SYDNEY DEPARTMENT STORES: Waltons Town Hall closing day (1987)

I was motivated to share this post after a recent posting of newspaper advertisements from a previous entry on the Old Shops Australia Group on Facebook.

I shared the advertisements, but I did have a newspaper clipping from the last day of trading at Waltons Store at Town Hall on 9 February 1987 before it would be demolished for the Park Plaza/Skytower complex.

It was anticipated that Waltons would return by October 1988, but that did not eventuate as the Bond Corporation struggled to obtain approval for their tower, and eventually sold the site to Kumagai Gumi and Sogo (Japanese Department Store chain) for approximately $278 million in 1989.

 

Source: Andrews, M. 1987. "Half-price clearance as an old shop shuts". The Daily Telegraph, February 10: 7. 

With items marked down to half price, an estimated 100 000 shoppers ventured through the doors creating an atmosphere like that of the Boxing Day sales. 

The Sydney Morning Herald (10 February 1987) reported that it took over an hour to clear the store as staff funnelled customers down towards the ground floor when the doors closed. For those still there, bargains of up to 80% were on offer 

Later that month, Waltons was sold by Bond Corporation to the Venture chain, marking the end of the Waltons Department Store chain. Waltons Town Hall was no more.

Related Entries

Remember this? - Waltons Town Hall Closing Down Sale (1987)

You may also find my series on the Evolution of the Citigroup Centre worth viewing as it was the redevelopment of the site that was behind the closure and demolition of Waltons Town Hall.

• Original 1982 Scheme
• Park Tower (1986)
• Skytower (1987)
• Park Plaza (1988)
• Park Plaza IV (1988)
• Park Tower (1990)
• Park Tower II (1994)
• Citigroup Centre (2000)
• Citigroup Tower & Galeries Victoria in 2018
• "What if" (What might have eventuated had any of the unbuilt schemes had proceeded.)

Property Advert of the Week: Craiglea, Kirribilli (1996)

Below is a 1996 newspaper advertisement promoting the Craiglea at 88 Kirribilli Avenue, Kirribilli. Three bedroom apartments were on sale from $750 000.

  

Source: Greencliff Developments. 1996. "Craiglea At Kirribilli" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 22: 11 (Real Estate Liftout). 

1985: Old Como Bridge becomes a footbridge and cycleway

The Old Como Bridge spanned the Georges River between Oatley and Como. It was a single track railway bridge that served the Illawarra and South Coast Railway Lines from 1885 until 1972, when a modern two track bridge was completed next to the original bridge. In 1985, the old bridge was reborn as a footbridge and a cycleway. It was offically opened on 16 December 1985 by Federal MP's Gary Punch (ALP, Barton) and Robert Tickner (ALP, Hughes).

 

Source. Anon. 1985. "Spokes men bridge river gap". The Daily Telegraph, December 16: 7. 

Property Advert of the Week: The Regis Towers - 1st release (1996)

In 1996, Meriton began construction of the three tower Regis Towers complex. The first release of the 653 apartments in the three towers were on sale.

Prices were:

• 1 Bedroom Loft Style Apartments - From $245 000
• 2 Bedroom Apartments - From $320 000
• 3 Bedroom Apartments - From $390 000

Source: Meriton Premier Apartments. 1996. "The Regis Towers" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 22: 16RE (Real Estate Liftout). 

1970: No Lovin in our new plaza (Martin Place)

Source: Oram, J. 1970. "No Lovin in our New Plaza". The Daily Mirror, November 24: 1. 

During the trial closure of Martin Place between George Street and Pitt Street in 1970, Sydney City Council raised concerns about kissing and cuddling after several complaints were received by the public to Sydney City Council.

It wasn't just those who wanted to show their affection, but also, "lay-abouts", "no-hopers", hippies and Hare Krishnas raised concern. Referred to in the article as a "religious sect", the Hare Krishnas raised concern as they engaged in "singing, cymbals clashing and bongo drum thumping".  

The view was that Martin Place was only suited to a "better class of people" who did not need to be subject to "molestation or nuisance".

