My Mosman childhood - late 50s, early 60s
My first memories of life revolve around The Crescent and Military Road.
We lived above and behind the shop at 585 Military Road. Next door to the left was Mrs Mac who owned the antique shop and next door to her was The Dawsons second hand shop. Then there was the laneway, then the Council Chambers.
Down the road the other way I remember the Hardware store, then the jewelers, then the printing shop, then the fruit market where we used to climb the back fence and make cubby houses out of the fruit boxes. The fruit shop went to make way for a car park.
Going out the back gate and down the lane led to Edith & Buck Fields, my Grandparents. I probably spent more time there than at home up the lane. Out the front of “Gar’s” was The Crescent, across the road, Mosman Oval – now Alan Border Oval – where many a great hour was spent playing cricket with people that went on to play for Australia i.e. Alan Border and David Colley.
I can remember climbing up into the roof of the old Grandstand and catching pigeons. I can remember being up in the old score board on match day and helping out with numbers. I remember helping the old groundsman clean up after the game, being paid a couple of bob and heading straight across to Military Road, through the lane next to Alan Border’s house, turn left and into the icecream shop for a well deserved icecream sundae.
I remember walking all around Balmoral foreshore fishing, anywhere from The Spit to the Zoo, Me & my dog “Rex”. I remember sneaking into the army land on Middle Head and spending the day playing in the gun emplacements (now barricaded).
I think some of my best memories are of my childhood spent in Mosman even though we moved to Liverpool when I was nine. Being surrounded by family i.e. uncles, aunties, cousins. Being able to walk anywhere, as we did, without fear was just a great way to grow up.
— posted by Chris Wither, Thursday April 5, 2007
Chris, I remember the area you’re relating to… on the other side of Military Road was the (existing) Fire Station, the printer’s name was Crossman and it was a sobre looking timber building which stubbornly survived long after it’s neighbours. I went to Mosman Public School and Ken Crossman was a class mate of mine, as was Anthony Kennard, (Kennards Hire), Bill Sands, (Sands Greeting Cards), Paul Delprat (noted fine artist and Principal Of the States most revered Art School). Ken went on to pursue a career in accounting and our paths crossed a number of times in the future.
On to Mosman High… notable names at High School, were the artist Ken Done, the 50s “Rocker” Barry Stanton and my good mate Jim Kewin who represented Australia in Boxing at the Perth Commonwealth Games.
Re Mosman Oval… the greatest playground in the world!. In the early days my pals and I spent many hours clambering monkey-like through the branches of the giant old-man fig trees, eventually being witnesses to construction of a state-of-the-art, fenced play area full of all things attractive to young children.
In later years, I would play junior baseball on a Saturday morning and rub shoulders with great ball players at the thrilling Saturday afternoon seniors games. Names such as Rob Leatherbarrow and Ian Craig – who would also go on to become captain of Australia at cricket), come to mind. In the winter I longingly watched Mosman Rugby Leagus Club (A to D grades), play arch-enemy Crows Nest. Notable at the time was the legendary Ken Irvine, who I got to know… he was always going to go on to great things, good looking and lightning fast!.
Another “claim to fame” I enjoyed was having an ice cream when the regular visit of the local Ice Cream Man, who was Ken’s father, came around.
Back to High School… at Mosman Boys Intermediate High School, sport quickly overtook studies!. In my final year I was fortunate enough to represent the school First Thirteen (Rugby League), which were undefeated premiers of the NSW Intermediate High Schools competition. A number of team mates went on to play first grade Rugby League e.g. Bill Cain (Norths) and Brian Norton (St.George/Norths) and in first grade Rugby Union – Phil Newton, Barry Taylor and Bruce Manuel (Northern Suburbs).
At that time, the girls and boys schools were separated by a timber fence, the girls colours (I think), were green, gold and navy blue tunics/hats and the boy’s wore grey suits with blue and white ties, pocket/crests. Students came from as far away as Chatswood and the bulging trams would off load it’s rowdy occupants outside of Lopez’ Fruit Shop.
Mister Lopez’ son, Domonique, (Dom), would later become one of “Mosman’s Finest” as an outspoken Councilor, then Mayor, of Mosman Council.
— posted by Brucey M, Tuesday May 6, 2008, 1:52:52 PM #