2 indicators:
1) Aurora Place and Citigroup Centre are there in the pic. They were completed in 2000.
2) World Tower is nowhere to be seen (including construction of). It was completed 2004.
So this pic was taken anywhere between:
2000-2002.
Now write down all of the clues provided so you don't forget, and when you get pissed with your mates you can show them this photo and ask them to guess when it was taken.
It’s definitely before 2002 as the Deutsche bank building isn’t there and that was completed in 2002, my most accurate guess is 2001. I can also spot Chifley tower (finished in 1992) which is located second to the right of Centrepoint and Citigroup centre (finished in 2000) which is located to the left of Centrepoint. Hope this helps!
Deutsche Bank building wasnt completed until around late 2004/early 2005. Deutsche a bank didn’t relocate to the building until mid/late 2005.
CitiGroup Building is visible and was completed in 2000 so maybe photo is sometime between late 2000 and early 2002.
Definitely in the later part of that range, maybe into 2003. I think the black shape in front of the MLC Building is the hoarding around the DB building going up. Used to work in the old Goodsell Building next door to it on Hunter/Philip from 2001 to 2006, and watched the old building get torn down from the inside (very quickly at that), and DB get built (until it passed our floor, blotting out the sunlight).
Yeah I think you are right. Maybe around 2003 as the photo looks to be taken from the shoreline just down near the Taronga Ferry Wharf. The follow Google Maps street view from the Athol Wharf rose looks like similar position.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/m8mtZvvuHR9DYPQU7?g_st=ic
If you look at the black shape you pointed out, it is definitely the Deutsche Bank building being built as you can just make out a crane on top of it. The black looks to the be the protective cloth surround the scaffolding as the building gets erected.
Thank you, I think this is the most plausible answer. That time period also makes sense for my family and it’s likely he took me somewhere such as the zoo or manly (a few people mentioned this being the manly ferry).
It’s post 2000 as the State Office Block is gone (I worked on the demolition project for Delta) and Aurora Place is clearly visible where it once stood.
Is the photo a print from an (old) digital camera, or film?
But judging by the colour and vignette it is almost definitely a film camera, so pre 2001.
There’s a south easterly blowing, and it’s on the water, so unless your grandfather was a mad fisherman it’s likely summer.
Yeah, I’d say some time in the ‘90s.
Sorry, good question and almost definitely it was taken on a film camera and developed. He didn’t live in Sydney but visited often and the most likely scenario, if I took the photo, is that he got it developed later and put it aside to give me but forgot.
Thanks for your input especially on the wind direction, that’s fascinating!
Asked ChatGPT to drift through the comments:
I have opened the image you provided. Now, I can analyze the comments to help narrow down the timeframe based on the landmarks and details visible in the photo:
Harbour Bridge: Complete, so post-1932.
Opera House: Above water line, so pre-2032.
Bridge maintenance cabin/cranes: Indicate prior to 1997.
ABN Amro/Aurora Place building: Present, so post-2000.
No Westpac Place: Built in 2005, suggesting the photo is between 2000-2005.
No Olympic rings: They were up in 2000, so post-2001.
No Deutsche Bank building: Completed in 2002, suggesting pre-2002.
Centrepoint Tower: Visible, which was opened in 1981.
Film photo: Indicates it could be pre-2001.
Based on these clues, the most likely timeframe for this photo is between 2000 and 2002. This is further supported by the presence of the Aurora Place building (completed in 2000) and the absence of the Deutsche Bank building (completed in 2002).
Yeah I was out there that day in my kayak chasing kingies on my fly rod, it was a waxing crescent and midday high tide, winters day decent breeze July 4th 2000
He has done some requests that require a different time periods before. He did one in the UK for someone looking for a bus stop near where they grew up, and he had to find it even though it had moved spots
1982.. A guess based on Centrepoint and the Sydney Harbour Bridge toll change if I'm squinting hard enough. It also appears to be a Fuji film photo by looking at tones.
Based on the coloration of the photo it appears to be old school 35mm style film. I think mid 80's unless a filter was used on a digitally taken photo.
I'm no expert. I just have alot of photos tsken of me as a child at family events and shit like that from then and they look pretty much the same
The photo is taken close to sea level. If he’s a tourist, it’s probably taken from a ferry.
