Item 04: Memoirs of a Colonial Boy by Robert Joseph Stewart, ca. 1971 - Page 33
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[Page 33]
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was almost half a million. On the north side of the harbour a closely built-up area, mostly terraces, clustered at or near Milson's Point,with a straggling tail of ribbon development along the ridge followed by the North Shore railway line, as far as Roseville: houses farther north were few and far between and mostly the humble little residences of poultry farmers, orchardists, or market gardeners. Mosman Bay and Clifton Gardens were mere bushland picnic grounds, accessible only by small steam ferries from Circular Quay. Manly was known as "the village" and was named accordingly on the Lands Department's maps. From the "Quay" it was reached by small coal-burning paddle-wheel ships, which rolled so tremendously passing the "Heads" that very many of the passengers became seasick. This service was operated by the Manly & Port Jackson Company, but in the early stages there was an opposition service, and "cut throat" competition brought the fare as low as 3d. return, before the interloper succumbed. Beyond Manly a very rough, narrow and winding road stretched away to Palm Beach, first passing widely scattered houses and groups of beach huts, and for the last few miles snaking through stunted bush or over rocky outcrops. Though Palm Beach was almost inaccessible by vehicles, it was a passable enough road as far as the "Rock Lily" Restaurant and the nearby big "La Corniche" Hotel, both completely isolated, to which gay Sunday parties drove in big coaches or special buses: there was some gossip about the high jinks that went on at "La Corniche" among resident guests, particularly in the garden cabins. The "Rock Lily" was first established by an elderly French widower and his daughter, and became very famous for its cuisine. But it was derelict for many years before being given a new lease of life just after World War II.
Watsons Bay was a small penurious fishing village, more readily reached by an infrequent ferry service from Circular Quay than by the tortuous New South Head Road: there was no tram or bus service.
Vaucluse and Bondi Heights were merely names on the map and