While the new Batemans Bay bridge opened with much hoopla just before Easter, it's another coastal crossing that remains firmly on the radar for readers of this column (Death Knell Sounds for a South Coast Icon, March 20, 2021).
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The decision of the Bega Valley Shire Council to replace the one-lane wooden Cuttagee Bridge, a much-loved tourist attraction near Bermagui which featured in Billy Connolly's 2001 comedy The Man Who Sued God, with a two lane concrete bridge, has left many unhappy.
While more than 10,000 people have signed a petition to save the bridge, many Canberrans are also disgruntled about the planned replacement of the iconic landmark.
"It will change the nature and spirit of that part of the coast," says Klaus Hueneke, who featured the old rattler in his photographic exposé on the south coast of NSW, A String of Pearls (Tabletop Press, 2011).
"What's the matter with waiting for a few minutes for oncoming traffic to pass through?" he argues.
The National Trust of Australia (NSW) has also weighed in on the bridge debate. In a letter to the council obtained by this column, the Trust's director of conservation David Burdon explains the Trust is "deeply concerned that proper heritage process has not been undertaken" despite it being listed as a heritage item by the same council.
"There is a community expectation that our heritage lists, particularly for publicly owned assets, facilitate heritage protection," argues the Trust.
While a spokesperson for the council recently told this column "a heritage consultant would be engaged to work with council and the community to identify how to reflect heritage and tourism values in any new structure", the Trust suggests "this is the cart leading the horse - any assessment must be made prior to and to inform any recommendation on the future of a historic bridge. What better way could there be to 'reflect heritage and tourism values' than by retaining the original item if it is still serviceable?"
John Blay of Eden, who lived beside the bridge for nearly 20 years, reports "the real issue is coastal erosion: that whole beach could wash away overnight as much of it did in the early 1970s, leaving whatever bridge is there again ending in mid-air". The road is built primarily on sand and any works that impinge onto the sand could begin erosion again that will endanger a few kilometres of the coast road."
Meanwhile, readers were keen to highlight the plight of other wooden bridges in our region. "We've lost so many in the last few years through fire and flood, we should look after and preserve what we've got, especially if they are actually a drawcard like Cuttagee," argues John Standen of Kambah. Jacqueline Moy, whose favourite old rattler spanned the Currowan Creek near Batemans Bay, agrees. It washed away in floods two years ago, but not before she managed to snap one last photo of it.
Occultist Paintings
Information continues to dribble in about Rosaleen Norton's exotic artwork that adorned the Bushranger Hotel in Collector in the 1950s-60s (The Witch, the Knight and the Barmaid, March 13, 2021).
Richard Holgate of Watson suspects they were regular paintings and not murals, citing an excerpt from a 2008 PhD submission by Neville Drury which states "many of Norton's paintings remained in storage at the time of her death".
Drury explains that Sydney-based hotelier Don Deaton, who at the time also owned the Bushranger Hotel, proposed an auction of these paintings, which he maintained were his property. It also states that Rosaleen drank regularly at the Prince of Wales in Haymarket, another of Deaton's watering holes, "and sometimes paid for her gin and tonics with paintings".
So maybe they weren't destroyed after all, rather squirreled away in a private collection. The mystery continues.
Mittagong Rocket
Many readers continue to reminisce about the former rocket playground at Mittagong (Rocket Slides, March 27, 2021). "As a primary school-aged kid from Sydney coming to Canberra on an excursion in the late 1960s I vividly remember stopping at 'the rocket park'," says Brian Leadbeatter of Amaroo, adding "your column brought back some great memories."
For Merle Ketley of Lyneham, the Mittagong rocket wasn't just a stop-off on the way to Sydney but often the destination for a picnic with family and friends. "Apart from the playground, we also made day trips to Berrima, Moss Vale and Goulburn parks," she explains.
