Sirius Isolation with Mozart

To get you in the mood for a beautiful walk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhLO3qnLWR0

Piano Concerto No. 21, Andante (Elvira Madigan)  ...  much loved Mozart piece

Sirius Cove, the closest harbour beach to home, is the beginning of a fabulous walk around the foreshores to Taronga Zoo.  A walk such as this inspired 'Mosman Meanders & foreshore flavours' and still does, with its rich history and natural beauty.  

Our foreshores beckon

Child and dog-friendly - the beginning of the foreshore walk to the zoo

At the Zoo Wharf 

CAFE & PICNIC PLANS IDEAS FOR HMAS PLATYPUS DEVELOPMENT

As a lover of picnics and an advocate for appropriate use of our foreshores to the community, I was delighted to read about how the SHFT is surveying the community view.  Let's hope that the public are listened to re this exciting use our glorious foreshores.  Claire

The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust held an open day in May at the former site of the HMAS Platypus site to ask for community views as to its redevelopment.

The Mosman Daily recently reported, 'The survey found they (the community) would like cafes, cultural activities and picnic areas... Platypus has undergone a $43 million cleanup to remove pollutants from its days as a gasworks.

Earlier this year it was revealed that $20 million in federal funding is also on track for the park.'


A framework for the remediation, rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of the former HMAS Platypus site to provide a sequence of new public waterfront places can be accessed here. Click here for Further information

1917-1919: A rare image of Australia's submarine depot ship HMS PLATYPUS at Devonport in WWI Royal Navy Service - RAN.  Photo - RAN Historical, Heritage collection

Heralding a new E-book "Balmoral Picnic - past & present

Loving our foreshores

This book supports & follows on from Mosman Meanders & foreshore flavours. 

This book published in 2013, features walks around the foreshores of Mosman; its rich history and cultural heritage, with cafe destinations and recipes. It features high quality photos of this beautiful area.    Claire Mitchell & Christopher Maait

First things first  - so here's the painting which will form the cover of the book -
'North Head - Balmoral Beach' by David Boddam-Whetham. 

‘BALMORAL  - somewhere on the Australian coast Many of us, in our hearts, claim Balmoral as ‘my beach’ and have connected with it in different layers. So what makes it so special? Is it a sense of place?  Its evolving history over an immense period of time can be seen as a microcosm of our colonial history and development.   The gateway between The Heads to the world  holds the significance of all the vessels which passed through.   The First Fleet carried  the  immigrants,  many of them reluctant, who would forge  Australia’s  development into a colony. Or perhaps  a sense of wonder at the relentless natural beauty -  along with the  appreciation of our cultural heritage; not only of works created,  but the fact  that so many artists, writers and photographers  over the centuries  have found pleasure in its creative expression. It could be relaxing,  swimming;  strolling along the Promenade;  sipping a good cappuccino while reading the weekend papers; enjoying a café meal  or:-  simply sharing a picnic with friends     (& of course recipes - styled re 'fit in your jeans cuisine')  Looking forward to sharing ideas with others who love the spirit & history  of Balmoral and other amazing  beaches on the Australian Coast. Claire http://balmoralpicnic.blogspot.com

But can you match our history, Bondi & Manly?

 



 

Extract  -  North Head - Guardian of our Harbour                 
from 'Balmoral Picnic'

"You've stood guard against the vagaries
of an ocean, heaving fitfully
between your sandstone headlands.
With South Head, you define and defend
the entrance to our harbour.

 Ideally placed, your timeless view
leads the eye and imagination
from our harbour to the open sea.
In between, Middle Head
still networks our defence.
.....

You witnessed the DNA of Colonisation;
Through your great gateway
you saw all the ships
that passed through,
voyaging to the distant world and back.

1788…
From Middle Head, the journals tell,
natives pointed Hunter’s party
 to the ideal place to land;
It was about Balmoral that Bradley wrote,
"These people mixed with ours and all hands danced together."

1788 …
Sydney,  a container for those condemned
"For the term of their natural lives".
Leg-irons and lash – conditional pardons;
their labour  advanced and
developed  a new colony.

1791…
‘Came the rough and bearded whalemen
In ships  from the southern seas’…
‘We saw sperm whales in great plenty!’
It could be said, ‘The colony rode
to wealth on the whale’s back.’

1801…
“The foe – They come! They come!”
Imperial rivalries and wars
Brought invasion scares,
 arcs of fire, fortifications;
Your  cliffs  became ‘Fortress Sydney’.

1878
Following settlement of foreshores;
 you heard current land-owners’ protestations
on repossession of these shores;
to be dedicated as Public Reserve
 to us all -  for eternity. .....

1890’s…
Streeton and Roberts, “pulled through the lazy green water
 and lunched in the shade and in the open air”,
to join their fellow artists under canvas-
in camps set up by Hopkins and Ashton.‘Til matrimony claimed their souls.'
.....
1862…
 Sydney ferries, on your watch
conveyed picnickers and excursionists
in their hundreds,  to Balmoral Gardens
Men in suits and tall hats,  women in
 crinolines with parasols overhead;

‘Refreshments, dancing saloon, boarded floor
with splendid band engaged.’
 But larrikin London costers in pearly coats
 became  ‘A blot upon the healthful
enjoyment of the picnic’.

1912

Sea and sand between toes  represented  freedom …
then  a century of repressive restrictions
until modesty maintenance moved on
to,  ‘Shall be clad from neck to knee’
and the victory of all day surfing.



1922…
The Evening News reported,
‘The old place of quiet waters and rustic gums
is  gone forever.  The trams did it. 
Not a square inch of sand  untrampled -
‘Balmoral is alive!’

1923 - 1950
Order of the Star of the East Amphitheatre  
built to view the returning  Christ
walking on the waters through your rugged  cliffs;
Replaced by a red brick citadel.
‘Suburbanisation had conquered all’        .....

1929 - 1932
 ‘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 WW2.


Hardship endured;  depression employment
yielded   Sydney Harbour Bridge -
Balmoral beautification scheme; 
 Rotunda, Bathers Pavilion, Promenade.
‘Concrete mad’, they all said.
.....
1945…
Gaff-rigged ketch, Kathleen Gillett’,
first of many to begin the race
past your cliffs, bound for Hobart.
Sailing and water sports became the
forefront of post-war revival.
.....
2014 TO ETERNITY
Children play in rockpools;
early morning swimmers brave the chill;
we all enjoy the picnic;
Your rocky timeless heights stand firm  
 eternally   -   as   guardians to us all.

Claire Mitchell 2013
'Balmoral Picnic' is scheduled to be released as an E-book in Spring.