Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Scully –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         this year marks ninety years since Mick Adams (Joachim Tavlaridis) opened the Black & White Milk Bar at 24 Martin Place, Sydney;

(ii)        the milkshake was revolutionised by Mr Adams’ modern milk bar, this influenced the nation and later Great Britain, Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, South Pacific Islands and Japan too;

(iii)       Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis first applied to the City of Sydney’s historical ‘green plaques’ program in 2017 to have the site officially recognised for its cultural and historical significance;

(iv)       the Council’s historical office reviewed the application and approved the recommendation for a plaque to be produced;

(v)        however, 24 Martin Place, Sydney, is now part of a larger site which is home to a much larger building with glass walls; 

(vi)       this building’s owners have refused to give consent to the installation of the plaque, despite the City holding numerous meetings with building management, engaging in negotiations with the building owners, and providing several suggestions for locating the plaque that would not impact the glass facade;

(vii)      an alternative location in Pitt Street for the plaque proposed by the building owners was considered unsuitable by the plaque’s proponents as it did not link with milk bar’s history; and

(viii)    the City has recently consulted with the plaque’s proponents on an alternative location for the plaque, closer to the original milk bar site, and consulted with stakeholders and is waiting for the building’s owners to agree to its installation.

Carried unanimously.

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