A to Z
Introduction.
This project began as a "Mossy Point" project, but then it grew. As a hangover from the "Mossy Point" beginnings, "The River" is the Tomaga River, "The Creek" is Candlagan Creek, and "The Island" is Broulee Island.
The description 'Mossy Point Progress Association Record' shows that the source of all or part of an item was the records of the old Mossy Point Progress Association, luckily in 1980 and 1981 they made notes of their recollections.
This project began as a "Mossy Point" project, but then it grew. As a hangover from the "Mossy Point" beginnings, "The River" is the Tomaga River, "The Creek" is Candlagan Creek, and "The Island" is Broulee Island.
The description 'Mossy Point Progress Association Record' shows that the source of all or part of an item was the records of the old Mossy Point Progress Association, luckily in 1980 and 1981 they made notes of their recollections.
Abbey. 1 Surfside Avenue. Helen and Tony Abbey ran the Mossy Point Post Office Store, and the Mossy Point Dive School from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s. See the page for Abbey.
Amenity. In the 1940s and 1950s there was no electricity, no running water, and pan toilets. But we all loved the white sand, the creek, the surf, the fishing.
Amenity. In the 1940s and 1950s there was no electricity, no running water, and pan toilets. But we all loved the white sand, the creek, the surf, the fishing.
Anchor, See The Anchor Memorial and Lookout page.
Araluen. 105 Annetts Parade. Second home for Jean and Adam Arnold. Believed to have been built in the 1940s and later extended, is an early Mossy Point home Heritage Listed for its “Local social significance, it was the residence of well known local artist and Moruya school teacher Jean Arnold for many years”. It is described in the Listing as “Inter-War Vernacular, weatherboard with corrugated colourbond roofing to dwelling and shed and with a large verandah extension to south with timber gate. Skillion roofed verandah enclosure to north. The rear boundary fence has a timber "pergola" style entrance, no gate, opening to the carpark. Renovated in 1996.” See the page Arnold/Whitham. |
Arlen. 117 Annetts Parade. Albert and Nancy, see the page for Arlen.
Arnold. 19 & 105 Annetts Parade. Adam and Jean Arnold (nee Whitham). See the page for Arnold/Whitham.
Banks. (Frederick) Christian Banks built three cottages that ended up with his three children Billy, 12 Surfside Avenue; Sylvia, 14 Surfside Avenue; and Irene, near the junction of Beach Road and Annetts Parade. This last house was called Candlecut Cottage, after The Creek (for a story about the Creek's name go to The Creek page). Billy Banks married Ed Clark's sister Wyn. See also the page for Banks.
Barlings Beach. For some information on the Barling family, see the page for Barling.
Bike & Kayak Hire. Josh and Kate opened this popular business operating from a boatshed next to the boat ramp in 2008. The boatshed was originally Haslers', it was the third shed from the rivermouth, after Buckmasters' and Webbs'.
Birds. In the 1950s and 1960s there were no pelicans or pied or sooty oyster catchers. Peewees were common, and there were not many wattle birds. Seeing an osprey was a rare treat, and seeing a sandpiper doing its “wounded, dragging a wing” trick was a welcome holiday ritual. Now, there are practically no peewees, a plethora of wattle birds, lots of pelicans and oyster catchers and ospreys are regularly seen.
Boarding House. Until about 1924 Clem and Mrs Jones owned and ran a boarding house in association with Cooks Timber Mill, see the page for Cooks Timber Mill.
Bonfire Night. Held on 24th May, Empire Day. Because of the small permanent population in the 1950s, one bonfire was built, behind the dunes at Broulee. Firecrackers were in abundance.
Arnold. 19 & 105 Annetts Parade. Adam and Jean Arnold (nee Whitham). See the page for Arnold/Whitham.
Banks. (Frederick) Christian Banks built three cottages that ended up with his three children Billy, 12 Surfside Avenue; Sylvia, 14 Surfside Avenue; and Irene, near the junction of Beach Road and Annetts Parade. This last house was called Candlecut Cottage, after The Creek (for a story about the Creek's name go to The Creek page). Billy Banks married Ed Clark's sister Wyn. See also the page for Banks.
Barlings Beach. For some information on the Barling family, see the page for Barling.
Bike & Kayak Hire. Josh and Kate opened this popular business operating from a boatshed next to the boat ramp in 2008. The boatshed was originally Haslers', it was the third shed from the rivermouth, after Buckmasters' and Webbs'.
Birds. In the 1950s and 1960s there were no pelicans or pied or sooty oyster catchers. Peewees were common, and there were not many wattle birds. Seeing an osprey was a rare treat, and seeing a sandpiper doing its “wounded, dragging a wing” trick was a welcome holiday ritual. Now, there are practically no peewees, a plethora of wattle birds, lots of pelicans and oyster catchers and ospreys are regularly seen.
Boarding House. Until about 1924 Clem and Mrs Jones owned and ran a boarding house in association with Cooks Timber Mill, see the page for Cooks Timber Mill.
Bonfire Night. Held on 24th May, Empire Day. Because of the small permanent population in the 1950s, one bonfire was built, behind the dunes at Broulee. Firecrackers were in abundance.
Breakwater. Near the beginning (at the mainland end) of the breakwater to Cone Rock, (or, as it used be known, The Mossy Point) on the flat part below the Anchor Memorial, there used to be some rails and the remains of an old boiler. They were associated with one of the timber mills at "the port of Tomago" (until 1880) or "the port of Tomakin" (after 1880) as the rivermouth was called. See the entry below for Timber Mill, and see also the page for The River. Sydney firms were granted concessions to exploit the forests around Mogo, logs were floated down the river, sawn, and loaded for Sydney at the rivermouth, using a punt. That stopped in 1924. |
There is still one part of an old rail protruding from the soil before the breakwater, it's just off the flat land below The Anchor Memorial. And one rail remains well out towards The Mossy Point. A lot of the rails were used for the boatshed trolleyways. In the interests of starting a new legend we suggest that some rails were taken to Shellgrit Bay for the jetty on The Island. See the page for: Shellgrit Bay. |
Part-way out along the breakwater there is a few links of an old, large chain protruding. It may have been a turning or anchor-point used to assist the punt or sailing ships servicing the timber mills.
Brickmaker. In the 1950s there was a brickmaker on the road between Broulee and Moruya, it's now Percy Davis Drive, and another one behind Broulee on the road from the highway to Springwater (opposite Misons Road).
Bright. 161 Annetts Parade. In the 1940s and 1950s the house here was called Mylor. George and Sylvia, they took up a hotel licence at Trunkey Creek.
Broulee Molly lived at Broulee in the 1860s, there is a page for her in the People section, click here.
Broulee Mossy Point Dunecare.
Broulee Mossy Point Dunecare formed in 1991 by Barb Roberts initially to combat the infestation of bitou bush threatening the beaches. It went into recess in the mid 1990s, but it fired up again in 2004 and is still going. To view a video about it, click here.
Bright. 161 Annetts Parade. In the 1940s and 1950s the house here was called Mylor. George and Sylvia, they took up a hotel licence at Trunkey Creek.
Broulee Molly lived at Broulee in the 1860s, there is a page for her in the People section, click here.
Broulee Mossy Point Dunecare.
Broulee Mossy Point Dunecare formed in 1991 by Barb Roberts initially to combat the infestation of bitou bush threatening the beaches. It went into recess in the mid 1990s, but it fired up again in 2004 and is still going. To view a video about it, click here.
Broulee Runners. This unusual group was started in 2007 by Mike and Robyn Kennedy and Liza Martini. It includes serious runners, struggling runners and walkers. Starting from the Anchor Memorial on the Mossy Point Headland every Wednesday afternoon, people choose an out and back course of 2km, 3.5km or 5km. To view a video of this happy gathering of friendly folk, click here. The group also has a Facebook page. |
Broulee Original Store. There was almost a store, more a kiosk, run as a part of Burton's Camping Ground nearly opposite where today's PO Store is. That's all we know about it.
Broulee PO Store. Vic McIntosh who will turn 84 later in 2016 recalls that in about 1955-56 his father Eric purchased the old Moruya 'Cottage' Hospital, a mostly timber building. It was a square doughnut, with a well in the centre and a verandah around. Eric sold some of the materials, and with George Williams used the rest to construct a shop on a block of land that they had bought in Broulee. Charles Milwain (he has an entry in A-Z) who had previously run The Little Shop in Mossy Point was the first to operate the store, which is now the Broulee Post Office Store.
After a couple of years, the property was sold as a going business to Lionel and (Hilda) Jean Hines. Colin Dudley recalls how Lionel used to transport Broulee and Mossy Point children to and from the school bus at the highway, Ken Matheson picks up the story after Colin's family moved away, during his time here Len used to pick up at Broulee, go and pick up at Mossy Point, then at Illawong and take them to Moruya. See the page for Matheson.
Then in the mid sixties the Hines sold the business to Len and Mary Carter. Run with their sons Gary and Colin, and daughters in law June and Heather, the shop became known as Carters Store, a well-run coastal village general store. For many years it also had a side business, a popular take-away food shop run by Kaye Richards, and for a long time has housed a hairdresser as well.
With the opening of the first road bridge over Candlagan Creek in 1966, the store began to compete with both Mossy Point's Post Office Store and The Little Shop, it eventually overwhelmed both.
Robert and Tammy Mena bought the business around the turn of the century.
Broulee PO Store. Vic McIntosh who will turn 84 later in 2016 recalls that in about 1955-56 his father Eric purchased the old Moruya 'Cottage' Hospital, a mostly timber building. It was a square doughnut, with a well in the centre and a verandah around. Eric sold some of the materials, and with George Williams used the rest to construct a shop on a block of land that they had bought in Broulee. Charles Milwain (he has an entry in A-Z) who had previously run The Little Shop in Mossy Point was the first to operate the store, which is now the Broulee Post Office Store.
After a couple of years, the property was sold as a going business to Lionel and (Hilda) Jean Hines. Colin Dudley recalls how Lionel used to transport Broulee and Mossy Point children to and from the school bus at the highway, Ken Matheson picks up the story after Colin's family moved away, during his time here Len used to pick up at Broulee, go and pick up at Mossy Point, then at Illawong and take them to Moruya. See the page for Matheson.
