Australian made

There's very little clothing and textile manufacturing left in Australia. It's wonderful to still see this iconic sign at the Koala factory in Arncliffe.

Arncliffe used to be a mix of light manufacturing and working class housing - a working class inner suburb.

Now the factories have all but disappeared as the high rise housing development has encroached. In planning circles they are called "brown fields sites." Once upon a time, the manufacturing workforce could afford to live in these inner-ring suburbs, and their jobs were located nearby, or on public transport corridors.

How long before the small industrial site is swallowed up?

Hats off to the owners of the family business, Koala, for the following statement on their website. It's a really informative website, with a short video(click here)  of their 82 year history, and a photo gallery of the whole process from designing to manufacturing (click here).

Statement by Koala: 

Australian Manufacturing Is Our Future.

We have a single-minded purpose… to keep Australian manufacturing jobs in Australia. This is our primary goal and it’s at the heart of everything we do. We believe that as long as there is a loyal market of Australian customers who value locally-made high-quality products, Koala Clothing will continue to move from strength to strength. We’re proud of the past 80 years and we’re excited about the next 80 years and beyond!

Moratorium

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, opposition to the war in Vietnam had grown to a huge mass movement. 

This piece of remnant graffiti promoting the cause still exists (as of yesterday!) in the railway underpass at Arncliffe in Sydney. I wonder if there is any elsewhere?

The Moratorium against the Vietnam War began in the United States, with the first Moratorium march on 15 October, 1969. This followed anti-war marches on the United Nations and Pentagon in 1967. On 15 November, 1969, 500,000 people marched on Washington DC.

In Australia the first marches took place on 8 and 9 May, 1970. Over 200,000 people took part, 100 000 in Melbourne. It was the largest mass movement against the war to that time. The second was in September 1970 and the third  in July 1971. By this time, public opinion was turning decisively against conscription and Australia's involvement in the war.

The A to Z of 2205: Firmstone Gardens

Named after Mr H.A. Firmstone, the Mascot real estate agent who owned the land and subdivided it. (Source: The origins of the street names of the municipality of Rockdale, compiled by R.W. Rathbone, 1990)

Firmstone Gardens runs off West Botany Street. Its most distinctive feature is the large Riverine Park.



I once went to a protest meeting in Riverine Park - protesting against development. This would have been in the early 2000s





Older 1940s and 50s style red-brick houses are being replaced by larger, more modern rendered ones.





Beautiful example of red-brick suburban style, with roses along the fence line.



Meandering front fence

The A to Z of 2205: Farrar St

Farrar St - named after Alderman F.H. Farrar, MBE, an alderman of Rockdale Council 1920-28. Previously called Gordon St. (Source: The origins of the street names of the municipality of Rockdale. Compiled by Alderman R.W. Rathbone, 1990)

It's a pretty street, running between Forest Rd and Wollongong Rd, with some lovely older houses. The most distinctive feature is the old fire station on the Forest Rd corner.



From Forest Road looking down Farrar St




The old Arncliffe fire station, on the corner of Farrar St and Forest Rd. Now a preschool



Panoram of the old fire station



Looking down Farrar St from Forest Rd end




It is very unusual to find a tennis court in the suburbs these days. I must revisit soon to see if this has been developed!



A lovely sandstone fence. The house has nice views because Farrar St is at the top of the Forest Rd ridge

A tranquil garden setting

From Wollongong Rd end

From Wollongong Rd end



From Wollongong Rd end



The A to Z of 2205 : Fairview St

Fairview St runs between Fripp St and Wolli Creek Road. It was named after "Fairview", the Wollongong Rd home of Alexander Milsop. Milsop was the first Mayor of neighbouring municipality, Hurstville.

Below: Looking down Fairview St from Wolli Creek Rd.

Below: Political viewpoints near Wilson Rd



Below: Feed the birds at Wilson Rd



Below: The back of Macquarie Lodge, the Salvation Army Aged Care residence which fronts on Wollongong Rd - the former grand house 'Dapeto' is part of the complex.


Below: These boats seem permanently parked in the street.



Below: Front yard sculptural installation


Below: Olive trees aren't a common front yard tree, but these ones look terrific in front of a traditional California Bungalow.


Below: Plastic bottle tree?



Below: Garden at the corner of Fripp St


Below: Looking back up Fairview St from Fripp St

The A to Z of 2205 : Eve St

It has taken a fair while between posts to get this street up. Eve St has lots of interest to me, mainly because it is adjacent to some fascinating wetlands.

Eve St was named after an early landowner in the area, Benjamin Eve.

In inner urban Sydney there are some remnant natural habitats which have been degraded over the years. It's always a battle to protect them, and the Eve St salt marsh wetlands are no exception. They are bordered by a motorway and recreational lands, including a bike path and golf range. Efforts have been made in more recent years to rehabilitate them. They provide a haven for local and international birds who come to feed and rest there.

I am not sure of its status at the moment; last time I was there access was denied (officially).

Eve St also has a bikepath along it which I've ridden a few times. It connects Marsh St with the continuation of the path to Kyeemagh and Botany Bay. [In the other direction you can reach Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush and Ryde].

The entrance to Eve St is from busy Marsh St, just near the Wickham St intersection, or from Brennans Rd off West Botany St. It is a no-through road at its southern end, where the cycleway continues along the Barton Park Golf Range.

We'll start our look at Eve St from the Marsh St end.

Below: Looking along Eve St from Marsh St


Below: Looking slightly northeast from Marsh St across the reserved land towards the M5 motorway


Below: Looking southeast from the corner you can see the Arncliffe fire station, on West Botany St/Wickham St intersection


Below: Across that patch of grass in the photo above, visible in the adjacent backyard is this old sandstone outbuilding:


Below: Looking towards Marsh St from near the elbow bend in Eve St:


Below: Part of the way along this stretch is Eve St Reserve


Below: The M5 from Eve St Reserve


Below: Eve St Reserve on the right, and straight ahead the cycleway where it joins Eve St, having come under the M5 from Marsh St.


Below: Looking across to the reserve from the end of the cycleway


Below: Images of the cycleway as it curves under the M5






Below: The wetlands from the cycleway




Below: The Wetlands


Below: Access denied


Below: The wetlands



Below: Looking along Eve St towards the cycleway (which joins at right at the bottom)


Below: Enjoying the cycleway



Below: From the crest of the hill, looking north



Below: Looking south over the golf driving range





Below: And the cycleway continues towards Botany Bay