ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Renovations to Sydney’s iconic Sirius building are nearing completion and in order to preserve the colourful history of the former housing commission structure, a commemorative plaque has been placed near the entrance.
On the 1st of May this year, the building will officially be opened by American actor Mark Wahlberg, who’s in Sydney to film and movie and advocate for Moore Park Golf Course, which is being carved up by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who wants a closer park to her luxury Redfern apartment.
The Sirius building was completed in 1980 and housed many of the original tenants of public housing in The Rocks, who fought ‘green bans’ on redeveloping public housing for the private market. Since 1981, the building was home to thousands of ordinary people and enjoyed landmark status to the millions of Sydneysiders that travelled across the Harbour Bridge each year. Premier Mike Baird put the building on the market in 2015 and after some legal side-missions, the last tenant, an elderly blind woman, was evicted. Baird resigned for no apparent reason eighteen months later. The buildings turbulent history is outlined in the plaque.
The plaque reads:
ONCE HOME TO PENSIONERS, SINGLE-PARENTS, WOMEN ESCAPING
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ASSORTED POOR PEOPLE, IT WAS
SOLD BY PREMIER MIKE BAIRD TO DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE TURNED IT INTO A HOME FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE FIRST AGAINST THE WALL
IF OUR FRAGILE SOCIETY EVER COLLAPSES
The Sirius building is now home to a number of luxury apartments with sweeping views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Port Jackson. Many of the new owners live overseas, however, the $20m penthouse is still on the market if anyone is interested.
More to come.
