Widening the Streets
Work in Progress
Oxford Street progressively became a demolition and construction
zone. Once compensation claims were resolved, tenders were called
for demolition and the leases for the new subdivision were auctioned
off.
| Moving
on
This photograph shows 32-38 Oxford Street gradually being
vacated. A. Comino, an oyster merchant who operated an oyster
saloon at 36 Oxford Street, advertises that he is “Removing
to Haymarket”. Chairs are piled high in the back of
a cart, waiting to be transported. Auction sale signs have
been slapped up on the upper floor façade of the buildings
advertising the subdivision of the new building sites.
(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS
51/2951)
|
Click
to Enlarge
Size: 62 KB
|
| A
new home
Oxford Square, 1910. Unlike the previous photograph, the
street is abuzz with activity. Although originally earmarked
for resumption and resubdivision, these buildings at Oxford
Square were spared. This was no doubt a relief for William
Langer. He originally had tea rooms at 20 Oxford Street, but
moved to 16 Oxford Square following the resumption of his
shop. A man is up the top of a ladder putting the finishing
touches onto the awing advertisement, which proclaims: High
Class Baker and Pastry Cook.
(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 51/2959) |
Click
to Enlarge
Size: 57 KB
|
| Auction
An auction poster for the first subdivision associated with
the Oxford Street Widening. The auction took place on 21 November
1910. Council was selling leases for 50 years and ensured
the quality of the new structures by placing building covenants
on the allotments. For this particular subdivision, the buildings
had to be of at least £1,500 in value, had to be constructed
of either brick or stone (or both), and the plans had to be
approved by the City Building Surveyor or City Architect.
Nor could the buildings be used for just anything. The Council
would only permit the following uses: hotel, coffee palace,
restaurant, shop or shop/dwelling combo, warehouse, mission
hall, theatre, place of public entertainment or recreation,
baths, library, lecture-room, exhibition-room, bank, residential
flats, chambers for professional men, office, or photographic
studio. In other words, there were to be no factories or small
manufacturers. (Proceedings of Council, 1910)
(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 494/S7C
35/3) |
Click
to Enlarge
Size: 115 KB
|
|
Vacated
102-118 Oxford Street, looking up from Crown Street. The
shops are boarded up and waiting demolition. Notices are painted
on the windows and building facades informing shoppers to
where businesses had removed. Hop Sing & Co., green grocers,
had moved up the road to 134 Oxford Street, while G.A. Zink,
Tailor & Clothier, had shifted 12 doors lower down.
(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 51/4889)
|
Click
to Enlarge
Size: 88 KB
|
| Demolition
84-92 Oxford Street in the process of demolition.
(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 51/512)
|
Click
to Enlarge
Size: 86 KB
|
| Planning
ahead
The Council resolved to allow the hotels to remain on their
current sites. In several cases, the City Architect designed
replacement buildings in close consultation with the lease-holders.
This is the plan for Andy Flannagan’s Burdekin Hotel,
located on the corner of Liverpool and Oxford Streets.
(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 569/P387) |
Click
to Enlarge
Size: 148 KB
|
|
