Recent Tour Reports

TOFS Trip 901

Thursday 6 August 2026

LUNA PARK – FUN AND TRAGEDY

Organised by TOFS (KO)

TOFS (36): Graham L (185), Les H (469), Ron O (231), Paul E (380), Robert E (431), David W (434), JP (27), Bill H (278), Phil B (345), Terry O (147), Jim M (209), Peter O (348), Gregg B (365), Frank W (475), Ted B (451), Don N (400), Allan S (349), Kenn W (243), John V (483), Ken H (48), Ron C (470), Steve M (374), Phil G (154), Daryl H (65), Phill Koob (122), Phil K (123), John L (477), Bill R (389), Bob L (455), Gary C (75), Bobby T (448), Clynt S (69), Gary H (366), Lyle W (386), Craig M (445), Denis P (430).

We met at Circular Quay - original access to Luna Park was by ferry - “step aboard the great white showboats, SS Koompartoo and SS Kuttabul, for a short thrilling trip across the harbour to glamorous Luna Park”. These were identical sister ships, the last K-class ferries on the harbour. One of these amusement park ferries appears later in the story.

WHITE CITY

The earliest significant amusement park for Sydney was the White City. It was inspired by the Chicago World Fair’s White City (1893) amusement park and its structures sparkled at night in the electric lighting. This was the first park to be laid out around The Midway Plaisance – a central welcoming focal pathway designed to ‘thrill, titillate, maybe even shock’. One of the workers onsite in Chicago was Elias Disney. The White City included the invention of George Washington Gale Ferris Junior, said to have had a smart anchor tattoo upon his chest.

The term Midway denotes an area with games, rides and vendors, used at U.S. County and state fairs, and incorporated into amusement parks universally. Sydney’s White City was located at Rushcutters Bay and opened in 1913 featuring a new giant carousel from Philadelphia. It was destroyed in 1917 by lightning and fire, and in 1920 the land was sold to the NSW Lawn Tennis Association.

CONEY ISLAND

Coney Island had four amusement parks – Sea Lion Park, Steeplechase, Dreamland and Luna Park. Financial mastermind Skip Dundy named Luna Park after his sister, Mrs Luna Dundy Newman. The park paid its way out of debt in seven weeks. The name Luna Park became generic for similar amusement parks across the world. The layout created by Skip Dundy presented the attractions visibly and his layout enabled elephants to move through – allowing of course a bit of space to swing a trunk. One redundant elephant Topsy was electrocuted at Coney Island with 6000 volts as a gruesome ticketed attraction.

Luna Park Melbourne was the first big face in Australia, opened in 1912 and attracting visitors into another world. John Monash (later war hero) was the chairman of directors. In Sydney, Wonderland at Tamarama Beach opened in 1906 and featured a seal pond and an elephant (this one not plugged into a power point). Wonderland was on a congested awkward site and closed in 1911. Coogee and Manly also featured ‘fun piers’ that were localised attractions.

The next Luna Park after Melbourne was set up at Glenelg in Adelaide. It lasted through the depression years, but the local council was uncooperative, and the churches were against Sunday trading. The owner David Atkins went to Sydney to scope out locations along the beaches, and at the end of his search went to see one last block of land before returning to Adelaide. It was the Dorman Long workshop site comprising 5.5 acres, and he decided to proceed, closing at Glenelg in 1934.

SS MUNGANA

Luna Park arrived in Sydney by ship from Adelaide in June 1935. The SS Mungana offloaded the amusement rides at the disused Dorman Long & Co wharf, ready for reassembly. The Big Dipper alone comprised 1.5 km of track. The entire equipment of Luna Park took 12 weeks to build, using keen depression-era workers no longer required by Dorman Long. Many Waverton workers had gone without income for some time. When the park opened in October of that year it was dubbed the City of a Million Lights.

MILSONS POINT

A 20-year lease was signed to use these new premises, where the temporary Milsons Point Station was connected to the nearby Glen Street tram by steep wooden escalators. These escalators were later installed at Wynyard Station providing access to York Street.

