VOLUME 7 NO. 3 March 2014 ISSN 1835-7628 Diary

VOLUME 7 NO. 3
March 2014
FROM THE EDITOR
There are quite a few individual contributions this issue.
I am very grateful and so, thank you, to everyone
concerned.
These individuals will hopefully be glad to see their
words in print. Now, thanks to Bryant Lavaring, you too
can enjoy that experience. See Page 5.
Richard Michell
FROM THE PRESIDENT
My February President's Report included a comment on
the necessity of a description of the organisational
structure within local government to address history
and heritage. The last month only reconfirmed that
point as I was required to have a look at the organisational structure document for Manly Council which
completely fails to make any reference to history and
heritage, in the description of functions of every
department within that Council. Considering that the
function of history and heritage is dealt with by many
different departments in both of the two divisions of
the Council (eg Aboriginal History, Natural History),
there should be a statement of the organisational
structure in every Heritage Review. Unfortunately the
NSW Government requirements for a Heritage Review
contains no such statement.
At the least, there should be a definition of Heritage
which avoids the confusion where the word heritage is
used synonymously with the word culture, which I
struck during the month in connection with Warringah
Council. Heritage is the mass of physical items that are
of historical significance that have remained from the
past. There then should be a definition of History as
the story of the past. As this relates to a council, then
it is the history of people, places and activities within
that local government area. In detailing the history of a
local government area, it is not only what takes place
within its borders but also the way that historical
themes of Australian history have made themselves
manifest or not within that area.
ISSN 1835-7628
on Australian society , where families had left England
but still retained behaviour patterns which they wished
to continue in their new surroundings. Another
example would be the improvements in Australian
government administration that took place following
the Napoleonic wars due to the ways the British
government had to improve its own administration to
arm and supply its armies and navies over a period of
nearly two decades. J G Farrell’s words are most apt in
this respect in saying ”A people, a nation. does not
create itself according to its own best ideas, but is
shaped by other forces of which it has little knowledge.” This can be true of both nations and local
government areas.
I trust you will forgive me in focusing on organisational
structures but it is an area where, I believe, the RAHS
could be a lot more active. The fortress mentality of
government departments has often allegorically been
described as similar to concrete silos, where proactive
interchange of information does not happen. All too
often one sees this in local government, particularly in
relation to the research into and collection of local
history. One hopes this will change but councils are
political animals and will only respond in the provision
of staff time and money if electoral pressure is applied.
This will only come if terms like history and heritage are
used clearly and consistently and have an obvious
benefit.
Jim Boyce
Diary
April
Saturday 12th, 2.00pm
Venue - Tramshed Narrabeen
Speaker - Keith Amos
An example of this would be the doubling of the
Australian population in the period between 1850 and
1860 due to the finding of gold and the impact that had
Peninsula Historian
Vol 7 #2
The New Guard Movement 1931-1935
February 2014
page 1
NEWS AND VIEWS
April meeting
Keith Amos will be the speaker at our monthly meeting
on Saturday 12 April. Details of the time and venue
are in the Diary on the front page. Keith will be
speaking on "The New Guard Movement 1931-1935",
and has forwarded the following precis:
"The New Guard was a short-lived private army
organised across Sydney at the height of the Great
Depression. Its best known feat was when Captain
Francis de Groot unofficially 'opened' Sydney Harbour
Bridge ahead of the premier, Jack Lang.
This talk explores why the New Guard's story has
continued to fascinate and to mystify. Was it a wellmeaning militia, simply bent on assisting to maintain
law and order in these tense years; or did it aim to
overthrow a state Labor government by force when the
opportunity arose - that is, have a Fascist intent?"
Report - March monthly meeting
The talk by Richard White on the history of tourism on
the Peninsula, with particular focus on the surf clubs,
was well attended at Berry Hall at the Narrabeen Tram
Shed Community Centre. Richard, a Professor of History at the University of Sydney and the author of “On
Holidays – a History of Getting Away in Australia“, gave
an animated talk without the assistance of graphics.
