The devil is in the detail

Here I go, leading you off down the garden path to 'geekdom' again. I have excelled myself this time ... hee hee hee!

You're dying to know what that daft little metal thingamejig is, aren't you? I can just sense the excitement bubbling to the surface ...

Once long ago, when politicians were even more daft than they are now, the city of Sydney did away with trams. After a century, and with one of the most extensive tramway systems in the world ... poof ... overnight ...

But, if you look really, really hard, you can find little bits they forgot.


The old photograph was taken in 1960 and shows a tram going down the hill from Kings Cross and just before Rushcutters Bay park. See all those cables that supply the electricity to power the trams? Well those cables had to be anchored somewhere.

The modern photograph shows an early Bank of New South Wales building in Castlereagh Street. Look carefully on the left-hand-side (LHS) just above the anchor point for the awning.


This old photograph is of College Street, with St Mary's Cathedral on the RHS and the Department of Births, Deaths & Marriages straight ahead. Judging from the style of GM-Holdens on the road, I would date this pre-1958. See all the overhead wires? They have to be anchored somewhere. I wonder if any anchor points are still lodged in the sandstone of St Mary's?

The photograph on the RHS is of the David Jones Market St store (the snooty department store mentioned over the weekend). This is the corner of Market St and Castlereagh St. See the rounded art-deco wrap-round window. Look just to the left of it. Bingo, an anchor point.


The old photograph was taken somewhere in Balmain and that model Holden came out in 1959. See all the overhead wires? If the photo was good enough, we could enlarge it and tell the difference between the anchor points for the tram cables and the anchor points for the awnings. Bet there are many still there.

The new photograph is along Oxford Street, Paddington. Victoria Barracks was at my back. See the old Greenwood Tree pub. It is now apartments for DINKS. Have a look above each anchor for the awning, and you will find an anchor for a tram cable. They can also be see on the next building if you enlarge the image.


So, figured out where the top photograph was taken yet? Yep, the main entrance to the Queen Victoria Building along George Street, just where the main inward bus interchange is. Criminal isn't it? Drilling into that lovely sandstone to support cables. But a city has to adapt to growth.

Atop the Cross - William Street

Here we are atop the Kings Cross tunnel looking south at the old fire station. This is the point where Darlinghurst Road and Victoria St cross over (in the form of a x). A whole swag of this land was 'given' to the first NSW Surveyor General, Sir Thomas Mitchell for services rendered. By all accounts a most vengeful and vindictive chap.


Can you just see the fire-station above the tram in the LH image? Both images taken in the late 50s, the second shows the view back up William St from the city proper, about a kilometre. Of course, I am ignoring the elephant in the room: the giant neon Coke sign.


Comparison of two maps: then (1950s)and now. See the tram lines through the centre of William St. Many of those LH buildings down WIlliam Street have been demolished.

View Larger Map

And finally, from beneath the Coke sign, looking west from Kings Cross to the city proper.

Elvis rides again

On the Old Stadium viaduct, just before Edgcliff station, this train travels the Eastern Suburbs line which is part of the Greater Sydney rail network, which includes just a few underground stations.

Cum onnnnnn de train ...

The Premier of NSW is considering putting last year's "big" transport announcement, the $4.8 billion Metro Rail, on the back-burner in favour of investigating an upgrade to the existing "heavy" rail system.


These commuters were hanging about Central Station (aka Sydney Terminus), the hub of the State rail network which is housed in a quaint building at the southern end of the CBD that is reminiscent of an old air-craft hanger. Nothing as grand as Central Station in New York or St Pancras in London or Gare Nord in Paris.

I wonder which proposal our erstwhile commuters would prefer? One that delivers more on-time services, perhaps?

Weekend Reflection: Refueling

I was content with the reflection in the side-mirror until a more complex reflection caught my eye.

Weekend Reflections is hosted by James at Newtown Area Photo. Click on over and enjoy some of the other reflections.

Sydney to The Gong - the support team

With something slightly more head-banging than Brahms pulsing from the dash, the warmth from a 26C Spring Sunday beating down on our protected skin, we Thelma'n'Louised it to The Gong in style, thank you very much!

Portobello Caffe, Circular Quay

At the furthest end of Opera House Walk, just before the slight rise to the beginning of the forecourt and before you descend to the noisy decadence of Opera Bar, stands this quaint cafe with views to die for. What is intruiging my poor little head, is its purpose in life before succumbing to being a watering hole for the cappucino crowd.