The Wild Mouse wooden rollercoaster was a classic piece of showground equipment, and at one point there were 250 worldwide. The one at Luna Park is still in place today. Its small switchback produces a sensation of far greater speed and at one point the cars spin on two wheels. The Wild Mouse was lent to the Easter Show annually for decades, making more money during showtime than for the rest of the year.

When Luna Park opened on Friday 4 October 1935 at 4 pm, these were depression times and many families around Waverton had not seen a paycheck since the bridge was completed. On Saturdays kids got in for free, and Aeroplane Jelly crystals were given out. Luna Park was hugely profitable in Sydney, and while the mayor of Glenelg was pleased to be rid of it, he complained about the revenue lost. The money spinner rides were (1) The Big Dipper and (2) The River Caves. In North Sydney Sunday trading was welcome and the employment during construction and afterward was appreciated.

In the war years the park got a reputation for riotous behaviour and the odd stabbing. Prostitutes gathered beneath the bridge’s northern pylon hoping to pick up members of the armed forces leaving Luna Park. On 31 May 1942, the former Luna Park ferry Kuttabul was sunk in Sydney Harbour killing 21 (of the three midget sub pilots we can recall from a previous tour – Chuman, Matsuo and Ban, it was Ban who fired the killer torpedo). This was the second greatest shipping tragedy inside the harbour, only exceeded by the 40 killed on board the Greycliffe (school boat). In 1943 Garden Island was renamed HMAS Kuttabul to honour the dead. The name of a former Luna Park ferry is therefore retained in Sydney naval history.

In September 1945 the Royal Navy ship HMS Whelp sailed from witnessing the Japanese surrender in Tokyo harbour, to Sydney. A young lieutenant Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was on board and visited Luna Park for a farewell party for the crew. He was observed having great fun, until he disgraced himself and was escorted from the River Caves ride. People who saw him that night were later puzzled to realise he was the sombre prince of later years. But many say he retained his humour and he has many admirers – including our own Vice President of TOFS.

In July 1974 six of the giant face’s teeth were extracted overnight in a UNSW prank. Later they were returned, some pranksters went on to become dentists, so this was probably the last extraction that they performed for free.

GHOST TRAIN FIRE

On 9 June 1979, Sydney was in the midst of a train strike and the only train operating was the Luna Park ghost train. A fake fireplace inside the train ride is believed to be where the fire started, claiming seven victims, four friends from Waverley College and a father and two sons from Warren NSW.

There was no water pressure in the fire hydrants, suction hoses were dropped into the harbour. The police on the spot stated, “there is little doubt that the fire was caused by an electrical fault”. Firemen noticed that there was no damage in or around the switchboard area, and the damage was not consistent with an electrical fault. The next morning cranes were brought in to tear the structure apart.

A journalist on site was warned by a detective “Let me just tell you this. Watch what you say because if you don’t watch what you say you’re going to be in trouble”. The three most senior police on the site were later found to be corrupt. Journalists found it difficult to get any information. Police, fire brigade and Luna Park employees seemed to have a code of silence.

The four boys were remembered at a joint funeral at St Mary’s Cathedral, four black hearses outside. Every street was lined from Rose Bay to the Cathedral, and 3 to 4 thousand attended the requiem mass. Monsignor James Delaney of Rose Bay parish conducted the service with Catholic archbishop Cardinal Sir James Freeman. The bodies were interred at South Head Cemetery “in sight of the ocean they loved. It shall murmur their requiem.”

In Warren NSW where the Godson family lived 600 km north-west of Sydney, the father and boys were commemorated in a joint funeral. Stores closed for the day. Hundreds gathered at the white weatherboard Presbyterian Church of St Andrew, where the service was led by the Reverend Richard Lee. Two hearses waited outside for the short journey to Warren Cemetery. (At my own wedding at St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church in Gilgandra in 1982, the Reverend Richard Lee officiated).

