Minutes before 2am on December 19, 1980, Maitland Woolworths was bombed.

Located in High Street at the time, next to the Westpac Bank, the blast caused $300,000 of stock damage.

A bomb had been lowered through a vent near the back car park of the variety shop.

Police were aware that Woolworths at Warilla had also been bombed with gelignite using a timer attached, and it too had been lowered through the roof.

Three days after the Maitland bombing, Woolworths in George Street, Sydney received a call and a letter addressed to then company executive Mr AJ Harding with a list of demands.

These included proceeding with stage two of the bombers plan – daylight explosions during peak hours and $500,000 in used unmarked 20 notes; $250,000 in 10 50-ounce gold bullion bars; $250,000 in loose diamonds one carat or greater.

A bomb went off at 3.25pm. 

The shop had been evacuated after the bombers called in. 

No one was killed.

Woolworths put together a ­ransom inside a cricket bag.

A courier was ordered to drop the ransom into Sydney Harbour at the Taronga Zoo wharf while the police watched and waited.

Officers found Gregory Norman McHardie in a diving suit.

McHardie and Larry Burton Danielson went to trial but McHardie escaped Parramatta jail inside a garbage truck and was at large for two months.

Despite his absence, the trial went on and both men were ­convicted. They were sentenced to 20 years jail with nine years non-parole period.