Oxford Street's decay and 1970's revival
Here continues my shortened paraphrase of ‘Street Scene - A History of Oxford Street’ by Clive Faro, an insight into the tumultuous story of Sydney’s gay Mecca. Enjoy.
Allen Taylor, Mayor of Sydney at the beginning of last century was namesake of Taylor Square, so decreed in 1908 by the Sydney Council. Taylor was instrumental in campaigning for the widening of the street from 60 to 100 feet across, recognising the significance of the street as a thoroughfare to the eastern suburbs. This trend, known as Boulevarding, was common practice in the ‘High Streets’ of major cities across the world. In the case of Oxford Street, many buildings on the Northern (as in Olympic Yiros) side were knocked down to allow for the new Boulevard.
The area flourished in the period immediately after the completion of the street-widening, however the First World War and, in the late 1920’s the depression, impacted adversely on Oxford Street’s prosperity. Also, the appeal of the inner city was waning as many wealthier citizens chose to relocate to burgeoning new suburbs, which were seen as more sanitary in the wake of decades spent living overcrowded terrace houses.
Residential and retail space close the city was very affordable by the time many European migrants arrived in the 1950’s, who quickly established themselves in Paddington and Darlinghurst. This brought about a spate of gentrification whereby older properties were restored, which in turn saw the queer community - and others seeking a cosmopolitan lifestyle - move back into the city and follow suit. By the sixties openly gay couples were not an uncommon sight in ‘Paddinghurst’. Also at this time, and despite renewed popularity, there was a brief threat posed by plans to have the traditional streets and buildings replaced by a swathe of freeway, as was the fad in that era.
In response to this change in the make up of Oxford Street, a number of new venues opened. Cappricio’s opened in 1969, rebirthing 1891 Riley Bros general store building just down the hill from Taylor square at number 163. It hosted elaborate drag shows that remained popular right through the 70’s. Patch’s, the popular disco venue and precursor to DCM, opened at number 33 in 1976. In 1980, ‘nightclub 85’ opened and quickly became regarded as the most glamorous club on lower Oxford Street. It catered for clones - the men who tight singlets, tight jeans and handlebar moustaches in a trend borrowed from America which ran contrary to effeminacy of stereotypical gays. 85 had been the Tropicana in the early seventies is now the Midnight Shift. Many traditional Oxford Street pubs also switched focus to cater for the new clientele. The first was the Unicorn Hotel in 1978, then the Albury (1980) and the Oxford (1982). The disused Kinsalis funeral parlour at Taylor Square was converted to social venue and eatery in the 80’s.
There remained a strong gay presence in Kings Cross in 70s and Darlinghurst Road was a popular route for walking between the two gay strongholds. Many made use of the route itself as a beat and later the sandstone walls of the goal became a centre for prostitution.
In the mid to late 80s “a new chill wind was starting to blow through the street”, as AIDS knocked down many of the same people who brought about the renaissance of a forgotten tract of the city. However, the responsive way in which many in the gay community came to the assistance of individuals hit by HIV and AIDS proved wrong any suggestion that the Oxford street scene was devoid of compassion.
This is the story of a street whose character was most accurately noted by John Fowler in 1995, as printed in ‘The Australian’:
“There used to be two hardware stores, now there are two Toolsheds”.
Allen Taylor, Mayor of Sydney at the beginning of last century was namesake of Taylor Square, so decreed in 1908 by the Sydney Council. Taylor was instrumental in campaigning for the widening of the street from 60 to 100 feet across, recognising the significance of the street as a thoroughfare to the eastern suburbs. This trend, known as Boulevarding, was common practice in the ‘High Streets’ of major cities across the world. In the case of Oxford Street, many buildings on the Northern (as in Olympic Yiros) side were knocked down to allow for the new Boulevard.
The area flourished in the period immediately after the completion of the street-widening, however the First World War and, in the late 1920’s the depression, impacted adversely on Oxford Street’s prosperity. Also, the appeal of the inner city was waning as many wealthier citizens chose to relocate to burgeoning new suburbs, which were seen as more sanitary in the wake of decades spent living overcrowded terrace houses.
Residential and retail space close the city was very affordable by the time many European migrants arrived in the 1950’s, who quickly established themselves in Paddington and Darlinghurst. This brought about a spate of gentrification whereby older properties were restored, which in turn saw the queer community - and others seeking a cosmopolitan lifestyle - move back into the city and follow suit. By the sixties openly gay couples were not an uncommon sight in ‘Paddinghurst’. Also at this time, and despite renewed popularity, there was a brief threat posed by plans to have the traditional streets and buildings replaced by a swathe of freeway, as was the fad in that era.
In response to this change in the make up of Oxford Street, a number of new venues opened. Cappricio’s opened in 1969, rebirthing 1891 Riley Bros general store building just down the hill from Taylor square at number 163. It hosted elaborate drag shows that remained popular right through the 70’s. Patch’s, the popular disco venue and precursor to DCM, opened at number 33 in 1976. In 1980, ‘nightclub 85’ opened and quickly became regarded as the most glamorous club on lower Oxford Street. It catered for clones - the men who tight singlets, tight jeans and handlebar moustaches in a trend borrowed from America which ran contrary to effeminacy of stereotypical gays. 85 had been the Tropicana in the early seventies is now the Midnight Shift. Many traditional Oxford Street pubs also switched focus to cater for the new clientele. The first was the Unicorn Hotel in 1978, then the Albury (1980) and the Oxford (1982). The disused Kinsalis funeral parlour at Taylor Square was converted to social venue and eatery in the 80’s.
There remained a strong gay presence in Kings Cross in 70s and Darlinghurst Road was a popular route for walking between the two gay strongholds. Many made use of the route itself as a beat and later the sandstone walls of the goal became a centre for prostitution.
In the mid to late 80s “a new chill wind was starting to blow through the street”, as AIDS knocked down many of the same people who brought about the renaissance of a forgotten tract of the city. However, the responsive way in which many in the gay community came to the assistance of individuals hit by HIV and AIDS proved wrong any suggestion that the Oxford street scene was devoid of compassion.
This is the story of a street whose character was most accurately noted by John Fowler in 1995, as printed in ‘The Australian’:
“There used to be two hardware stores, now there are two Toolsheds”.