THE INQUEST

The inquest into the Ghost Train Fire ran to 1,900 pages, and nowhere was the possibility of arson raised. None of the witnesses who saw seven bikies near the site and smelled kerosene were summoned to give evidence. The cause of the fire could not be conclusively stated, and the conclusion was that the fire was likely caused by a discarded lit cigarette or match.

KIRRIBILLI HOTEL

The brilliant art deco facade of The Kirribilli Hotel is a welcome sight at the Ennis Road exit of Milsons Point train station. An enormous polished wooden bartop wraps around the carpeted main bar into a dining room adorned with portraits of past prime ministers. Select your favourite !

“Luna Park” by Helen Pitt is available at Abbeys Bookshop, York Street.

MUSIC

Obviously our music must be 'Penny Arcade' by Roy Orbison (1970). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK36ct28mZM

Graham L (185)

TOFS Trip 900

Wednesday 29 July 2026

ST KILDA POINT WALK

(Organised by TOFS SS)

TOFS (23): Graham L (185), Paul E (380), Les H (469), JP (27), Ron B (446), David W (434), Ron O (231), Jim M (209), Lyle W (386), Kenn W (243), Peter O (348), Gregg B (365), Frank W (475), Peter M (155), Don N (400), Chas H (203), Terry O (147), David C (467), Peter L (479), Phil G (154), Bob L (455), Rex M (179), Jeffrey H (373).

TOFS Trip Number 900 – a milestone !

This is a peaceful walk along roads and paths likely never traversed before. We met at Kogarah Station to commence the walk.

LEE JUN-FAN

In the town centre square of Kogarah stands a statue of Lee Jun-Fan (Bruce Lee).

He was born in the Chinese Hospital in San Francisco USA in 1940. His mother was reportedly half German. A nurse suggested the name ‘Bruce’ but he only used that name later in life. The young family moved to Hong Kong the following year – not the best decision just prior to the Japanese occupation. In the 1950’s he became a child actor in the Hong Kong film industry. Being a US Citizen he moved back to Seattle in 1959 and enrolled in the University of Washington. He started a martial arts school, leading to him later starring in five feature-length martial arts films. He died suddenly at age 32.

His widow Linda Lee is now 82 years old. They had two children, son Brandon and daughter Shannon. Both became actors. Brandon died in a shooting accident from a badly prepared gun used on set.

The Kogarah Bruce Lee statue was gifted in 2011 by Shunde, China, to commemorate a sister-city friendship, it honours Lee as an influential martial artist and cultural icon whose family hailed from the Shunde region. There is no evidence of an anchor tattoo upon his chest, and it is unclear whether this affects the authenticity of the statue.

KOGARAH

Known as the original base of St George Bank, and as an education centre with several schools in the immediate vicinity (all of which finish lessons at the same time and release a huge crowd upon the station each afternoon). As the location of St George Hospital, it is also a health hub with many specialists located in the town area.

CARLTON

Heavily timbered Carlton was originally part of a massive 1,950-acre grant awarded to Captain John Townson in 1808. By the 1870s, the area was largely characterised by rural pursuits where dairy and livestock operations were common.

The Illawarra railway line originally opened as far as Hurstville in October 1884. There was initially no platform at Carlton. Local landholders banded together to guarantee a £400 contribution towards building a platform and station, which officially opened on February 15, 1887. In return, landholders were given a free block of land and guaranteed a first-class ticket to Sydney for a year.

KOGARAH BAY

The walk proceeded alongside the Beverley Park Golf Course and down onto the lapping and sedate shores of Kogarah Bay (the name Kogarah means "place of rushes"). In this area the early 19th-century land grants were originally developed as orchards and market gardens. The quiet residential suburb of Kogarah Bay grew slowly due to its distance from railways.

SANS SOUCI

Further on, The Promenade Sans Souci provides a wide cross section of architecture, and glimpses of the bay and distant shoreline. The Daily Telegraph of Monday 27 July contained the article “Crime surge shatters serenity of Sans Souci”, concerning attempted break-ins and car thefts on Vista Street. Vista Street is part of the St Kilda Point walk. There is no suggestion that the presence of TOFS in the area is related to the crimes.