Hunting through the "Photo Investigator" kept by the State Records of NSW, the following three vintage photos lead me to suppose that this structure was used as a tramway building. Unable to find an image of the structure itself, I post images around CQ that appear to be similar. If you have a conclusion based on this photographic evidence - or other evidence - I would value hearing from you.

Top left: East CQ showing the tram tracks out to Fort Macquarie with similar buildings close to the site Top right: Further along showing Fort Macquarie in 1906 and the French boat "Yarra" at the wharves with similar structures close to the site Bottom: The base of CQ (southern end) showing a collection of tramways ticketing and staff buildings in the foreground.

Thanks to Ann from Sydney Meandering, the puzzle is resolved.

This is the Harbour Masters cottage constructed in 1910 under the purview of the newly established Sydney Harbour Trust which was charged with rebuilding the Quay after the bubonic plague decimated in in the first decade of the new century. In 1988 it was converted to a Cafe and Oyster Bar in time for the Bicentennial celebrations.

A remarkable lightness of being

As the compellingly craggy Lloyd Rees drew to the end of his long life, his eyesight dimmed to a perception of light - and this is what he transferred to the canvas. There are some heart-stopping renditions of Sydney Harbour, September Sun being one. Chugging across the top of the harbour swell and through the wake of vessels gone before me, the sun and the salt combine to heighten my own perception of the light being absorbed around me.Time is in neutral: mid-week journeymen have no need for hustle, no use for bustle. They have the patience to listen, to look, to watch and to think. Out on the deck, the breeze whistles around the collar as the shadows of the grey girders lengthen into the afternoon.People watching is a guilty pleasure enjoyed by many at train stations and at ferry wharves. Pier 4 at Circular Quay is no exception. Woolwich service to the left: Milsons Point, McMahons Point, Birchgrove, Greenwich Point, Woolwich. Watson's Bay to the right: Garden Island, Darling Point, Double Bay, Rose Bay, Watsons Bay. We sit there absorbing the midday warmth, rocking gently with each rise and fall of the creaking wharf. We watch, smile, nod, acknowledge. A stir is caused by unattended baggage: a sign of that world out there that is not as far away as one would hope.The massive Manly ferry departs for its 30 minute journey out to the Heads with a gradual turn to the left. The River Cat commences it hour long journey under the bridge and up the Parramatta River. Smaller vessels ply their busy trade: tugs, taxis, fire trucks, police. Larger vessels tote for trade: square riggers, floating hotels, trashy paddle steamers all ready themselves for the evening. Evening on the harbour is like black ink: the light has gone.

Who pays the ferryman?

Where are we going today Mr Nicholson Where is it going to be, Don’t turn left, turn right down the harbour And out to the open sea, Pull up your anchor, pull your finger out And wave goodbye to your home We’re off to Nantucket So give that man a bucket Cause choppy when you’re out on the foam Heave Ho! Its choppy when you’re out on the foam. First verse from "Rose Bay Ferry" by Bernard Bolan

Harbour Islands - Shark (2 of 9)

Much to my dismay, the ferry to Shark Island does not run during the winter. Being a cold bleak day (by Australian standards!) I shot from the Rose Bay jetty and then skedaddled back home. I asked my daughter for permission to use some of her wedding shots.

As they boarded the water taxi for the trip back to the reception at Catalina's, the photographer captured the perfect view that Shark Island affords down the harbour. Shark Island is the closest island to the heads.


Top row: From Rose Bay jetty with 250 zoom, the day was grey as, but the harbour was riddled with boats of myriad kind. All this has been classified as park of Sydney Harbour National Park. There is a rotunda on the island plus a few other benches but that is about all.
Bottom row: Kirsten and Darren chose to marry on Shark Island as that is where they met on Valentine's Day three years earlier! The jetty on the left stretches back SW into Rose Bay itself. The point immediately behind the jetty is Point Piper and that is pretty ritzy. As they walked up to the grassy knoll, the city stretched out behind them. It was a gloriously sunny March day in 2007.


Top row: Back on the Rose Bay jetty, to the left of me I had a companion who was being pestered by gulls and as I shot photos and shivered both a taxi and a ferry siddled up to the jetty.
Bottom row: To the right of me, was the pontoons at which the Flying Boat squadron tied up. I can remember back in the early 50s when my aunt would fly from Rose Bay to Lord Howe Island for holidays. Behind the pontoons partway up the rise, is the gloriously gothic Kincoppal Sacred Heart School for Gals and on the horizon, the Dover Heights water tower.


Finally, the only other shot showing the island itself: the proud parents toast their daughter and the life-partner of her choice.