These aren't quite as old as some of the photos others have posted, but they do show a very different Austin skyline. Also these were taken by Robert Pence
who passed away last week.
He took these photos in May of 1981 during what was the worst flood in Austin in 50 years at the time. 13 people died. It became known as the Memorial Day Flood.
This photo shows the tower crane for the Hyatt Regency Hotel just across the river south of downtown. The red crane is working on an office building.
Photo by
Robert E Pence -
http://www.robertpence.com/tx_austin/tx_austin.html
I love this photo of his because it pretty much shows Austin's skyline as it appeared the year I was born. There were two new buildings in this photo that would have been under construction in 1979 (the year I was born). This photo also shows the Dobie Center (tall concrete tower left) and Chase Bank Tower (gold glass tower right). Those two buildings later had their facades dramatically altered. In the photo link below each of these photos, there's a photo at that link showing the Chase Bank Tower (then American Bank) that shows the gold glass. Today that building has blue glass facade and a translucent dome on the roof.
Photo by
Robert E Pence -
http://www.robertpence.com/tx_austin/tx_austin.html