And so, to St Kilda Point. There was never an actual saint named Kilda, the name comes from a remote and now depopulated island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, likely named ‘skildir’ meaning ‘shield’ in Old Norse. The population along with their sheep were removed in 1930 and their dogs were drowned in a bay.

Located upon St Kilda Point was our lunch venue, Baybreeze on the waterfront. Founded in 1920, the St George Motorboat Club is Australia's oldest continuously racing powerboat club. Over a century, it evolved from a modest cottage on Kogarah Bay into a premier Southern Sydney venue, offering a secure marina, dining, and event facilities.

MUSIC

Some real St Kilda music - "From St Kilda to Kings Cross" by Paul Kelly (1985).

                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV1FW_FCjx8

Graham L (185)

TOFS TRIP 899

Friday 24th July 2026

TOFS Xmas in July & AGM

(Organised by TOFS MC)

TOFS (22): Malc S (359), Norm MS (307), Dave T (351), Ian C (376), Gary C (482), Albert K (403), Will L (282), Kit C (415), Tom H (393), Alan H (465), Ray L (407), Peter W (354), Alan M (228), Greg E (259), Allan J (416), Bob B (418), Bill L (367), Dave G (308), David N (280), Gary S (322), Ray M (229), Bill C (263).

Visitors: (2) Ross, John.

Photo shows members enjoying lunch at Hallidays Point Tavern on Friday, 24th July 2026.

Prior to lunch, Tour Organiser Malc S (359) welcomed 22 members and 2 visitors to the informal Annual General Meeting, marking the close of one TOFS year and the opening of another.

In his welcome address, Malc paid tribute to former Liaison Officer John M (70) who passed away in September 2025, acknowledging the significant amount of work John put into the club over a near 10-year period and his overall contribution to the local community.  He also acknowledged the passing of Bob K (334) earlier this year, who although of very quiet demeanour, was known to enjoy the regular TOFS outings.

Members were thanked for their commitment to TOFS and Malc proposed a toast to all members past and present to which members responded with a hearty ‘Cheers’.

Outings would continue on the 4th Friday of each month, the next one being a visit to Marine Rescue at Tuncurry on Friday, 28th August, arranged by TOFS member and former Unit Commander Dave G (308).  Dave informed the group that he will do an introduction on the day then take members on a tour of the tower and the big boat used in their operations.

Malc closed his welcome address by inducting Gary C as a new member of the group and presented him with cap no. 482, to be known in the future only as Gary C (482) in accordance with TOFS tradition.

Following an adjournment, Malc raised the important matter of positions vacant within the club.

Norm MS (307) indicated he would be happy to vacate the position of Cashier if anyone else had a burning desire to take it on.  Malc also indicated that the Liaison Officer position was still vacant and that his own position of Tour Organiser was also open.

In the absence of any nominations or volunteers from the floor, the incumbents confirmed their willingness to continue for another year, with the Liaison Officer position remaining vacant.

Malcolm S (359) Tour Organiser.

TOFS TRIP 898

Wednesday 22 July 2026

Hornsby Quarry Stage 1 Walk

(Organised by TOFS WW Sub-group)

TOFS [34]:    JP (27), Dennis S (60), Daryl H (65), John Q (66), Alan W (97), Peter W (101), Jim W (129), Terry O’H (147), Jeff J (153), Phil G (154), Rex M (179), Graham L (185), Greg O’H (200), Jim McD (209), Ron O’H (231), Chris R (251), Stuart P (264), Keith R (283), Allan S (349), John O (357), Gary H (366), Paul E (380), Lyle W (386), Rob E (431), David W (434), Ron B (446), Jason F (464), David C (467), Les H (469), Ron C (470), Frank W (475), Wayne E (476), Peter L (479), John V (483)

VISITOR [1]: Michael C (Guest of Wayne E (476)) 

The real Shire, the Bushland Shire, put on one of its usual special days for the TOFS visitors from elsewhere.

