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.
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I love reading about your life during your chilhood. Not unlike the passing in my country, Argentina, going all time playin games, going fishing or climbing trees allways with shorts and barefoot.
Bruce M,
I know exactly where you are referring too. I lived at 74 Avenue Rd backing onto Wolger Rd and spent many hours in and around Mosman Oval. I used to go to the dentist Dr Cottee opposite the Fire Station. I now live on the Far North Coast and Dr Lisa Cottee, his daughter is an eye surgeon in Lismore who I know. I went to Maris Brothers in Military Rd and I think Dom Lopez went to school there as well (not entirely sure)
Peter Irvine ( Kens brother ) also went to school with me and both of us played rugby league and cricket together at Mosman Oval for the Mosman Collegians.
I also had mates who went to Mosman High… Paul Pringle, Charlie Dalrymple – Hay and Alan Banham.
Mosman… what a wonderful place to grow up in.
Chris Wither.
Jack Wither was associated with MJBA.John Bottle lived near.Postie Mann-Gilbert Whitley Aquarium-Caretaker- Council Chambers-WW1 Eng. Vet. ? Only son Killed WW2 Horsnall Boot maker.Down a bit Hamburger Shop.
I remember a lot of what you are talking about. My brother went to Mosman High. He is now 69. I am 63 & went to Cremorne Girls’ High.
Christopher, you need to add a lot more to this. e.g. The Lane named after your mother's family name the fire service etc that connection would add a lot
Bruce M,
As I type this I am looking at an old Photograph of “Mosman Intermediate High School 1st Grade Rugby League – Undefeated Premiers 1957”.
Your post is dated 6th May 2008 so you may never get to see this but perhaps some of our teammates of over 50 years ago will and it would be great to hear from them.
Bruce, in the photo I am sitting next to you with John Warner on the other side. I played played Junior League with Crows Nest D Grade in 1958 (we won the comp) alongside old Mosman School teammates – Bill Cane, Terry Dwyer and Barry Risk.
You mention the “bulging trams” and I have fond memories of those morning and afternoon trips. My primary school was Naremburn, as it was for quite a lot of students, and we would have to catch the “Balmoral Beach Double” which originated from Chatswood in the morning. Miss it, which was known to happen, and you were late for School and which did not always please the teachers. Other than Ron Smith and Les Peterkin two (2) teachers come to mind – “Basher” Barnett and “Ming” Ryan both were very skilled in wielding the cane. Something that would not be tolerated in this day and age.
Perhaps this has nothing to do with growing up in Mosman, still I do have memories of my three (3) years at Mosman Intermediate High School,so maybe that qualifies me place this post.
Bruce M,
Read your post with great interest, whilst not a true “mosmanite” I did spend three (3) years attending Mosman Intermediate High School.
I too, have very fond memories of those bulging trams, being one of the occupants having travelled from Naremburn on the “Balmoral Beach Double”.
I was one (1) of your teammates in that Mosman Intermediate High School undefeated premiers team and in fact still have the team photograph which we all signed on the back.
Your reference to the rivalry in the Junior League between Mosman and Crows Nest also revived memories of some good old times, I was fortunate to be part of the 1958 Crows Nest D grade side which also included school teammates – Bill Cain, Terry Dwyer and Barry Risk. We won the comp. that year and I could be corrected but I think our foe in the final was Mosman.
I found this website purely by chance and intend to refer to it from time to time as I find the contents very interesting.
My apologies for two (2) posts with basically the same comments. The second message was despatched after I determined the first 'did not go'.
Mates from Mosman… To Kev Barrett.
Yes I remember you well, Kev – from memory you were the only “Bluey” with stand-out ginger locks, in the side.
We beat Jannali High 102 to nil and after being scared out of our wits when we met Newtown High, all decked out like, “Danny from “Grease”, with their Crew Cuts, leather jackets and old blue jeans. After 10 minutes we were ahead by (approx) 16 to nil… final score 76 to nil !!
I think we won the Grand Final, played at Chatswood Oval, by 45 to nil! versus Hornsby High.
Ron Smith was coach and Les Peterkin P.E. teacher…
yes, they could swing a mean cane, but somehow avoided hitting any of the first graders until after our Tuesday footie games… funny that!
It was a great sporting school area as at the same time, Mosman Marist Bros were cutting up their opponents with the likes of Kenny Irvine, The flying Segretos, and many more who went on to greater things with the “Bears”.
Mates from Mosman … To Bruce M
Well Bruce there is certainly nothing wrong with your memory!!
Those lovely ginger locks have long gone and what little hair remains is a lovely shade of white.
Your comments jogged a few cells in my old grey matter and about the only games I can remember are two of those you mention. The ‘Dannys‘ from Newtown and that high scoring match against Jannali (if I recall correctly I was the only team member not to score!). I have absolutely no recollection of the Grand Final. I do seem to remember that Ron Smith would not let us have anything to eat before the game and during transit (tram/train) he gave each of us a quite large tablet to chew on which we were told was Glucose.
I still have the standard school reference signed by Headmaster S. Dixon, with a few additional comments which I guess helped me gain employment all those years ago.
I lived at 696 Military Road Mosman (next door to English & Saunders garage) from early 1950’s to about 1962. My father owned The Junior’s Toy Shop at 591 Military Road, opposite where we lived and about half way between the Town Hall and the fruit market. The best time of year was Cracker Night when my brother and I were given a shoebox full of fireworks to let off. The man who lived at the back of the shop was a Mr. Cave. I remember Horsnell’s Shoe Store and a few doors down the hamburger shop and the Chinese take-away. Opposite and next to the lane alongside the Council Chambers was the second hand clothing shop. I attended Mosman Primary School and remember being attacked by magpies from the fig trees on my way around the oval. My brother Ted also attended Mosman Primary School. My best friend at that time was Lorraine Field and I remember going to the Fire Station with her many times. We also attended Girls’ Life Brigade together at the Baptist Church in Melrose Street, Cremorne. Would love to know what happened to her. My husband, David Fayle, also attended Mosman Primary School and lived firstly in Hunter Road Balmoral and then Wyargine Street.
Well, Suzanne – I think I remember you from your father’s shop. Was the shop where Spit Records was? I certainly remember buying toys in a shop there and recall often being served by I guess your mother, you would often be in the shop. I went to Mosman Infants for the first couple of years of primary school and would walk home to Rangers Avenue via your shop. I can remember buying a battery powered electric motor there which I put into a model boat which then spent a lot of time in the water at Mosman Bay (between the old bridge and Reid park) with the rudder set for the boat to do a circle and hopefully come back!
Michael, you certainly have the shop correct. My mum and dad worked in the shop until my father’s death. I would go there after school and loved serving the customers and wrapping their purchases. My dad also used to mend umbrellas and take dolls to the Dolls Hospital at Waverton to be repaired. Amongst other things we sold bits and pieces of Meccano and model airplane kits all of which were very popuIar back then.
I hope you got the boat to come back to you.
Well Suzanne – Mosman is a small world and I do remember the balsa planes and, for some reason, the doll hospital (maybe because my next door neighbours were girls!). Lovely to make the connection and I certainly enjoy “reliving” my childhood by reading others memories. I am putting pen to paper as I type my memories, and yes, the boat nearly always came back – I recall once having to wade out to get it.
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.
— Brucey M · 6 May 2008, 03:52 · #