1981: Opening of Herald Square, Circular Quay

In 1981, as part of the 150th Anniversary of the founding of The Sydney Morning Herald (originally known as The Sydney Herald ), the publishers of the newspaper (John Fairfax & Sons Limited) gifted the city with a new public square in Alfred Street between George Street and Alfred Street.

Source: Glascott, J. 1981. "Five pools in a fountain ... and all yours". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 17: 3.

On April 16 1981, the square was officially opened by Lord Mayor Doug Sutherland.

The Tank Stream Fountain is the focal point of the square. It was designed by sculptor Stephen Walker and was inspired by the Tank Stream, which once ran through central Sydney but is now a stormwater pipe.

Below are a few photos of the square I took in 2025. 

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Bondi Junction Piazza (2001)

Full Citation Below

This is the last entry in our current series of Visions of Sydney. In 2001, Waverley Council had plans to build a Piazza in Bondi Junction to revitalise the Oxford Street mall. Retailers were struggling to attract customers into the mall following the opening of the undercover Bus/Rail Interchange, along with the redevelopment of Westfield Bondi Junction (completed 2004). 

Piazza-style malls were a trend at the time in Sydney, as reflected with The Forum at Leichhardt (1998) and Kogarah Town Square (2003). Apart from retail, the malls were surrounded by a residential population residing in apartment buildings (low to mid-rise). 

The piazza was to be centred on the site of Bronka Arcade and buildings adjacent to it. Low-rise apartment buildings would surround the Piazza along its western and eastern ends, while the podium of Eastgate Plaza would be moved forward into Spring Street to connect the complex with the piazza. This would have required the closure of Spring Street between Bronte Road and Newland Street.

   

Source: Harley, R. 2001. "Council is thinking outside the square". The Australian Financial Review, September 4: page unknown. 

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Circular Quay facelift (1972)

Over the years, there have been several visions to give Circular Quay a facelift, many of which have never become a reality, either in part or in whole.

Below is one vision from 1972 that was published in The Daily Telegraph. In summary, the vision was to:

• Renovate the wharves with glazing (renovations did not occur until the 1990s, and Wharf 3 was rebuilt in the 1980s to accommodate the Freshwater Class ferries and their automated gangways.)
• Covered walkway from the Sydney Opera House would be extended down to the Cahill Expressway.
• A waterfront public square, tavern and restaurant along the waterfront at East Circular Quay.
• New paving
• Electric Train with open-air carriages (carnival style)
• New lighting

 

Source: Anon. 1972. "Our Quay to the future". The Daily Telegraph, December 13: 28. 

1999: Customs House Square extension

Source: Ryan, R. 1999. "Quay to the city". The Daily Telegraph, February 15:16.

In 1999, Alfred Street at Circular Quay was closed to all vehicles between Young Street and Loftus Street. This enabled Customs House Square to be extended and therefore connect the square directly to Circular Quay Station. 

The closure commenced on the evening of 14 February 1999. This meant that vehicles could no longer use Alfred Street, particularly buses, taxis, and coaches, to cross the city in either an easterly or westerly direction. It meant that they had to use Bridge Street.

Alfred Street between Loftus and George Street became one way for westbound traffic only, while two-way traffic remained in the section between Young Street and Phillip Street.

Sourced from: Ryan, R. 1999. "Quay to the city". The Daily Telegraph, February 15:16.

A consequence meant that bus services commencing or terminating in Alfred Street had to be shifted to new bus stops.

In 2015, Alfred Street was closed to all vehicles between Loftus and George Streets to enable the construction of the terminus for light rail services operating in the Sydney CBD, which opened in December 2019. In effect, it extended the square further. 

Below are some photos I recently took. It was interesting to note that the kerbs on Alfred Street at Customs House Square were retained.

This photo shows how the kerbs for Alfred Street were retained despite being integrated in Customs House Square.

 

1970: No Lovin in our new plaza (Martin Place)

Source: Oram, J. 1970. "No Lovin in our New Plaza". The Daily Mirror, November 24: 1. 

During the trial closure of Martin Place between George Street and Pitt Street in 1970, Sydney City Council raised concerns about kissing and cuddling after several complaints were received by the public to Sydney City Council.

It wasn't just those who wanted to show their affection, but also, "lay-abouts", "no-hopers", hippies and Hare Krishnas raised concern. Referred to in the article as a "religious sect", the Hare Krishnas raised concern as they engaged in "singing, cymbals clashing and bongo drum thumping".  

The view was that Martin Place was only suited to a "better class of people" who did not need to be subject to "molestation or nuisance".

Simply, the vision for who could access Martin Place by some was that people that were seen as either lazy, unemployed, lacked success in their life, held a low position in society or not seen as conforming to what was regarded as acceptable to society were not welcome, along with those who wanted to use the space to show their affections for one another.

It was disappointing to read that some held such a view. Public spaces such as Martin Place are meant to be open for all to use. It is a gathering place for all groups. Consider the protests and rallies that either travel through Martin Place or occur within the space. Music is in fact encouraged yet in 1970, it was being discouraged. 