A fine day it was to, first of all, present John V (483) with his TOFS cap along with our hope that we will see it often on our outings, and then to warmly welcome Michael C, a guest of Wayne E (476), confident that the TOFS camaraderie will influence Michael to join up soon.

It was also great to see that a cohort of members from TOFS early days was able to come with us on this Trip.

As a prelude to visiting Hornsby Quarry, we gathered basically on the ridgetop overlooking Old Man’s Valley, and learnt about the early (as in 1820’s) settlement of the valley in which the quarry was later established.

To convert much of his Grant of 250 acres of virgin hilly bushland, just west of what is now Hornsby, into a successful series of orchards which supplied the still fledgling colony of Sydney with much-needed fruit and vegetables, was a major achievement for Thomas Higgins and his extended family.

That success, of course, came only after Thomas had forged access to his land from then distant roads, and had logged and processed the vast quantity of timber from the forests that covered the valley.

They must have been tough hombres back then to survive in the basic living conditions that they had managed to fashion for themselves out in the bush.

With bush all around, wildlife was abundant and often found its way into the settlers’ houses. Black snakes were a common species in the district and were regular visitors. Apparently, a shotgun blast overcame those intrusions.

One story in particular, from the words of a niece of Ned Harrington, who appears to have been a grandson of Thomas Higgins, highlights some of the perils they faced, in this case a feral cat that had found its way into Ned’s bedroom:

‘Uncle Ned slept in a nightgown, and (this night) he attacked the intruder with a broom. In its efforts to escape, the cat flew up Uncle Ned’s nightshirt where it really re-arranged things.

He walked bow-legged for several weeks after.’

Following a very severe storm in the early 1890’s, which caused a major landslide from a cliff on his property, Thomas Higgins came across a deposit of unusual rock that had been exposed. Higgins began to extract the stone by pick and shovel when it was confirmed as basalt which, when crushed, produced blue metal. He sold the product as a building material and for roadbase. Hence a quarry was born.

By now, our TOFS party had made its way around via suburban streets to the quarry site. Our vantage point was the recently opened Southern Lookout, a 42 metre long viewing platform on 14 m high tapered steel columns.

As we gazed down upon the now partially-filled quarry void, which in its operating days was up to 120 m deep in parts, we heard of its history.

Briefly, the quarry was worked by various owners over the years , interrupted by the Great Depression of the 1930’s, and for about 19 years from 1940 it lay idle as some believed the deposits in the quarry had been exhausted.

Farley & Lewers (later becoming CSR) reactivated the site in 1959, and with the benefit of heavy machinery, extracted blue metal at an estimated 200,000 tonnes a year until about the year 2000.

CSR had then decided that the quarry was unviable, and when Hornsby Council rejected one proposal by CSR to fill the quarry void, CSR served an Acquisition Order on the Council.

It is hard to believe that after about 100 years of mining at the site, it was still zoned as Open Space. The Law at the time said that Council must buy land zoned as Open Space if the owner wants to sell it.

Council valued the site at $2.3 million, CSR wanted $40 million but allowed $15 million for rehabilitation work. The Land & Environment Court then assessed it at $26 million which Council had to pay. Rather, the ratepayers of Hornsby Council had to pay by way of a levy of 5.3% on their rates for 10 years!

CSR just walked away at the end of 2003 leaving Council with a bloody big hole in the ground and a huge bill.

Hornsby Council then started on the long journey of considering what to do with the site, and received submissions from many Environmental and Planning consultants, and the Geological Society before adopting a Master Plan in about 2013 for the further development of some 60 ha of recreational space including the transformation of the quarry to form the ‘Centennial Park of the North’.

The first process was, of course, to fill the quarry void.

After much negotiating, seemingly involving every State Government Department and some other interested parties, Hornsby Council finally reached agreement with the constructors of the NorthConnex Tunnel project that clean spoil from the tunnel would be used as fill.  

