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May 1, 2022 |
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Newsletter for the
Offshore Residents of Pittwater, Australia - Volume 23,
Issue 1176
We acknowledge and pay our
respects to the Traditional Custodians of
Pittwater, as well as our Indigenous readers
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Contents
Heartbreak Hill... and how we almost had two more like itRoy Baker
Scotland Island isn’t really the place for those who don’t like hills. But walk around the island via Florence Terrace, Richard Rd and Robertson Rd, and most of the route is relatively flat. Most, that is, except for one infamous island ordeal: Heartbreak Hill. For the uninitiated, Heartbreak Hill is the nickname for that stretch of road running directly up from Carols Wharf. It’s a steep, unrelenting incline with three false summits. I run up it regularly and, believe me, it’s cruel. But most infuriating is that when you reach the top you immediately start to go down again. Why be sent uphill only to immediately descend? Richard Rd and Florence Terrace are on about the same level. Wouldn’t it be easier if the two simply met? They don’t because Bangalla sits in the way. To understand this and other island oddities, you need to appreciate that there were two major attempts at subdivision, one in 1906 and the other in 1924. The 1906 plan, shown above, would have divided the island into 121 residential blocks. But buyers didn’t come flocking and only about eight sold.
Look at the 1906 plan and you’ll see a single road running around the island. This was to be known as Hughenden Terrace in the north and Athole Crescent in the south. Now look at the 1924 plan and you’ll see exactly the same circular route, although its name has changed to Elvina Crescent. This is what we know today as Thompson St. Most of it is walkable, but only its eastern and southern sections can be driven along. Downhill from Elvina Crescent we see a second circular route made up of Robertson Rd, Florence Terrace and Richard Rd. These cut through almost all of the large waterfront blocks envisaged in the 1906 plan. But there are a few exceptions, which I’ve marked with coloured circles. Note, in particular, Lots 48 to 51, in the south-eastern corner of the island (encircled in yellow). This is where we find Bangalla and Heartbreak Hill (Harold Ave). It’s now obvious why we have to climb uphill only to then go down again. Richard Rd (left) and Florence Terrace (right) can’t connect because Lots 48 to 51 are in the way. These were among the few blocks to sell after the 1906 subdivision. Presumably their owners weren’t going along with the 1924 subdivision.
Look again at the 1924 plan. To the northwest we have Lot 7, ringed in red. This is Yamba. And close to Bells we have Lots 74 and 75, encircled in blue. Lot 75 contains a house called ‘Edinburgh’. Imagine if the owners of these blocks had not cooperated with the 1924 subdivision. Yamba would have blocked Robertson Rd and Edinburgh would have done the same to Richard Rd. In 1923 Herbert Fitzpatrick, the developer behind the 1924 subdivision, surveyed the island with a view to its subdivision. At the time he must have been fairly confident that he could avoid these road blocks by securing the cooperation of the owners of Yamba and Edinburgh. We know that because the deposited plan of subdivision shows his proposed Robertson Road cutting across Yamba. And he envisaged Richard Rd as cutting through Edinburgh’s grounds.
We find exactly the same arrangement above ‘Edinburgh’. See how an unnamed road runs up alongside Lot 75, connecting Richard Road with Elvina Crescent? That would have allowed traffic on Richard Rd to drive up to Elvina Crescent, before descending again via Hilda Ave. Aoma St still exists, at least on paper. And there remains a curious road reserve just north of Hilda Ave. But you’ll have a hard time walking up either of them, let alone driving. Fortunately we need do neither, because in the end Yamba was cut into two by Robertson Road, and Lots 74 to 75 were dissected by Richard Rd, thus permitting a relatively level perambulation of the island. So, if you’ve ever wondered about the oddities of the island’s road layout, perhaps there is a logic behind some of them. And maybe we should be grateful that the island’s piecemeal development didn’t lead to more Heartbreak Hills. Thanks to Bruce Kesby for providing me with the 1924 deposited plan.  The Island Community Hall Mural: Now Finished!
If you’ve been anywhere
near Scotland Island community hall recently you will
have noticed that Nettie Lodge's gorgeously painted
mural now extends around the three walls of the
basketball area.
