Journeys:BETWEEN RIVER AND SEA

Introduction

The Beach The River School Days IndustryDaily Life Transport

Additional Galleries

Many people have called the WesternSuburbs home. Some were just passingthrough, some starting their new life here inAustralia, others settled and never left. Thisdisplay celebrates the journeys of thosepeople and highlights their struggles andexperiences starting their new life betweenriver and sea.

BackBack

The Beach

Cottesloe Beach has long been synonymouswith good health and well-being. In the earlypart of the 20th Century the beach waspopular with families who would eagerlycongregate after a busy day at work to relaxand enjoy quality time with their family andenjoy a meal in the open air. The beach wasalso popular with city dwellers who craved aweekend retreat away from the hustle andbustle of city life. In those early years,Cottesloe must have seemed a million milesaway, at the end of an arduous journey.

Numerous hotels and guest houses cateredfor the demand for accommodation close tothe ocean and tea houses, a jetty and beachentertainment provided a thriving trade forlocal entrepreneurs. Although beach hutsand entertainment stalls no longer adorn thewhite sands of Cottesloe, the area has becomeone of the most popular beachside locationsin Perth.

Back References

Peppermint Grove and Mosman park enjoy anenviable location nestled between the SwanRiver and the sparkling Indian Ocean.

For many, during the early years, the river wasthe 'life blood' of the community, providing anarray of leisure activities together with aplentiful source of nourishing seafood and alivelihood for local fishermen. Boating,crabbing, fishing, swimming, sailing, picnickingand diving have all been enjoyed over the yearswith several boating clubs taking residencealong the shoreline north and south of theFreshwater and Mosman Bay. Summer monthswould bring crowds to the area. Many childrenremember being sent, after school, to claim aprized spot in readiness for the sumptuousriverside feast lovingly prepared by mother .

Boy Scouts frequented the area and boastedheadquarters high on the hilltop overlookingMosman Bay. Campfires and ghost storiesprecluded a peaceful night under the stars.

Although life has become much moresophisticated, few can deny the simplepleasures provided by a day spent at the river.

The River

Back

References

3

2

1

School Days

Barefoot and carefree, this is howmany children remember theirchildhood in the Western Suburbs.But some have mixed emotionswhen recalling their time in publiceducation.

School was strict with little tolerancefor mischief and disobedience.Punishment was harsh. The snap ofthe cane or the ruler would freezechildren in their tracks but was mosteffective in correcting waywardoffenders.

Writing, reading and arithmetic, thenwith the ring of the school bell,children spill out of school, releasedfrom the constraints of theclassroom. Running through thebush, fishing, swimming andcrabbing then home for supper withthe family.

Days were long and years seemedlike a lifetime...

Back

3

21

4

References

Daily LifeIn the early days of corner shops and smallprivate retailers, the atmosphere in theWestern Suburbs was familiar and friendly.The shopkeepers knew and supported eachother, borrowing stock where necessary anddelivering goods to your door. Often lettingthemselves into homes through the backdoorto deposit goods and collect their fee whichhad trustingly been left on the kitchen table.

Milk was delivered to your door in glassbottles with thick cream sitting snuggly inthe neck of the bottle, with children eagerlyracing to spoon it off the top. Groceries,wood and ice were delivered by horse andcart.

Washing, cooking and cleaning was’women’s work’. Without washing machines,electric ovens and piped gas and water, itwas a full time job. Children were expectedto help out with chores before and afterschool, but families were close and enjoyedquality time with each other and with theirneighbours.Back References

1

2

3

4

Transport

Following the settlement of the Swan RiverColony in 1829, the Swan River was the maintransportation link between Perth and the port ofFremantle. For many year, barges andcommercial crafts would ferry cargo andpassengers between the two towns. Landtransport was difficult and involved negotiatingbush tracks on horseback or foot.

By the 1860s, public complaints regarding theroad to Perth, led to the Perth-Fremantle roadrealignment, along much the same route as theStirling Highway today. The State applied forConvict labour to construct the road and thebridge over the Swan River at North Fremantle.Subsequently, there was a considerable increasein traffic on the road, which was declared apublic highway in 1872 . Horse and carts werereplaced by motor cars, trams and buses, andStirling Highway has become a busy commute tothe city.

Back

References

2

3

1

IndustryDuring the early part of the 20th century,industry played an important role within thecommunity. Workers were drawn to the areaby the abundance of work afforded by thenumerous quarries and factories which wereestablished in Mosman Park and Fremantle.

Working conditions were not alwaysfavourable, with little tolerance fordowntime. Workers at General MotorsHolden, were docked pay for tea breaks andeven for equipment failure. Wages were lowand noise and heat were commonplace.Employees would need to reapply for theirjobs if they took time off for holidays andwere even timed during toilet breaks! Timeswere tough and the community pulledtogether to help each other out.

Over the years the factories and workers’cottages have been replaced by largecharacter homes and Mosman park is nowan affluent, coveted suburb.

Back References

1

1

2

3

Next

Next

Home

ReferencesThe Beach

1. CPM02275 Cottesloe Jetty, c. 1920 with Bruce Gaston narrating about the Jetty.

2. CPM00644 Centenary Bathing Pavilion, c. 1930 with June Markham narrating about Palais de Danse.

3. CPM02100 Cottesloe Beach, c. 1940 with Bruce Gaston narrating about the Jetty.

The River

1. CPM01203 Mosman Bay, 1940 with Rube Gabrielson narrating about life by the river.

2. CPM01346 Cottesloe Beach Boy Scouts, 1936 with Alf Snell narrating about the Sea Scouts.

3. CPM00324 Children at Mosman Bay, c. 1936 with Ron Casserly narrating about community gatherings at the river.

School Days

1. CPM00164 Tunnel Ball at Mosman Park State School, 1956 with Rube Gabrielson narrating about teachers at Mosman Park school.

2. CPM000165 Folk dancing at Mosman Park State School, 1953 with Leslie Macarrey narrating about playing after school at the river.

3. CPM00156 Mosman Park State School, 1950 with Ron Anderson narrating about school punishments.

4. CPM01368 Cottesloe Beach Boy Scouts, 1935 with Rube Gabrielson narrating about swimming lessons at the river.

Back

ReferencesDaily Life

1. CPM00446 Maurice Flynn Produce Merchant, c. 1900 with Audrey James narrating about food deliveries.

2. CPM01780 Milk bottles from Birkbeck’s Dairy in Cottesloe, 1950s

3. CPM01849 George Birkbeck, c. 1918 with Joy Hinchcliffe and Glenys Morrison narrating about Birkbeck dairy.

4. CPM 00618 Basham family on Cottesloe Beach, 1927 with Brian Heller narrating about Saturday night ice-creams.

Transport

1. CPM02380 Stirling Highway looking south from the corner of Napier Street, Cottesloe, c .1940 with Fleur Arrow narrating about Trolley Buses.

2. CPM00684 A bridal party at Osborne Hotel, 1895

3. CPM01208 Repairing the Perth-Fremantle Road, 1914 with Brian Heller narrating about Stirling Highway.

Industry

1. CPM 1497 The last Holden assembled in GMH's Mosman Park assembly factory, 1972 with Brian Bridge narrating about conditions at the Gold Plant.

2. CPM01293 C.S.B.P and Farmers Limited (originally Mt. Lyell Chemical Works), 1960s with Margaret Baldwin narrating about immigrant workers..

3. CPM01495 General Motors Holden pay slip, 1968 with Ronald Jess narrating about working conditions at GMH Factory..

Back