From March 2017, there were about 385 truck movements a day (at the rate of 35 per hour) dumping their loads of spoil from NorthConnex onto a stockpile at the eastern side of the void, from where it was delivered into the hole by a specially designed conveyor system.

The last load arrived on 25 January 2019, completing the transfer of an estimated 1.2 million cubic metres of spoil.        As an aside, that 1.2 million cubic metres represents only about 40% of the matter excavated for the NorthConnex Tunnel.

Since then, distribution of the fill around the pit has taken place, and the approximate final level has been achieved. That area will now be turned into a green area for family enjoyment with parks, a water cascade feature, small amphitheatre, amenities, a Lift on the northern rim and so on.

On the eastern face of the quarry, the mining has revealed a cross-section of a very large volcanic pipe, called a diatreme, which was formed about 200 million years ago, and is filled with shattered rock or breccia, basalt and dolerite (obviously the source of the blue metal). The distinctive concave subsidence layering evident on the quarry walls is of immense interest to geologists worldwide.

 The final level of fill in the quarry recognises the need to preserve access to that wall for research purposes. Restriction of the fill level enabled the formation of a lake underneath that eastern face. The jury is still out on whether swimming or other water activities will be allowed on the lake.

The Crusher Plant Precinct and Southern Lookout are the initial releases by Hornsby Council under its Master Plan.

One probably optimistic quote for the entire Hornsby Park project is $130 million. As equally optimistic is a suggested project span of 10 years.

The physical limitations of some members, including mine on this occasion, are important, so members were given the option of returning to Hornsby township along the streets on which we had arrived at the quarry, or by negotiating Old Man’s Valley via the Heritage Steps.

The steps were originally fashioned during the Depression Years of the 1930’s on the track which provided access to Hornsby for the residents of the valley.

A project, begun in 2011, repaired the erosion and disrepair that had befallen the steps over the years.

Most of our party chose the Heritage Steps, and reunited with the others in good time. My thanks to Allan S and Jeff J for supervising that trek.

Our final stop before lunch was at the Hornsby Water Clock, the theme of which is Man, Time and Environment.

Designed and constructed in bronze, stainless steel and glass by sculptor Victor Cusack, at a cost of over $1 million, it was unveiled in 1993.

At that time, it was a working piece of sculpture, consisting of 3 water-powered clocks:

-       A 4th century BCE Greek clepsydra

-       An 11th century Chinese water wheel clock activated by 28 counterweighted buckets around a central 2.3m wheel.

-       A 17th century Swiss pendulum clock. The pendulum weighs 350kg which is impressive when compared with the pendulum assembly on Big Ben at 299kg.

Each of these mechanisms relied on water filling and then being emptied from various receptacles, causing an increment in time on their respective devices. The periodic crashing of water from the clocks was a source of amusement for the kids.

Unfortunately, early stoppages due to vandalism, and damage to some components during nearby shopping centre upgrades, eventually led to some features of the sculpture being locked into position. Electrical assistance has now been installed to drive the main time display.

We adjourned to the nearby Hornsby Inn for lunch and refreshments, before wending our various ways home.

Thanks to all for attending this outing.

Rex M

Tour Leader.

TOFS TRIP 897 

TUESDAY 14TH JULY 2026

OLD SYDNEY MINT AND RUM HOSPITAL BUILDING

(Organised by CC-TOFS)

TOFS (27): Peter B (32), Phil B (345), Paul E (380), Ron B (446), Les H (469), Craig Mc D (445), Ron O’H (231), Ted B (451), Rob E (431), Frank W (475), Anthony T (420), Lyle W (386), Allan S (349), John P (27), Richard Mc D (219), Ron C (470), John B (473), Steve Mc K (374), Glen R (246), Stuart P (264), David C (467), John R (463), Bob S (444), John V (483), Ted A (306), Rob B (440), Phil G (154).

After meeting up we went to the pleasant State Library Café for a coffee and then moved on to the Mint, formerly the Rum Hospital the oldest surviving public building in the CBD.