Simply, the vision for who could access Martin Place by some was that people that were seen as either lazy, unemployed, lacked success in their life, held a low position in society or not seen as conforming to what was regarded as acceptable to society were not welcome, along with those who wanted to use the space to show their affections for one another.

It was disappointing to read that some held such a view. Public spaces such as Martin Place are meant to be open for all to use. It is a gathering place for all groups. Consider the protests and rallies that either travel through Martin Place or occur within the space. Music is in fact encouraged yet in 1970, it was being discouraged. 

To quote "lay-abouts", this suggested that the unemployed were not welcome. Perhaps this may have extended to those who had a job but were not seen as productive. Sadly the reference to "no hopers" indicated that those that were seen as "unsuccessful" or were likely to "fail" were not welcome

 

Property Advert of the Week: Greenacre Estate, Greenacre (1967)

Below is a 1967 newspaper advertisement promoting housing blocks at Greenacre. House and land packages were also on offer by developers John L. Nichols & Co. 

Land was available for under two thousand pounds ($4000) or $12 300 (£6 150) for a house and land package. For the house and land package. that would be equivalent to spending approximately $164 500 today (RBA Inflation Calculator) . The streets in the estate comprise of  Rosalie Crescent and Charmaine Avenue.

 

Source: John L. Nichols & Co. Pty.Ltd. 1967. "Beautiful Greenacre Estate" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 29: 43. 

Note: While Decimal Currency was introduced on 14 February 1966, prices of goods and services could still be listed in pounds, shillings and pence for two years following that date. 

1992: The creation of St George Bank

This year is thirty years since the St George Building Society (established in 1937 as the St.George Co-operative Building Society Ltd) was granted a banking licence and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange as a public company. 

In January 1992, St George went public with its plans as reported in The Daily Telegraph Mirror on 15 January 1992.

Below is a newspaper advertisement that was published on 1 July 1992 when it offically became a bank.

   

Source: St George Bank Limited. 1992. "A bank remembers its promises." (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph Mirror, July 1: 24-25. 

During the 1990's St George Bank took over Advance Bank and BankSA. In 2008, St George merged with Westpac. Despite the merger, the brand has been retained in NSW. Its branches in Victoria were rebranded as the Bank of Melbourne in 2011.

St George still maintain their headquarters at Kogarah, where it has been based since 1990, still connected to the region in which it was founded. Originally, they were based at Hurstville. 

Below is the advertisement that I believe was the "launch" advertisement. Southern Sydney does feature. Guess the locations.

Property Advert of the Week: Watermark Manly Cove (1995)

This week, we head over to Manly. 5-7 Victoria Parade had two luxurious penthouses on offer for either $1.15 million or $1.25 million in 1995.

 

Source: Anon. 1995. "Watermark Manly Cove" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 80.

The apartments are located two blocks from The Corso and Manly Wharf . Beaches were short stroll away on either side with views of Manly Cove and the Sydney CBD on offer. 

One of the two apartments advertised was reportedly sold for $5.5 million last year. 

1995: Golf Driving Range in the Sydney CBD

Angel Place spent the 1990's as one of Sydney's "Black Holes" after a failed attempt by the AMP at the end of the 1980's and early in the decade to build a major office tower on the site. By the mid 1990's AMP were still discussing how to develop the site, but golf fans were given a treat when the empty site hosted a temporary golf driving range. City office workers could practice their golf swing during their lunch breaks.

The article below is from The Daily Telegraph Mirror in 1995.

Source: Skelsey, M. 1995. "Concert hall for city's black hole". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, August 16: 27.

Click here if you want to find out why the site ended up becoming one of Sydney's "Black Holes" from the 1990's. 

Property Advert of the Week: Coral Estate, Baulkham Hills (1966)

Below is a 1966 newspaper advertisement by John L. Nichols & Co promoting the Coral Estate at Baulkham Hills. A full deposit of fifty pounds ($100) guaranteed your block of land.

 

Source: John L. Nichols & Co. Pty. Ltd. 1966. ""Coral" Estate" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 12: 39.