museum at Ultimo and still proceed with a second branch at Parramatta), some called for complete demolition of the 1899 building. The Power Station had fallen into disrepair after its decommissioning in 1961. 

The article failed to mention that the Power Station had been listed by the National Trust in 1976 or the proposal to base a Museum of Technology in Ryde. 

However the article itself is a good read and provided readers with a preview of some of the exhibits which Sydneysiders and visitors to Sydney have come to love when visiting the museum. 

With concerns that Darling Harbour may not be as popular as successful as some thought, they were hopeful of still pulling in the hordes (estimated to be 2.5 million people per year). 

It is difficult to locate figures for annual attendances, especially in recent years, but would be roughly half of the 2.5 million estimated. However the proposal to relocate the entire museum to Parramatta and then the subsequent decision to retain a museum at Ultimo alongside opening at Parramatta has highlighted that Sydneysiders appreciate the museum. There was passion to retain a museum at Ultimo. At the same time, there was a need to bring the museum into Sydney's west to give even better access to all Sydneysiders to its collections, also suggesting that the museum is appreciated. 

1993: Light Rail & Public consultation

With the light rail extensions now underway in central and eastern Sydney, I thought I'd cast our minds back to 1993 when the public was being invited to comment on what would become stage 1 in our current light rail network which was to operate from Central Railway Station to the Sydney Fish Markets.

Source: Department of Transport (NSW). 1993. "Light Rail Development Application" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph Mirror, October 13: 14. 

Within six months, tenders had been called for the 3.6km link. Note that they anticipated trams operating down George Street by 2000.  Light rail services commenced in August 1997.

Source: McDougall, B. 1994. "Trams return to city: Plans for inner-suburban service". The Daily Telegraph Mirror,  May 2: 15.

Property Advert of the Week: Meriton Apartments Full Page Advertisement (1997)

Remember back in the late 1990's when The Sydney Morning Herald had the huge Real Estate Liftout in its very bumper Saturday editions? Meriton used to take out a full page advertisement showcasing apartment projects across the city I have got a few lurking around, but I'll pick 1997 this week. Meriton projects included:

• Regis Towers (City)
• Millennium Towers (City)
• Dalgety Square (Ultimo)
• The Darlington (Pyrmont)
• Newington Towers (Maroubra)
• Regal Court (Strathfield)

Source: Meriton Apartments Pty. Ltd. 1997. "Sensational Buys in Sought After Locations (Advertisement). " The Sydney Morning Herald, July 3: 19RE.