Fathers Day Gift Suggestion

The Island   David Boddam Whetham

We live in a friendly and safe community nestled in a very beautiful harbour-side locale of historical and cultural importance.   It’s worth reflecting on how special Mosman is and how important it is to preserve what we have. This sentiment has been wonderfully captured in two books written and   published by local resident Claire Mitchell – ‘Mosman Meanders and foreshore flavours’ and ‘Through the Heads to Balmoral, Sydney’.   They’re great reminders of our past, present, geography and history together with beautiful illustrations and interesting facts, walks, stories, and recipes.   Prof Dennis Bobyn                                              Claire Mitchell    0421 319 496   http://mosmanmeanders.blogspot.com

Snapshots of content which may appeal to the special men in your lives. Fishermen ‘In the Know’- Balmoral Wharf is still an excellent fishing spot where you might be lucky enough to catch the following:-  Dec/Jan – Salmon/Kingies;   Mar/Apr-Jewies;  May/Aug – Trevally/John Dory;  Sept/Oct-Tailor…  The occasional Eastern Rock Lobster can also be found with the help of a waterproof torch. Messing about in boats In 1857 the ‘Dunbar’ was wrecked off South Head.  Some of the timber salvaged from the wreck was used by boat builder, Dan Sheedy, to build a yacht of unique design.  The yacht, The Australian, was designed by Richard Hayes Harnett,  who ignored all previous and current hull forms and led the world in yacht design by studying the shape of a mackerel.  After it was launched in 1858, he sailed it into Mosman Bay. Underwater diversity SIMS ‘Sydney Institute of Marine Science’ is an innovative multidisciplinary marine science facility located in historic buildings at Chowder Bay and Georges Heights, the location ideal for marine research.Photo - A 360 degree underwater camera system off the Sydney Coastline.  1923 - 1950 Order of the Star of the East  Amphitheatre Built to view the returning Christ walking on the waters through the rugged heads; replaced by a re brick citadel “Suburbanisation had conquered all.” ‘The Manor’ in Clifton Gardens  was bought in 1925 by The Theosophical Society (The Order of the Star), after leasing it since 1922 for a community of 50 people, headed by the notorious occultist, Charles Webster Leadbeater. (The story surrounding the amphitheatre is one of extreme controversy, doctrine splintering and radical breakaway factions .  Its membership included such people as, Prime Minister - Alfred Deacon; architect - Walter Burley Griffin; with Yeats, Oscar Wilde, Joyce, DH Lawrence and Gandi influenced by it.)  Available from Outlets -   Pages & Pages;  Oracle Bookstore;  Frenchy’s, Mosman Art Gallery - $29 ‘Through the Heads to Balmoral’ is available  an e-book through your favourite online bookstore - $9.90

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.