East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Mirvac Hotel Scheme - 61 Macquarie Street (1992)

Source: Chancellor, J. & Cook, D. 1992. "Mirvac keen to go alone on Quay site". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 11: 26. 

After a two-week recess, I present the tenth entry on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay. A fortnight ago, I posted an entry on the 'Ideas Quest' held by Sydney City Council to determine future planning guidelines for Circular Quay. This followed the rejection of Colonial Mutual Limited's (CML) $700 million proposal to redevelop five blocks and consolidate them into a single commercial development.

Mirvac owned 61 Macquarie Street and had been encouraged to unite with AMP (Owners of the Coca-Cola Amatil Building) and CML to redevelop the entire block in a joint project.

Instead, Mirvac proposed their own development for their site in late 1991, but it was not made public until the following year. This would be their first scheme to redevelop the site, which would eventually become a hotel and apartment complex, home to the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour Hotel.  

The office building occupying the site was to be demolished, and a 22-level, 254-room hotel would be built. The building would have been similar in height to existing buildings on the block, but there were concerns about increased shadowing at Circular Quay in the early morning. 

So why did this plan not proceed? The answer shall be revealed next week

Entries in this series

1. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)
2. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme (1984)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
5. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)
6. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme
7. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's Bennelong Centre (1991)
8. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The Revolving Office Tower Scheme (1991)
9. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay 'Ideas Quest' (1992)

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. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: 420 George Street (1971)

Full Citation Below

Welcome to the last entry in our current series of "Never Builts"

The first proposal to build an office tower at 420 George Street dates back to 1971, nearly four decades before a tower would rise.

At the time, the site was home to Anthony Horderns Mid City store, Curzons and Katies. 

Source: Fryeberg, I. 1971. "Plan for $13m city building". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 18: 11.

Tjuringa Securities Ltd, owned by Gordon Barton proposed a 46 level office building. Unlike the current tower which stretches from George Street through to Pitt Street,  It stretched from north to south and was positioned towards Pitt Street.

The reasons for its cancellation are unknown, but options to build remained open for another three decades. When the original Mid-City Centre opened in 1982, it was designed to accomodate a future tower development.

Despite this, the centre was demolished in 2010 with a new Mid City Centre rising on the site and topped off by a 36 level office tower. This was lower than the 46 levels proposed in 1971, but height limits and sun access planes into Hyde Park meant any tower built had to avoid its shadow encroaching on the park. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: 1960's tower proposal for Regent Theatre Site (1969)

The former site of the Regent Theatre in George Street is currently home to the Norman Foster designed Lumiere Residences and Fraser Suites. 

In the 1980's and 1990's there were several proposals to redevelop the site, which I plan to share in a future series on the site itself. Some readers may remember the attempts to save the theatre and proposals as the site lay idle throughout the 1990's and early 2000's.

Two decades prior to the demolition of the Regent, there was an attempt to demolish and replace the theatre and build a tower rising 40 levels above street level. The proposed height would be equivalent to the Lumiere Residences which rises around 150 metres from street level.

Below is an article from The Daily Telegraph from 1969 reporting on the proposed tower and that it was to be recommended for approval by Sydney City Council.

Source: Anon. 1969. "For Regent Site...Two Theatres Planned in 44-Storey Block". The Daily Telegraph, October 28: 7.

While this scheme would have seen the demolition the 1928 building, the scheme was advantageous in maintaining the presence of a theatre on the site but also acting as a live entertainment venue,

It is hard to predict what may have happened had the scheme gone ahead. Given the Regent Theatre was primarily used for films, a two screen cinema complex would have been unviable given the closure of city cinemas and the rise of multiplex cinemas in the decades ahead. It may have also provided Sydney with much needed entertainment space, especially as the decades wore on including live productions. Consider the lack of performance space in Sydney in 2021 which has made it difficult to attract live theatre (This will gain traction as the city returns to pre-COVID-19 normality). The theatre space itself would have had to be modified.