In 1810 Governor Macquarie imported 45,000 gallons (170,343 Litres) of rum for 3 merchants as currency, provided they built a 3-wing General Hospital completed in 1816, known as the Rum Hospital. Its Central Wing was demolished in 1879; the North Wing is now Parliament House.

As the Rum trade created a lot of community issues and after gold was discovered in 1854-55 the South wing was converted into the first overseas branch of the Royal Mint.

From 1855 to1926 the Mint processed 1,200 tonnes of Colonial Gold into 150 million Sovereigns for circulation throughout the British Empire.

In 2004 it became Headquarters of the Historic Houses trust, now Museums of History NSW. 

Unfortunately, during our visit they were renovating the outer building housing the original Coin Press and some of the displays were reduced including the coin exhibition which was confined to the old Bullion room.

However, one of the guides gave us a tour of the new conference and reception rooms which are generating millions of dollars a year, which allowed for the renovation of the original building.

We then all retired to the Great Southern Bar for another great Lunch.

Peter B JP 32

15th July 2026.

TOFS TRIP 896

Thursday 9th July 2026

THE ROCKS DISCOVERY MUSEUM

Organised by TOFS NM GROUP

TOFS (20):  JP (27), James Mc (118), Phil K (122), Phil K (123), Phil G (154),   Graham L (185), Jim McD (209), Ron O (231), David M (271), Peter O (348),      Allan S (349), Gary H (366), Jeffrey H (373), Paul E (380), Lyle W (386), Bill R (389), Rob E (431), Ron B (446) Craig McD (445), Les H (469).

On a showery morning, 20 TOFS met up at Circular Quay for the short walk to the Rocks and the hidden gem which is the Rocks Discovery Museum.

This is Gadigal land, an area once known as Sydney Cove.  The Museum is housed in a sandstone building (1844-1854), once occupied by Chinese Merchants.

The building has three levels, filled with many artefacts, a lot recovered from a major archaeological dig in 1984.  We were given a brief introduction by the resident guide before we set off to explore the various exhibits.

It is mainly a self-guided tour, however there are lots of audio-visual aids and lots of touch screens telling stories of the Rocks.

We learned the story of George Cribb, the convict butcher whose well became a dump, from where many of the exhibits were recovered.

The Byrne family were early residents of the Rocks and their 1807 cottage in Cumberland Street was an important site providing many interesting finds during the “BIG DIG”. 

Early residents in the Rocks around the 1820’s were Maori, Chinese, Scandinavian, Irish and Aboriginal.

Interesting exhibits were the clothes from the period 1870-1900, and the Pinball Machine (1935) recovered from the Australian Hotel in Cumberland Street,

The Museum has a Resource Centre book collection, and on the top floor we were impressed by the collection of paintings by school children.

A most interesting museum to visit and learn a bit more about “Old Sydney”.

Being a bit early for lunch, we crossed over to the road for a quick look at the Ken Done Gallery.  No evidence of any TOFS buying any of the paintings but who knows, they may be back one day to make a purchase.

We dodged the showers and headed back to the Orient Hotel for our lunch appointment, and we were seated beside the TV screen showing a re-run of the State of Origin match, so all the NSW fans were happy. 

Good meals and a chance to “chew the fat” with fellow TOFS before making our way homewards in bright sunshine.

No one reminded me about the group photograph, so it was late in the day before it was taken, so apologies to Bill, who was missing, having gone for an earlier train.             

David M (271)

TOFS Trip 886

Thursday 21 May 2026

SUTHERLAND SHIRE MUSEUM, SYLVANIA

(Organised by TOFS HQ)

TOFS (25): Graham L (185), Paul E (380), Les H (469), Rex M (179), Ron B (446), Ron O (231), David W (434), Frank W (475), Terry O (147), Lyle W (386), JP (27), Ray N (235), Keith R (283), Jason F (464), Kenn W (243), James B (214), Glen R (246), Bobby T (448), Jim M (209), Bob S (444), Phil G (154), Peter L (479), Ron C (470), David C (467), Jeffrey H (373).