Earlier in the week, your akubra-clad columnist hauled the yowie clan up to Winifred Park West in Mittagong and while the rocket slide is long gone (hauled away in 1993 due to safety concerns), I can report that the autumn leaves in the park are worth the trip. And remarkably, almost 30 years on, there is graffiti about the slide's demise.
SIMULACRA CORNER
While sifting through old photos, avid bushwalker David Rainey of Kambah recently stumbled upon this striking photo of a rock in Namadgi National Park, which resembles a 'sleeping skull'. "Seeing it again after a long hiatus prompted a spontaneous haiku," reports Dave.
Borderless Monarch
This rock immemorial
Namadgi Man rules
Dave can't recall the exact location of the curious cranium. "It's either on the border ridge to the east of Sam's Creek, or up near Mt Namadgi as you head across to the spur running down to Middle Creek". Does anyone recognise the location?
Return of the Coffin Lights
There was much excitement among staff at the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) when its much-loved 'coffin' lights were recently re-installed in the cloisters of its Acton headquarters.
Much to the disappointment of workers, the historic lights were removed around 15 years ago, replaced by modern lights, but following calls for their return they have been restored and reinstated.
While not officially called 'coffin' lights, staff coined this nickname due to their casket-type shape and the fact they were initially installed in the building when it was the Institute of Anatomy (1931-1984).
It's heartening to see a value placed on our built heritage, especially during the Canberra & Region Heritage Festival which runs until April 26. The full program of events is at www.environment.act.gov.au. Here are my top 3 must-sees. They are all free, but you must book. I might see you there.
- Dingos of Namadgi (April 13 at 10am) Did you know the BBC came to Namadgi to capture the majestic dingoes featured in the Seven Worlds, One Planet television series? Discover more about these elusive animals and their role in Namadgi before watching the Australian episode on the big screen in the Namadgi theatre.
- Art Treasures of University House (April 17 at 1pm) University House was established as a showcase of contemporary Australian art and design and works by leading Australian artists were commissioned and acquired from 1949 through to the present. Hear more about these treasures, their significance, and their place in the University House restoration project.
- Treasures from the Tip (April 24 at 1pm) at Bungendore Council Chambers. What happens to all those items jettisoned from our homes? Hear from experts about some curious, surprising and shocking items which have been discarded as well as the discovery of a couple of treasures. Listen to tips for identifying and making sure your family treasures don't end up buried, bulldozed or composted.
WHERE IN CANBERRA?
Clue: Howzat!
Degree of difficulty: Medium
Last week: Congratulations to first-time winner Neil Clark of Gordon who was the first reader to correctly identify last week's photo as the Carrington Inn in Bungendore. Since its construction, which included more than 20,000 bricks made on-site, in 1885 for entrepreneur William Winter, the Bungendore landmark has served as an inn, a private home and various nosheries. As the yowie clan recently discovered, its latest incarnation as 'Flock at the Carrington' - a bar-cum-beer garden-cum restaurant, is a perfect place for a long lazy lunch with plenty of room to let the kids run around. Divine!
How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and suburb to tym@iinet.net.au. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday April 10, 2021, wins a double pass to Dendy, the Home of Quality Cinema.
SPOTTED
More ghost pitches have been brought to the attention of this column, including one at Mallacoota, just across the border in Victoria, that was constructed and used by RAAF personnel during World War II. It was only uncovered after the 2020 bushfires. According to Jo Grant, "it was identified and located by members of Mallacoota & District Historical Society''. Students from MLC Marshmead then assisted in clearing the surface before bowling the first ball down for more than 60 years!
Closer to home, partially hidden beneath leaves and grass, Allen Mawer recently uncovered the remains of a concrete pitch in Geerilong Gardens, Reid. "In the 1920s many concrete pitches were installed in Canberra including this one which was the home ground for South Ainslie," reports Allen, adding, "they were a cheaper option than a turf wicket which were costly to install and maintain".
CONTACT TIM: Email: tym@iinet.net.au or Twitter: @TimYowie or write c/- The Canberra Times, 9 Pirie St, Fyshwick