As for the office tower itself - It appears slender in the artists impression, similar to the adjoining Sydney County Council Building and the former Waterboard building. This office tower may be residential, unless it was given heritage listing.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Angel Arcade (1988)

Welcome to Part 8 in our series of "Never Builts".

In 1988, AMP unveiled plans to build Sydney's tallest office tower - a 43 level, 244 metre office tower at 123 Pitt Street designed by architects Dino Burattini and Peddle Thorp Walker. Burattini was also the architect behind 52 Martin Place. 

It was envisaged that the tower would commence construction in 1989, but Sydney City Council did not give approval until 1990.

Source: Chancellor, J. 1988. "AMP plans $530 million office development for Sydney." The Sydney Morning Herald, August 13: 37. 

At the time it was the tallest skyscraper to be approved for construction in the Sydney CBD. 

The development also included a 13 level office building to be built on George Street, which is the present site of Justin Hemmes Ivy complex. 

Construction commenced the same year with excavations completed. The development was deferred by AMP as office vacancy rates increased in central Sydney during the recession of 1990-1991. The site was not completely vacant with a temporary golf driving range operating on the site.

Source: Anon. 1996. "City driving range is music to their ears". The Daily Telegraph, December 19: 20. 

The Pitt Street site remained idle until 1996, when a new development application (DA) was lodged due to the expiration of the DA. Changes to planning guidelines during the mid 1990's reduced the height of any tower built on the site to protect the sun access plane into Martin Place. That is why the tower has a sloped roof.

AMP were granted approval for the current tower - Angel Place which rose to a maximum of 152 metres or 35 levels. The tower including the new City Recital Hall was completed in 2000.

The George Street site remained vacant and was the last of the infamous "holes in the ground" from the 1990-91 recession to be filled. Proposals to build an office building were explored, but did not proceed. Justin Hemmes developed the site into the Ivy nightclub in 2007 which also included bars, restaurants and retail at street level. 

Finally, I was lucky in 2013 to photograph a "block model" of the tower which was inserted into the model of the Sydney CBD at Town Hall House. This provides an idea of how it may have looked when viewed from different parts of central Sydney. Thanks to Richard Braddish for his support.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: John Andrews proposal for 2 Bond Street (1988)

This "never built" is one that deserved to become reality.

In 1986, a 31 level office tower for 1 Bridge Street was approved by Sydney City Council. As I mentioned in a blog entry in 2020, there were concerns over the tower blocking sunlight from filtering into Australia Square.

The McNamara Group assumed control of the site during 1988 from developer Warren Anderson.

By August 1988, a modified design was released.  Designed by architect John Andrews, The tower would be cantilevered fifteen levels above street level. This would preserve George Patterson House which occupied part of the site and remedy concerns of overshadowing at Australia Square. The number of floors increased to 37 levels and George Patterson House would be converted into a retail and residential complex. Construction costs were estimated at $600 million.

Source: Whittaker, M. 1988."Radical design to let sun in". The Weekend Australian, August 20, 3 (Property Section).

Modifications were made in the second half of 1988 with the southern half of the tower receiving the same glass facade as the northern half and a public area below the suspended section of the tower (see below)

Source: Chancellor, J. 1988. "Bond St tower go-ahead expected". The Sydney Morning Herald, November 1: 32.

In October 1989, Clayton Utz had managed to strike a deal to lease 12 000 sq/m or 37% of the available office space. However Clayton Utz refused to confirm the lease.

Source: Harley, R. 1989. "Bond St tower finds big tenant but seeks partner". The Australian Financial Review, October 13: page unknown.

The following month, the McNamara Group offered to sell 50% of the site.

Source: Walkley, P. 1989. "$1 bn-plus project for Sydney". The Australian Financial Review, November 3: 66.

The proposed tower was shelved in 1990. when no buyer could be found. Instead the McNamara Group decided to build a traditional office building.

Source: Dixon, A. & Chancellor, J. 1990. "Demolition threat to historic building".  The Sydney Morning Herald, December 4: 31.

It would not be until the second half of the decade that the site was developed. 2 Bond Street was developed into a mixed use hotel and apartment tower. The hotel is the Mantra George Street. 

Photo taken by the Author (2021).

