Tradewinds, the landmark development on Cronulla Point, set a height record when it was completed in 1961.
A Leader report in 1960 said the “giant block of home units under construction at Cronulla will dwarf every other building in Sutherland Shire”.
“The new block will be nine-storeys high with a basement type tenth story to be used for garages,” the report said.
“It will contain 42 home units which are expected to bring extremely high prices.”
Tradewinds was built alongside a slightly smaller block of units, which was just being completed.
The projects fuelled growing concern about the development of flats in the shire, with one councillor warning “Cronulla could become another Bondi”.
Sutherland Shire Council tried to stem the tide by imposing new restrictions and, at one meeting, rejected 25 of 38 applications for flats.
Cr A T Benn said Cronulla had become “an outrageous brick jungle,” while Cr Arthur Gietzelt said, “the local residents to a man have said they don't want flats''.
Blocks of flats weren’t the only building proposal causing concern in 1960.
An application was lodged for an 18-storey luxury hotel with rooftop heliport, opposite Cronulla beach.
It was to be built in Gerrale Street on the site of McMahon’s Amusement Centre and an adjoining block of flats.
Cr Gietzelt opposed the height and said a heliport would be dangerous.
“In summer weekends we have crowds up to 30,000 on our beaches,” he said.
“There would be grave danger to them if helicopters were coming into land.”
Cr Gietzelt said it would also cast a shadow over the whole of Cronulla Park by 4pm and, by 5pm, the shadow would cover the beach.
The council carried a motion reporting favorably on the proposal to the planning body Cumberland County Council.
However, the hotel and heliport never got off the ground.
LEADER FLASHBACK
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