To quote "lay-abouts", this suggested that the unemployed were not welcome. Perhaps this may have extended to those who had a job but were not seen as productive. Sadly the reference to "no hopers" indicated that those that were seen as "unsuccessful" or were likely to "fail" were not welcome

 

1986: Overshadowing of city streets

With building height limits in central Sydney becoming increasingly relaxed to allow taller buildings, there will be the ongoing debate about overshadowing of city streets.

At present, the maximum building height is 310 metres (height of Sydney Tower).

Source: Glascott, J. 1986. "Tower blocks putting city in the shade". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 14: 3. 

It has been occurring for decades as this article from The Sydney Morning Herald in 1986 shows. There was concern that a proposed highrise development in Bridge Street (1 Bridge Street) would cause greater shadowing of Australia Square in addition to existing towers including the National Australia Bank building, QANTAS Centre and Grosvenor Place (under construction). While not specified, this would become a major office tower by decades end, shifting towards Bond Street. 

Above: The proposed Bond Street office tower (1988). Full citation below.

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

The tower itself did not eventuate with a smaller building (Mantra Hotel) built in the late 1990's rising to 18 levels or 60 metres above street level. 

In 1986, the Marriott Hotel and Gateway Tower (proposed and later built) raised concerns about overshadowing in Macquarie Place. I ask myself if the shadowing of the space is that bad? It feels like it gets a good amount of sunlight when I walk through during daylight hours. Fortunately low rise buildings dominate the eastern side Loftus Street, allowing for sunlight to filter through.

I went for a walk during the "lunch" hour recently to get an idea of sunlight filtering into the squares. All photos were taken by yours truely. 

Macquarie Place

Australia Square

I think the 2 Bond Street Tower would have blocked the sun filtering into the square.

The debate about shadowing of city streets and parks arose a year later with the proposed Skytower/Park Plaza tower in Park Street.

A decade later (1995), height limits were maximised at 235 metres to allow for sunlight to filter into city streets, public areas and parks while current heights were adopted in 2016.

Thank you to Richard Braddish of Sydney City Council for supplying additional information.

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1970: The birth of Martin Place as a Pedestrian Mall

Martin Place. The photo was taken by the Author (2014).

Martin Place is Sydney's most loved pedestrian mall which expands the entire stretch of the street. Achieving this feat was not an overnight process, but took time.

Source: Anon. 1970. "The Big Takeover of Martin Place". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 1: 1. 

On September 1 1970, Martin Place between George Street and Pitt Street was closed to vehicular traffic for a four-month trial to determine whether or not it should become a Pedestrian Mall - Martin Plaza. It was officially opened by Lord Mayor - Alderman Emmet McDermott

Source:  Dunn, M. 1970. "Let the Sun Shine In, Said the Lord Mayor...but raindrops kept falling." The Sydney Morning Herald, September 1: 9.

The trial led to calls for it to become reality as the editorial from The Daily Telegraph from October 29, 1970 (below) shows. Even the State Government was coming on side.

Fast forward to September 1, 1971 and Martin Place Plaza becomes a reality with the first stretch of Martin Plaza from George Street to Pitt Street closed off to traffic permanently. The offical opening of the plaza occured on September 10, 1971.

Source: Anon. 1971. "Celebration Time: Opening day for plaza". The Daily Telegraph, September 11: 3.

In 1972, Sydney City Council announced that it would convert over three years, the remainder of Martin Place into a Pedestrian Mall. In Stage 2 between Pitt Street and Castlereagh Street, there would be a sunken recreation area along with a cafe precinct. Construction began in late 1973. This was opened to the public on July 22, 1976.

The remainder of the conversion was timed to coincide with the completion of construction of Martin Place Railway Station, built as part of the Eastern Suburbs Railway Line. Those areas were opened to the public on May 7, 1979.

1999: The Domain & Royal Botanic Gardens are reconnected

Photo was taken by the Author (2015). 

This week, I focus on a little park right next to the Art Gallery of NSW which is quite popular with visitors. This is accessed via Art Gallery Road.

It was opened on January 12, 1999, by NSW Premier Bob Carr as part of works on the Eastern Distributor, which opened to traffic in December 1999.

The park also happens to cross right over the Cahill Expressway, and reconnected The Domain and Royal Botanical Gardens for the first time in forty years.

Hence the bridge that crosses the Expressway is referred to as a "landbridge".

The cost of building the park amounted to $20 million and was criticised by the NSW opposition arguing the money needed to be spent on rural roads instead. Half of the costs of construction were to be covered by tolls from the Eastern Distributor with NSW taxpayers covering the rest.

But was it necessary if it improved the amenity of the area?  I think so.In fact, its become a nice local lookout to admire the views east towards Kings Cross and Sydney Harbour. Some just see it as a place to just relax and let the world go by.

The landbridge itself also aids in accessing Woolloomooloo if going there by foot.

Source: Bissett, K. 1999. "Motorway canopy bridging gallery gap opened: $41 m cost of Edmund's new lawn". The Daily Telegraph, January 13:7.