Unfortunately the computer had decided to go on a
holiday itself but Richard entertained the audience
with an array of anecdotes to illustrate the main thread
of the topic. As is usual, the Society’s archive - as it
related to surf clubs - was on display These received
quite an amount of attention before and after the talk.
Richard took this aspect of history in chronological
order, dwelling on the recreation time that became
available in the period from the 1860s. The progressive
recognition and extension of holiday leave was an
important element in the growth of people’s recreational time, along with the recognition of long service
leave. Richard also commented upon the changes in
recreational time available on the weekend. Many
people were unaware of the limits on the requirements
of Saturday morning labour that only disappeared after
WW2. The growth in temporary work, particularly with
the retail trade and hospitality venues, was also
remarked upon.
The holiday home is an important part of the history of
the Peninsula and Richard went into some detail as to
how the area had seen these homes grow along the
coastal areas. One aspect of this was how certain
areas were adopted by families from the NSW country
during the summer months. In this regards there was
Peninsula Historian
Vol 7 #2
the presence of the Country Women’s Association
premises at Manly and Dee Why.
Richard also dwelt on the availability of cars and the
way that transformed the beach culture. The old
kombi van is still a symbol of the surf culture as is the
apparatus holding the surfboard to the roof. Part of
the talk focused upon tourist events like Schoolies
Week which targeted the Gold Coast at the end of the
academic year. Other states have their own equivalent
and Richard drew on the enormous growth of the surf
culture in events, music, magazines and films to
illustrate how tourism developed for certain age and
income segments. Grey nomads received a brief
mention as a tourist market that had grown in the last
30 years but with rather limited surfing activity.
At the end of the talk Gloria Carroll exercised her
wizardry in ensuring coffee, tea, biscuits and cakes
were there to fuel the informal talks that followed. We
appreciated Richard’s ability to follow on, in this vein,
and we do thank Rose Cullen for making every effort to
kick start the computer.
Jim Boyce
Garden Island (one of Sydney's best-kept secrets)
Gordon and I enjoyed a delightful day at Garden Island
recently.
The public area of the Island (no charge) includes a
Heritage Museum featuring all aspects of Garden Island
from 1788 to today plus lots of fascinating information
on the Australian Navy, its personnel and its ships.
Well-presented videos make the story live.
A lift took us to the top of the Island and a lot of steps
to the roof of the old signal station for a 360 deg view
– possibly the best view of the Harbour.
A first-class café provided a delicious simple lunch and
there are also attractive picnic and BBQ areas.
An optional guided tour commenced with an excellent
video of the history of the Island. The tour then
entered the restricted area to view the restored
heritage buildings (external only), the beautiful Ecumenical Chapel and the Remembrance Chapel. The
huge graving dock was in operation and we learned
that it cost more to build than the Sydney Harbour
Bridge.
Access to the Island is only by ferry from Wharf 4 on
the Watson’s Bay route with the last ferry back at 4.06
pm.
Garden Island is definitely up there with the Bridge
Walk, Bondi Beach and Manly ferry as a special outing
for Sydneysiders as well as tourists.
Barbara Davies
February 2014
page 2
POT POURRI
A link to Crimea
George Champion has sent me the following:
"When Henry Gilbert Smith bought a large area of land,
part of which now constitutes the village of Manly, he
drew up a subdivision plan in January 1855 which he
named Ellensville (later called Brighton and finally
Manly Village) after his first wife who died in England.
As the war in the Crimea was raging in 1855 at the
time, Smith named some places in connection with the
war on his map.
Three of these were Sebastopol Street (now Sydney
Road), Alma Street, which would have passed through
the middle of present Ivanhoe Park from east to west
but was never constructed, and Raglan Street.
The battle of Sebastopol was a disaster for the British
and French but the battle of Alma was more successful.
However, in what way is Raglan Street related to the
war?
Lord Raglan in 1854 was placed in command of some
30,000 men who sailed to the Crimea to defend the
Turkish empire, particularly Constantinople, from the
Russians. He had endured many battles including
Waterloo, and was considered to be well experienced.