The original hall mural,
entitled 'The Art of the Island', was funded by a
government grant obtained by Emmie Collins. But Nettie
went way beyond expectations, donating her talent as
well as many hours of her time to incorporate the
basketball court. The entire mural beautifully
complements the one Nettie painted on the Recreation
Centre (the old Kindy).
Thank you Nettie for once
again transforming our communal spaces with your amazing
artworks and for going the extra mile.
Anzac Day Ceremony
This Anzac Day the offshore
and onshore communities gathered as usual at Church
Point to pay their respects to the fallen.
This year's address was
delivered by Andrew Cutler, captain of West Pittwater
Rural Fire Brigade. A resident of Elvina Bay, Andrew is
also nephew to Sir Arthur Roden Cutler, longest-serving
Governor of New South Wales.
Andrew described how his
uncle was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the
Battle of Merdjayoun, fought in June 1941 against Vichy
France as part of the Syria-Lebanon Campaign. During the
fighting Sir Roden lost his leg.
Following the war he
entered into a long career in the diplomatic service
before being appointed state governor in 1966. Besides
his many accomplishments, Andrew spoke of his uncle as a
kindly man who would bounce his nephew on his one good
knee. Sir Roden died in 2002.
As always, thanks go to Ian
White for organising the ceremony.
Newcomers' Welcome Once again we had a very
successful Newcomers' Welcome to Scotland Island on 10
April. Juliet Wills showed Gail Hambly's most
informative PowerPoint presentation, followed
by speakers Colin Haskell on the Scotland Island
Residents Association, CB Floyd on island
communications, Emmie Collins on bush care, Peter Lalor
on the Rural Fire Brigade and Nikki Gibson on the
island's emergency water system.
There was a lot to take in
and if you have any further questions do not hesitate to
contact me. If as a newcomer you weren't able to make
the meeting then we look forward to hearing from you so
that we can contact you for the next welcome later this
year.
Rosemary Haskell 0410 500
704
Marty's Fundraiser Hi - I’m Marty Campbell.
I’ve been selected to represent NSW again at the Special
Olympics National Games. The games will be held in
Launceston, TAS, from 17-21 October 2022. I’ve been to
two National Games in tennis before - in Melbourne and
Adelaide - and I won a gold medal in doubles in 2014.
I have been training hard with my coach and my support worker, Sarah, and every Saturday morning I play social tennis with my buddies at Bayview Tennis Club. I will be competing against athletes from other states in singles and doubles, and if I win a gold medal in singles I will be selected to go to the World Games representing Australia. I need to raise $2,500 to be able to compete once more, and I would love your support. Your generous donations will help cover the cost of my flights, travel and accommodation to help get me to the Games. Please help me reach my fundraising goal to achieve my dream of a third Special Olympics in tennis. To donate, please click here.
Thank you, Marty. Chess
Tournament?
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Having
recently rediscovered the joys of chess after a hiatus of
more than 40 years, I'm wondering whether there is
sufficient interest within the offshore community for a
chess tournament.
 |
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| Dr Tim Dean, Sydney University |
Preparation:
● Listen to 'Reconsidering Morality', Conversations, ABC Radio National, available here;
● Listen to Tim Dean on Dumbo Feather, available here;
● Read Tim Dean in The Conversation, available here;
● And if you are really keen, read Tim's book: How we Became Human and Why we Need to Change: details available here.
Contact Jane Rich (janebalmain@hotmail.com) for more information or to express your interest in participating.
House
available over winter
We are renting out our house for 10 weeks between mid-June and the end of August.
3 bedrooms + office, 2 bath, south-facing, big flat backyard with heaps of kids' toys, and 5 mins from Carols Wharf. One of the rooms is a self-contained studio with private entrance and deck.
Rent is negotiable - ring Tina (0413 547376) or Greg (0423 476056) to chat.
Missed out on a previous newsletter?
Past newsletters,
beginning May 2000, can be found and read at https://ymlp.com/archive_gesgjgm.php.
To Contribute
If you would like to contribute to this newsletter, please send an e-mail to the editor (editor@scotlandisland.org.au).Subscription Information
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The
views
expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the
views of the Scotland Island Residents Association
(SIRA), or the Western Pittwater Community
Association (WPCA)
