Singo's tower AKA Bonython Tower



On 16th July 2018, the penthouse was not yet visible

On 16th July 2018, the penthouse was not yet visible but the kids enjoying the ice rink in Kibble Park didn't care.

Look at the size of it now, 18th August 2018

Look at the size of it compared to the little old shops of quiet old Gosford. (British readers should note that by 'old' I mean Gosford was founded by white people in the 1830's. So it's not really very old.)

This has to be the penthouse appearing, 18th August 2018

This narrower part at the top of the residential part of Bonython Tower must be the penthouse and its nice big terrace veranda. What else could it be, right up there? It's too big to be the elevator super-structure. Gentlemen, I'll come and get the answer from you some time over the next week, when my current blizzard of work allows me the leisure.

Penthouse not visible from Paul Lane, 18th August 2018

No, the penthouse is not visible from the William Street end of Paul Lane.

Work goes on inside despite the gusty wind's we've had recently, 18th August 2018



The wind's work & an interior worker just visible, 18th August 2018



I used to be able to get such lovely images of the workers at this site, back when the tower was low enough that I could photograph from the roof carpark of the Imperial Centre. Now I have to stand further and further away and hope I don't get too much camera shake when I zoom right in.

The good news for those who visit this site just to see Gosford grow is that I can still get lovely clear photos of workers on some of the other sites and new sites will be breaking ground for a few years yet.

 Extra

7 cranes visible from the West Gosford lights, 18th August 2018

As I waited at the West Gosford lights, taken on the 18th of August 2018, I could see 7 of Gosford's 14 cranes. 2 of the cranes are only partly visible so finding them all will give you a warm glow of satisfaction. (If the photo won't enlarge on your mobile, you'll be able to see the partial cranes on a home computer.)

From left to right, the cranes are at: Fielder Street (red & white) Kendall Street, Batley Street (red & white) Donnison Street West, Mann Street (Singo's tower) uncertain location and Wilhelmina Street (Harbour View).

I'm going to have to track down that uncertain location on foot on the weekend. I'll put the location in the comments below.

More sites soon.

Topped Out - Part 2

 Batley Street

Batley Street topped out & nearly move-in ready, 27th July 2018

Those sticking out balconies on the right of the building would give you a view of the lovely gums and wattles and casuarinas on Presidents Hill, as well as those great water views too.

Looking west at the Bately Street site, 27th July 2018

Fagans Bay (not Phegans Bay) visible at the left bottom edge of this photo and the crane at the Fielder Street site on the right edge, with the tree-covered Kariong Ridge beyond that.




Batley Street penthouse, 27th July 2018


Batley Street's penthouse has 360 degree views of the water, over the southern part of Gosford and, from its back windows, of the nice restful trees on Presidents Hill.

 Harbour View in Wilhelmina Street

Sunny winter's day at the corner of Wilhelmina & Batley Streets, 27th July 2018

It all looks quiet on a sunny winter's day.




Lots going on inside at Wilhelmina Street, 27th July 2018

But I could hear them going at it hammer and tongs all over the site, behind that mysterious blue mesh.

 Extra


Old "roach back" fire truck at Kibble Park, 14th July 2018

An old "roach back" fire truck at Kibble Park, during the winter festival last month. The adults loved it as much as the kids did.




Gear storage lockers along the outside, 14th July 2018

Lockers down the sides where they used to keep the hoses and other fire-fighting gear.

The back of the roach back shows you why it's called a roach back, 14th July 2018

Why it's called a "roach back". It looks remarkably like a cockroach from this angle.


More building sites and extras very soon.

Crane Count (August 2018)

Crane Count - 13th August 2018

14 cranes counted on the 13th of August 2018. Last count was 15 on the 14th of April 2018.

 
GREEN DOT - site is 100% finished
BLUE DOT - site is not yet finished, some in blue are topped out
RED CIRCLE - site not previously included on Crane Count maps

Look at the map on your computer at home to read the street names and building names attached to the big blue (and one green) dots.