Then in the mid sixties the Hines sold the business to Len and Mary Carter. Run with their sons Gary and Colin, and daughters in law June and Heather, the shop became known as Carters Store, a well-run coastal village general store. For many years it also had a side business, a popular take-away food shop run by Kaye Richards, and for a long time has housed a hairdresser as well.
With the opening of the first road bridge over Candlagan Creek in 1966, the store began to compete with both Mossy Point's Post Office Store and The Little Shop, it eventually overwhelmed both.
Robert and Tammy Mena bought the business around the turn of the century.
Broulee 2nd Store. In the 1960s Taylors were in the store at the Seaview Caravan Park on Coronation Drive where the Broulee Boulevarde is now. Monica Matheson ran the store and the caravan park from 1969 to 1972, see the page for Matheson. Then In the 1970s, it became Pays' Store. The store and caravan park were closed around 1980, and were replaced with units and the Boulevarde Shopping Centre.
Broulee 3rd Store. Around 1960 there was another shop at Broulee for a couple of years, together with six flats and a tennis court. Situated in Candlagan Drive, we think the proprietor was Nelson Allen or perhaps someone called Sweeney [did they have a daughter Colleen?] was involved.
Broulee Boulevard Shopping Centre. In the past the Boulevard had been home to Ray White and LJ Hooker real estate agencies, Mad Gear surf gear and clothing shop, and the fabulous Pink Rocks Restaurant (upstairs). As well, there was for a while a butcher shop in the small shop in the Fraser Gray building. It was run by Dennis Bettini, he was of the Moruya family who had Bettini Honey. For a while Dennis was stepping out with Christine Matheson.
Broulee Sanitary Depot. Until the early 1970s, Moruya did not have a sewerage system, and toilet waste was brought in the pans by Eric McIntosh's truck to Broulee. Pans were not collected from Broulee or Mossy Point, residents had to dig holes to dispose of their waste.
The depot was on Percy Davis Drive, at the edge of the seaboard. Trenches about 20 metres long were dug by hand, they would be added to for a week or so, then covered up again by hand shovel.
There was also a shed and a boiler there, the pans were steam cleaned. As well, the boiler was used to heat tar (bitumen), each pan was re-coated every couple of months.
There is a concrete slab still there. If you head along George Bass Drive towards the Airport, and turn up the dirt track at the green shed and water tank on the right, the slab is on the left well up the track about 50 metres short of the hill.
Folklore has it that there were many, many tomato plants there, apparently tomato seeds can pass through a person and still sprout.
Broulee Street Names. There is a page in "Places" on Broulee's street names.
Bullock. 135 or 137 Annetts Parade (probably). From Canberra, on the headland they had a holiday house in the late 1960s and through the 1970s. Mr Bullock, who was with the National Capital Development Commission created a substantial park or garden on the cliff top. Most of the plants are non-native, but like botanical gardens to many it was and still is a very pleasant place to spend some time.
Broulee 3rd Store. Around 1960 there was another shop at Broulee for a couple of years, together with six flats and a tennis court. Situated in Candlagan Drive, we think the proprietor was Nelson Allen or perhaps someone called Sweeney [did they have a daughter Colleen?] was involved.
Broulee Boulevard Shopping Centre. In the past the Boulevard had been home to Ray White and LJ Hooker real estate agencies, Mad Gear surf gear and clothing shop, and the fabulous Pink Rocks Restaurant (upstairs). As well, there was for a while a butcher shop in the small shop in the Fraser Gray building. It was run by Dennis Bettini, he was of the Moruya family who had Bettini Honey. For a while Dennis was stepping out with Christine Matheson.
Broulee Sanitary Depot. Until the early 1970s, Moruya did not have a sewerage system, and toilet waste was brought in the pans by Eric McIntosh's truck to Broulee. Pans were not collected from Broulee or Mossy Point, residents had to dig holes to dispose of their waste.
The depot was on Percy Davis Drive, at the edge of the seaboard. Trenches about 20 metres long were dug by hand, they would be added to for a week or so, then covered up again by hand shovel.
There was also a shed and a boiler there, the pans were steam cleaned. As well, the boiler was used to heat tar (bitumen), each pan was re-coated every couple of months.
There is a concrete slab still there. If you head along George Bass Drive towards the Airport, and turn up the dirt track at the green shed and water tank on the right, the slab is on the left well up the track about 50 metres short of the hill.
Folklore has it that there were many, many tomato plants there, apparently tomato seeds can pass through a person and still sprout.
Broulee Street Names. There is a page in "Places" on Broulee's street names.
Bullock. 135 or 137 Annetts Parade (probably). From Canberra, on the headland they had a holiday house in the late 1960s and through the 1970s. Mr Bullock, who was with the National Capital Development Commission created a substantial park or garden on the cliff top. Most of the plants are non-native, but like botanical gardens to many it was and still is a very pleasant place to spend some time.
Burrewarra Point. RAAF No 11 Operational Base Unit was situated at Moruya Aerodrome during World War 2 and RAAF No 17 Radar Station at Burrewarra Point was an allied unit. - The station was operational from April 1943 to 21 January 1945, giving radar coverage to the waters off this coast. These waters were actually the front line, 113 sailors were lost in submarine attacks on seven ships between Jervis Bay and Gabo Island. - Today a concrete bunker reminds us that there was a war here. See the page for: Burrewarra Point. |
Bushfire 1952. Mossy Point and Broulee were just saved from being wiped out when a Southerly Buster stopped a bushfire within metres of houses.
Bushfire 1994. A bushfire from the west burned to the boundaries of house blocks on Connells Close Mossy Point but mercifully no houses were lost.
Bushfire 1994. A bushfire from the west burned to the boundaries of house blocks on Connells Close Mossy Point but mercifully no houses were lost.
Bush Track. In the 1940s and to perhaps 1960 there was a very rough vehicle track between Broulee and Mossy Point that skirted The Creek, it was presumed to be passable only in a four wheel drive car or truck. It was two wheel tracks through the grass and scrub, with “corduroy roads” over the marshy parts. Corduroy roads were lots of small logs and saplings laid crossways over the “road”, to keep the wheels of carts or motor vehicles from bogging. In one patch there were some logs laid lengthways, with posts to stop them from spreading, and a corduroy road was built on that. At the time, with no road bridges over the Creek, normally to drive a car from Broulee to Mossy Point took about 25 minutes, from Broulee along the gravel Percy Davis Drive to the highway, north along the highway and then in along the gravel (old) Mossy Point Road. A Mossy Point lady found that by making her presence in Broulee known to her husband when she was allegedly about to head home, by taking the bush track home she would save fifteen minutes and have an alibi for a quarter of an hour spent with a gentleman friend in Broulee. Unfortunately, some teenagers in canoes saw her driving the track in her Holden ute, and unwittingly told their parents of the lady's derring-do in tackling such a rough track, the parents unwittingly passed the story on and her short-cut secret was out, and that led to the whole story coming out. Busted!
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Butler (1). Bill Butler, known
as Captain Tim. Lillian Nye
and Tom Butler's brother, he lived with the Nye family 1932 - 1950.
See the pages for: Nye and for Shellgrit Bay also.
Butler (2). Tom Butler, brother of Lillian Nye and Captain Tim. Through the 1940s until the mid 1950s he had a hut on the south bank of The Creek, upstream from the footbridge and behind Elaine and Ed Clark's (see the page for Clark) house. It could be seen from the footbridge. He said that the lady there was not his wife, she was a friend's wife, he was just minding her. There was a boy there, known as Sonny Butler. See the pages for Nye and for Shellgrit Bay also.
Butler (3). 84 Annetts Parade. Up to the 1970s this property was owned by Butler of Butler Airlines which was bought out by Airlines of NSW which was then bought out by ANA; which in turn was bought out by Ansett; but he sold before anyone built there. The story was that he chose the block from the air, in the 1940s and 1950s Butler used to do the DC3 flight from Malacoota to Sydney via Moruya and Nowra, so he was well qualified to pick the jewel of the South Coast.
Cadd. 111 Annetts Parade. In the 1970s Arnold and Gwen Cadd re-built at 111 Annetts Parade, when it was completed the new house made the cover of Australia's leading 'House and Garden' type magazine. The house boasted many innovations, not the least being a glass roof. Arnold had been a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. In the 1960s Gwen had been an Avon Lady, she was well suited to that as she usually presented stylishly. In about 2005 Gwen was living in Broulee. The Annetts Parade house was sold, probably in the 1980s, to TV journalist Paul Lyneham, sadly now deceased.
Cashmore. 60 Annetts Parade. In the 1950s to the 1970s at least this house was called Seagulls. Owned by Daphne Cashmore, who was the daughter of Mam and Pop Davis (see the entry below) her children were Charles, Margaret and Louise whom some thought was “the prettiest girl on the Point”.
Butler (2). Tom Butler, brother of Lillian Nye and Captain Tim. Through the 1940s until the mid 1950s he had a hut on the south bank of The Creek, upstream from the footbridge and behind Elaine and Ed Clark's (see the page for Clark) house. It could be seen from the footbridge. He said that the lady there was not his wife, she was a friend's wife, he was just minding her. There was a boy there, known as Sonny Butler. See the pages for Nye and for Shellgrit Bay also.
Butler (3). 84 Annetts Parade. Up to the 1970s this property was owned by Butler of Butler Airlines which was bought out by Airlines of NSW which was then bought out by ANA; which in turn was bought out by Ansett; but he sold before anyone built there. The story was that he chose the block from the air, in the 1940s and 1950s Butler used to do the DC3 flight from Malacoota to Sydney via Moruya and Nowra, so he was well qualified to pick the jewel of the South Coast.
Cadd. 111 Annetts Parade. In the 1970s Arnold and Gwen Cadd re-built at 111 Annetts Parade, when it was completed the new house made the cover of Australia's leading 'House and Garden' type magazine. The house boasted many innovations, not the least being a glass roof. Arnold had been a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. In the 1960s Gwen had been an Avon Lady, she was well suited to that as she usually presented stylishly. In about 2005 Gwen was living in Broulee. The Annetts Parade house was sold, probably in the 1980s, to TV journalist Paul Lyneham, sadly now deceased.
