<< Previous

Next >>

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)