TEMPTATION ROW

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1927, Page 1

TEMPTATION ROW

G 1! HAT DR APERY EM PORI VMS.

SYDNEY, Sept. 22

In what is jocularly known in Sydney as “Temptation Row,” that is, the blocks which house the big drapery emporiums, there appears to be a feverish race to eclipse one another in the monumental character of their buildings. Architecturally, of course, it is a good tiling for Sydney. Whether all these vast enterprises are going to leap an immediate benefit for their enormous expenditure is another question.

The firm of David Jones, whose history is largely the history of Sydney, will lie in their magnificent now quarters. right alongside one ol the pi in(cipnl underground railway stations, before verv long. The building, which, so to speak, will pioneer a new shopping ventre in the city, will he one ol the architectural glories oT Sydney. Although it has yet to' be completed th( i windows displays in the new building are attracting big crowds. harmor’s, who enjoy what might he tenned a somewhat exclusive clientele, are altering the skyline of busy George street, with magnificent new premises which will have a floor space of approximately 14 acres, apart from their hit' block facing Pitt street. Over the road, in George Street, on the site of Lassetter’s once historic emporium, the Civil Service Stores arc erecting a magnificent building. The old-estab-lished firm of Hordern Bros, is also rebuilding. Marcus Clarke’s new place, within coo-co ol the Central Railway Station, will give an aristocratic touch to that quarter of the city. Then, among other now buildings, there is to be the giant and imposing structure which Grace Bros, propose to build at the citv approach to the harbour bridge.

With the present population of the metropolis of Sydney at a million and a-quarter, there is already much congestion in the busy retail centre ol the city. To visualise a population of three or four millions in, say, fifty years’ time, requires no great stretch of imagination. Kvcu il the authorities arc facing tardily the now outlook in Sydney, the big drapery emporiums, among other enterprises, are alive to it.