This 12-minute film is a record of the demolition of the original Bestoys factory and house next door to make way for the two-storeyed factory-warehouse-apartment building that took their place in 1976 and 1977.
The film stock was Kodak and Agfa Super 8 shot with a Chinon movie camera.
Working in Stanmore during construction hours meant that shooting could only be done during late afternoons or weekends when builders had finished for the day and Byrnes Street was all but deserted.
This gives a false and idyllic impression of Byrnes Street: it was not peaceful or deserted. During work hours, Byrnes Street was congested with delivery trucks and workers' vehicles lining both sides of the road. The noise and, in particular, the smells from the tanneries and chemical factory, were almost overwhelming.

With special thanks to Ian Freestone who digitised the reels of old film using AI technology. 
​ianfreestone.com