BALMAIN EAST
The beautiful Winter day encouraged 30 walkers to explore the foreshore of East Balmain to Pyrmont, once the industrial maritime hub of Sydney Harbour.The large group met at Circular Quay for the ferry to Balmain East, the slow embarkation enabling Anne G to make the ferry with seconds to spare. At Balmain East leadersAnne G and Mary decided to split into 2 groups [at left Anne G organizes her group] as the narrow short streets of Balmain made it difficult to keep a large group together. We walked along the Tom Uren track through Bells Foreshore to Illoura reserve, parkland created by the removal of industrial activity. The track then wound through narrow streets of workers houses from the mid 19th Century. The leaders spoke of the history of the houses and the walkers enjoyed photographing the streetscape.After walking up and down steep narrow streets we went behind the Water Police Base to Ewenton Park, then through a few streets containing some fine historic houses to Birrung Park for morning tea. The group led by Anne G had arrived first and taken the seats, so Mary G led her group a little further along. These parks have 1980’s townhouse developments on part of the site reclaimed from industry.
'An elegant coffee shop in a heritage building' 'Darling Harbour ruined'
Fine old historic houses ... but the 20th century?
THE ANZAC BRIDGE AND 'OLD INDUSTRIAL'
Steel steps led down to former Lever brothers industrial buildings and apartment blocks around Waterdale Park.We then continued into White Bay area which has a long industrial history, most recently container wharves, now Cruise Line terminal. We followed the road past the derelict White Bay power station onto the pedestrian/ cycleway across the Anzac Bridge to Pyrmont, which enabled us to see the Australian Anzac up close.At the end of the ramp to Quarry Master Rd we turned onto a waterfront walkway passing the site of the CSR sugar mill, now filled with apartments, until we reached Pirrama Park for lunch. Last remnants of CSR's presence are the steel ‘digesters’ used to soften woodchip in the production of canite. Canite was a CSR byproduct which recycled the waste sugar cane pulp.
Mary’s group had overtaken Anne’s and occupied the tables, but there was plenty of bench space to enjoy lunch in the sun.
14 walkers ready to cross the Anzac Bridge
Christine McA's photo, taken earlier in the day, shows the apartments on the old CSR sugar mill site.
Flora more interesting than old-time digesting monsters.
DARLING HARBOUR
After lunch we joined together to explore the waterfront and climb lots of steps to Giba Park, a sliver of green left in front of the development and joined to another small park by a cantilevered walkway. The descent took us to Jones Bay Wharf one of the historic Pyrmont finger wharves, now redeveloped for commercial and residential use. We followed the waterfront past Darling Island and the Heritage Centre for the National Maritime Museum. On the approach to our coffee at the Museum we inspected the ‘Welcome Wall’ capturing names of Australia’s immigration history, seeing our HVB member Claude P recorded.
'Some took the stairs'
["Some" included two walkers born in 1934: the lady descending the last step and the photographer.]
Were you there when Don B and Pragati led a walk on 23October 2015? On North Head a master craftsman was creating a windjammer statue for Darling Harbour.
Some few years ago, Margaret vouched for Claude.
WRAP-UP
A very interesting walk to look at history many of our group remembered.
Two post scripts.
1. HVB's very own dumpster divers
2. A popular subject with our photographers.
FOR THE RECORD
30 walkers
Nick B, Don B, Sue B, Maurice and Susan, Elaine E, Michael and Sue, Martin, Lilian, Christine McA, Lydia, Marilyn, Jan, Margaret P, Elizabeth P, Wendy P, Pragati, Bella and Pete, Barbara R, Vreni, Lyn, Don Wo.
Visitors Barbara C, Libby, Greer, Trudie.
Led by Mary G and Anne G.
Words by Anne G.
Photos by Don Wo(1,2,3,5,12,14,16,17,18,20(and his own captions)), Christine McA(4,9,10,11), Lilian(6,7,8,13), Ray(15), Susan(19).
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