Property Advert of the Week: Stocks & Holdings Advertisement (1966)

This week's property advertisement is from Stocks and Holdings dating back to October 15, 1966. Yes prices are listed in pounds, even though dollars and cents was our legal tender. For two years from 1966 to 1968, items could still be listed for sale in pounds, shillings and pence.


Source: Stocks & Holdings Projects. 1966. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, October 16: 29.

MILESTONE: TCN9 - Australia's first television channel (TCN9)

This week, television in Australia will turn 60 and this entry will focus on the channel which began it all - TCN9, which is part of the Nine Network.

In 1955, Television Corporation (owned by Sir Frank Packer) was one of two consortiums that were successfully awarded television licenses for Sydney. The other licencee Almagated Television Services would form ATN7 which began broadcasting in December 1956. The Packer family would own TCN9 until 2006 when as part of the Nine Network, it was sold to private equity firm CVC Asia.

After test transmissions from July 1956, TCN9 commenced regular programming on September 16, 1956. The first show "Welcome to Television" screened at 7pm and was hosted by Bruce Gyngell who uttered the lines "Good evening ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to television." It is believed that only 2000 homes had a television set at the time. Thousands, however, had to watch proceedings through shop windows that had TV Sets on display.

Reception stretched as far north as Newcastle and Cessnock, south to Wollongong and west to Katoomba. These days you would need a booster aerial in Newcastle to receive Sydney television stations.

During this early period, TV Broadcasts were generally in the evening. On opening night, transmission closed at around 9:15 pm. Here is a clipping from Page 8 of The Sunday Telegraph on September 16, 1956.

Below are some clippings from The Daily Telegraph dating to September 17 and 18 1956 which was also owned by Sir Frank Packer and took advantage to show off his new toy.

Property Advert of the Week: Newington Towers, Maroubra (1995)

Time for another classic advertisement from Meriton. This one is for the Newington Towers Complex at Maroubra. dating back to 1997.

 

Source: Meriton Premier Apartments. 1995. "Newington Towers" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24:87. 

1974: The battle to save beachfront homes at Bilgola Beach

I was motivated to do this entry after what occurred back along the beachfront at Collaroy in June. Ten homes fronting the beach were threatened with collapse after heavy swells caused by an East Coast Low eroded the beachfront.

The East Coast Low of May 25-26 1974 (known as the Sygna Storm) is regarded as the most ferocious storm to ever strike Sydney.  The city was pounded by heavy rain, strong winds (up to165km/h) and record swells of nine metres along the city's coastline. the worst damage was reported on the city's beaches, which were heavily eroded. The following fortnight saw another two East Coast Lows hit the city, which only worsened erosion.

The worst hit area was at Bilgola Beach, where homes in June 1974 were threatened with collapse which was quite similar to what happened at Collaroy this year. Below is the front page of the  June 5, 1974, edition of The Manly Daily.

A seawall was built (presently under the dunes) to protect the homes. Fortunately, they were saved as this front page clipping from The Manly Daily of June 12, 1974, shows below.

 An almost intact pool fell into the sea, just like at Collaroy earlier this year.

It is inevitable that the homes on the beachfront will be threatened again in the future as natural processes reshape the beachfront and retreat inland. There is no date for when it will happen, but luckily locals have not had to deal with the threat of losing their beachfront homes since that storm.

  

Property Advert of the Week: President Towers, Brighton-Le-Sands (1974)

This week, we head to Brighton-Le-Sands when in 1974 apartments in the newly completed President Towers were available for sale. Four decades later, those views cannot be built out due to restrictions on building heights for developments along The Grand Parade by Rockdale Council.

Source: Lidan Realty Pty. Ltd. 1974. "President Towers" (Advertisement). The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, April 2, 30. 

1989: Vision for the Pyrmont Peninsula

As you can see, I enjoy sharing visions for Sydney and this one focuses on a 1989 clipping from The Sunday Telegraph where a vision for the Pyrmont Peninsula and the Bays Precinct is featured.