Cashmore. 60 Annetts Parade. In the 1950s to the 1970s at least this house was called Seagulls. Owned by Daphne Cashmore, who was the daughter of Mam and Pop Davis (see the entry below) her children were Charles, Margaret and Louise whom some thought was “the prettiest girl on the Point”.
Cattle. - In the 1940s and 1950s Rose Stewart (nee Davidge) from near the corner of Grant and Lyttle Streets Broulee ran a small herd (less than 100) of beef cattle. They ran on the property Standby which was where the Estuary Estate is today, and all over Mossy Point. The cows kept the grass in check, and that was much safer in snake territory. The trade-off was that you had to deal with cow pats, even at night venturing with a hurricane lamp to the outside toilet. No rotary lawnmowers until mid 1950s, and then for a while too expensive for most to have at a beach house. See also the entry below for mowing.
- Rose used to swim her cattle to Broulee Island to take advantage of the feed there, and to keep them safely confined if she was taking a break away from the region. - The cattle were usually not branded, it was rumoured that was so that owners wouldn't have to pay any compensation for any damage done by a cow. We thought it was romantic and exciting when riders were galloping all over the place rounding them up, and Rose was a picture of elegance sitting at a canter, then leaning right forward when her horse shot after an errant steer. - Rose competed as an equestrienne at the Royal Easter Show. |
Chandler. 62 Annetts Parade. This house was called Bide A Wee. Beth and Charlie and their son Jack had the Jewellers shop at Kingston ACT. In the early 1950s Grandmother Elizabeth Arbuckle was quite frail and she was in Beth and Charlie’s car – a Humber Super Snipe. They drove down next to the creek, in front of 111-113 Annetts Parade, that was not unusual at the time. Beth was playing with the young ones in the sand and gave Nana her diamond rings to look after. After a bit Nana decided she would like to walk out on the sand and everyone forgot she had the rings in her lap. They obviously fell onto the grass or the sand. It seemed that half the population went there with sieves trying to find them. If anyone did, they didn’t say. There have been a lot of metal detectors run over the site since, nobody has claimed to have struck it rich.
Charcoal. For the last year or so of WW2 Jim and Kevin Sebbens worked full time collecting dry wood from forests near to the turnoff from the highway for the Connells (Mossy) Point Road (now Old Mossy Point Road), there was a set-up there where charcoal was produced. The dry wood was put into steel tanks there and burned slowly to make the charcoal, which was in demand for gas production to run cars and trucks on during petrol rationing (they were fitted with a charcoal burning gas producer on the back). Charcoal burners were mostly on cars, although the proprietor of Kiora Cordials (see the entry below) in Moruya had a truck with a charcoal burner on it.
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Charcoal Plant. In 2001 the NSW State Government and Australian Silicon Ltd secretly planned to develop a charcoal plant between Broulee and the Princes Highway. It was to be several hectares featuring buildings over-shadowed by five retorts 11 stories high, burning 545 tonnes of wood a day, and with trucks coming or going every six to eight minutes. Particulate output from the stacks would have exceeded the level that causes premature deaths. Eurobodalla shire councillors had initially not opposed the plan, but the community was outraged. Submissions to the State Government saw fifteen submissions in favour, there were a record one thousand, five hundred and thirteen against it, none of them 'form letters'. People against the plan formed a local group called "Charcoalition" and action to stop the plant being built gained momentum. |
Opponents to the plant flew yellow ribbons from their car radio aerials, they were everywhere, and fundraising events were packed. A concerted year-long public campaign, which near the end saw 4,500 people march in protest, ultimately led to the proposal being abandoned.
Score: Nature Coast 1, Sydney 0. Charcoalition's web page still exists, to view it click here. |
Church. 11 Annetts Parade. An empty block in 1983, the house that's there now started out as St Paul's Anglican Church in Beach Road, Batemans Bay, rebuilt at its present site by one of the builders of The Dunes in Broulee. Sold by Parker in 1998.
Church. Connells Close. A former church, rebuilt there by one of the builders of The Dunes in Broulee.
Church. There was a Sunday School at Tomakin in the late 1800s. See also the page for Clark.
Clark (1). Clarks senior, 123 Annetts Parade. Fred and Violet, early permanent residents of Mossy Point. See the page for Clark.
Clark (2). Clarks junior, 23 Annetts Parade Mossy Point, then 1 Coronation Drive Broulee. Early permanent residents Ed and Elaine. See also the page for Clark.
Cone Rock. The official name for The Mossy Point, which some used to call Mossy Rock or The Chinaman’s Hat, the large cone-shaped rock at the end of the breakwater which extends from the rivermouth.
- "Mossy Point" was adopted to re-name Connells Point, see Connells Point – Name changed to Mossy Point below. Connell. - From Mossy Point Progress Association Record 3 March 1981: “Connells Point was named after an interesting chap, folk-lore has it that he was a sort of layabout bushranging, beachcombing squatter who lived there in the 1850s. Connell is understood to have made the original selection. According to Jim Sebbens nobody could find Connell's title.” [We think it more likely that although Connell was definitely in the area in the 1890s, he might have been a squatter, but most probably an overseer managing a property for someone else.] |
Connells Point (1880s-1930s). What had been grazing land for about 50 years was sub-divided into 361 building blocks, the majority being put on sale in about 1927, see also the entry below for O'Connells Point. There were a couple of blocks divided off before 1927, at least one near the junction of Beach Road and Annetts Parade, and one in Pacific Street.
Connells Point – Name changed to Mossy Point. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “When the Postmaster General’s Department wanted the name of Connells Point changed, to stop confusion with Connells Point in Sydney, some Canberra people wanted the new name to be Rendezvous Point which may have been the name of the original Post Office.” [We don’t know anybody who recalls that the PO was ever called Rendezvous Point]. “It was decided in 1940 to rename the place after Cone Rock (see the entry above for Cone Rock) which most locals then called The Mossy Point, although some called it Mossy Rock or The Chinaman’s Hat.” [T he name was changed in 1945 or 1946].
Connells Track. There was a track linking a timber mill (see the entry for timber mill below) roughly where the Mossy Point public jetty nearer to Muffins is today, to Cooks Timber Mill near the boat ramp. From around or even before 1880, Connells Track headed south from that track and made its way pretty well along Sunrise Road Mossy Point to a place where the Creek could be forded by horse (and might be forded with a horse and light cart) just downstream of today's road bridge between Beach Road Mossy Point and Coronation Drive Broulee.
Coolgardie Safe. Up to the 1960s people who didn't have refrigeration used Coolgardie Safes which cooled using evaporation from wet towelling or hessian, draped over them and soaking up water from a tray underneath.
Cooney & Morton. In the early 1980s these two fishermen were drowned just off the mouth of the River when their boat capsised while they were trying to assist two others in a disabled boat.
Cooper (1). 165 Annetts Parade, Theo and Verdi. See the page for Cooper.
Cooper (2). 98-100 Annetts Parade, Reg. See the page for Cooper.
Creek. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record 28 April 1981: “The Field Book of surveyor James Florance, compiled in 1828, speaks of Tomahgan River and Cundalgah Creek.”
- In the 1940s-1970s The Creek used to be known as Candlecut or Candlegut Creek (an alternative spelling of the aboriginal word that gave Florance “Cundalgah”), but it has been more often called Candlagan since the 1980s. See the page for The Creek.
Connells Point – Name changed to Mossy Point. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “When the Postmaster General’s Department wanted the name of Connells Point changed, to stop confusion with Connells Point in Sydney, some Canberra people wanted the new name to be Rendezvous Point which may have been the name of the original Post Office.” [We don’t know anybody who recalls that the PO was ever called Rendezvous Point]. “It was decided in 1940 to rename the place after Cone Rock (see the entry above for Cone Rock) which most locals then called The Mossy Point, although some called it Mossy Rock or The Chinaman’s Hat.” [T he name was changed in 1945 or 1946].
Connells Track. There was a track linking a timber mill (see the entry for timber mill below) roughly where the Mossy Point public jetty nearer to Muffins is today, to Cooks Timber Mill near the boat ramp. From around or even before 1880, Connells Track headed south from that track and made its way pretty well along Sunrise Road Mossy Point to a place where the Creek could be forded by horse (and might be forded with a horse and light cart) just downstream of today's road bridge between Beach Road Mossy Point and Coronation Drive Broulee.
Coolgardie Safe. Up to the 1960s people who didn't have refrigeration used Coolgardie Safes which cooled using evaporation from wet towelling or hessian, draped over them and soaking up water from a tray underneath.
Cooney & Morton. In the early 1980s these two fishermen were drowned just off the mouth of the River when their boat capsised while they were trying to assist two others in a disabled boat.
Cooper (1). 165 Annetts Parade, Theo and Verdi. See the page for Cooper.
Cooper (2). 98-100 Annetts Parade, Reg. See the page for Cooper.
Creek. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record 28 April 1981: “The Field Book of surveyor James Florance, compiled in 1828, speaks of Tomahgan River and Cundalgah Creek.”
- In the 1940s-1970s The Creek used to be known as Candlecut or Candlegut Creek (an alternative spelling of the aboriginal word that gave Florance “Cundalgah”), but it has been more often called Candlagan since the 1980s. See the page for The Creek.
Cuttlefish/Cuttlebone. For the Sebbens family in World War 2, cuttlebone would be hollowed out to form moulds for making fishing sinkers, molten lead would be poured into them. Some cuttlebone was sent to Sydney for profit, for on-selling to poultry owners.
Davis. 8 Sunrise Road. (Arthur) Fred and "Mam" - the elder stateswoman of the Point. Came from the land somewhere between Narrabundah ACT and Queanbeyan, in the early 1950s they had a Whippet ute with wooden spoke wheels. Fred had been awarded a Royal Shipwreck Relief & Humane Society of NSW Certificate “for his bravery in swimming out with a life line from the beach at Thirroul NSW on the 10th November 1913, and rescuing a man named Lewis who had got into difficulties while bathing.”
- Daphne Cashmore's (see the entry for Cashmore above) parents.
Fred died in June 1969, Mam in June 1973.
