The Astor

In 1923, the Astor was the 'first of its kind' in Australia, embracing a co-operative living scheme administered under Company Title. It was also the tallest residential building in Sydney. Despite the laterarrival of loftier skyscrapers, the dignity and elegance of the 'grand old dame of Macquarie Street' remains undiminished.This book offers a window onto the past by delving into the building's historic archive, illuminating good times and bad. It shows how 'Astoroids' have lived in the city, experiencing change as well as adherence totradition, struggle as well as success, tragic incidents as well as events that, in hindsight, are amusing.The combined narrative of text and image discloses unexpected gems as it investigates a range of issues and questions including:- When and how was the first set of 'rules' for living under the 'co-operative scheme' compiled?- In what ways did the Astor community contribute to the war effort in the 1940s?- What about tough times such as the Great Depression and COVID-19?- How did the Astor adjust as the city grew and encountered dramatic new modernities?