PROMENADE – “Concrete mad”, they all said.

BALMORAL PROMENADE WALKWAYS, PAVING AND SEATING WORKS – SOUTH OF BALMORAL RESERVE

Monday 6 August – Friday 30 November 2018 

Council Contractor, Design Landscapes Pty Ltd will be undertaking the seating works at the southern end of the Balmoral Reserve between the Public Dinning Restaurant/Swimmers Club/Kiosk Building and Children Play area.This work will be undertaken during the period of August to November 2018.

With the work on the promenade progressing well it's interesting to look back to the 1930's when the promenade was first built as a Depression employment project.

Extract from 'THROUGH THE HEADS to Balmoral, Sydney'  

The Tramp Tramp Tramp of Workless Men 1929 'The Great Depression seized the world An economic 'ogre' crippled industry,Threw workers to the streets - and having vent its worst fury,lingered in the shadows until WW11. Hardship endured, depression employment yielded the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Balmoral beautification scheme; Rotunda, Bathers Pavilion, Promenade. "Concrete mad!" they all said. “…  Later, a promenade was built, which made a big difference to the area. .. they used to have to shovel the sand off the tramlines after heavy winds and rough seas…” Ted  Pethebridge The public campaign of opposition to the development meant that many councillors did not survive at their next election, being accused by the electors as being ‘concrete mad’.  Not everyone welcomed the exchange of the great sand dunes and the cutting of many more trees, for an English –style promenade. “Well, it was our beautiful sand dunes.  To spoil it with that cement structure was shocking. The same as we hated when they built that monstrosity there.  We thought the bathing pavilion, was the ugliest thing we’d ever seen.” Margaret Ewart   ‘Mosman Voices’

However, many did grow fond of the promenade from the baths to the pavilion, with the beach on one side and the Morton Bay and Port Jackson Figs on the other.