Richard Braddish (model maker, Sydney City Council) let me take some photographs in 2013 of a scale model that he prepared for the City Model on display at Town Hall House. This gives an idea of how it may have looked in central Sydney.

Finally, I have included a video from Youtube (Uploaded by AusArchitects) of architect John Andrews explaining his design. He felt that the building did not proceed because of financing from the Japanese. They were worried that the building would topple. He feels that it was one of the "most exciting buildings" that he ever designed. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Chatswood's "Twin Towers" (1985)

Source: Anon. 1985. "Twin towers planned for Chatswood". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 10: 13. 

Welcome to Part Five in our current series of "never builts". In 1985, plans were released by Girvan to build a commercial development in airspace above the North Shore Rail Line at Chatswood. This encompasses land on either side of the rail line north of Help Street up to O'Brien Street and bounded by Railway Street (Western side) and Cambridge Lane (Eastern side).

It was planned that the towers would rise above the railway line and enable both sides of the Chatswood Central Business District to be connected.

Source: North, N. 1985.  "Chatswood Connections will be a place for people". The Northern Herald, December 12: 14.

Two office towers containing a combined 105 000 sq/m of space was proposed along with a hotel, retail space, landscaped plaza, convention centre and cinemas. The tall building heights would enable for maximum utilisation of the site for public use.

Revised plans were released in 1989. 

Source: Anon. 1989. "Five star hotel for North Shore". The Daily Telegraph, December 5: page unknown.

The following year, Girvan Corp Limited (Developer) went into receivership and the site was placed for sale. The towers would not be built. 

Between 2002 and 2013, Mirvac developed the vacant sites, including four towers and one medium density building. 

On the Railway Street side, three major apartment towers were built. A common area was built over the railway line for the residents of the buildings on either side. 

Altura (2003) - 25 stories/75 metres

Epica (2005) - 33 Stories/96 metres

Era (2013) - 43 stories/135 metres

On the Eastern side of the Railway line, Cambridge 24 stories/85 metres (2007) was built along with B2M in Cambridge Lane.

Above: Cambridge Tower.

Above: B2M

A pedestrian walkway was built to link both sides of the railway line which goes under the North Shore railway line. Public spaces were also provided. A small landscaped park is located between Era & Epica in Railway Street and a small plaza is located at the Corner of Cambridge Lane & Help Street.

Above: Railway Street Park.

Above: Public Plaza at the Corner of Cambridge Lane & Help Street.

This was a lost opportunity for Chatswood as the proposal would have been a destination in itself but also could have possibly attracted a major firm (especially today) in terms of leasing office space within the towers. It was a project that would have truely connected both sides of the suburb. The redevelopment of Chatswood Interchange in the 2010's has helped with linking both sides of the suburb but would not make the impact that could have possibly had occurred. 

Skyscraper Data featured in this entry was sourced from Emporis. Photos were taken by the Author in 2021. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Early Scheme for 2 Market Street (1984)

Welcome to Part four of our series of "Never Builts" in Sydney. In 1984, Sydney City Council approved a commercial development for a seven level carpark (2 levels below ground, five above ground) and eight levels of commercial space at 2 Market Street. The proposed tower occupies the site of the current Allianz Centre, completed in 1991. 

Allianz Tower comprises of 21 levels, but the early scheme only comprised of 13 levels. The offices were originally intended to be terraced. 

Architects were James Thiessen & Associates. 

Source: Anon. 1984. "$14m plan combines offices and parking". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 19: 20. 

This is a "never built" that did not deserve to be built. If built, the building would have aged quickly. The eventual building that rose on the site was designed by Crone Partners. The carpark is not as visible from the street even for the above ground levels and offers 40 000sq/m of office space. Major tenants include Allianz and Ampol. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Hotel at The Gap (1964)

Welcome to Part III in our current "Never Built" series.  This week, we head to Watsons Bay where Goldberger and Kauffman Finance and Building Enterprises proposed an eighteen level or 59 metre tall hotel tower at The Gap. The hotel would contain 190 rooms and the top floor would be designated for a restaurant which promised sweeping views of the ocean and city.