Dinghies. When their owners were at The Point, some small (2.1m – 3.6m) rowing dinghies would be tied up below 111 – 113 Annetts Parade, in the “cove” a little downstream from today's carpark by the bridge. Pike's, Lane's (see the entries for Pike and Lane below) and Hinksman's dinghies were often there. They'd be put in the water on the first day, the second day the planking would have absorbed enough water to make them reasonably watertight. Pikes used to try to sneak out and back if Arlens were in residence, if Nancy saw them she'd stand on her verandah and pass the time of day in her best operatic voice “that could be heard over half of Broulee!” Pikes graduated to a 5hp outboard motor; later on to a 16 hp motor “that really flew”. Dinghies would be rowed, or sometimes driven into the bay, and a few flathead would be caught. See also The Creek, and the Gallery.
Davis. 8 Sunrise Road. (Arthur) Fred and "Mam" - the elder stateswoman of the Point. Came from the land somewhere between Narrabundah ACT and Queanbeyan, in the early 1950s they had a Whippet ute with wooden spoke wheels. Fred had been awarded a Royal Shipwreck Relief & Humane Society of NSW Certificate “for his bravery in swimming out with a life line from the beach at Thirroul NSW on the 10th November 1913, and rescuing a man named Lewis who had got into difficulties while bathing.”
- Daphne Cashmore's (see the entry for Cashmore above) parents.
Fred died in June 1969, Mam in June 1973.
Dinghies. When their owners were at The Point, some small (2.1m – 3.6m) rowing dinghies would be tied up below 111 – 113 Annetts Parade, in the “cove” a little downstream from today's carpark by the bridge. Pike's, Lane's (see the entries for Pike and Lane below) and Hinksman's dinghies were often there. They'd be put in the water on the first day, the second day the planking would have absorbed enough water to make them reasonably watertight. Pikes used to try to sneak out and back if Arlens were in residence, if Nancy saw them she'd stand on her verandah and pass the time of day in her best operatic voice “that could be heard over half of Broulee!” Pikes graduated to a 5hp outboard motor; later on to a 16 hp motor “that really flew”. Dinghies would be rowed, or sometimes driven into the bay, and a few flathead would be caught. See also The Creek, and the Gallery.
Djurga. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “There are no survivors of the original Djurga tribe which inhabited the area. Percy Davis was the last.”
Dried and Smoked fish. During WW2 Kevin Sebbens and his father used to bicycle to Connells Point (now Mossy Point, see the entry for Connells Point above) from Mogo to fish and collect cuttlebone (see the entry for cuttlebone above). Using mostly crabs from the rocks for bait, in a morning's fishing from the rocks they could catch as many fish as they could carry in bags on their backs. Most were dried in a wooden box about 60cm (2 feet) square with a lid. The sides had gaps about 2.5cm (1 inch) at the bottom, the bottoms and the gaps in the sides were covered by a 5cm (2 inch) layer of charcoal in the bottom of the box. The charcoal absorbed the moisture out of the fish, the outside air took the moisture from the charcoal, and the fish were thus dried and could be kept. Smoking to cure fish or meat wasn't done by the Sebbens family, Kevin thought smoking was not common.
Duckworth. 203 Annetts Parade. Bert painted individual postcards that were sold in the Mossy Point Post Office Store, there are two shown in the Gallery. His boat, boathouse and his house were all called Pipi, the house had a nice poem on the door “Gone Fishin'”.
- Bert was involved in the rescue after the Turners' boating tragedy, see the entry for Turner below.
Dudley. 52 Annetts Parade. Dudleys ran the Mossy Point 2nd Store, see the separate pages for Dudley and for Mossy Point 2nd Store.
Dumphy. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: Some land was probably sold before the subdivision and houses erected, for example Dumphy's place at corner of Annetts Parade and Beach Rd – said to be erected in 1927 or 1929. [It was generally understood that the subdivision occurred in 1931 or 1932, we now know that it had happened by 25 November 1927 when lots at Broulee Beach Estate (mis-named O'Connells Point) were advertised in The Canberra Times. A copy of the advertisement is in the entry below for O'Connells Point and in the Gallery].
Dunecare. See Broulee Mossy Point Dunecare above.
Dried and Smoked fish. During WW2 Kevin Sebbens and his father used to bicycle to Connells Point (now Mossy Point, see the entry for Connells Point above) from Mogo to fish and collect cuttlebone (see the entry for cuttlebone above). Using mostly crabs from the rocks for bait, in a morning's fishing from the rocks they could catch as many fish as they could carry in bags on their backs. Most were dried in a wooden box about 60cm (2 feet) square with a lid. The sides had gaps about 2.5cm (1 inch) at the bottom, the bottoms and the gaps in the sides were covered by a 5cm (2 inch) layer of charcoal in the bottom of the box. The charcoal absorbed the moisture out of the fish, the outside air took the moisture from the charcoal, and the fish were thus dried and could be kept. Smoking to cure fish or meat wasn't done by the Sebbens family, Kevin thought smoking was not common.
Duckworth. 203 Annetts Parade. Bert painted individual postcards that were sold in the Mossy Point Post Office Store, there are two shown in the Gallery. His boat, boathouse and his house were all called Pipi, the house had a nice poem on the door “Gone Fishin'”.
- Bert was involved in the rescue after the Turners' boating tragedy, see the entry for Turner below.
Dudley. 52 Annetts Parade. Dudleys ran the Mossy Point 2nd Store, see the separate pages for Dudley and for Mossy Point 2nd Store.
Dumphy. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: Some land was probably sold before the subdivision and houses erected, for example Dumphy's place at corner of Annetts Parade and Beach Rd – said to be erected in 1927 or 1929. [It was generally understood that the subdivision occurred in 1931 or 1932, we now know that it had happened by 25 November 1927 when lots at Broulee Beach Estate (mis-named O'Connells Point) were advertised in The Canberra Times. A copy of the advertisement is in the entry below for O'Connells Point and in the Gallery].
Dunecare. See Broulee Mossy Point Dunecare above.
Dureenbee. A 35 metre steam trawler attacked by the Japanese submarine I-175 in the early hours of
3 August 1942, just 25 km off Moruya Heads. A Hudson aircraft from No 11 Operational Base Unit Moruya took off after being fueled up (tanks were drained overnight as a safety measure), bombed up, started up and warmed up. Locals took out the 17 metre launch Mirabooka and brought survivors and two dead, Able Seamen Archibald McPherson and Arthur Scoble to Moruya. A third crewman, Chief Officer Alexander Reid, died from wounds two days later, all three are buried in Moruya cemetery. Hit by 100mm cannon fire and raked by machine gun fire, after the crew were taken off, the wreck drifted to north of Batemans Bay before foundering on rocks. See the pages for Dureenbee and for World War 2. |
Electricity. We think that electricity arrived in 1954, we know that the Mossy Point Post Office Store still had a kerosene fridge in February 1952. Connection was expensive, many houses kept kerosene lamps, stoves and refrigerators or coolgardie safes for a few years after electricity was available.
Emmotts Store. Opened in around 1867 and until the 1970s was the large “department” store in Moruya, source of most of the non-perishable goods brought to Connells Pt and Mossy Pt. Emmotts became J B Youngs, then Grace Bros, then Allens, it's now Harris Scarfe.
Entertainment. In the 1950s, not much radio (see the entry for radio below, it was broadcast from Bega or Cooma) and no TV. Some houses had a wind-up gramophone and a collection of 78 rpm records, and some families had musical instruments.
- It was not unknown (but no names mentioned) for young adults and teenagers, when the heads of the household were absent, to engage in contests to see who could eat the most eggs, or Sao biscuits, or cheese, in one sitting.
- Also in the 1950s and early 1960s card games were popular social occasions, but in many households cards were not played on Sundays, “it was not the done thing”.
- There were also rumours in holiday times of games of Spin the Bottle for kiss-keen teenagers.
- Moruya had the Fiesta cinema for the occasional night out at the movies.
- Mr Stevenson showed outdoor movies during a couple of Christmas holidays, see the entry for Stevenson below.
- From an anonymous source: "I remember one New Year – probably about 1956/7 – I had a wind-up gramophone and some square dance records and we had a gathering of young people in Clark’s front yard at the end of the bridge and did some square dancing and generally had fun. There was a terrible song doing the rounds at the time called “Ape Call, doodle e yah ba” or something like that. I had that record and John (who was my boy friend at the time) and I walked around The Point with the gramophone on full bore playing that dreadful song." So for portable music we've gone from wind-up gramophones and 78 rpm records; through LPs and 45 rpm singles; and cassette recorders; and CD players; and USB sticks and flash cards; to mobile phones and downloads.
- For all you boppers and cool cats out there who would like to hear "Ape Call" again, click here.
Emmotts Store. Opened in around 1867 and until the 1970s was the large “department” store in Moruya, source of most of the non-perishable goods brought to Connells Pt and Mossy Pt. Emmotts became J B Youngs, then Grace Bros, then Allens, it's now Harris Scarfe.
Entertainment. In the 1950s, not much radio (see the entry for radio below, it was broadcast from Bega or Cooma) and no TV. Some houses had a wind-up gramophone and a collection of 78 rpm records, and some families had musical instruments.
- It was not unknown (but no names mentioned) for young adults and teenagers, when the heads of the household were absent, to engage in contests to see who could eat the most eggs, or Sao biscuits, or cheese, in one sitting.
- Also in the 1950s and early 1960s card games were popular social occasions, but in many households cards were not played on Sundays, “it was not the done thing”.
- There were also rumours in holiday times of games of Spin the Bottle for kiss-keen teenagers.
- Moruya had the Fiesta cinema for the occasional night out at the movies.
- Mr Stevenson showed outdoor movies during a couple of Christmas holidays, see the entry for Stevenson below.
- From an anonymous source: "I remember one New Year – probably about 1956/7 – I had a wind-up gramophone and some square dance records and we had a gathering of young people in Clark’s front yard at the end of the bridge and did some square dancing and generally had fun. There was a terrible song doing the rounds at the time called “Ape Call, doodle e yah ba” or something like that. I had that record and John (who was my boy friend at the time) and I walked around The Point with the gramophone on full bore playing that dreadful song." So for portable music we've gone from wind-up gramophones and 78 rpm records; through LPs and 45 rpm singles; and cassette recorders; and CD players; and USB sticks and flash cards; to mobile phones and downloads.
