Mosman was not immune to the pneumonic influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1918, taking with it more casualties than World War I. The epidemic reached Australia in 1919.

This photograph shows masked members of the Mulligan family, (L –R) Martha Mulligan holding baby James, Beatrice Mulligan, Maggie Hamilton (household help), in front Beryl Mulligan and Phyllis Mulligan in the garden of their home Seborf, 14 Clifford Street.

In an endeavour to check the disease in its early stages the government imposed a number of restrictions including the compulsory wearing of masks in public places in the Sydney metropolitan area.