1991: The $40 000 Tempe House

In 1991, the average price of a home in Sydney was $183,000 which is miniscule by todays prices. 

However one home buyer managed to secure a home in Tempe that same year for just $40,000. Even after renovations estimated at $35,000, the home buyer would still have a bargain on his hands.

The home featured in the article is located at 34 Barden Sreet, Tempe.

Source: Howe, M. 1991. "$40,000: Sydney's cheapest home". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 19: 7. 

Property Advert of the Week: Stocks & Holdings Projects (1970)

Below is a 1970 newspaper advertisement promoting two projects by Stocks and Holdings Projects that was published in The Sun.

Source: Stocks & Holdings Projects. 1970. "Untitled" (Advertisement). The Sun, January 2: 39.

The two projects featured were"

1. "The Pines" (Manly) - Located at 51-53 The Crescent, Manly
2. "Trenthurst Place" - Cnr of New & West Street, Balgowlah Heights

1965: The end of Bebarfalds City Store

On August 31 1965, Bebarfalds closed its city store (at the corner of Park and George Streets, directly opposite Sydney Town Hall), which was located in what is now the Woolworths Building, home to Australia's busiest Woolworths Supermarket and a small-format BigW store. The closure was due to losses at its city store and the decision to concentrate on its profitable suburban and regional stores.

Source: Anonymous. 1965. "Bebarfalds Ltd. to close city store on August 31". The Sydney Morning Herald, July 24: 4.  

The reason for its closure was increasing losses at the city store. Suburban stores traded under the Bebarfelds name until 1973, when they became part of Macy's Emporium Pty. Ltd. 

The current tenant (Woolworths) would lease the space shortly following Bebarfalds closure Woolworths would open its Town Hall store the following year. 2026 is sixty years of Woolworths at its present city location. 

Source: Anonymous. 1965. "Mr Theo Kelly at Lovers' Corner". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 3: 11.

Property Advert of the Week: 2 Ian Street, Rose Bay (2006)

Below is a 2006 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale at 2 Ian Street, Rose Bay. The complex comprises only six units.

Source: Joycrest. 2006. "2 ian street" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, July 1: 23A (Domain Apartments Liftout).

Remember This? Sydney Harbour Bridge Painter at Work (1961)

Around a decade before Paul Hogan posed for his famous photograph while at work as a Sydney Harbour Bridge Rigger, The Sunday Mirror captured this image of a harbour bridge painter at work.

Back in 1961, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was the tallest structure in Sydney at 134 metres which justifies the headline He's as high as he can go. The man in the photograph is Sam Scheffer, a painter who had been employed since 1959.

Source: Anonymous. 1961. "He's as high as he can go". The Sunday Mirror, September 17: 5. 

Property Advert of the Week: Waterpoint, Shepherds Bay [Meadowbank] (2004)

Below is a 2004 newspaper advertisement promoting apartments for sale in the Waterpoint complex at Shepherds Bay (Meadowbank). It is directly opposite the Meadowbank Ferry Wharf, enabling residents an easy ferry commute into the city and a short walk to Meadowbank Railway Station.

Source: Anonymous. 2004. "Waterfront Shepherds Bay" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, April 4: 12 (homeowner liftout).

Remember This? $1.25 Superpie and Hot Chips meal at Coles Restaurants (1981)

Source: Coles. 1981. "Pie & Chips" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, August 31: 27. 

In 1981, Coles Restaurants were offering for $1.25 a Superpie and hot chips

According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, the offer would be equivalent to a person spending about $6.17 today. Fantastic offer.

For soft drinks, there was a special offer during the school holiday period: refills cost just 30 cents. It would be equivalent to spending $1.48 today, which, depending on your view, may be a good value for money or not worth it. Typically, if you want another drink at a fast food outlet or a fast casual restaurant, you would pay full price, e.g. a large drink at McDonald's costs $6.00.

Property Advert of the Week: Cranebrook House and Land Packages (1987)

In 1987, Stockland Homes was offering 18 sites at Cranebrook with house-and-land packages from just $ 50,990. Only five lots remained for sale after the previous weekend, when they were released.

 

Source: Stockland Homes. 1987. "House and Land from $50,900" (Advertisement). The Sun, April 3: 60. 

Remember This? Seven News Sydney Promo (1986)

I came across a Seven News Sydney commercial from 1986 while viewing a video from the VHS Revue Channel on YouTube by  David M. Green.

According to David, the advertisement was screened during the miniseries Christopher Columbus on July 16, 1986, on Channel 7 (ATN-7).

The thirty-second commercial features the repeated jingle:

Sydney you deserve the best, Seven News

Towards the end, you hear Seven National News Presenter Ross Symonds say the following:

Sydney's a great city. It deserves the best news coverage

The final frame features the key presenters of its news programs (Clockwise from top):

• Scott Lambert - Sports Presenter, Seven National News (Weekends)
• Richard Zachariah - 11AM
• Greg Grainger - Anchor, Seven National News (Weekends)
• Terry Willesee - Terry Willesee Tonight
• Ross Symonds - Anchor, Seven National News (Weeknights)
• Rex Mossop - Sports Presenter 
• Clive Robertson - Newsworld

I remember a second version of the commercial on YouTube, which is no longer around, but focuses on some of the presenters and how they would spend their leisure time, such as Clive Robertson washing his car and Terry Willesee teaching his son to play tennis. 

Below are screenshots of selected Sydney scenes featured in the advertisement.

Northbound approaches to the Sydney Harbour Bridge at Observatory Hill.

Martin Place Railway Station

Chinatown

View South from Australia Square.

Sydney Harbour

Property Advert of the Week: 122 Windsor Street, Richmond (1970)

The Barrels & Ashes Bar currently resides at 122 Windsor Street, Richmond, but did you know that in 1970 it was listed for sale as a residential property with four bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a double garage?

Source: Robin Baker Pty. Ltd. 1970. "Auction Sale" (Advertisement). The Sun, February 13: 58.