If built, this tower would have been located at the main shopping strip of the suburb at the corner of Military and Gap roads. 

Source: Anon. 1964. "18-storey Hotel For The Gap". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 16:12.

The concept appears great as the hotel would have offered some of the most panoramic ocean views that any Sydney hotel could offer given its proximity to the coast line but also the elevation of the site which could be as high as forty metres. It would be on the recommended list of hotels to stay in Sydney, even today.

Even if converted into apartments in later years, the views afforded would have been the same and we would be talking about it being one of the best addressees in Sydney.

But the concern with the scheme was the height with nothing over two storeys and this would have dramatically altered the character of Watsons Bay altogether but having nothing tall in the area was part of the business case for the hotel. Highrise is not part of  the urban landscape in Watsons Bay.

Such a proposal would not get off the ground at all. Add heritage matters to the list of reasons why a hotel could not be built. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Labor Party HQ Redevelopment (1993)

The next ten weeks will be dedicated to building proposals that were planned but were never built in Sydney. 

In the first entry for this series, I will share a proposal by the Australian Labor Party (ALP ) to redevelop its Sussex Street site from 1993. Proposed was a 27 level apartment tower that was to encompass the Labor Council Building and adjoining sites. At this stage, I cannot provide an explanation for its cancellation. 

Source: Lagan, 1993. "ALP building its way out of debt". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 14: 4. 

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Harry Seidler feature on his McMahons Point redevelopment scheme (1957)

In the 1950's, architect Harry Seidler was asked by a group of locals at McMahons Point to design a residential scheme for the area. This was in response to plans by the Cumberland County Council to zone the area for industrial use.

Below is an article that Seidler wrote in 1957 for The Sydney Morning Herald where he explains his vision for McMahons Point.

Source: Seidler, H. 1957. "Experts Plan Lay-Out for McMahon's Point". The Sydney Morning Herald,  September 10: 10.

Seidler kept his scheme simple. He wanted four types of buildings. While the scheme would have led to more highrises had it become reality, the towers would not appear as clustered as many multi building developments in Sydney are today.

He believed that while there would be taller buildings, there would be more parkland and public space at street level. The layout of buildings across the suburb reflected the desire that apartments would have maximium access to views of Sydney Harbour.

This resulted in the construction of Blues Point Tower (1961), but was built as a residential tower. The original scheme called for an international hotel. It also influenced the construction of apartment buildings in the suburb during the 1960's but did not reflect the broader scheme that Seidler envisioned.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: East Circular Quay Redevelopment Scheme (1990)

Below is an article from The Sydney Morning Herald dated from 1990 featuring a design by a group of Architecture students from the University of New South Wales for the redevelopment of East Circular Quay.

This, along with other designs were displayed at the University of New South Wales and were not part of the formal design process that the developers (Colonial Mutual Life) had for the site.

The redevelopment of the site of the 1990's caused controversy, particularly the height of buildings, impact on the Botanic Gardens and the blocking of the view towards the Sydney Opera House from the Cahill Expressway.

What do you think of this scheme?

Source: O'Brien, B. 1990. "Unlocking a golden quay to the future". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 16: 6.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Chinatown Railway Station (1990)

In 1990, a developer offered to build a railway station in Haymarket at the corner of George and Campbell Streets as part of a proposed office tower. The site was 720 George Street, which was redeveloped a decade ago into a residential tower.

There were plans to connect the railway station into the redeveloped Capitol Theatre.

However the station would only serve the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Railway Lines as the tunnels ran directly underneath the site.

Like the proposed railway station at World Square one block away (1989), it joined the list of "Never Builts".

Source: Morris, L. 1990. "Chinatown station plan". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 29: 4. 

The station would have improved accessibility to Paddys Markets, Chinatown and the Sydney Entertainment Centre for visitors and tourists, and have taken pressure off Town Hall Station for Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line commuters. However, other lines were not to be served by the station. Also, it appears to be located halfway between Central and Town Hall railway stations.

One fault in the proposal is the curve of the station, which would hamper accessibility but also pose safety concerns.