This meeting on the verandah of AJSmall’s house “Avalon” in Bellevue Avenue was reliably dated 1925. It was convened by him to establish a surf life saving service for Avalon Beach. AJSmall is standing second[…]

This unusual view looking to the south/east (probably taken from Park Avenue) shows the intersection of Avalon Parade and Old Barrenjoey Road around 1932. On the north/east corner stands the first general store, tenanted at[…]

The first general store was built by AJSmall in 1922. The view which this photo shows is north/east across the intersection of Avalon Parade and (Old) Barrenjoey Road. The store was eventually demolished to make[…]

Standing in their fire-fighting gear in front of the 1936 Dennis Ace are the first seven members of the Avalon Fire Brigade (begun in 1940). From left to right are Captain Ted Hock, Tom Chegwyn,[…]

This is one of those ‘the more you look the more you’ll see’ photos. An aerial view taken in 1941 provides a good overview of the developing central area. The roofless dressing sheds were a[…]

The ‘Bathing Pool’ was as close to a natural rock pool as geologically possible. In 1917 A.J.Small lodged a cheque with Warringah Shire Council to allow workmen to formalise the shape and level the bottom[…]

Upon his discharge from war service in New Guinea, Bert Cowell headed straight back to Avalon Beach. At his wife’s suggestion he thought he would ‘have a go’ at green-grocering. The truck he bought had[…]

This classic photo shows the commercial area of Avalon Beach in the late 1930s. ‘Avalon Beach Store’ was built by Stan Wickham in 1934 and in the same year, the ‘Avalon Service Station’ and the[…]

This postcard from the 1920s shows the site in the immediate foreground where the surf club was built in 1934. Car parking in those days was really a ‘free-for-all’ and when necessary spilled up the[…]

This great photo was one of a short series taken by professional photographer, Rex Hazlewood in the early 1920’s and may have been commissioned by AJSmall. It has been used by the Society as their[…]