Envision a tower, a landmark that sparks debate even today. This is Blues Point Tower. Standing before you, it’s hard to miss. Blues Point Tower rises 83 meters into the sky. It is a residential building of 25 levels, with 144 apartments.
Completed in 1962, Blues Point Tower was Australia’s tallest residential building for a time. Harry Seidler and Associates designed it. They envisioned a high-density redevelopment for the entire suburb.
Back in 1957, there was a proposal to zone this area for industrial use. Seidler suggested McMahons Point could house apartments with harbour views instead. Although the industrial zoning was rejected, Seidler’s grand plan never fully materialized. Blues Point Tower was the only part of the plan ever built.
Dick Dusseldorp commissioned Seidler through his company, Civil & Civic. During construction, the site office was in Bellvue. Bellvue was an 1870s Victorian villa that previously stood here.
In 2011, a 6-meter maritime radar was added to the building’s roof. This addition changed the skyline again.
Blues Point Tower is considered an example of Internationalist style. It was intended to be the start of a high-density housing movement. The tower has faced criticism for its inconsistency with the surrounding cityscape. Some public figures have even suggested demolishing it. Despite the criticism, North Sydney Council added Blues Point Tower to its local heritage register in 1993.
Seidler defended his creation. He thought Blues Point Tower was one of his best buildings. He believed anyone who couldn’t see its value needed to go back to school.
The story of Blues Point Tower is intertwined with post-war planning in Sydney. It reflects changing attitudes towards Sydney Harbour. The Cumberland County Council initially zoned the peninsula as industrial land in 1945. North Sydney Council and local residents wanted residential zoning.
The McMahons Point and Lavender Bay Progress Association invited Harry Seidler to create a residential scheme. Seidler wanted to bring rationality to residential planning. He felt the harbour’s beauty was underappreciated and despoiled by industry. He advocated for urban consolidation in well-designed flats.
Seidler’s team designed a model showing how the site could be redeveloped. The concept was met with enthusiasm. It stopped the industrial rezoning. Residential zoning was approved in 1958.
The architects envisioned multiple towers, slab blocks, maisonettes, and open space. This would increase the population while providing views and space. This required demolishing existing structures, reflecting Modernist planning ideas. Only Blues Point Tower was completed.
Other tall buildings were erected later. They lacked the planned context of Seidler’s scheme. This overshadowed existing dwellings and blocked views.
In 1974, Nigel Ashton questioned the tower’s location. He believed it might not be ideal for such a prominent site.
The pending demolition of Bell’vue and nearby terraces led to the formation of the North Shore Historical Society in 1958. This marked a rise in heritage consciousness.
Upon completion in 1962, Blues Point Tower was marketed to singles, young couples, and empty nesters. It was one of the first strata-titled apartment blocks in New South Wales. Sales were initially slow due to credit issues.
The tower’s French balconies are small. This was because balconies were included in the allowable floor area at the time. The design reflects a time when panoramic views were not as crucial as they are today.
Seidler believed full glass facades were thermally inappropriate for Sydney’s climate. He opted for reinforced concrete and brick-infill walls.
In 2024, Blues Point Tower underwent a facade makeover. This aimed to retain Seidler’s design and give the iconic building a fresh lease of life.
Like the Sydney Opera House, Blues Point Tower is a Sydney building with a known architect. Despite the criticisms, many residents appreciate living here. The tower remains a significant, if controversial, part of Sydney’s architectural landscape.