allambiehouse

I have a letter here from my Mother, written to Dad while he was on a trip to the UK in May 1948. I can remember the sounds and smells of the rowing boats as we rowed along here. It is a favourite memory and association when I hear the water lapping at the clinker hulls of old boats. Mother was holidaying here for a while, to rest from the effort of having three kids and no husband for a few months. Mum was writing the letter, sitting beside "a lovely large log fire alone."

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The Sutherland Shire, NSW. Australia., and we'd love to have this added to the group!

What a fabulous shot. I have a quite a few 'picnic' shots from my family taken over the course of the last century. I love a picnic, and think it's a shame we don't tend to do it like they used to. Is this perhaps taken in the 20s? That woman kneeling towards the front looks to be from that era, and my father seemed to wear outfits like the small boy to her right, when he was a young picknicker in the 20s.

Thanks for that littleteapot. Looking at your own family photos seems a good way to help date these images. Not quite the right weather for picnics, this long weekend just gone!

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The Sutherland Shire, NSW. Australia., and we'd love to have this added to the group!

This looks like a 'Sunday Drive' photo to me:)

Although it doesn't help date the photograph, the large building in the background with a mock-Tudor front is Allambie House. It does not exist today.

Looks like the first and third cars from the left are Ford Model As - though Australian Ford plants tended to deviate from regular bodies, but these seem similar. here's a link to a 1930 Australian Ford Model A, looks spot on. That puts the picture to at least post 1927, probably later. Fashion-wise, it's hard to tell, but I'd hazard a guess that it's in the 30s, though with those hats on the women in the middle, maybe a smidge later? I'm not sure how much Australian fashion differed from English & American, so I hesitate to date. Hope this helps! (as to the above, knowing the name of that house *does* date the photograph! we can find out when Allambie was torn down and date from there...)

Thanks hummeline and lifeasdaddy, every little bit helps! Here is a link to a history of Audley at the Heritage Council of NSW To quote: "Between 1891 and 1893 the focus was on making the park visitor-friendly...The accommodation was first known as the public pavilion, then 'The Rest' and for most of its history as 'Allambie House'. In 1893 the first guide book was published." And further down: "In 1973 Allambie House kiosk and the swimming pool kiosk were demolished. Two years later Allambie House its self was burnt to the ground."

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Global Australians , and we'd love to have this added to the group!