Property Advert of the Week: Northern Beaches Land Releases (1965)

Below is a 1965 newspaper advertisement promoting land releases at Beacon Hill and Belrose dating from 1965 from John Walsh & Co.

Source: John Walsh & Co. Pty. Ltd. 1965. "Follow the "John Walsh" Signs" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 4: 44. 

1999: Relocation of the Sir William Dobell Memorial Sculpture

Photo taken by the Author (2025)

The Sir William Dobell Memorial Sculpture was installed in Martin Place in 1979. In 1996, as part of upgrades of Martin Place, the 19-metre-tall sculpture was dismantled and stored at the Sydney City Council depot in Harris Street, Ultimo.

In May 1999, Sydney City Council voted to reassemble the statue as part of a traffic island to be built at the corner of Pitt and Spring Street. It was recommissioned in October 1999. 

In 2021, Sydney City Council approved the permanent closure of Spring Street for traffic entering from Pitt Street, creating a small plaza or square. However, no work has been undertaken to level the footpath.

Source: Skelsey, M. 1999. "Shish kebab to rise again". The Daily Telegraph, May 17: 16.

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Gardens (1987) - The mega advertisement

I have posted two advertisements promoting apartments for sale in Eastgate Towers in Bondi Junction (links below), but this one covers the entire page of a broadsheet newspaper (A2) size. It was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on April 11 1987.

Source: Laing & Simmons Pty. Ltd. 1987. "Eastgate Gardens". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 11: 36. 

Related Entries

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Gardens, Bondi Junction (1988)

Property Advert of the Week: Eastgate Towers, Bondi Junction (1987)

1987: Harbour Bridge Toll rises to $1

Source: NSW Department of Main Roads. 1987. "A dollar well-spent" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 30: 19. 

In April 1987, the NSW State Government passed the Sydney Harbour Tunnel (Private Joint Venture) Act 1987 which gave formal approval for the construction of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. 

Source: Armstrong, D. 1987. "Bridge toll $1 from end of May". The Daily Telegraph, April 28: 7. 

While the Sydney Harbour Tunnel would be tolled, the decision was made that month to increase the toll on the Sydney Harbour Bridge from 20 cents to $1, to aid in funding the cost of construction. The increase would commence on May 31 1987. 

20 cent tolls

Between 1960 and 1970, motorists using the bridge paid a 10 cent toll each way (1 shilling prior to introduction of decimal currency in 1966). For those commuting in both directions, it would total 20 cents per day.

In 1970, the northbound toll was abolished to improve northbound traffic flow and the southbound toll was doubled to 20 cents to compensate for the loss of revenue (Click here to read more about it). 

Therefore for the average commuter, the toll increase in 1987 would be the first increase to the toll since 1960.

How big was the increase?

The increase in the toll was 80 cents, but this represented a 500% increase. The commuter would now pay what was one week of toll payments in one day or five weeks of toll payments during the working week. 

Adjusted for inflation (RBA Inflation Calculator), motorists were paying the equivalent of 58 cents in today's money for a 20-cent toll. The increase to $1 would equate to paying $2.90 today which for many commuters is cheaper than current tolls  ($4.27 in peak periods, $3.20 off-peak and $2.67 for overnight travel).

Toll Collectors Strike

Toll Collectors went on strike on the weekend of May 30 and May 31 1987, delaying the toll increase by one day. They refused a pay increase of 4%, arguing for even higher wages as they felt that they would be at increased risk of abuse from angry motorists and also robberies.

Source: Aubin, T. 1987. "The toll 1987: bricks and hot coins". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 1: 1. 

The Reaction

Given the massive increase in the toll, this was not well received. For some, they responded by refusing to pay the toll, even though they faced fines of $50.

Warnings were given to drivers.

Source, Armstrong, D. 1987. "Big bills planned for toll evaders". The Daily Telegraph, April 29: 7. 