Lord Raglan was in charge when the Battle of Balaclava
took place in October 1854. Alfred Lord Tennyson's
FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, later 1st Baron Raglan
(1788-1855), by William Henry Haines (1812-1884).
poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" aptly describes
the slaughter which took place of 278 British. It was
obvious that "someone had blundered" who was in
command.
An attack on Sebastopol in June 1855 was also a
complete failure. The British Government blamed Lord
Raglan for all that had gone wrong. However, other
things contributed to the disasters which had occurred,
such as inadequacies of transport, clothing, military
and medical supplies.
Caused by an attack of dysentery and mental anxiety,
Lord Raglan's health declined. He died in the Crimea
on 29 June 1855 aged 66 years."
George Champion
Sydney Morning Herald, 11 July 1900
"THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.
Yesterday, like the eight days which preceded it, was
free from a fresh case of bubonic plague..........
Subdivision map from 1885 showing Sebastopol Street,
with George and James Streets running into it
Peninsula Historian
Proclamations were also issued quarantining further
portions of Manly. The first is bounded by Sebastopolstreet, Eustace-street, the West Esplanade, and Rowestreet on three sides, and by Gilbert-street, the foot of
Castle Hill, and Tower-street on the fourth. The second
area is bounded by Carlton-street, Whistler-street, and
Fountain-street on the north, east, and south respec-
Vol 7 #2 February 2014
page 3
tively, and by the Promenade, Raglan-street, and
Kangaroo Park on the west."
A question
"Dear Richard,
My question relates to how old does something have
to be to be historically interesting?
Scotland Island
George again (with thanks):
"Pittwater Library, under the history of Scotland Island,
states, "Lying at the southern end of Pittwater this
island was originally called Pitt Island by Governor
Phillip, when he first explored Pittwater in March,
1788."
Governor Phillip did explore Broken Bay by water from
2nd to 9th March, 1788 and on 5th or 6th March he
named Pitt Water after William Pitt the Younger.
However, there is no mention in any of the First Fleet
Records of Phillip naming present Scotland Island, Pitt
Island.
In addition, Captain Hunter's Admiralty chart of his
survey of Broken Bay in 1788 and 1789 does not
ascribe any name to present Scotland Island.
The first official land grant of Scotland Island was to
Andrew Thompson on 1 January 1810 by Governor
Lachlan Macquarie. With permission, Thompson had
already established his salt boiling works on what he
called Scotland Island some years before this, perhaps
as early as 1806.
Surveyor James Meehan first surveyed Scotland Island
in 1814 and surveyor James Larmer re-surveyed it later
in 1832.
Confusion arose when Captain F.W. Sidney RN carried
out a survey of Pittwater around 1868 (his Admiralty
chart was published in London in 1869). In apparent
ignorance that Scotland Island had already been named
many decades previously, he erroneously ascribed the
name "Pitt" to it. This wrong information has unfortunately led to the creation of yet another historical
I've been clearing out my parents' house for over a
year now, visiting it every week, sorting and removing
stuff. My father and stepmother were people who
never threw anything away, in case it came in handy
one day. They also had many hobbies and interests,
all of which are still represented in their house. It has
proved a most enlightening experience, finding documents from my father's past, including all his high
school reports 1913-1919, and his diary from his early
days in Australia, from 1923.
One day I opened a drawer and found some souvenir
magazines of Charles' and Diana's wedding. 1980,
modern, so I thought they could be thrown out. Next
to them was a brown paper-wrapped parcel, which
turned out to contain souvenir magazines of the 1937
Coronation. Must keep those, I thought, they're of
historical interest.
Later this raised in my mind the question, where do
we draw the line when we can't keep everything? Why
is 1937 ephemera more worth keeping than 1980
ephemera? Old bottles labelled "Sun tan lotion" and
little blue glass jars of Condy's crystals? Should they
be kept as glimpses of the past, or thrown out as junk?
