NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Drummoyne's Towering Giants (1970)

Drummoyne doesn't have anything exceptionally tall at all but in 1970, there was a proposal to build major highrise apartment towers at Birkenhead Point. This would have resulted in the demolition of the Dunlop Tyre Factory buildings that would later become the Birkenhead Point Shopping Centre.

The tallest tower was to rise 42 levels (left of picture) or about 8 levels shorter than Australia Square in the Sydney CBD.

Princess Properties International was to develop the site. Apart from providing apartments for 3000 people, there would also be office, motel and retail space included. In addition, a ferry terminal and marina would be built on Iron Cove.

  

Source: Anonymous. 1970. $50 million complex near harbor". The Daily Telegraph, July 25: 1 & 8.

It may have never got off the ground, but we did manage to keep the original Dunlop Factory Buildings and that would form the Birkenhead Point Shopping Centre, one of Sydney's major outlet shopping centres.

Photos taken by the Author.

Property Advert of the Week: Parkes Developments Land Release at Mt Colah (1966)

In 1966, you could snap a block of land at Mt Colah for just a deposit of fifty pounds plus the promise of a quick 40 minute train ride to your city job. Sadly in 2015, that trip now takes an average of 55 minutes.

Source: Parkes Developments Pty. Ltd. "Station Estate Mt Colah" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 12: 43. 

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: Yeramba Estates (1992)

Normally, I'd post something within the Sydney metropolitan area, but we're heading up to the Central Coast this week. Who remembers the ads for Yeramba Estates that used to run on television and in our weekly papers. Here is a classic from 1992, when blocks of land were for sale near the shores of Tuggerah Lake.

 

Source: Yeramba Estates. 1992.  "Central Coast Land" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 24: 6.

1991: The Harbour Bridge Toll spike

I'm posting this out more for interest's sake this week, because when I came across it, it just took me with a lot of interest, given the debate about tolls in Sydney to access roads.

I recall as a kid during the 1990s that it cost about $2 to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge (or tunnel) which to many seemed like a small fortune.

That is pretty good compared to three dollars that the Greiner Government was proposing as a way of reducing air pollution in Sydney which was still causing headaches to all.

It was not until 2002 that the toll was increased to $3. There was an increase from $2 to $2.20 in 2000 due to the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.

The toll is still $3 if you travel between 9:30am and 4pm on weekdays, and rises to $4 during peak periods (as a means of trying to reduce traffic flow). However, travel late at night or on weekends and you now pay a nice $2.50.

Source: Worthington, J. 1991. "Harbor Bridge $3 Toll Tipped".  The Daily Telegraph, November 12: 7.

Property Advert of the Week: Riverview Estate, Riverview (1965)

This week, we head back to 1965 when blocks of land at Riverview were on sale as part of the Riverview Estate. This comprises of the homes that are in Riverview Street, to the west of St Ignatius College, and nearby streets like Kooyong Road and Coonah Parade.



Source: Land Brokers (Sales) Pty. Ltd. 1965. "Land For Sale: Harbour-view Homesites at Riverview Estate" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 24: 39.

MILESTONE: Roselands Turns 50 - The Future

Roselands may have had its place in the hearts of Sydneysiders over the years. In order for shopping centre to survive and remain competitive, they have to respond to changing consumer trends and tastes. This has meant expanding centres to provide more retailers and services. Since 1965, there has only been one major expansion - in 1981 and an upgrade of the centre in 2000 to accommodate a modern food court (Raindrop Food Court).

However, they have faced planning hurdles, particularly with Canterbury Council. I remember in the early 2000s of a plan to construct a Hoyts cinema complex. This fell through. Another attempt for expansion a few years back was proposed. What happened to it? I don't know.

I have believed that some of the hurdles based with planning authorities combined with management practices of owners have meant that they have not able to be the benchmark for shopping centres in Sydney. It could have easily been our answer to Chadstone in Melbourne, which has been the benchmark for Melbourne shopping centres for more than five decades. Roselands has let its competition pace ahead and even centres built in more recent times would be well ahead.

A change of management has given Roselands the chance to keep up with the times. Federation Centres currently manage the complex. Earlier this year, they unveiled plans for a major upgrade and expansion of the centre to include an expanded retail offering. Myer (originally Grace Bros) will also reduce its footprint from three levels to two, with the lower floor to accommodate new retailers. The cinemas would be built above Myer.

The expansion will also see the introduction of another major discount department store (BigW), Woolworths Supermarket and Kmart store. The expansion will cover the southern parts of the site, where open-air carparks occupy space (on a normal day, they are empty). It will mean that Roselands Drive will be realigned along with Martin Street to cater for expansion


Source: Federation Centres. 2015. "Untitled" (Floorplans). Accessed October 15, 2015. http://www.roselands.com.au/development/our-plans/

I hope it goes a fair way to bringing back the 'mojo' that Roselands once bought to Sydney, but that opportunity to remain or even regain the place of Sydney's shopping jewel is all but gone.

Property Advert of the Week: Elanora Heights Land Sale (1965)

Sydney's northern beaches may be out of reach for those who want their dream home, but half a century ago, a seventy-five pound deposit got you a block of land in Maralinga Avenue, Elanora Heights.



Source: Argus Estates Pty. Ltd. 1965. "Elanora Heights Land Sale" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 24: 38.

MILESTONE: Roselands Opens (1965)

Last week, I shared with you some of the advertisements promoting the opening of the Roselands Shopping Centre in 1965. Today, I will share some clips of the opening on October 11 1965.

The centre was opened by Premier Robert Askin on October 11. 6000 guests were invited to the ceremony. In his address, Askin said that the opening was "historic" and reflected Grace Bros commitment to Sydney. Grace Bros Chairman B. A. Grace in his address said that Roselands was the "greatest and boldest" step ever taken.

 

When Roselands opened the following day to the public, 70 000 were reported by The Sydney Morning Herald to visited the centre during the first day of trading. Police reported that there was congestion on nearby roads as the hordes descended to inspect the new centre. Shops had to be closed because they could not cope with the crowds.

The opening of Roselands was front-page news as Page 1 of the October 13, 1965, edition of The Sydney Morning Herald Shows.    

  Key Facts at the time of opening

• Largest Shopping Centre in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Construction took 16 months at a cost of six million pounds ($12 million).
• Major retailers were Grace Bros & Coles.
• The Grace Bros department store was the largest suburban department store in Australia.
• Approximately 90 retailers.
• Parking was provided for 1950 cars, and up to 15 000 cars could be accommodated daily.
• Cinema Complex

Property Advert of the Week: Stock & Holdings Sirius Estate - Fairfield Heights (1966)

In 1966, Stocks and Holdings had several blocks on offer at Fairfield Heights for just a ten pound deposit and claimed at the time to have the cheapest housing lots in Sydney.The blocks on land appear to have been on sale to the east of what is now the Cumberland Highway at Smithfield.

Source: Stocks & Holdings. 1966. "Land: Fairfield Heights" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 12:12.