Source: Flamstead, K. 1989. "An emerald vision for an eyesore". The Sunday Telegraph, March 19: 155.

Some points of interest:

• The "Golden Gate" style bridge became a reality - ANZAC Bridge which was opened in 1995.
• The City West Link made it as far as Lilyfield but Westconnex will now link the road with the M4 Motorway at Concord.
• The White Bay intersection became a reality.
• Residential Development has ended up being predominantly midrise with some highrises permitted. Some of the area has since become public land.  
• Proposed tourist developments never eventuated at Darling Island with office and apartment buildings built.
• The old goods line became a light rail line in 1997. It initially went to Glebe, was extended to Lilyfield (2000) and then in 2014 to Dulwich Hill. 
• There is no direct identification of which Grain Terminal (Pyrmont or Glebe Island) was going to be replaced with terrace typed housing. At Pyrmont, Apartment blocks were built and incorporated a public park. At Glebe Island, the silos are heritage listed.
• Blackwattle Bay did get a marina which is home to Sydney's Super Yachts.

Planning is underway on the Bays Precinct which will focus on the redevelopment of the former Port at Glebe Island and the Sydney Fish Markets. 

Property Advert of the Week: Shoremark, St Leonards (1999)

This week, we head back to 1999 when Mirvac was selling apartments in the Shoremark development at St Leonards.

 

Mirvac. 1999. "Spectacular views..." (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 5: 13 (Real Estate Liftout).

1986: Last Double Decker bus service

In 1986, the last of Sydney's famous double-decker buses had finally been pulled off commuter services in Sydney. But why did they get taken off?

Between 1970 and 1972, the State Government had purchased Atlentan Double Decker Buses to supplement the existing fleet of Sydney Buses, but there were several developments during that decade that would lead to the withdrawal of double-decker buses:

• Removal of conductors.
• Allowing longer buses to operate on NSW Roads.
• Introduction of articulated buses from 1979 to 1983.

On May 16, 1986, the final service ran from Wynyard to Taylors Point on Sydney's Northern Beaches. 

Source: Alibin, T. 1986. "Room at the top for a ride into history". The Sydney Morning Herald, May 17: 3.

Fast forward a quarter of a century later, and the State Government began to trial the use of double deckers on the city with Busways operating the buses on the Rouse Hill to Blacktown route. A year later, Hills Bus introduced double-decker services on the M61 service from Rouse Hill to the city.

Recently, it was announced that the State Government would purchase eighty double-deckers as part of increasing capacity but also for the advantage they have in navigating through congested city streets. They don't need the room an articulated bus has, yet can carry many more passengers.

Property Advert of the Week: Castle Homes (1960)

This week, I share with you a 1960 advertisement from Castle Homes.

 

Source: Castle Homes Pty. Ltd.  1960. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, September 30: 33.

1993: Esso House becomes Highgate

The early 1990's recession created a glut of office space in central Sydney with vacancy rates reaching 25%.  Meanwhile, Sydney City Council was encouraging people to move from the suburbs into the city to improve activity. Residential developers saw that money could be made from turning aging office blocks into upmarket apartment towers. One of the first office towers in central Sydney to be converted into an apartment tower was ESSO House. In 1993, it gained approval for Highgate, which was to be the name of the apartment tower. Crone & Associates were behind the design which included adding an extra eight levels to make the building 28 storeys or 100 metres tall. Work began that same year and was completed just one year later.

  
Source: Brooks, D. 1993. "Getting living room from empty offices". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, July 22: 54. 

Sales were strong for apartments despite the "quiet" marketing"

Source: Koch, P. 1994. "On A High: The Highgate Development". The Sunday Telegraph, July 17: 63-64. 

It has become of the most desirable addresses in central Sydney like its neighbours Stamford on Kent & The Observatory. This has been due to its proximity to The Rocks and the city. The views of Sydney Harbour from the units have been unparalleled, though the Barangaroo development will take out the views west. Another feature has been its facilities for residents including a gym and swimming pool and security access.

Highgate as seen from Observatory Hill. Photo taken by the Author (2011).