To promote the screening of ‘Grand Prix’ at the Avalon Cinema’ in 1966, Arnold Spry came up with the innovative idea of displaying an actual open-wheeler similar to the one in which Alec Mildren won both the 1960 Australian Grand Prix and the coveted Australian Driver’s Championship. Mildren’s chief mechanic, Glen Abbey is in the […]

For some years in the 1950s Gwen Searl kept a ‘minute book’ in which she recorded the ‘going-ons’ around Avalon Beach, including the school. She even pasted in this book the butts from the Opening Night of the ‘Avalon Cinema’ – 28 July 1955. It was officially opened by Mr Rob Askin, MLA for Collaroy […]

This photo taken in 1923 shows Alan Hay with his daughter Irene on his lap. Alan had married Clara Dorothy Collier in 1919. His other daughter Evelyn sits between the two Butcher children and her dad. The girl on the right was a friend from the dairy at Careel Bay. Note the lean-to against the […]

This detail from Arthur Rickard’s ‘Pearl of Pittwater Estate’ subdivision plan shows the view in 1920 from Hudson Parade down Delecta Avenue towards the present-day turning circle and boat launching area adjacent to the car park. The original Clareville Beach store and post office once occupied the site on the left and for some years […]

This unique photo is one of our favourites and is a one-third part of a panorama shot from the present roundabout at ‘Kamikaze Corner’ in late 1921. (Old) Barrenjoey Road sweeps from left to right as it climbs over the crest near Central Road in the distance. A.J.Small is in the process of clearing the […]

This north-east view along (Old) Barrenjoey Road was taken in 1923. Sanders Lane is yet to be formed as is The Crescent. In the left of the picture is the first general store on the corner of Avalon Parade and (Old) Barrenjoey Road which at that stage would have been open for around 18 month […]