- For all you boppers and cool cats out there who would like to hear "Ape Call" again, click here.
Estuary Estate. From at least the 1940s the farm Standby was where the Estuary Estate is today, Standby was owned by Dr Annetts. Blocks began selling in 2002
- The Estuary Estate moved from Jeremadra to Mossy Point without actually moving. Jeremadra extends from George Bass Drive to the Princes Highway, and there's streets near both. But no road linking them so that two places in Jeremadra could be half a kilometre apart as the crow flies, but about eight kilometres apart by road. That could be a problem if an ambulance went to the wrong part of Jeremadra, and was a cause of confusion generally. We think that the estate was reclassified as part of Mossy Point between 2010 and 2014.
- The Estuary Estate moved from Jeremadra to Mossy Point without actually moving. Jeremadra extends from George Bass Drive to the Princes Highway, and there's streets near both. But no road linking them so that two places in Jeremadra could be half a kilometre apart as the crow flies, but about eight kilometres apart by road. That could be a problem if an ambulance went to the wrong part of Jeremadra, and was a cause of confusion generally. We think that the estate was reclassified as part of Mossy Point between 2010 and 2014.
Fashion. Thong shoes arrived towards the end of the 1950s, previously boys wore either "solid" shoes, or sandshoes (which were also called tennis shoes or runners, canvas upper and a rubber sole), Roman Sandals or hobnail boots. With thong shoes you could walk across the sand and the rocks without the tedious task of removing or putting on socks and lace-up shoes.
- also in the 1950s men's and boy's swimming trunks had a skirt on the front, and early in the decade there were still men who wouldn't be seen on the beach topless, without a singlet on, it would usually be blue. Generally, the influence of returned servicemen led to men working in the heat or relaxing near the beach being comfortable wearing khaki shorts and bare chested. Later in the decade a very few girls and women wore two-piece swimsuits.
- Things were better than they had been before the war. The Canberra Times reported in September 1946 that "Neck-to-knee regulations still govern the swimming costumes and trunks to be worn at the Canberra Swimming Pool. This ruling, however, is modified in that costumes 'may be of such type as the Minister approves'." That was after an officer of the Department of the Interior, with reference to the French Bikini style stated in late 1945 that "There is no doubt that the great majority of bathers would resent the introduction of this type of dress into the pool."
- also in the 1950s men's and boy's swimming trunks had a skirt on the front, and early in the decade there were still men who wouldn't be seen on the beach topless, without a singlet on, it would usually be blue. Generally, the influence of returned servicemen led to men working in the heat or relaxing near the beach being comfortable wearing khaki shorts and bare chested. Later in the decade a very few girls and women wore two-piece swimsuits.
- Things were better than they had been before the war. The Canberra Times reported in September 1946 that "Neck-to-knee regulations still govern the swimming costumes and trunks to be worn at the Canberra Swimming Pool. This ruling, however, is modified in that costumes 'may be of such type as the Minister approves'." That was after an officer of the Department of the Interior, with reference to the French Bikini style stated in late 1945 that "There is no doubt that the great majority of bathers would resent the introduction of this type of dress into the pool."
In the 1960s, some girls took to wearing mumus, pretty shifts with fringes. As usual, the boys kept on being boring.
In 1978 more women and young women were bathing topless more often, it didn't break the law on the beach, rocks or reserves but it would in a carpark or on a footpath or road. Skinny dipping was happening more and more and the Mossy Point Progress Association felt that nude bathing should be confined to areas where reasonable people acting in good faith could not be offended. The association again looked at nude bathing in 1981 when it was common knowledge that a group met about the middle of Broulee Beach each morning and went skinny dipping, this time the association took a stronger view and stated that the association was totally against this practice in general public areas.

Fences. In the 1950s most blocks with houses also had wood post and wire strand fences, three plain strands and a top strand of barbed wire.
Film Nights. Mr R.S. Stevenson was an honorary projectionist for the Canberra Film Centre. After electricity arrived, possibly in 1954, he ran an outdoors showing of the movie Bush Christmas in the Christmas holiday period on a vacant block sort of behind Mossy Point 2nd store (52 Annetts Parade). Later, probably the next year he showed The African Queen on a suitably sloping block at about 116-118 Annetts Parade. Families went with chairs, stools, rugs and insect repellent for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Fisher (1). 119 Annetts Parade. Clarrie, Netta, Anne and Richard from Canberra. Bought from A. J. Ryan in 1948. See the pages for Fisher and for Ryan.
Fishing Parties. In the early 1950s, Ponty Steel used to take fishing parties out to sea. Later on, Harry Rowcroft (see the entry for Rowcroft below) did the same.
Food. Things were scarce in the late 1940s and early 1950s. A young pig fell into a bucket of water and drowned, Jenny Nelson's mother Mrs Reid of Lynchs Creek divided it up, nothing went to waste.
Film Nights. Mr R.S. Stevenson was an honorary projectionist for the Canberra Film Centre. After electricity arrived, possibly in 1954, he ran an outdoors showing of the movie Bush Christmas in the Christmas holiday period on a vacant block sort of behind Mossy Point 2nd store (52 Annetts Parade). Later, probably the next year he showed The African Queen on a suitably sloping block at about 116-118 Annetts Parade. Families went with chairs, stools, rugs and insect repellent for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Fisher (1). 119 Annetts Parade. Clarrie, Netta, Anne and Richard from Canberra. Bought from A. J. Ryan in 1948. See the pages for Fisher and for Ryan.
Fishing Parties. In the early 1950s, Ponty Steel used to take fishing parties out to sea. Later on, Harry Rowcroft (see the entry for Rowcroft below) did the same.
Food. Things were scarce in the late 1940s and early 1950s. A young pig fell into a bucket of water and drowned, Jenny Nelson's mother Mrs Reid of Lynchs Creek divided it up, nothing went to waste.
Footbridge. See the page for The Creek. |
Grey. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Fairly Early subdivisional purchaser:” - From the 1940s Grey's house was called Lindisfarne after the home of one Grace Darling, heroine in The Brown Reader schoolbook. Mr Grey made the pun that his house as well was the home of Grey's darling (Mrs Grey), that's why he called the home Lindisfarne. Mrs Grey did beautiful fine knitting work, and one year won a prize at the Sydney Show. Remembered as a lovely lady who would mischievously affect an accent that caused her to pronounce 'W' as 'V', and liked to say "Vell vell vell!" - In the 1950s Grey's held a New Year's Eve party with a lot of guests, as it wore on there was a knock at the door, there was a swagman there, dusty old ragged clothes and a full beard and moustache. Invited in due to the abundant goodwill, he stayed for an hour or so before trudging off into the dark. It was not until the next year that guests were told that it was in fact Mrs Grey in disguise. A bit of fun, times were more innocent. |
Groom. 13 Surfside Avenue. Built a steel framed house there in the late 1940s, it was used as the centre of a 'tent city' during Christmas holidays. Parties were 'huge' with accordion, violin and tin whistle for music and plays by the children and dressing up. See the page for Groom.
Guiness Book Of Records. See 'Shimmying Record'.
Happ. 117 Annetts Parade. Called Song of the Sea, see the entry for Arlen. Happs bought from Arlens in the early '60s, Happs had a newsagency in North Canberra. Happs sold in about 2001.
Guiness Book Of Records. See 'Shimmying Record'.
Happ. 117 Annetts Parade. Called Song of the Sea, see the entry for Arlen. Happs bought from Arlens in the early '60s, Happs had a newsagency in North Canberra. Happs sold in about 2001.
Hitching rail. Even in the 1960s there were hitching rails in Queen St Moruya, east of the highway and on the southern side. Up to the 1950s travel by horse and dray or sulky to collect provisions was not uncommon. Inner Tubes. In the 1940s and early 1950s there were no plastic swimming aids, so children learning to swim in The Creek used motor car inner tubes for floatation. The tubes were almost always old with many patches on them, the occasional lucky ones had truck or tractor size inner tubes, a great plaything for a group. But with all the tubes you had to be careful of the capless valves, they scratched. |
Jolley. 179 Annetts Parade. Property is now Xanadu, Jolley has been called "a whimsical and eccentric architect". The Nye boys stayed in the shack there on occasions. Jolley had a son Doug, and a daughter who became a McCosker. Note the branches supporting the roof - they were a permanent part of the building. To enlarge, keep hitting ctrl and '+' and to restore size ctrl + '0' (zero) See the page for Jolley. |
Jones. Clem worked at Cooks Timber Mill, and Clem and Mrs Jones owned and ran the Boarding House and in 1920 Clem began to mine shellgrit on Broulee Island, see also the page for Shellgrit Bay.
Kayak. See Bike and Kayak Hire above.
Keep Egg Powder. Up to the second half of the 1950s, people used a product called 'Keep Egg', a powder that made a slimy paste when mixed with water. The paste would be rubbed all over the egg, preventing any air from getting to it, and the egg would keep for weeks. Alternatively, eggs could be kept immersed in a weak solution of the powder and water. As roads and vehicles improved and shopping was done more often, it fell out of fashion.
Kellys Creek Mine. A mine at Bimbimbie on Kellys Creek, which runs into Candlagan Creek. See the pages for The Creek and for Mogo Goldfield.
Kerosene. In the 1940s and 1950s kerosene lamps, stoves and refrigerators were used. Kerosene refrigerators were usually Silent Night or the Charles Hope Coldstream.
Kerosene Tin. In the 1940s and 1950s the traditional kerosene tin (4 gallons or 18 litres, hence 18 kilograms if full, usually only half full if you had to walk with it) had a wire handle that bit into the hand, it was an unwelcome chore to carry kerosene home from the shop. But when there was no electricity, it had to be done.
Kiora Cordials. The local soft drink manufacturer, drinks were made opposite Kiora Homestead on the Araluen Road from Moruya, distribution was from Hawdon Street Moruya.