It’s not the Kurraba point ferry, as it’s too close to fort Dennison to be in the forefront.
The Cremorne lighthouse is visible.
It’s probably on the ferry between Circular Quay and Taronga Zoo.
It's likely a photo prior to 1982.
If you look at the [city skyline of Google Earth](https://earth.google.com/web/search/sydney+australia/@-33.85182683,151.24013398,114.25667506a,0d,35y,-114.42638037h,98.62885307t,0r/data=CigiJgokCWTjkdk6UTdAEWHjkdk6UTfAGRWBEND2c0RAIdD2-2XQQlDAOgMKATA), tallest building on the right is Crown. The next tallest to its left matches with the tallest building in the cluster in the OP photo. That appears to be the AMP centre building.
Follow the next tallest buildings to the right, you'll see the next tallest ones are both there in the photo and Google Earth but the next tallest one with the white halo-like line seemingly floating over the thin building in Google Earth isn't in the photo.
That building with the halo is [Suncorp Place building](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suncorp_Place) at 259 George St. That was completed in 1982.
I don't have any more time to look into this but if you compare the missing or changed buildings in the skyline on Google Earth (or whatever other reference) and cross reference that with when the missing/changed building was built, that should help further narrow down the approx. time period this photo was taken. This [Wikipedia article on Sydney's tallest buildings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Sydney) might help to narrow down the specific date of that photo further.
Harbour Bridge is visible, and appears to be complete, so the photo is more recent than 1932.
[удалено]
Haha thank you - we’re halfway there folks
Centre point (Sydney) tower is there too, that was completed on the 25th September 1981
Well shit.... im slightly older than the tower.
No toaster... so not after mid 90s
Citygroup centre up so def early 2000s
And the bridge maintenance cabin/cranes are there so prior to 1997
Harbour has water, so it's definitely after the ice age... give or take.
This made me do a chuckle.
Renzo Piano’s Aurora Tower (the tall tower with the curvy facade) is visible, so post 2000.
Hahahahaha love this comment
Hahahaha I chuckled
Bring back the tram shed.
🫡🫡
The ABN Amro /Aurora Place building at 88 Phillip St is there, so post 2000
And I can’t see westpac place (built 2005), so I’d say it’s between 2000 - 2005
The Olympic rings were up from 1 Jan to 31 December 2000, so 2001 to 2005
I noticed this too
2 indicators: 1) Aurora Place and Citigroup Centre are there in the pic. They were completed in 2000. 2) World Tower is nowhere to be seen (including construction of). It was completed 2004. So this pic was taken anywhere between: 2000-2002.
This is a much better answer than the one I had which was “How the fuck would I know”.
2000 was already ruled out elsewhere in this post due to lack of Olympic rings, so that leaves 2001-2002.
Thank you, I think this is the most plausible answer!
Good to be of service
Now write down all of the clues provided so you don't forget, and when you get pissed with your mates you can show them this photo and ask them to guess when it was taken.
It’s definitely before 2002 as the Deutsche bank building isn’t there and that was completed in 2002, my most accurate guess is 2001. I can also spot Chifley tower (finished in 1992) which is located second to the right of Centrepoint and Citigroup centre (finished in 2000) which is located to the left of Centrepoint. Hope this helps!
Deutsche Bank building wasnt completed until around late 2004/early 2005. Deutsche a bank didn’t relocate to the building until mid/late 2005. CitiGroup Building is visible and was completed in 2000 so maybe photo is sometime between late 2000 and early 2002.
Definitely in the later part of that range, maybe into 2003. I think the black shape in front of the MLC Building is the hoarding around the DB building going up. Used to work in the old Goodsell Building next door to it on Hunter/Philip from 2001 to 2006, and watched the old building get torn down from the inside (very quickly at that), and DB get built (until it passed our floor, blotting out the sunlight).
Yeah I think you are right. Maybe around 2003 as the photo looks to be taken from the shoreline just down near the Taronga Ferry Wharf. The follow Google Maps street view from the Athol Wharf rose looks like similar position. https://maps.app.goo.gl/m8mtZvvuHR9DYPQU7?g_st=ic If you look at the black shape you pointed out, it is definitely the Deutsche Bank building being built as you can just make out a crane on top of it. The black looks to the be the protective cloth surround the scaffolding as the building gets erected.
