‘THROUGH THE HEADS to Balmoral, Sydney’ is published.

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For over 40 millenia the indigenous Australians lived and ate along our abundant coastline of beaches
and bush. Then these foreshores provided a casual picnic playground for the early Sydney elite as they began to enjoy the freedom of the outdoor life. Today, both locals and visitors embrace these now public parklands as a beautiful, natural environment to be appreciated and enjoyed.

‘THROUGH THE HEADS to Balmoral, Sydney’
Taking Balmoral as the epitome of it all, I now trace the past and present development of Sydney’s abundant foreshores. This includes the people, the land and the food. I’ve zoomed in, from the perspective of The Heads, which ‘define and defend the entrance to our harbour.’ The gap between The Heads holds compelling prospects, as the massive protective arms stretch out, giving shelter from  the direct onslaught of the Tasman Sea.

Sydney Harbour became a container for those condemned by His Majesty’s Court when the First Fleet carried the first immigrants, whose labour would forge the new colony into a nation.
For over two centuries, the parade of vessels has passed through The Heads as they voyaged to and from the distant world.

Picnic suggestions are made with the emphasis on simplicity and seasonal, local produce. Shared platters and finger food dominate, reflecting the fusion style of our innovative Australian cuisine today.
Whether you’re at Balmoral Beach or your own special place, I hope you enjoy our harbour foreshores and picnics as much as I do.  Claire

Sometime in 2017 - when Mosman becomes part of the Greater Manly Council

A Prediction        

by  Greg Sommers

Residents of the area, formerly known as Mosman, have been asking whether the rat run that has long been closed on Awaba Street, will be re-opened by the Greater Manly Council?

A photo of the Awaba Street dead end  (attached 

for archive purposes.)

A renowned futurologist, was recently asked for his views on this question.  Here is what he had to say:

Based on the Spit Junction Masterplan of 2012, Greater Manly Council will adopt a new LEP allowing 8-10 storey buildings on the arterial roads of Mosman. This is pretty much a given. Please excuse me for referring to South Manly as Mosman. I keep slipping back into the old name for this area. 

    Traffic congestion will increase significantly in South Manly due to the influx of hundreds of new vehicles into the area, courtesy of the building of high rise apartments.    The bulk of residents of Greater Manly however live north of the Spit Bridge which makes South Manly their major thoroughfare to the city, eastern suburbs and inner west.

    The majority will win this battle and it is highly likely that the  councillors representing South Manly, 20% will be unable to influence the 80% of other councillors. 

He was then asked how would such congestion be dealt with. Surely the Government has some plan?

    Yes, the Government has a plan; but that plan has nothing to do with the lower north shore. New road or rail infrastructure is not a goer for the lower north shore. The poles and powerline billions will be spent in the west.
 As such you don't need a crystal ball to see that traffic congestion on Military and Spit Road is likely to worsen.
    Something has to give and more rat runs will need to be created. My view is that it is inevitable that Awaba Street will have to be unblocked to allow cars to race up Awaba Street all the way to Macpherson Street to help relieve   traffic congestion on Military and Spit Roads.

     After all a bit of pain for South Manly will be acceptable for the good of most of the residents of Greater Manly.


This ominous prediction completed the interview.

    My prediction is supported by the Duncan Gay decision in respect of the Beauty Point Rat Run. The closure of that rat run wasn't even allowed to go to the full length of the trial closure.

    There is also a good chance that this rat run will be made a permanent rat run available twenty for hours a day.

C'MON MOSMAN!! DO WE REALLY WANT TO BECOME part of 'GREATER MANLY'?

MAFA addressed a packed auditorium at Mosman RS Club
on Monday evening

The appalling plan was discussed  where Mosman, with the current amalgamation boundaries, would be destined to be absorbed into 'Greater Manly'.

Lost for polite words, ALL THAT CAN BE SAID  - LOUDLY & CLEARLY...

SAY NO TO MOSMAN BECOMING 'GREATER MANLY'

PEOPLE POWER WON THE DAY THEN AND CAN DO NOW. C'MON MOSMAN!!

Edwards Beach, Balmoral  was retained, 
thanks to People Power and Mosman Council 
which listened to, and was able to act upon local issues. 

Help to keep Mosman independent by attending the Mosman Community Meeting  - 

Monday 8 February, 6 pm at the the Mosman's Returned Service Club

FYI -'People Power' - 
Extract from 'THROUGH THE HEADS   to  Balmoral, Sydney'  

Shark Barriers at Balmoral -     One of the rejected  ideas was a 'Blackpool- style pier’ extending from the Island towards Wy-ar-gine, parallel with Edwards Beach. At the end of the pier there was to be a four towered edifice which would have dwarfed the future Bathers Pavilion and from there to the Wy-ar-gine rocks, a shark barrier was to be built.’ 

Fear of sharks  - shark barriers 

   From the cliff tops, silhouettes of Blue Pointers and Bronze Whalers were sometimes seen cruising over the white sandy bottom of the fish channel between Wy-ar-gine Point and the Spit.  

The danger was well known as Watkin Tench in 1788 wrote, “Sharks of an enormous size are found here.”  and “One of these was caught by the people on board the Sirius, which measured at the shoulders six feet and one of d a half in circumference…”


Various solutions had been suggested, one of which included ‘a Blackpool- style pier’  - see above which was rejected.  Another of Council’s initiatives was to erect a shark proof barrier along the full length of Edwards Beach.  This was to be made of turpentine piles and battens and would be revenue producing by  fencing in the beach and charging admission  for swimmers wishing to avail themselves to six acres of shark-free water.
The outcry from residents was deafening.  

“Hands off the Beach! Hands off the Beach!” was a public rallying cry in 1930, adopted by those who were opposed to Council’s initiative re their response to the problem of shark attacks.  A Beaches Defence Committee was formed against the turnstile component of the barrier plan and at an overflowing Town Hall meeting in 1930; the protest was led by Julian Howard Ashton, a son of Julian Rossi Ashton.  “We are not hostile to the Council.  We are opposed to any scheme which will fence off the beach against the public.”



In 1935 the Council accepted a tender for the steel net enclosure to be suspended between the Island and a tripod opposite the northern end of the Pavilion.   There were no shark attacks in Mosman waters during the next four decades probably because of the meshing program inside and outside the Heads and the proliferation of powered water craft.      Summarised from Mosman  - A History   Gavin Souter