Fabulous summer shot of The Pavilion, Balmoral

Yet another fabulous shot of The Bathers  Pavilion- this time captured by Tim James



The Tramp Tramp Tramp of Workless Men
1929-1932

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 WWII.

Hardship endured; depression employment
yielded the Sydney Harbour Bridge,
Balmoral beautification scheme;
Rotunda, Bathers Pavilion, Promenade.
“Concrete mad!”, they all said.

As part of Depression employment projects, Mosman Council embarked on the Balmoral Beautification Scheme. The Bathers Pavilion came first (1929), then the Promenade (1930), along with a bridge to the Island, followed by the Rotunda (1930). The latter two were funded by the State Government as Depression employment projects.

The bathing pavilion was commissioned by the council as their response to the growing demand to cater for the enormous increase in picnickers and bathers that resulted from the opening of the tram line extension to Balmoral.

Designed by Alfred H Hale, in a classical Mediterranean style, it was opened in 1929, its purpose being to ‘decriminalise’ the activity of mixed-sex bathing. It had 1506 clothing lockers and 239 cubicles where bathers could disrobe in privacy. The upper floor was used for drying bathing suits (woollen) that were for hire. It remained essentially as a large changing shed until 1967 when it was established as Mishka’s Restaurant where brunch became an institution. Now re-renamed ‘The Bather’s Pavilion’, it’s a stylish venue for casual and formal dining, following extensive legal challenge and public debate.
Extract - THROUGH THE HEADS To Balmoral, Sydney

Today Serge Dansereau is the owner and Head Chef at the Bathers' Pavilion restaurant, cafe and Kiosk on Balmoral Beach in Sydney.

Serge with Claire at the launch of ALFRESHCO : foreshore flavour when he spoke about his book 'For the Love of Good Food' which describes how his passion for fresh regional produce has encouraged the development of specialist food throughout Australia

PROMENADE – “Concrete mad”, they all said.

Mosman Daily - 2 March 2017

MOSMAN Council will revamp the Balmoral Promenade when work starts on a $2.3 million refurbishment next month.

The project is part of the council’s ongoing renewal of Balmoral infrastructure in the past decade, which has included the rotunda, toilet blocks, baths and playground.

Councillors approved of the project going to tender last month.

Balmoral is the council’s largest and most popular asset.

Extract from 'THROUGH THE HEADS to Balmoral, Sydney'  

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.

Ps - Mosman Council have always cared well for this beautiful site xx