Lander. 52 Annetts Parade. Russ Lander ran the Mossy Point 2nd Store in the late 1940s. The store was advertised for sale in January 1951, he sold to Charlie Milwain (see the entry for Milwain below) probably in that year, and moved into Moruya. In 1950 he married Gladys Groom, Ron Young of the Mossy Point PO store was brother in law to one of the Grooms. See the entry for Groom above.
Kayak. See Bike and Kayak Hire above.
Keep Egg Powder. Up to the second half of the 1950s, people used a product called 'Keep Egg', a powder that made a slimy paste when mixed with water. The paste would be rubbed all over the egg, preventing any air from getting to it, and the egg would keep for weeks. Alternatively, eggs could be kept immersed in a weak solution of the powder and water. As roads and vehicles improved and shopping was done more often, it fell out of fashion.
Kellys Creek Mine. A mine at Bimbimbie on Kellys Creek, which runs into Candlagan Creek. See the pages for The Creek and for Mogo Goldfield.
Kerosene. In the 1940s and 1950s kerosene lamps, stoves and refrigerators were used. Kerosene refrigerators were usually Silent Night or the Charles Hope Coldstream.
Kerosene Tin. In the 1940s and 1950s the traditional kerosene tin (4 gallons or 18 litres, hence 18 kilograms if full, usually only half full if you had to walk with it) had a wire handle that bit into the hand, it was an unwelcome chore to carry kerosene home from the shop. But when there was no electricity, it had to be done.
Kiora Cordials. The local soft drink manufacturer, drinks were made opposite Kiora Homestead on the Araluen Road from Moruya, distribution was from Hawdon Street Moruya.
Lander. 52 Annetts Parade. Russ Lander ran the Mossy Point 2nd Store in the late 1940s. The store was advertised for sale in January 1951, he sold to Charlie Milwain (see the entry for Milwain below) probably in that year, and moved into Moruya. In 1950 he married Gladys Groom, Ron Young of the Mossy Point PO store was brother in law to one of the Grooms. See the entry for Groom above.
Lane. 115 Annetts Parade. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Early subdivisional purchaser.”
- From the 1940s Mr Frank and Mrs May Lane owned The Cobbles at 115 Annetts Parade. The path to the door was made of locally sourced roundish 'cobbles'. - Frank was a plumber from Canberra, there were quite a few tradesmen who came to Mossy Point to fish. He was one of about six who had 7' - 12' (2.1m – 3.6m) rowing dinghies in The Creek (see the entry for Dinghy above). After fishing in the bay, Frank would clean the fish at the house, then loudly two-finger whistle, seagulls would then come for the scraps. Lane had a 'carport' of green canvas and plumbing pipe hoops, enclosed three sides to about 30cm above the ground. - Mrs Lane had a sign in the kitchen: "Please don’t waste water – it’s a long way up for more. Don’t put tea-leaves down the sink – it does not make good tea." - The property was sold to Taunton in the early 1960s. |
Larkin. 123 Annetts Parade. Larkins from Sydney had daughters Pat and Christine. In the 1950s they bought 123 Annetts Parade (with house and garage) from Fred and Violet Clark and also bought one of the five blocks on the sand dunes on the Broulee side of the bridge (Lot 2088B). On the seaward side of the first dunes block south of the bridge, it's been reclaimed by the shifting sand. It may have been 'bought back' by Eurobodalla Shire Council, the same way that the blocks sold on Broulee Island were bought back. Mrs Violet Clark subdivided the portion and sold the blocks on the dunes after years of a futile battle trying to prevent camping, and associated fouling, there.
Lawn Bowls. In the mid-1950s Mrs Waddell of Heath St Broulee had a private bowling green in her back yard, Harry Dawn who was also a permanent resident of Broulee played there too.
Marine Radio. A 27Mhz service for fishing boats was begun by Tony Abbey in the second half of the 1970s. Later it graduated to VHF channels 16, 67 and 73.
Mason. 129 Annetts Parade. Bob – honorary ranger, and a past president of the Mossy Point Progress Association. His wife Dulcie died in 1982, children were Margaret, Helen and Robert. Bob later remarried, his second wife was Margaret. After Bob died, probably in the 1990s, she returned to New Zealand.
McIntosh. After building the Broulee Post Office Store, Eric McIntosh then leased some land and set up the caravan park behind the Bengello Beach sand dunes.
He also bought a block about four south of the Post Office Store, and installed a house he had brought from Batemans Bay, the cottage had been used by a NSW Government Agency, perhaps the forestry section. It was sold to a Sydney chemist about 1968.
Eric also ran the truck that transported night soil to the Broulee Sanitary Depot (see above), and he delivered firewood as well.
McKillop. 199 Annetts Parade. R.A. McKillop was a retired real estate agent and president of the Canberra Chamber of Commerce. He built or bought a holiday cottage at Mossy Point which he kept in the 1960s and 1970s. He was Saint Mary McKillop's nephew. He was reputedly a millionaire in the 1950s, when currency was in pounds and a house used to cost about four thousand pounds. Put another way, a million pounds could buy 250 houses. He drove a Bentley motor-car, and was well known as a thorough gentleman and a benevolent philanthropist.
Milk. In the 1950s and 1960s milk was not pasteurised, it was bought “loose” and carried home in a suitable container, usually a billy. It was quite normal to see a car approaching with an arm, hand and billy of milk out the driver's window – no-one wanted to slosh and spill milk inside their car. For a while the Reid brothers brought milk to the Broulee side of the footbridge and rang a bell, people would take their billies to them and buy milk.
Milwain. 52 Annetts Parade. Charlie Milwain ran the Mossy Point 2nd Store, took it over from Lander (see the entry above) probably in 1951. He in turn sold to Ross (see the entry below) probably about 1956 or 1957, and then for a year or two ran the then new Broulee PO Store.
- Ellen McDonald recalls: " I remember Bruce and Keith Milwain. Bruce was a terrible tear-away. Their dog Boz – a Russian Borzoi! They had a vintage Alfa Romeo – a beautiful vehicle with little silver flower vases in the back, velvet seats, lovely. One day in a state of boredom the boys sawed it in half.
- Charlie Milwain was involved in the rescue after the Turners' boating tragedy, see the entry below for Turner.
Mine. 141 Annetts Parade. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Little is known about the old mine [on the headland] in front of Mrs Hill's [141 Annetts Parade]. The area was all part of the Mogo Goldfield. A couple of other diggings are to be noted further down the cliff toward the point [in 1980 Cone Rock was still known by many as 'The Point'], one at the 'pebbly beach'”. [We suspect that these holes were exploratory digs rather than productive mines].
Morton. See the entry for Cooney and Morton above.
Moruya Steam Railway. Officially known as The Moruya River Northern Breakwater Railway it wasn't in Broulee Bay, but on the southern end of the next beach south, Bengello Beach (which is sometimes incorrectly called South Broulee Beach).
In 1947 and 1948 two steam locomotives of 1929 vintage were sent to Moruya as part of a project to build a breakwater on the North Head of the Moruya River. The river was the way into the Moruya wharf, coastal steamers still called there until 1952.
The line ran from the granite quarry that's still on the northern bank of the river, and out onto the breakwater.
An eyewitness account reports that there would be a steam locomotive and a collection of four wheeled trucks, each truck laden with a large granite boulder. On the breakwater the loco would take each truck in turn and run it into a large rock at the end of the breakwater, the granite rock would fly off the truck into the water.
The breakwater was completed in 1954, and the rolling stock was taken elsewhere.
You can research this by contacting (click here) the Light Railway Research Society Of Australia, there was an article about the Moruya railway was in their journal Light Railways Issue No 142 of August 1998.
Mossy Point Community Hall. See the entry for Rural Fire Service below.
Mossy Point Post Office Store. 1 Surfside Avenue. The Mossy Point Post Office Store has its own page.
Mossy Point Phantom Ferret. The Phantom Ferret was known to dwell in the shrubbery around the riverside rabbit warrens which go for a few hundred metres upstream from the boat ramp, although it was glimpsed once in 2011/12 on one of the properties adjoining the creekbank reserve. There is a rumour that it was re-homed next to The River by an owner who no longer wanted it.
The last recorded sighting was at The Bower, Broulee in 2017, by a Senior Ecologist and Bushfire Consultant. Spoken about in confidential tones, it is rarely sighted and when seen it quickly vanishes. But it does exist.
Mossy Point Progress Association/Community Association. The Mossy Point Progress Association was active in the 1950s, we don't know when it actually started. During the 1970s until well into the 1990s the association was quite robust, with well attended meetings.
On 24 Nov 1991 the name of the Mossy Point Progress Association was changed to the Mossy Point Community Association. That brought it into line with most of the other 'locality' associations in the Shire.
In the 1990s things started to fall off the pace, and in late 1995 the Broulee Community Association wrote to MPCA suggesting consideration of an amalgamation. MPCA could see some benefits but felt that on balance, things should stay as they were.
We understand that the last formal meeting of the association was in January 2000, and it became inactive.
In February 2011 the Broulee Community Association agreed to change its name to the Broulee Mossy Point Community Association to better cater for Mossy Point people who no longer had an active association.
In March 2011 the Department of Fair Trading (NSW) confirmed that neither the Mossy Point Progress Association nor the Mossy Point Community Association had been Incorporated Associations.
Former committee members of the Mossy Point Community Association were consulted, and they decided that the interests of Mossy Point people would be best served by amalgamation with the Broulee Community Association.
At the request of the Broulee Community Association, on 30 May 2011 the Department of Fair Trading advised that the Broulee Community Association Incorporated's name had been changed to Broulee Mossy Point Community Association Incorporated.
The Mossy Point Progress Association/Community Association had a proud history of service to its members and its community.
Mossy Point 2nd Store. 52 Annetts Parade. This was The Little Shop. Run by Lander in the late 1940s, Milwain (see the entry for Milwain above) took it over probably around 1950. Ross about 1956 to about 1959, he committed suicide there. Lastly, Dudleys, they closed the store in 1967-68, when it became a residence until it burned down in about 1970. There is a photo showing the location of The Little Shop on the page for Dudley.
