East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Redevelopment Visions (1997)

Before pausing the series five weeks ago, two entries had been posted just on events in 1997 alone. The first entry focused on progress with the construction of the buildings, while the second entry focused on the protests and demonstrations that had occurred during the year.

This week, the focus is on the alternative schemes proposed by critics and opponents of the redevelopment as a solution to the concerns raised. 

Architect Visions

Source: Susskind, A. & Totaro, P. 1997. " Two high minds take a long, tall, sally forth into Quay controversy. The Sydney Morning Herald, April 4: 3. 

In April 1997, The Sydney Morning Herald, published two schemes proposed by architects as solutions to concerns associated with the redevelopment of East Circular Quay by concentrating development towards the Cahill Expressway end of the block and converting the remaining space into public space.

From Source: Susskind, A. & Totaro, P. 1997. " Two high minds take a long, tall, sally forth into Quay controversy. The Sydney Morning Herald, April 4: 3. 

Tony Rodi and Paul Johnson proposed two forty-storey twin towers, placed at each end of Circular Quay, shaped like a pyramid, with landscaped space to occupy the former buildings at East Circular Quay. The objective was to create a "majestic gateway" to Sydney. 

From Source: Susskind, A. & Totaro, P. 1997. " Two high minds take a long, tall, sally forth into Quay controversy. The Sydney Morning Herald, April 4: 3. 

Harry Seidler adopted a simpler approach, focusing on one tower that would be the tallest in Australia.

The return of David Brice

Source: Totaro, P. & Wainwright, R. 1997.  "Controversial building may go, but at a high price". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 20: 1.

David Brice has been mentioned in previous entries as part of the series as he sought his own development proposals for the precinct. His solution was to merge the sites of the Royal Automobile Club and Quay Apartments and build a "needle like" highrise tower on the consolidated site of around fifty stories. A low-rise hotel would be built on the site of the Coca Amatil building, with the building height stepping down to lowrise at its northern end, opening up the views of the Royal Botanic Gardens. His scheme was reported to have cost an estimated $800 million. 

Source: Totaro, P. & Wainwright, R. 1997. "East-west land swap proposed to solve Quay crisis". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 5: 6.

 

Source: Totaro, P. & Wainwright, R. 1997. "Quay question: will Sydney accept this trade-off?" The Sydney Morning Herald, June 4.1.

The NSW State Government rejected Mr Brice's proposal.

   

Source: Jlmenez, C. 1997. "State rejects new Circular Quay plan". The Australian Financial Review, June 4: 46. 

  Source: Harley, R. 1997. "RACA meeting to consider Quay development proposal". The Australian Financial Review,  June 16: page unknown  

The disadvantage of Brice's scheme was that the Royal Botanic Gardens would be overshadowed by a taller building on the Royal Automobile Club & Quay Apartments site.

    Source: Totaro, P . & Wainwright, R. 1997. "Casting a long shadow over Quay development". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 11: 7.

Members of the Royal Automobile Club were asked to vote and ultimately voted down the proposal

 

Source: Totaro, P. & Wainwright, R. 1997. "Anger at error over Quay deal". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 27: 5.

Entries in this Series

1. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)
2. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme (1984)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
5. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)
6. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme
7. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's Bennelong Centre (1991)
8. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The Revolving Office Tower Scheme (1991)
9. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay 'Ideas Quest' (1992)
10. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Mirvac Hotel Scheme - 61 Macquarie Street (1992)
11. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): New Planning Guidelines unveiled (1993)
12. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The shift towards residential development (1993)
13. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Residential Scheme unveiled (1994)
14. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction commences (1995)
15. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction continues (1996)
16. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unveiling "The Toaster" (1997)
17. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The protests (1997)

Property Advert of the Week: "El O'Livio", Tamarama (1971)

Below is a 1971 newspaper advertisement for the "El O'Livio" at Tamarama. It was advertised as located in Bondi. Two and three-bedroom apartments were on offer from $22 000, which would be equivalent to one spending $291 500 today (RBA Inflation Calculator). 

