1985: Saving the Brooklyn Hotel from demolition

The Brooklyn Hotel on the northwest corner of the intersection of Grosvenor, George and Bridge Streets was built in 1912 and was heritage-listed in 1980. The hotel also incorporates the Johnson Corner Buildings. 

In the 1980s, the Grosvenor Place development was approved. One condition of its development was that the Brooklyn Hotel, along with the neighbouring Royal Australian Naval House and Federation Hotel, be preserved and incorporated into the development, which included the 44-level/180-metre Grosvenor Place tower. 

On September 8 1985, fire swept through the building.

\  

Source: Anon. 1985. "Arson probe at historic sites". The Daily Telegraph: September 9: 3. 

Architect Harry Seidler and developers Kern Corporation submitted plans to demolish the buildings, citing fire damage and questions over its structural integrity. While this was withdrawn, the Minister for Planning and Environment Bob Carr, had to remind them that the restoration of the building was a condition of the approval of the Grosvenor Place development

 

Source: Glascott, J. 1985. "Seidler halts demolition on Grosvenor site". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 19: 5. 

In 1987, a second attempt to demolish the building was proposed for a public square. Carr had to remind them again that demolition was not permitted, and the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority also ruled that demolition was not allowed. That attempt failed.

Source: Hawkes, H. 1987. "Row over historic buildings". The Daily Mirror, February 16: 17.

The following year, it was announced that the buildings would be formally restored at a cost of $10 million. This was undertaken in 1989. 

Source: Bita, N. 1988. "$10m rescue for historic city buildings". The Daily Telegraph, September 15: page unknown.

1984: The Conservation of the Plaza Theatre

 

Source: Anon. 1984. "Plaza's face saved". The Sydney Morning Herald, February 2: 16.

For nearly forty years, the the McDonalds Plaza restaurant (as it is known) has been located in the former Plaza Theatre in George Street, directly opposite Event Cinemas. McDonalds bought the building from the Hoyts Theatre organisation in 1981 and spent $2 million dollars converting the former theatre into a retail and commercial office building. The restored building was officially opened by NSW Premier Neville Wran in February 1984. The McDonalds restaurant opened in December 1983 and has traded there to this day. 

The building was also home to Planet Hollywood between 1996 and 2002 when finacial difficulties bought on its closure. The blue globe remains atop the building two decades later.

Property Advert of the Week: Sydney Mansion, Surry Hills (1998)

In 1998, $215 000 bought you a one bedroom apartment in the Sydney Mansion complex in Surry Hills.

Source: McGrath Partners &  Jones Lang Wooton. 1998. "The Dream Comes to Life... Sydney Mansion Now Under Construction".  The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 21 (Real Estate Liftout).

Property Advert of the Week: The Wharf at Woolloomooloo (1997)

In 1997, apartments were placed on sale at Woolloomooloo's famous finger wharf as the building was converted into a hotel and residential complex. This is one of the official newspaper advertisements from that time promoting the official launch. Apartments started at $380 000.

  

 

Source: The Wharf Woolloomooloo. 1997. "All Aboard! The Wharf at Woolloomooloo (Advertisement). " The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24: 19 [Real Estate Lift out].

Property Advert of the Week: The Goldsbrough, Pyrmont (1993)

This weeks property advert takes us to inner-city Pyrmont. In 1993, apartments at The Goldsbrough went on sale to the public. as the former woolstore was to be turned into an apartment block. The building also contains serviced apartments which are managed by Oaks Hotels and Resorts.

Source: Landmark Properties. 1993 "The Goldsbrough - Darling Harbour (Advertisement)." The Daily Telegraph Mirror, December 11: 59.