Long before Westfield Miranda, there was Westfield Sutherland, although it went by a different name.
About the same time former sandwich shop owners Frank Lowy and John Saunders opened their first American-style, modern shopping centre in Blacktown in 1959, they also bought the old Odeon Theatre and adjoining properties in Boyle Street, Sutherland.
The block between Boyle Street and President Avenue could have ended up a huge Westfield complex had not developer Sid Londish bought up land at the same time to build Miranda Fair.
Miranda Fair was such a success after its opening in 1964, Westfield Corporation bought it for $10 million in 1969 and set about doubling its size.
Just when Westfield departed Sutherland is not known.
The old Odeon Theatre building still stands in Boyle Street, but these days it houses a dance studio, offices and shops.
Details of the Sutherland project were included in the prospectus when the privately-owned Westfield was floated in 1960.
The document valued the property, which was owned jointly with a subsidiary of Stocks and Holdings, at £130,000 ($260,000).
It said conversion of the the Odeon Theatre into four two-storey department stores and eight shops was under way,
Two of the department stores had already been leased to Snows and Eric Anderson.
‘‘A further stage will be the erection of eight more shops on a block of land situated on the corner of Eton Street and President Avenue,’’ the prospectus said.
‘‘On completion, these shops may be retained for investment purposes or sold.’’
The District & Shire News, which was incorporated into the first edition of the Leader on June 29, 1960, reported on both the Sutherland shopping centre development as well as the project tentatively called Miranda Fair.
The report said the Sutherland shopping centre would cost £200,000 ($400,000).
Westfield director Frank Lowy said the theatre would not be demolished completely.
‘‘There of the walls are quite sound and will be left standing,’’ he said.
The November 23, 1960, edition of the Leader carried an advertising supplement for the opening of the Westfield project, which was given the name Sutherland Civic Centre.
“The opening of the Westfield ‘Civic Centre’, a brand spanking new shopping centre in Boyle Street Sutherland, next Saturday will be a big thing for the entire Sutherland District,” the Leader reported.
The report said “Tom Dalton MLA will declare the centre open and invite the assembled throng earlier to share a cup of tea or, just possibly, a bargain or two”.
“Westfield and Stocks and Holdings specialise in building shopping centres and selling or leasing the shops to individual firms,” the report said.
A story in the advertising supplement gushed over the outcome..
”One of the films which drew big crowds to the Odeon theatre was Aladdin,” read the story.
“Aladdin could have rubbed his hands raw on the lamp without effecting the changes which have taken place in The Odeon in 1960.
“First the interior of the theatre was torn out so that only a shell, albeit a very thick one, remained.
“Then ton after ton of filling was poured in to raise the floor of the building to street level.
“Loading docks were built at the rear of the building and windows were made in the upper walls.
“The walls themselves were reinforced and the entire frontage ‘underpinned’.
“Reinforced concrete seams divided the building into two sections and dividing walls, reinforced with steel columns, took shape.
“The ceilings were sprayed with acoustic materials and plate glass windows in stainless steel frames replaced the foyer, the cool drink shop and ‘Coming Attractions’ boards at the front of the theatre.”
LEADER FLASHBACK
Every Friday we delve into the Leader archives to embark on some time travel.
We will bring you photographs of a news event from 57 years of Leader news coverage that you may or may not recall.
Flashback Friday submissions are also welcomed.
Feel free to share your recollections with us on our Facebook page @SutherlandShireStGeorgeNews or email leaderletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au