Mowing. By about 1958 the permanent population and the holiday population had grown, and the cattle were no longer "free ranging" over Mossy Point, and grass grew long and lush on all the unmown areas. In the Spring of 1965, to impress a young lady, a young man mowed part of the reserve by The Creek. Over the next few months neighbours joined in, and there were mown patches and pathways from the end of Beach Rd next to the northern end of the footbridge; to the swings that were then at the ocean end of the flat area by The Creek. Then, some folk started mowing along the Mossy Point Headland, and after a while you could walk from the footbridge and around the headland without "going bush" and worrying about snakes. That went on for twenty odd years until, in about 1984 or 1985, council began mowing the areas except the headland where owners of the houses there still mow in front of their blocks.
It has been reported that the ploy to win the young lady failed. |
Muffin Shop. 1 Surfside Avenue. See the page for The Muffin Shop.
Nye. Surfside Avenue. Mr Andrew, Mrs Lillian, Fred, Billy, Young Andrew and Jeannie Nye, and Lillian's brothers 'Captain Tim' (Bill) Butler and Tom Butler. A professional fishing family.
- See also the entries above for Butler; and the pages for: Nye, and for Shellgrit Bay.
Nye. Surfside Avenue. Mr Andrew, Mrs Lillian, Fred, Billy, Young Andrew and Jeannie Nye, and Lillian's brothers 'Captain Tim' (Bill) Butler and Tom Butler. A professional fishing family.
- See also the entries above for Butler; and the pages for: Nye, and for Shellgrit Bay.
The Oaks. Was occupied by the Spiby (?) family until about 1950, Reids from Lynchs Creek then took a lease over it from Dr Annetts and ran cattle there. Athol and Bruce Reid lived in the house and had three or four dairy cows there that they hand milked for milk to be sold at Mossy Point and Broulee. The dairy operation was later centralised at Lynchs Creek when a milking machine powered by a Lister diesel engine was installed. Dr Annetts also owned Standby. see the entry for Standby below.
Oyster Leases. See the pages for: The Creek and for: The River.
Oyster Lease Quarrel. See the page for The River.
Pike (1). 113 Annetts Parade. (John) Jack Pike was friendly with the developer's agent Mr Jolley (see the page for Jolley), and bought the first two of the newly subdivided blocks, at 111 and 113 Annetts Parade. His elder brother sold 111 while Jack was overseas during World War 2, he later told him that he didn't think that he'd be coming back.
Pike (2). In the 1950s Jim Pike, who was Jack Pike's younger brother, was a grader driver for the Shire Council, he married Sylvia, the youngest of the Banks children, see the separate page for Banks. He used to ride his motorcycle over the footbridge as a short-cut on his way to and from work. This might have had something to do with the boards often being loose, Elaine Clark regularly re-fixed them.
The Pipi Tree. The Pipi Tree stood on edge of the dunes, almost at the mid-point of Broulee Beach. It was the only tree that was so close to the beach, so it was a well-known landmark. So called because you could gather pipis in the shallows near it. See the page for The Pipi Tree.
Oyster Lease Quarrel. See the page for The River.
Pike (1). 113 Annetts Parade. (John) Jack Pike was friendly with the developer's agent Mr Jolley (see the page for Jolley), and bought the first two of the newly subdivided blocks, at 111 and 113 Annetts Parade. His elder brother sold 111 while Jack was overseas during World War 2, he later told him that he didn't think that he'd be coming back.
Pike (2). In the 1950s Jim Pike, who was Jack Pike's younger brother, was a grader driver for the Shire Council, he married Sylvia, the youngest of the Banks children, see the separate page for Banks. He used to ride his motorcycle over the footbridge as a short-cut on his way to and from work. This might have had something to do with the boards often being loose, Elaine Clark regularly re-fixed them.
The Pipi Tree. The Pipi Tree stood on edge of the dunes, almost at the mid-point of Broulee Beach. It was the only tree that was so close to the beach, so it was a well-known landmark. So called because you could gather pipis in the shallows near it. See the page for The Pipi Tree.
Plastic Shopping Bags. Once Coles Bay in Tasmania had taken the lead for Australia, Mogo's Sue Wisbey took up the challenge to see what she could do for the mainland. With surprising results due mostly to her inspiration and leadership, and a community willingness to 'Do The Right Thing', her efforts soon bore fruit. On 19 September 2003 Mogo officially became mainland Australia's first town to join the 'Plastic Bag Free Town' campaign, with 95 percent of retailers there banning plastic shopping bags. The now common-place reusable calico shopping bags looked novel at the outset, but Eurobodalla residents soon embraced the new way of doing things. The change from 'everything in a plastic bag' to 'everybody uses re-usable bags' has been a cultural shift across Australia, and it deserves to be recorded that for mainland Australia it started in Mogo, our near neighbour. |
Pooh Bear's Corner. Crookwell seed potato farmers the Barbara and David Carter have told us they made up the idea of "Pooh Bear's Corner" on the Clyde Mountain in 1971 to keep their children amused on the trip to the coast. After leaving a couple of cardboard signs over the years, others started leaving teddy bears, and then a pot marked "Hunny".
- In 1992 Eurobodalla Shire Council responded to the family's request for a proper sign, saying that the family's efforts were interesting and refreshing, that it was now a famous landmark, and that a sign would be installed. And it was.
- A welcome milestone, it definitely eases the journey.
- But the corner has other interest. One story has it that from 1942 to 1944, the 14th Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps manned a shelter at the corner, from where they could trigger demolition charges under the road. This was part of a plan to delay any Japanese invasion party who landed at the coast from advancing on Canberra. A tunnel was dug under the King's Highway at the corner and explosives placed inside. The entrance to the tunnel has now been sealed by concrete, conspiracy theorists suggest that there may still be some explosives inside the tunnel.
- Another story has it that if the Japanese were advancing inland, the three (or there might have been five) specially dug 'caves' in the roadside cuttings would be packed with explosives, which would be detonated and cause landslides to close the road. In the 1940s there were definitely three such "caves" along the barely wide enough for two cars gravel road, of which road widening has left just one, at Pooh Bear's Corner.
Produce. Most of the produce that went to Sydney after World War 2 was potatoes, cheese and corn. Cheese had a higher value as a source of protein in the times before refrigeration was commonplace - if you wanted protein that kept, the main choice was cheese or else salted, smoked or dried meat.
Public Jetties. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “With some help from Council workers, Stan Stephens (see the entry for Stephens below) and 'Captain Tim' Nye ['Captain Tim' was actually a Butler, see the entry for Butler above] built the public wharf.” This is the "upstream" public jetty not far downstream from the road from Muffins to the bank of The River.
- The second public jetty is beside the boat ramp. Originally it was shared between Buckmasters and Webbs, they had boatsheds on either side. Then it was Turners' (see the entry for Turner below) before Council took it over to be a public jetty.
- In October 1977 somehow the State Government leased out the upstream Mossy Point public jetty to a private individual. Council said that it was dilapidated and rarely used. A speedy reaction led by the Progress Association soon reversed that circumstance, the jetty was again made public and repaired.
- In 1992 Eurobodalla Shire Council responded to the family's request for a proper sign, saying that the family's efforts were interesting and refreshing, that it was now a famous landmark, and that a sign would be installed. And it was.
- A welcome milestone, it definitely eases the journey.
- But the corner has other interest. One story has it that from 1942 to 1944, the 14th Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps manned a shelter at the corner, from where they could trigger demolition charges under the road. This was part of a plan to delay any Japanese invasion party who landed at the coast from advancing on Canberra. A tunnel was dug under the King's Highway at the corner and explosives placed inside. The entrance to the tunnel has now been sealed by concrete, conspiracy theorists suggest that there may still be some explosives inside the tunnel.
- Another story has it that if the Japanese were advancing inland, the three (or there might have been five) specially dug 'caves' in the roadside cuttings would be packed with explosives, which would be detonated and cause landslides to close the road. In the 1940s there were definitely three such "caves" along the barely wide enough for two cars gravel road, of which road widening has left just one, at Pooh Bear's Corner.
Produce. Most of the produce that went to Sydney after World War 2 was potatoes, cheese and corn. Cheese had a higher value as a source of protein in the times before refrigeration was commonplace - if you wanted protein that kept, the main choice was cheese or else salted, smoked or dried meat.
Public Jetties. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “With some help from Council workers, Stan Stephens (see the entry for Stephens below) and 'Captain Tim' Nye ['Captain Tim' was actually a Butler, see the entry for Butler above] built the public wharf.” This is the "upstream" public jetty not far downstream from the road from Muffins to the bank of The River.
- The second public jetty is beside the boat ramp. Originally it was shared between Buckmasters and Webbs, they had boatsheds on either side. Then it was Turners' (see the entry for Turner below) before Council took it over to be a public jetty.
- In October 1977 somehow the State Government leased out the upstream Mossy Point public jetty to a private individual. Council said that it was dilapidated and rarely used. A speedy reaction led by the Progress Association soon reversed that circumstance, the jetty was again made public and repaired.
Pumice. At the end of 2013 lots of pumice started to be washed up on Broulee Bay beaches. It was from the 2012 Kermadec Islands major undersea volcanic eruption, on 18th July 2012, by the previously little-known Havre Seamount 2807 kilometres north and east from Broulee Bay. Some enterprising youngsters (not from Broulee Bay) were selling the pumice as rare mementos to unsuspecting just arrived tourists at the Moruya Markets, even though there were millions of specimens on the beaches. Some pieces were still to be found in May 2015.
Produce. Most of the produce that went to Sydney after World War 2 was potatoes, cheese and corn. Cheese had a higher value as a source of protein in the times before refrigeration was commonplace - if you wanted protein that kept, the main choice was cheese or else salted, smoked or dried meat.
Public Jetties. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “With some help from Council workers, Stan Stephens (see the entry for Stephens below) and 'Captain Tim' Nye ['Captain Tim' was actually a Butler, see the entry for Butler above] built the public wharf.” This is the "upstream" public jetty not far downstream from the road from Muffins to the bank of The River.
- The second public jetty is beside the boat ramp. Originally it was shared between Buckmasters and Webbs, they had boatsheds on either side. Then it was Turners' (see the entry for Turner below) before Council took it over to be a public jetty.
- In October 1977 somehow the State Government leased out the upstream Mossy Point public jetty to a private individual. Council said that it was dilapidated and rarely used. A speedy reaction led by the Progress Association soon reversed that circumstance, the jetty was again made public and repaired.
