A Moment in Time……
Luna Park… It’s still “just for fun!” But can you date this photograph?
We have many other undated photographs in Photo Investigator and on our Flickr account. If you know the dates or any other interesting facts about these images please let us know.
Category: -- Can you date...?
Tag: Moments in Time
Rhonda Cetta-Hoye says:
The Harbour Bridge opened in March 1932.
Luna Park North Sydney opened in1935 and
North Sydney Olympic Pool opened in 1936.
So we know it is after 1936.
Note the railway spur line I mentioned in a previous post between Waverton and North Sydney. Trains there look like the old brown roofed ones.
Vee says:
This is sort of cheating, but North Sydney Council has this same pic on their Heritage database dated c1939!
Was taken late afternoon and probably in winter as the park looks closed up…for many years the normal practise was to close for winter.
Anna Gray says:
Well we definitely know that it is post 1936!
I was having a look at the North Sydney Council website and couldn’t find the same image in their heritage database… Vee could you give me a link to the image if you get the chance?
Vee says:
Hi Anna…the link is..http://photosau.com.au/stantonpictures/scripts/home.asp
however I think it just takes you to the search page. If you put in ..olympic pool north sydney… that will take you to a page of pics and you’ll see it there. Hope this comes through OK!
Peter says:
Hi Anna,
The image must pre-date Nov 1958 as the Milsons Point tram station/tram tracks on the eastern side of the bridge are still present.
Anna Gray says:
Thanks Vee – got it! It does look like the same image.
So they think c.1939.
Peter thanks for providing an estimated pre-date as well! This narrows the field…
Peter says:
Doesn’t help a lot, the bowling club (Gallipoli Legion) between Burton and Fitzroy Streets (the two arches in the Bradfield Highway) does not appear to be in place yet. According to a SMH newspaper article found on Trove this occurred in 1954.
Peter Hughes says:
All the spaces underneath the railway and tramway approaches from North Sydney to Milson’s Point station had been filled by offices for many years before the trams were removed in June 1958. This picture shows six, possibly seven, open spaces underneath the tram approaches.
The Department of Main Roads (now RTA) controlled the Harbour Bridge and their archives may disclose when offices were constructed.
Anna Gray says:
So we know it’s pre-1958 or perhaps pre-1954 and definitely post 1936. That might be as good as we can get it at the moment!
Thanks to all contributors!
Peter Hughes says:
Regarding my posting of 28 November: my statement that “all the spaces . . . had been filled” may not be correct. I’ll check old photos as I come across them.
Anne says:
I have done extensive research on the history & images of LP. I estimate photo taken between 1947-1949. The ride which looks like a long slide from top of cliff down to the right of the Windmill was called the Jack & Jill and was 1st ride installed after WWII approx 1947. Before 1949 because image doesnt show Penny Arcade extension to Crystal Palace or Rock o Plane a type of Ferris wheel which were both installed in 1949. The expression on entrance Face also matches this period.
vee says:
Great work Anna! I’ve been an absent detective for a few months, but looking forward to helping date more photos, in my own small way, this year.
Ryan says:
I also have an old photo of Luna park. i will send it over to your email and i also want you to guess the year it was taken. Great photo here
Marie Gaven says:
Hope this is in some small way helpful. I swam zone, state and Australian championships at North Sydney pool around mid 1950s and early 1960s. We would walk from Milsons Point station to the pool do our races and mum would then let us have fun at Luna Park before catching a train back to Chatswood station where trams still ran.
Sixty plus years on, this photo floods back wonderful memories. The pool looks the same and Luna Park looks the same. We had very little money so spent our pennies on one ride and happily left. I think there was a bowling club added to the lawn area near the station during this time?