Sunday History Photo, NSW

Submitted: Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 01:48
ThreadID: 67057 Views:7330 Replies:3 FollowUps:4
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Bondi Beach, is located in the suburb of Bondi, seven kilometres from the centre of Sydney.Today Bondi Beach is one of the world's most famous beaches, Bondi Beach is as much a lifestyle choice as a place. Bondi Beach _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx the visitor, captivates them and forges memories of sun, surf and sand.
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It is a slower sun warmed world that somehow stands a little apart from our busy lives. It is a world of lifeguards patrolling between yellow and red flags, surfers riding the waves, bronzed bodies, comfortable cafes and smart restaurants.
One hundred years ago the tram line was extended from the Bondi Aquarium terminus at Fletcher Street to a balloon loop at the southern of Bondi Beach. Early morning tram journeys were particularly popular with bathers, as it was then forbidden to swim at Bondi Beach between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The steam trams used an "old shrieking whistle", made "nerve- bleep tering noises" and caused "earth tremors" and "hurricanes of dust" in warm weather, much to the annoyance of pedestrians and shopkeepers. They rejoiced at the introduction of clean electric trams.
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The electric tram services to Bondi Beach began on October 19, 1902, even though there was only a three-inch clearance beneath the Bondi Road overbridge. This situation was eased the following year when the track was lowered under the bridge. 1905 saw the Bondi line chosen as a destination for the new tourist tram service and the first of a number of moonlight excursions.
The Bondi and North Bondi surf life saving clubs were established in 1906, by which time bathing restrictions had been removed, and the popularity of surf bathing led to improved summer Sunday services.
Destination signs with coloured symbols evolved from the days of steam trams. The Bondi Beach sign was white with a red centre, and "Bondi" printed in white on a black background.
The first of the popular O class trams entered service on the Bondi and Waverley lines in March 1908 and they were in general use by 1911. Nicknamed "rattlers" and "toast-rack" trams, they successfully carried passengers until 1957 and are remembered with nostalgic affection.
The Bondi tram loop was demolished as part of Waverley Council's Bondi Improvement Scheme in the 1920's and the trams rerouted along Campbell Parade to a new terminus at North Bondi, the site still used today by the buses.
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Another tram route reached Bondi Beach via Curlewis Street. This was an extension of the Bellevue Hill line which relieved congestion along Oxford Street. The official opening, which took place on Saturday, December, 19, 1914, was performed by the Minister for Public Works. A second ribbon was cut by Mrs Joseph Barracluff, wife of the Mayor of Waverley, when the tram reached the Waverley boundary. The Bondi via Bellevue Hill line received a priority allocation of the new corridor R class trams in 1933.
The last Bondi tram was during the early hours of Sunday, February 18, 1960. The R class corridor tram was crammed with last-tram riders and had a boisterous journey. It left Bondi at 3.30 a.m. and arrived at the Dowling Street depot minus most light globes, some handrails, all upholstered seat cushions, the lifting jack, a headlight glass and all destination rolls.
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Reply By: Ray - Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 09:42

Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 09:42
I bet like most towns they regret giving up their trams. Trams are now coming back into vogue. Many cities are reintroducing trams and considering trolleybuses.
I was told that most of the bronzed men on Bondi Beach were Poms????????
AnswerID: 355417

Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 20:26

Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 20:26
The Poms are the ones passed out through overdrinking and then burnt bright red and covered in blisters.

Ian
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Reply By: tonbon - Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 10:21

Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 10:21
Having lived in this coastal jungle we call Sydney Town for 20 years, born in Melbourne and live in country NSW for awhile, i for one often wonder at the thought process behind removing the trams from service.

The road and public transport system in Sydney is, for want of a better word, a shambles. Years of developer greed, corruption and mismanagement has turned it into nothing short of a shambles.

A few decades ago, before we had the traffic volume we have now, a state labour government actually foresaw the impending problems and mapped out a plan for highways and ring roads. It was canned by in favor of land development, sigh.

As for Bondi, yes, a lot of the local wildlife are UK travelers here on a "temporary" basis. There is also a large NZ population, but there are still the diehard bronzed aussies to be seen, if you look hard enough.

"The path of least resistance??? I think not!!!!!!"
AnswerID: 355421

Follow Up By: Member - John W (WA) - Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 12:38

Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 12:38
I grew up in Briso ,which had a fantastic tram network from city to suburbs ,also trolley bus which I think had problems with the overhead tracker always jumping off , too many steep hills & sharp turns on them I guess. But the tram was Ace.
Bet they regret our forefathers foresight now.
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Reply By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 15:32

Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 15:32
A N.S.W. Premier called J. J. Cahill & his cohorts thought that Sydney would be more modern if they took the trams out, and replaced them with buses. Bad move.

Funnily enough Bolte in Melbourne was contemplating the same thing, but then along came the first of the energy crisis and common sense prevailed.

Trams were probably the best people mover ever invented for urban areas, sadly the mind shift to everyone owning their own motor car, and the fact that trams were see to be antiquated, saw complaints be aired in the print and electronic media about trams and they went. The last tram ran in Sydney to La Perouse on 21st Feb. 1961.
AnswerID: 355463

Follow Up By: Bob of KAOS - Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 18:33

Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 18:33
Trams are great, but sadly if they were introduced in NSW it would be a fiasco (like the buses trains and fairies). Or they would do some public/private funding arrangement and charge $20 a ride and run with no passengers.

NSW - the state of excitement - just watch underbelly.
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Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 20:32

Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 at 20:32
Thats right!

Reintroduce trams by way of a Private Consortium, guarrantee the delopers financial return and pay for it by sluugging the tax payers.

Just like our Cross City and Lane Cove Tunnels.

Gotta love our state government, champion head kickers and party backstabbers - couldn't negotiate the sale of a meat pie without incurring a twenty year debt.

Ian
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