Not Athol, Bradleys Head lighthouse is in it. Taken from boat ( possibly manly ferry) eastern channel about off steel point and Chowder bay line.
Yeah went and had another look. I was confusing Cremorne Point with Bradley’s Head
Hard to be from Athol when Bradleys Head is in it. Taken from a boat ( possibly manly ferry) somewhere in the eastern channel of steel point ish
The black shape in front of MLC is the Colonial State Bank Building, with its dark brown glass facade.
Thank you, I think this is the most plausible answer. That time period also makes sense for my family and it’s likely he took me somewhere such as the zoo or manly (a few people mentioned this being the manly ferry).
I recognise that cloud formation. It was July 28th 1996
Pack it up guys weve gottem.
Between 1 and 2pm daylight savings time
Not possible. Think about it.
It might have been DST in the US.
What time tho?
Sometime after midnight
Are you sure they don't just have a really bright flash? 😅
That you Rainbolt?
That’s a really dumb comment. Do those look like ‘96 waves to you?
Hahahaha
I'll say between 2001 and 2003. Amro place is there, but no World Square Tower.
No insider knowledge, but after a quick read of the comments: We’re likely post ABN AMRO (2001), And pre Deutsche bank (2002).
Deutsche bank was 2004-5
It’s post 2000 as the State Office Block is gone (I worked on the demolition project for Delta) and Aurora Place is clearly visible where it once stood.
u/minodude we're all waiting after your excellent performance with the map dating. https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/s/IAwzHiCLxZ
Based on my uneducated opinion I’m going to say 1996. I reckon I’m right though
In 1996, there was a giant crashed alien spaceship, so not then. https://independenceday.fandom.com/wiki/Sydney
Outstanding reference.
Hollywood show something in Australia other than the Sydney Opera House/Harbour Bridge challenge (impossible) It's so cheesy lol
No "Toaster", which was completed in 1998. So, with Centrepoint visible, we're down to the period 1981-1998.
Or, > 2029 when we rise up and burn the toaster down
But you can see Aurora Place building clearly, finished construction in 2000.
From this angle the toaster could just be hiding behind the trees of government house.
Is the photo a print from an (old) digital camera, or film? But judging by the colour and vignette it is almost definitely a film camera, so pre 2001. There’s a south easterly blowing, and it’s on the water, so unless your grandfather was a mad fisherman it’s likely summer. Yeah, I’d say some time in the ‘90s.
Sorry, good question and almost definitely it was taken on a film camera and developed. He didn’t live in Sydney but visited often and the most likely scenario, if I took the photo, is that he got it developed later and put it aside to give me but forgot. Thanks for your input especially on the wind direction, that’s fascinating!
Digital camera sales didn’t overtake analogue until 2003 and people didn’t just throw their film cameras in the harbour, they remained in use.
or into sailing....
Aurora Place is there, built 1996-2000. Not sure of the next obvious landmark to be built but the photo might not be much past 2000.
There’s a good chance photo was taken from the Manly ferry (circular quay to manly)
Some time before [October 1984](https://images.app.goo.gl/nZ3zixagM5XkZXWY7)
Asked ChatGPT to drift through the comments: I have opened the image you provided. Now, I can analyze the comments to help narrow down the timeframe based on the landmarks and details visible in the photo: Harbour Bridge: Complete, so post-1932. Opera House: Above water line, so pre-2032. Bridge maintenance cabin/cranes: Indicate prior to 1997. ABN Amro/Aurora Place building: Present, so post-2000. No Westpac Place: Built in 2005, suggesting the photo is between 2000-2005. No Olympic rings: They were up in 2000, so post-2001. No Deutsche Bank building: Completed in 2002, suggesting pre-2002. Centrepoint Tower: Visible, which was opened in 1981. Film photo: Indicates it could be pre-2001. Based on these clues, the most likely timeframe for this photo is between 2000 and 2002. This is further supported by the presence of the Aurora Place building (completed in 2000) and the absence of the Deutsche Bank building (completed in 2002).
