EVOLUTION OF WESTFIELD MIRANDA: Miranda Fair opens (1964)

A few months back, I looked at the conception of what is now Westfield Miranda. This week, I look back at the opening of the centre in March 1964.

The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader provided detailed coverage, and bought out a special edition on March 16, 1964.

Above: Page 1 of the special edition of The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader published on March 16, 1964.

Below is an advertisement to promote the opening of Miranda Fair, marketed as the "largest shopping centre under-one-roof" in New South Wales.

Opening day was March 16, 1964 with trading commencing the following day. NSW Premier Ron Heffron was given the privilege of opening the 3.25 million pound (6.5 million dollars) centre before 1 600 guests. A highlight of the opening ceremony was the arrival of a helicopter to deliver newspapers. That evening, a special fireworks display was put on for the locals.

Source: Anon. 1964. "Premier to Open Fair at Miranda". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, March 4: page unknown.

The premier lavished praise on the new centre as reported by The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader in its edition of March 18, 1964 (see below).

Farmers anchored the centre with a three level store and was supported by a variety of familar names both at the time and/or presently - Woolworths, Angus & Coote, Fletcher Jones and H.G. Palmers, Kenray's and Fay's.

Three tenants from 1964 still trade in the centre today. Woolworths still maintains a presence through its supermarket and BigW store. Angus & Coote is currently located on level 2 next to BigW.

Myer can also claim that it has been present since day one. Farmers was owned by Myer in 1964. In 1976, Farmer's stores were re branded as Myer.

In 1983, Myer bought out Grace Bros which also had a store in Miranda. Myer stores in Sydney were either re-branded as Grace Bros or closed if Grace Bros was trading nearby. As Miranda also had a Grace Bros trading on site, it was allowed to remain open.

All Grace Bros stores in NSW and the ACT were rebranded as Myer in 2004.

Below is another feature article from The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader as published on March 16, 1964.

Next Week, I will provide some additional clippings associated with the opening.

Property Advert of the Week: Top of the Town (2001)

For around 35 years The Top of the Cross/Town Motel was a popular hotel in Kings Cross. In 2001 apartments went on sale before it was formally converted to an apartment tower in 2003.

When I see this advertisement, it feels like its not from 2001 at all. Even the render looks old.

Source: Cramer Property Agents & Hayson Sales. 2001. "Top of the Town" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, February 17: 18A (Domain liftout). 

1977: Port Botany is approved

In 2015, I posted an entry on the original scheme for Port Botany dating back to 1969. Since that time, I have found more material relating to the evolution of the port.

In that entry, I mentioned that Stage 1 commenced construction in 1971 and was not completed until 1979. Formal approval was granted by the NSW Government led by Neville Wran in January 1977.

This decision would mark the beginning of the end of Sydney Harbour acting as the main port for Sydney as concerns were raised over the harbour's ability to cope with increased shipping traffic and handle container shipping.

Container and Bulk Liquid Berths would be built, but a proposed coal loader would not proceed.

Below is coverage from The Daily Telegraph on January 26, 1977.

Property Advert of the Week: Security Estates Land Disposal Sale (1969)

In 1969, Security Estates were promoting the sale of blocks of land from a "large development corporation". Going by the advertisement, the blocks of land were for sites in the Blue Mountains.

Source: Security Estates Pty. Ltd. 1969. "Land Disposal: Last Days" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 31: 41.

1969: Original scheme for the T&G Tower (201 Elizabeth Street)

Recently developers have sought to redevelop the office tower at 201 Elizabeth Street which was once known as the T&G Tower (which replaced the original T&G Building of 1929). Redevelopment would have seen the office tower gutted and converted into a mixed use tower comprising of a hotel and apartments.

The recent sale of the tower from owners Dexus and the Perron Group to Charter Hall and Abacus for $630 million combined with a struggling property market will mean that for now, 201 Elizabeth Street will remain an office tower.

It is interesting to note that fifty years ago, T&G were keen to knock down its 1929 building and replace it with a modern office tower which was different.

A sign of redevelopment can be seen below from an article that was published in The Daily Telegraph in 1968. T&G purchased three buildings located on the corner of Park and Castlereagh Street. As with any redevelopment, there is initial denial of any redevelopment.

Source: Anon. 1968. "Buying up the block". The Daily Telegraph, September 25: 17.

The following year, T&G unveiled their plans to redevelop the entire block bounded by Elizabeth, Park, Castlereagh and Bathurst streets. Two towers were to be built. The taller tower at 39 levels would be the new offices for T&G. Adjoining it would be an 18 storey tower to house medical tenants and dentists.

This would evolve to become Aetna Life Tower which is regarded as one of the worst designed buildings in Sydney.



The design was finalised in 1972 when formal approval was granted. Excavation of the site had begun.

Source: Anon. 1972. "'Yes' to Major Plans: Schemes to cost $83m". The Daily Telegraph, August 1: 6.


Construction commenced in 1976 and the tower was completed in 1979.

Property Advert of the Week: Kingswood land release (1969)

Below is a 1969 newspaper advertisement by Stocks and Holdings promoting a land release at Kingswood. All homesites were sewered.

Source: Stocks & Holdings Projects. 1969. "where else but Kingswood" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 5: 41.  

MILESTONE: Opening of Syd Enfield Drive (1979)

This year is forty years since Syd Enfield Drive was completed. Originally the road was known as the Bondi Junction Bypass. The section of road was part of a vision to form the (never built) Eastern Suburbs freeway that would connect Bondi Junction to the city.

It would also form part of the commercial redevelopment of the suburb along with the construction of the Eastern Suburbs railway line, and would eliminate through traffic through the centre of Bondi Junction.

Construction took less than two years before being opened to traffic on 9 January, 1979. The road was opened by local State MP and Minister for Consumer Affairs - Syd Enfield.

In 1988, the bypass was named Syd Enfield Drive in honour of the former MP.

With traffic now bypassing the commercial heart of Bondi Junction, it led to creation of the Oxford Street mall.

Source: Anon. 1979. "By-pass today, mall tomorrow". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 10:1. 

Property Advert: Carlisle, Surry Hills (1999)

This week, I remain in Surry Hills and will share a 1999 advertisement for the Carlisle development in Campbell Street.

Source: Metro Commercial & Charles & Stuart. 1999. "Carlisle" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, September 25: 24RE (Real Estate Liftout).

1972: The suicide of a city (Feature Article)

The Daily Telegraph published a feature article in 1972.  Evan Whitton wrote an article about the failure of planning authorities to adhere to the 1948 Cumberland Plan.

1972 was nearly 25 years since the Cumberland Plan had come into existence, with a focus on creating a green belt on what was then the outer boundaries of Sydney which would separate the city from the outer regions including Campbelltown and Penrith.

There would be wedges of open space among st the suburbs of Sydney.

Under the plan, the population of Sydney was to be contained at 3 million people. During the 1970's Sydney's population reached 3 million.

The Cumberland Plan never came into effect.

Note that it was projected in 1968, Sydney would have a population of 5 million by the year 2000. Sydney would only reach 4 million by 2000 and 15 years later hit 5 million.

The article was published on December 13, 1972.

Property Advert: Sydney Mansion - Surry Hills (1997)

Below is a 1997 newspaper advertisement for apartments in the Sydney Mansion Complex in Goulburn Street, Surry Hills.

Source: Jones Land Wootton & McGrath Partners. 1997. "Sydney Mansion" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, November 22: 23RE (Real Estate Liftout).