 
From top to bottom & left to right:
 
Tiny houses - small green dot & its line to left, corner Showground & Racecourse Roads, topped out & inhabitants moved in end of June/early July, never had a crane but included as a sharp contrast to all the towers going up

Range Road & Ormond Street - 2 small blue dots, top right corner, finished sizes as yet unknown, fishing pole style cranes (if there's another name for those cranes I'd love to know in the comments section below)

'Golf Heights' at Racecourse Road - small blue dot below green dotted golf club, back of the hospital, 10 mins walk from station, a few still unsold, as yet no crane

Beane Street West - biggest dot & smaller dot below, a hospital site, going gangbusters now that massive grading & foundation laying work is over, one big red & white crane
 
Corner of Beane St East & Hills Street - to right of hospital dots, grey crane, some trouble with powerlines too close a few months ago but work seems to have resumed (will get back there to you soon, gentlemen)

Faunce Street West & Hargraves Street - to left of black dot, yellow crane at Faunce West & 2 cranes now on Hargraves St site, both sites sloping with Hargraves Street being one of the steepest sites in Gosford & Faunce St West now having its 1st pour down

Fielder Street - red circle & red & white & blue crane, Fielder Street is hidden away opposite the Settlers' tavern on Hely Street West Gosford, the workers on Bately Street & 'Harbour View' can see it from their sites by looking west from upper floors, ground was broken on this site about 2 months ago & pouring started while I had the flu, going gangbusters there gentlemen

Batley Street - below Presidents Hill, on left, upper dot, red & white & blue crane & site now topped out with interior work continuing

'Harbour View' - below Presidents Hill, on left, lower dot, Wilhelmina Street, yellow crane & topped out with exterior & interior work continuing

'Acqua' - red circle to the right of & below 'Harbour View', on the corner of Wilhelmina & St George Streets, another hill site, broke ground only about a month ago & foundation work going gangbusters, good work gentlemen, as yet no crane
 
Donnison Street West - on the edge of Presidents Hill, to the right, yellow crane, an extra few storeys being added to get those lovely views down the length of the Brisbane Water to Woy Woy & Pittwater

'Bonython Tower' AKA Singo's tower - right of Presidents Hill & vertical black line, big yellow crane, the most significant site in Gosford to date as it towers over the main street (the vertical black line) I think I've missed you topping out gentlemen, though I saw the big white pouring arm in action just last week, I'll make time to come & ask this week, congratulations if I missed top out

32 Mann Street AKA the finance building - below 'Bonython Tower' & beside the vertical black line, yellow crane & now topped out (congratulations gentlemen) with exterior & interior work continuing & a super-structure on the road still being worked on Monday 13th August 2018

'Pinnacle' - red circle opposite 32 Mann Street & behind the old Telstra & Post Office buildings, viewable from Henry Parry drive, as yet no crane

Golden cage - red circle, a large site between Henry Parry Drive & John Whiteway Drive near Broadway Avenue, cleared around 10 years ago & the cage of poured concrete pillars put in to prevent the golden sandstone hillside from falling into the site then nothing happened & now, just a month ago, it suddenly became active again & is going ahead well

Topped out tower - red circle, no crane now, another tricky site to photograph as Henry Parry Drive is both a busy road & a road that's all blind corners & so a clear & present danger to photographers trying to cross the road for a closer view, topped out (congratulations gentlemen) while I had the flu, with only interior & landscaping left to do

Lynn Avenue - small blue dot near the bottom of the map, to the right of Gosford Yacht Club, yellow crane, congratulations to you too gentlemen as you too are topped out, with exterior & interior work continuing


Okay, that's it for this Crane Count. If I've left anything out, or you have anything to add or to ask, click on the comments thingy below.

More photos very soon.

Excuses excuses

Dear reader, a nasty data loss and paid work are currently inferring with the fun of taking and uploading photos and words to this website.

I'll be back in a week or two. Hopefully a week.

Meanwhile, congratulations to those other sites who have topped out but whose photos are not yet on this website.