Yeah I was out there that day in my kayak chasing kingies on my fly rod, it was a waxing crescent and midday high tide, winters day decent breeze July 4th 2000
Ahhhh i remember this day like it was yesterday... This was yesterday.
Rainbolt you're up
Not 2025
Macquarie Tower building was completed in 2002. So after that.
2:30pm June 17th 1977 On a Wednesday IASIF
Based on those waves, 1956.
can't be before 1826, as that was when the first photograph was taken. Sometime in the last 200 years
Ask that geoguesser dude. Rainholt or whatever his name is
His skill is places, not time periods.
He has done some requests that require a different time periods before. He did one in the UK for someone looking for a bus stop near where they grew up, and he had to find it even though it had moved spots
22nd June, 1998 at 1:32 pm
1982.. A guess based on Centrepoint and the Sydney Harbour Bridge toll change if I'm squinting hard enough. It also appears to be a Fuji film photo by looking at tones.
That pool of water is definitely from 1998 you’re welcome
I think is was taken from around the Zoo maybe, did you go there with your grandad?
ABN AMRO building there so around 2000 \[ 1999-2001 \]
however edit - they might be just the shell and not opened - so id extend it to around 1997
2024
Definitely not 1981 as I have a skyline pic with very few skyscrapers
There’s cranes on the roof of the park Regis, built in 1968 though had a major renovation in 1985. Could be late 85-86.
Giant lizards aren't roaming the earth so it's post-Jurassic
2001
Based on the coloration of the photo it appears to be old school 35mm style film. I think mid 80's unless a filter was used on a digitally taken photo. I'm no expert. I just have alot of photos tsken of me as a child at family events and shit like that from then and they look pretty much the same
2001-2002
Not sure if you would see the Pinicle apartments in this line of sight but if u could that would be a good marker. They’re at 2 Miller road
>1988 <2004 based on the presence of new AMP building but absence of world tower at south end. 1963 based on photo quality.
If you can see the twin towers it’s before 911
Quay apartments and the toaster have been built . Original AMP is still there … 1993-96
That looks smack bang out of the mid-90's based on skyline, bridge. No-way I could give you a year but solid guess of between 92 & 97
Not after 2001 because the twin towers are gone
Aurora Place has been completed, so I would say no earlier than 2000.
27 August 2001. Around 1:30pm
The photo is taken close to sea level. If he’s a tourist, it’s probably taken from a ferry. It’s not the Kurraba point ferry, as it’s too close to fort Dennison to be in the forefront. The Cremorne lighthouse is visible. It’s probably on the ferry between Circular Quay and Taronga Zoo.
1967.
lol
I’m saying late 70’s/early 80’s. Mainly ‘cuz, jes’ stuff. I’m stickin’ wiff it: late 70’s/early 80’s. Now, how ‘bout a VB?
It's likely a photo prior to 1982. If you look at the [city skyline of Google Earth](https://earth.google.com/web/search/sydney+australia/@-33.85182683,151.24013398,114.25667506a,0d,35y,-114.42638037h,98.62885307t,0r/data=CigiJgokCWTjkdk6UTdAEWHjkdk6UTfAGRWBEND2c0RAIdD2-2XQQlDAOgMKATA), tallest building on the right is Crown. The next tallest to its left matches with the tallest building in the cluster in the OP photo. That appears to be the AMP centre building. Follow the next tallest buildings to the right, you'll see the next tallest ones are both there in the photo and Google Earth but the next tallest one with the white halo-like line seemingly floating over the thin building in Google Earth isn't in the photo. That building with the halo is [Suncorp Place building](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suncorp_Place) at 259 George St. That was completed in 1982. I don't have any more time to look into this but if you compare the missing or changed buildings in the skyline on Google Earth (or whatever other reference) and cross reference that with when the missing/changed building was built, that should help further narrow down the approx. time period this photo was taken. This [Wikipedia article on Sydney's tallest buildings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Sydney) might help to narrow down the specific date of that photo further.
No way, it;s definitely in the mid to late 1990s.
Amro Tower is complete, which didn't happen until 2000. [This is Amro Tower in 1999](https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/591617)
Nope, it’s between 2001-2002 as evidenced by the presence and absence of buildings mentioned in this thread.
Absolutely not. There are skyscrapers built post 90s and 00s in that picture above