Visitor (1): Bill S (V).

We converged on Hurstville Station bus stand K to take the ever-reliable bus 970 to Sylvania. Oh, actually not so reliable it never turned up, we sought assistance of the driver of the next 971 bus and then walked the width of the suburb of Sylvania to arrive at our destination.

Background

Here on the southern shores of Kamay Botany Bay, 'Warra Warra Wei' were the first Aboriginal words ever recorded, later translated as 'they are all dead'. This suggests that they thought the new arrivals were the ghosts of their ancestors. Cook landed here on his way to see the Transit of Venus. As it turned out this spectacle was not visible due to an overcast sky! Cook and his party explored Kurnell Peninsula. During their brief stay, a Scottish seaman named Forbes Sutherland died of tuberculosis. In his honour, Cook named the northwest point of the peninsula Point Sutherland. Cook himself originated from near the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby, where Dracula was shipwrecked when he migrated from Transylvania to England.

When Botany Bay was chosen as the new penal settlement and the First Fleet under Governor Arthur Phillip anchored off Kurnell on 18 January 1788. After sending a party to clear land for settlement, Phillip soon realised the area was unsuitable. There was a lack of shelter for ships, inadequate water and poor soil. On 24 January, two French ships were sighted off the coast, causing Phillip to raise English colours near Sutherland Point. Governor Phillip sailed north to explore Port Jackson, and eventually settled at Sydney Cove.

The first landowner in Sutherland Shire was James Birnie, a mercantile trader who was granted by promise 700 acres (280 ha) at Kurnell in 1815. Title to land was not granted by the Crown until 1856, before which there was practically no settlement. Timber cutting was the primary industry, supplemented by shell gathering in the Port Hacking area.

Our Visit

Our guides Sue, Pauline and Leigh were there to meet us and our visit commenced with tea and cake under the museum awning. We were then divided into three groups and rotated for 20 minutes with each guide; the changeover time being marked by the ringing of a school bell.

(1)   Encounter

This section dealt with the arrival and early days of the area. A bark canoe is on display, with a clay-lined portion at one end to enable lighting of a fire. This canoe would have resembled the craft used when Cook visited Kamay Botany Bay, on the Kurnell Peninsula. An islander Tupaia met Cook and travelled with his party, known no doubt at that time for the anchor tattoos upon their seafaring chests. A sample of the ballast (pig iron) that Cook jettisoned up the coast is on display.

Thomas Holt was a wool merchant who ended up owning large tracts of today’s Sutherland Shire, he was also a politician and a businessman and built a mansion ‘Sylvania’ upon his landholding. The organ in his home originated in Canada and is currently being restored. He tried oyster farming which was not especially successful.

Sutherland is naturally isolated by rivers; it was not until coal was found in the Illawarra area that the railway line came through. Prior to that, punts were the main connection points.

(2)   Recent History of Sutherland

Leigh conducted this section of the exhibition, her family published a paper ‘The Observer’ and following the untimely death of her grandfather, her father became the editor at the age of 15. Many houses were fibro as the building materials were easier to transport across rivers and bridges. A migrant hostel was for many years located at Cronulla, which was also the site for the filming of ‘Puberty Blues’. The Hotel Cecil dominated the social scene of Cronulla during the 1930’s.

(3)   Aboriginal Items

Cabinets of items which were not sourced in the local area, held womens’ business (coolamon, weaving) and mens’ business (killing boomerangs, shields). In addition, the museum has now secured the Matson Collection of local items, and we were shown how a shell progresses to a fish hook in simple steps.

Final word must go to Burnum Burnum, whose picture was on the wall in this section. “To the Queen of England - you can keep your country it’s too bloody cold”.

CREST HOTEL

This is a very big room, spacious renovated premises with good service and well-priced mains. Located in the Southgate Shopping Centre.

MUSIC

Get some real history - "West of the Wall" by Toni Fisher (1962).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVeG-MllgXI

Graham L (185)