What Does the Astra Mean to the Bondi Community?
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The Astra building has a long and rich history in Bondi. The original hotel built on the site was the very first building overlooking the southern end of Bondi Beach. In the mid-1920s this first hotel was demolished and rebuilt, and the new hotel built in its place is the magnificent building that we still see today, almost 100 years later. After a brief spell as the Hotel International, it was renamed the Astra.
Between 1937 to 1967 the Astra flourished with fine dining, live orchestral music and one of the largest bars in Sydney! It was famous for its Christmas dinners and meat pies. During World War II it was taken over by the government for the air force and later by the British wrens. Parts of the movie Summer of the Seventeenth Doll with Ernest Borgnine, John Mills, Angela Lansbury and Anne Baxter were filmed at the Astra in 1959.
In the late 60s and 70s the Astra gained a reputation as being a hard-partying rock n roll venue, and many of Australia’s best bands played here.
In response to a large number of local complaints about the noise, drugs and violence at the Astra, in 1984 the building was converted into a retirement village. These days, Bondi Beach Astra Retirement Village hosts a thriving community of over-55 year olds who love to take advantage of its fabulous location and vibrant history.
We get lots of comments from Bondi locals on our Facebook page about their memories of the Astra. Here are some of the things this beautiful building means to them:
John Newton - “Aaah the Astra, great pies after surfing. And there was a very good Italian restaurant there… Did a terrific fish soup.”
Ellie Engelen - “Lived next door to the Astra, 1940s, played near there. Wedding night at Astra! 1950s! Good to see this grand building still in use today.”
Judy Curtis - “My first job in Sydney was barmaid at the Bikini Bar at the Astra!”
Tracey Scheitel - “My father was head waiter on the top floor when the Astra was a fancy restaurant/hotel back in the 60s.”
Sondra Williams - “Omg. My family ran the Astra as a hotel.”
Helen Sindicich - “We had our wedding reception there in 1980 when it was the Astra hotel. Amazing view from there.”
Christian P Caruana - “I’m turning 57 this year, 43 years ago I saw the Angels play at the Astra.”
Ann Espinoza - “Can’t believe the last time I was at the Astra in Bondi was to see Eric Burdon and the Animals, best night, house of the rising sun!”
Brett Martin - “And those just coming of retirement age will remember the Astra as a rocking live venue that once hosted AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Hunters and Collectors, Flowers and The Radiators. Apparently it was a bloodbath, but Aussie rock personified.”
Joe Bondin - “Wow this place used to rock with some of the biggest bands in Australia playing here! How poetic! Now a retirement home for old rockers.”
If you are interested in finding out more about the Astra in its latest incarnation as a retirement village, please give us a call, email or visit our FAQs. We’d love to hear from you.