pittstreet

Read All About It ! ... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15691831

The cars and trucks look 1950s - I wonder if they are ripping the tracks up? Google street view - goo.gl/maps/Uxf3VkfomeS2 [Edited 6/12/16]

The Pitt Street tram line closed on 28 September 1957, replaced by a bus service. - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitt_Street,_Sydney

beachcomber australia pellethepoet I've replaced this with a larger version in case there might be some more clues. Could they be ripping up the tram lines rather than laying them down...? AB

The Church in the photo isthe Christ Church St Laurence located at 507 Pitt Street, although entrance is gained via George Street. www.sydney.com.au/christ-church-st-laurence-sydney.htm There is a possibly that something was recorded in their local church news for the time period.

Zanitazoe Thanks for identifying the church! AB

Unless I am mistaken this is the corner of Bridge and Pitt Streets (the photographer is standing in the middle of Bridge Street). The exchange hotel on the right was opposite the Royal Exchange just to be seen on the left. At this stage trams had not been re-introduced to Pitt Street - that was 1903 (I think)

John Cowper You're not mistaken, this is indeed Pitt Street looking south from the intersection with Bridge Street. The same stretch was also lavishly decorated the year before for the Federation celebrations.

pellethepoet Thanks! There must have been quite an industry in street dressing in those days, every opportunity was taken to put up an arch or an array. There seemed to have so much more civic pride in the early part of the 20th Century. Maybe they had more time ...

John Cowper pellethepoet Thanks, we'll change our caption. As you know, many of these GPO prints were 'identified' prior to transfer to State Records (many years ago). We appreciate that public forums like Flickr allow for images to be correctly identified! AB

I find this photo interesting, because of the reference of the woodblocked street surface. I worked for the Sydney City Council for many years. Back in the 1970's when working as maintenance fitter at their Bitumen and concrete plant (now gone), located in Wattle street Ultimo, opposite Wentworth Park. The council decided to strip a street or two back to their base, after many years of laying bitumen over bitumen. (I don't know which streets they were but). I remember truck loads of old wood blocks, covered in bitumen being dumped in the Wattle Street yard. This was the first time I found out, that this was how the the steerts were paved in the earlier days. In winter, while working in the open, we use to burn these wooden blocks in open drums. One of the workmates took some home, and paved his driveway with them. I wish now, I would have done the same. (Part of Sydney's Heritage, I suppose) The rest of the pile were most likely sent to the dump.