I suppose most people of my age must have gone
through a similar process, or when downsizing themselves, so how does one decide?"
Merryn Parnell
What is the answer to Merryn's question? Opinions
welcome. Next month we will have an easier one "What is the meaning of life?" Ed.
myth, which has become entrenched and is
repeated regularly because of the lack of thorough historical research."
George Champion
George VI and family after his coronation in 1937
You know who
Peninsula Historian
Vol 7 #2
February 2014
page 4
SECRET SITES
Bryant Lavaring, one of our members, has suggested that we have a secret site or mystery location/object each
issue. He has also sent me a list and photos of a number of candidates to kick the feature off.
The concept is that if you know the site that is shown - and particularly if you have some information about it you (hopefully) send an email to [email protected] or write to our PO Box. You are also free to nominate
candidate sites - preferably with a photo and the answer - for future issues.
With thanks to Bryant, the first Secret Site is shown below. What/where is it and can you give some information?
No prizes I'm afraid, just the glory. The answer and any interesting comments on it will be in the next issue.
Where and what is this object?
Can you help?
tion. This year we are planning to celebrate the late
Mavis Sykes (1909-1997).
Dear Richard
I work in the Local Studies section of Mosman Library
and am seeking publicity for the latest addition to our
online project, Mosman Faces - ballet teacher Mavis
Sykes. As she taught in Mosman for seventy years
many of her former students may live in the area your
society covers so any publicity is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time,
Mavis Sykes was a life member of the Royal Academy
of Dance and a registered teacher and children's
examiner. Mavis passed away in 1997 having taught
ballet for 70 of her 88 years. She started teaching
ballet in Mosman in the early 1920’s, by 1931 she was
Ballet Mistress to the Mosman Musical Society and by
the mid 1930's she had established her own ballet
school.
Mary Lou Byrne
The project
At Mosman Library one of our projects is Mosman
Faces a web site that tells stories that have shaped
the Mosman Community. The stories create a visual
history of Mosman through filmed interviews and
images from Mosman Library’s Local Studies collec-
Peninsula Historian
We think it is time to celebrate and honour this
remarkable woman and we need your help to get us
started. Former students, colleagues and friends, if
you have a photo, a story or a memory to share
please come to Mosman Library, 605 Military Road
Mosman on Saturday 29 March from 10.00 am –
3:30pm.
Enquiries
99784097
or
[email protected]
Vol 7 #2 February 2014
page 5
WHAT'S ON
Manly Art Gallery and Museum
GAMARAGAL
Until 20 April, 2014
An exhibition that captures the world of the Indigenous
fisher-hunter people of Manly (Kayeemy) and the north
shore through vivid portraits, paintings and rarely seen
artefacts
Manly, Warringah and Pittwater
Historical Society Inc.
Established 1924
THE THREE O's: ORBAN, OLSON AND OGBURN
Patron
Alan Ventress BA DipLib
Until 27 April, 2014
With over ninety works drawn from major institutions
and public collections, The Three O’s: Orban, Olsen &
Ogburn, reassesses the creative paths of three unique
artists.
President
Jim Boyce
0402 096 080
[email protected]
Warringah Library
Treasurer
Barbara Davies
9997 6505
[email protected]
Mona Vale Library
Minutes Secretary
Clive Halnan
Heritage Event - Photographic exhibition: Narrabeen
Lakes Amateur Swimming Club - celebrating 80 years.
View during April.
0410 867 685
[email protected]
Technology Drop-in Sessions hosted by Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, Monday 31 March - no need to book.
Archivist
Vacant
Author Talk by Bettina Arndt 22 April 2014 6.30pm,
Newport Community Centre
Editor
Richard Michell
9401 4525
[email protected]
Author Talk by Jennifer Smart 15 May 6.30pm, Wardrobe Girl, Library
Postal Address
PO Box 695 Manly, NSW 1655
Website
www.mwphs.co
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever Napoleon Bonaparte
Peninsula Historian
Vol 7 #2
February 2014
page 6