On day one, traffic volumes during the morning peak hour decreased by nine percent. 44 drivers refused to pay the toll while 14 paid for their tolls using 1 and 2 cent coins only. The general mood to the incerase was not positive

 

Source: Grimshaw, P. 1987. "$1 toll slices bridge traffic". The Daily Telegraph, June 2: 4. 

The toll dodgers and those who opted for payment solely in 1 and 2 cent coins were confronted by the toll collectors and police.

Source: Aubin, T & Coultan, M. 1987. "Drivers for who the $1 tolls". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 2: 1. 

There was one backflip with the increase in tolls - 230 incapacitated service-men were exempt from paying the 20 cent tolls, but were required under the toll increase to pay the toll as with all other drivers. This was cancelled and they could continue to drive for free.

Source: Thomas, C. 1987. "Brereton does a U-turn for angry old diggers." The Sydney Morning Herald, June 1: 5.

Property Advert of the Week: 8 Williams Parade, Dulwich Hill (1998)

Below is a 1998 newspaper advertisement for the Kensington complex at 8 Williams Parade, Dulwich Hill. Two and three-bedroom apartments were on sale for just $ 240,000.

   

Source: Magna Project Marketing. 1998. "Kensington" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2: 34RE (Real Estate Liftout).

Remember This? This is Sydney at 97.3 Degrees (1956)

Above: Bondi Beach. Full citation below.

A weather-themed entry for this week, fitting in with summer. Below is a feature from The Daily Telegraph from December 31 1956. 

On December 30 1956, temperatures peaked at 97.3 degrees Fahrenheit in Sydney (36.2 degrees Celsius).

An estimated 320,000 people converged on beaches in Sydney, Newcastle, and the Central Coast to keep cool. 

Sydney's hottest day this summer to date (2024/2025) is December 27, 2024, when temperatures peaked at 37.4 degrees at Observatory Hill. I've enlarged the table from the article below to show the temperatures recorded at various times on the day.

   

 

Source: Anon. 1957. "Hottest day in city for 2 years". The Daily Telegraph, December 31: 5.

Remember This? State Rail Off Peak Rail Fares (1986)

Below is a 1986 newspaper advertisement from State Rail promoting off-peak rail fares across the suburban and outer suburban (intercity) network. Clever marketing was applied. They used the platypus featured on the 20-cent coin to promote the savings by claiming that one would "save a platypus". With off-peak fares in 1986, commuters were promised at least a 20-cent saving on their fares, increasing based on distance travelled, and one could save even more animals by taking advantage of fares, referring to other animals featured on our coins.

 

 Source: State Rail. 1986. "Save a platypus with State Rail". The Daily Telegraph, August 5: 18.

Remember This? Road sign error (1993)

It is rare that a road sign would incorrectly spell the name of a suburb, town or city. In 1993, a road sign for westbound traffic on the Hume Highway at Villawood incorrectly spelt Liverpool as Liveprool. The Daily Telegraph Mirror documented how two workers from the Roads and Traffic Authority corrected the error in twenty-five minutes.  

Source: Offord, J. 1993. "This time they got it right". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, December 10: 7.

Remember This? Robert Baudin Sydney Aerial (1969)

Below is an aerial photograph of Sydney that was published in The Sunday Telegraph in 1969. It was taken by Robert Baudin, an American photographer who was a known counterfeiter and conman. The photo was taken prior to him being sentenced to five and a half years for counterfeiting.

Source: Baudin, R. 1969. "A new bird's eye view of Sydney"(Photograph). The Sunday Telegraph, February 9: 7.

Remember This? Peter's of Kensington The Grand New Year Sale Ad (2000)

Remember This? is back for its summer series as normally done throughout January.

Below is a newspaper advertisement for Homewares store Peter's of Kensington from 2000 to promote their annual New Year Sale. Back in 2000, they were only based at Kensington, but have expanded to now trade at Alexandria, Barangaroo and Birkenhead Point (Drummoyne). In addition, they have an online store , meaning one does not have to wait for stores to be open or travel to Sydney to make their purchases. 

Source: Peter's of Kensington. 2000. "The Grand New Year Sale" (Advertisement). The Sun Herald, January 16: 34-35.