 

Source: Parkes Sales Pty. Ltd. 1971. "El O'Livio" ( Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, June 5: 42.

Remember This? Sydney Skyline (1969)

In 1969, Photographer Neil Stewart (The Daily Mirror) trekked to the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to capture a photograph of Sydney's skyline. The photo appears below. Alongside the photo is a photo taken from the same location in 1961. It gave readers of The Daily Mirror a good insight into how Sydney's skyline had changed over the 1960s. 

If compared with a photo taken at the same location in 2024, one would notice, apart from new buildings, some notable omissions:

• The State Office Block has since been demolished (1997)
• Goldfields House was demolished in 2016.
• The Waterboard Building is now the Greenland Sydney Centre, roughly double the height of the original building and is a residential building.

Source: Stewart, N. 1969. "The eight-year face-lift". The Daily Mirror,  June 9: 22-23. 

Property Advert of the Week: Killarney Heights Land Release (1964)

Below is a 1964 newspaper advertisement promoting the sale of 20 home sites in Greystones Road, Killarney Heights by the NSW Department of Lands. The sites were to be auctioned with reserve prices ranging from £1150 to £2150 ($2300 to $4300). 

Source: NSW Department of Lands. 1964. "20 Home Sites Killarney Heights" (Advertisement). The Sun March 6: 40. 

 

Remember This? Sydney Street-Eaters City (1960)

The Sunday Mirror published a two-page feature and photospread in 1960 focusing on the lunch hour in central Sydney, which in its view was between noon and 1 pm.

A reporter (name unknown) spent the week observing the habits of city workers during the daily lunch hour. They try to claim that Sydneysiders ate on the pavements more than anywhere else in the world, even though al-fresco dining was yet to appear on the scene in Sydney. 

It even went down as far as what people preferred to eat and the task of finding something suitable for lunch.

 

Source: Anon. 1960. "Sydney Street-Eaters City". The Sunday Mirror,  April 24: 18 & 31.

Property Advert of the Week: Allam Homes Ad (2001)

Below is a 2001 newspaper advertisement from Allam Homepac promoting their "No Deposit" house and land packages. The packages start from $259 000 if opting for a package in the Central Coast and Illawarra regions and from $279 000 in the Sydney metropolitan area, with the cheapest packages in the Penrith region.

Source: Allam Homepac. 2001. "Huge Opportunity No Deposit Home & Land Packages." (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, November 17: 13 (Homes Liftout).

Remember This? Easter Show street parade (1963)

As part of the Royal Easter Show, there used to be a street parade to promote the event. Some of the exhibits and animals featured in the show would be showcased to the public.

Below is a feature and photo from 1963.

Source: Anon. 1963. "Something you don't see every day". The Daily Telegraph, April 5: 3.   

Property Advert of the Week: Kemaro P/L - Homes for Sale (1969)

Below is a 1969 newspaper advertisement promoting homes for sale in selected suburbs across Sydney by Kemaro P/L. 

 

Source: Kemaro P/L. 1969. "Five days and you live in your house" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 12: 32.

Remember This? Gowing's May Madness Sale Ad (1969)

Below is a 1969 newspaper advertisement promoting the "May Madness" sale at Gowings. Shoppers had the chance to win $1000 through a lucky number competition that was being run as an in-store promotion.

Source: Gowing's. 1969. "Gowing's May Madness Sale" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, May 8: 34 & 35. 

Property Advert of the Week: Southpoint Apartments, Hillsdale (2003)

Below is a 2003 newspaper advertisement for the Southpoint Apartments at Hillsdale. The apartment tower rising above the Southpoint Shopping Centre contains 110 apartments spread over 12 levels. This development is an early example of residential development being built above a shopping centre. Other examples include Eastgate (Bondi Junction), Rockdale Plaza and Top Ryde City.

   

Source: Cramer Property Agents & Richardson & Wrench Project Marketing. 2003. "SouthPoint Apartments" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, April 20: 9 (Homeowner Liftout).