Rabbits. During WW2 the Sebbens family trapped rabbits across Connells (Mossy) Point as well as nearer to their home in Mogo, the meat wasn't sold it was kept for the family. The skins were dried and sent to a chap called Craig Mosten in Sydney where most went into felt hat manufacture. At that time almost all men wore a felt hat.
- In the late 1940s and the 1950s The Rabbit Flats in Tomakin (where Reflections now is) was a bountiful hunting ground for locals and visitors. There is a photo of a hunting group setting out to cross the River in the page for Groom.
- The current (2015) infestation of rabbits at Mossy Point only took hold in the last fifteen years or so.
Radclyffe. 175 Annetts Parade. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Early subdivisional purchaser: Mr and Mrs Radclyffe.”
- This house is still called Green Gates. Part of it had been stables at a hotel in Queanbeyan.
- Mrs Radclyffe Snr and Reg Cooper (see the page for Cooper) used to used to patrol Broulee Beach every night to guard against Japanese submarines (see the entry for submarines below) which were sometimes heard charging their batteries in Broulee Bay (which extends from Burrewarra Pt to Broulee Is).
Radio. In 1978 2BE Bega began transmitting from a relay transmitter at Illawong on Broulee Road, a refreshingly strong clear radio signal for Mossy Point listeners.
- For several years, during December and January there was a broadcast after the 8.30 news each morning from a shark patrol aircraft that covered much of the Eurobodalla coastline. As well as reporting shark sightings, weather, swimming and surf conditions were also advised.
- 2BE became 2EC East Coast Radio, before Wanderra Mountain began transmitting.
Rainwater tanks. Mains water arrived in the 1970s. Before that, household and drinking water was from rainwater tanks.
Reid. Jenny Nelson's family, the Reids, moved to Lynchs Creek (which runs into Candlagan Creek via Longvale Swamp) in September 1946. From then until the 1960s, the Reids ran their cattle from their property at Lynchs Creek, through to leased land at The Oaks (now the Oaks Ranch).
- In the beginning Athol and Eric Reid used to take milk in a 5 gallon (22 litre) can by horseback to Mossy Point. After a while, they took milk to the Broulee side of the footbridge in a cream or yellow, and red, horse drawn milk van, and lastly in an Austin ute, it had a van cover built onto the back. They'd ring a bell there, Mossy Point residents would then take their billies over the bridge and buy their milk.
Produce. Most of the produce that went to Sydney after World War 2 was potatoes, cheese and corn. Cheese had a higher value as a source of protein in the times before refrigeration was commonplace - if you wanted protein that kept, the main choice was cheese or else salted, smoked or dried meat.
Public Jetties. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “With some help from Council workers, Stan Stephens (see the entry for Stephens below) and 'Captain Tim' Nye ['Captain Tim' was actually a Butler, see the entry for Butler above] built the public wharf.” This is the "upstream" public jetty not far downstream from the road from Muffins to the bank of The River.
- The second public jetty is beside the boat ramp. Originally it was shared between Buckmasters and Webbs, they had boatsheds on either side. Then it was Turners' (see the entry for Turner below) before Council took it over to be a public jetty.
- In October 1977 somehow the State Government leased out the upstream Mossy Point public jetty to a private individual. Council said that it was dilapidated and rarely used. A speedy reaction led by the Progress Association soon reversed that circumstance, the jetty was again made public and repaired.
Rabbits. During WW2 the Sebbens family trapped rabbits across Connells (Mossy) Point as well as nearer to their home in Mogo, the meat wasn't sold it was kept for the family. The skins were dried and sent to a chap called Craig Mosten in Sydney where most went into felt hat manufacture. At that time almost all men wore a felt hat.
- In the late 1940s and the 1950s The Rabbit Flats in Tomakin (where Reflections now is) was a bountiful hunting ground for locals and visitors. There is a photo of a hunting group setting out to cross the River in the page for Groom.
- The current (2015) infestation of rabbits at Mossy Point only took hold in the last fifteen years or so.
Radclyffe. 175 Annetts Parade. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Early subdivisional purchaser: Mr and Mrs Radclyffe.”
- This house is still called Green Gates. Part of it had been stables at a hotel in Queanbeyan.
- Mrs Radclyffe Snr and Reg Cooper (see the page for Cooper) used to used to patrol Broulee Beach every night to guard against Japanese submarines (see the entry for submarines below) which were sometimes heard charging their batteries in Broulee Bay (which extends from Burrewarra Pt to Broulee Is).
Radio. In 1978 2BE Bega began transmitting from a relay transmitter at Illawong on Broulee Road, a refreshingly strong clear radio signal for Mossy Point listeners.
- For several years, during December and January there was a broadcast after the 8.30 news each morning from a shark patrol aircraft that covered much of the Eurobodalla coastline. As well as reporting shark sightings, weather, swimming and surf conditions were also advised.
- 2BE became 2EC East Coast Radio, before Wanderra Mountain began transmitting.
Rainwater tanks. Mains water arrived in the 1970s. Before that, household and drinking water was from rainwater tanks.
Reid. Jenny Nelson's family, the Reids, moved to Lynchs Creek (which runs into Candlagan Creek via Longvale Swamp) in September 1946. From then until the 1960s, the Reids ran their cattle from their property at Lynchs Creek, through to leased land at The Oaks (now the Oaks Ranch).
- In the beginning Athol and Eric Reid used to take milk in a 5 gallon (22 litre) can by horseback to Mossy Point. After a while, they took milk to the Broulee side of the footbridge in a cream or yellow, and red, horse drawn milk van, and lastly in an Austin ute, it had a van cover built onto the back. They'd ring a bell there, Mossy Point residents would then take their billies over the bridge and buy their milk.

The River. In the 1940s-1970s The River used to be known by locals as the Tomakin River but has been more often called Tomaga since the 1980s. See the page for: The River.
Roberts. 87 Annetts Parade. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Fairly Early subdivisional purchaser.” - Ellen McDonald (nee Roberts) has provided some wonderful photos that we've used. See the page for Roberts. |
Rosedale. A pretty settlement north of Broulee Bay, it has some historical trivia on a website, to view it click here.
Ross. 52 Annetts Parade. Ross and his wife ran the Mossy Point 2nd Store from about 1956 to about 1958 after Milwain, (see the entry for Milwain above). Ross committed suicide there. See the page for Mossy Point 2nd Store.
The Rover. The schooner Rover was wrecked on the rocks at the mouth of The Creek in 1841. See the page for Rover.
Rowcroft. In the second half of the 1950s there was a professional fisherman at the Point, named Harry Rowcroft. He lived in Hilmer Avenue (or perhaps River Road) he was a widower with a son Richard who attended school at Moruya. He had a single-cylinder diesel powered 29'8” (10m) boat, it had been a small trawler, he had named it Bern-Mar after his parents Bernard and Mary. As well as catching fish to sell, he took passengers out on fishing excursions – thought to have been for 30/- (one pound and ten shillings) for a father and son. Put another way, at that time 30/- was about one tenth of an unskilled working man's weekly wage of around fifteen pounds, so in today's money $80. The licence to carry passengers required him to have a secondary motive source, the boat had a small jib sail but locals were doubtful if it would be of much use. Rowcroft was killed when he drove his Holden utility into Little Malabar Creek, coming home from Moruya.
Rubbish. The Broulee Tip closed in February 1988, as did 13 other of the Shire's 17 rubbish tips. As a softener, large steel bins with lids were placed at various locations, at Mossy Point they were near the Anchor memorial. People found the lids heavy, and asked for chutes. However, that would have led to fly problems and offensive smells. In the end the skips were there for 14 months only, and after that holiday makers heading home had to take their rubbish to the Surf Beach Tip, or take it back to Canberra or Sydney or wherever.
- We think that it was about 1999 that wheely bins replaced the old round bins. To start with just a small all green wheely bin and a black plastic crate for recyclables. Then progressively small red lid bin for general rubbish, yellow lid large wheely bin for recyclables, and lastly a large green lid wheely bin for green waste. There are pictures of the old metal and plastic bins in The Gallery: Features and Oddities page.
Runners. See Broulee Runners above.
Rural Fire Fighters. Although not members of an actual fire brigade, in the 1950s some local men were allotted knapsack sprays and McLeod Tools (rake/hoe). During at least one winter locals burned a firebreak about where River Road is now and to the Creek. Afterwards, workers enjoyed potatoes roasted in embers, and cocoa made in Mrs Whitham's kitchen. For Mrs Whitham, see the page for Arnold/Whitham.
Rural Fire Service. 42 Annetts Parade. The fire shed block was always intended to house a community meeting place. Plans for a public hall were approved by Council in 1955, and what became known as the 'Mossy Point Bush Fire Brigade' building was built by voluntary labour, originally as a Community Meeting Place. For many years it served as a community hall, and the fire shed.
- Council started moves to sell the property in 1993, and despite continual public protest its sale was proposed to councillors in 1997, without community consultation. The proposal to councillors said that the block was "surplus community land".
- Broulee, Mossy Point and Tomakin brigades were amalgamated in 1996, and a new shed was provided on Broulee Rd.
- The Mossy Point hall was not connected to the sewerage service, and the electricity was turned off after council condemned the building.
- The land was sold by Eurobodalla Shire Council in 2012.
Ryan. 119 Annetts Parade. See the page for Ryan.
The Rover. The schooner Rover was wrecked on the rocks at the mouth of The Creek in 1841. See the page for Rover.
Rowcroft. In the second half of the 1950s there was a professional fisherman at the Point, named Harry Rowcroft. He lived in Hilmer Avenue (or perhaps River Road) he was a widower with a son Richard who attended school at Moruya. He had a single-cylinder diesel powered 29'8” (10m) boat, it had been a small trawler, he had named it Bern-Mar after his parents Bernard and Mary. As well as catching fish to sell, he took passengers out on fishing excursions – thought to have been for 30/- (one pound and ten shillings) for a father and son. Put another way, at that time 30/- was about one tenth of an unskilled working man's weekly wage of around fifteen pounds, so in today's money $80. The licence to carry passengers required him to have a secondary motive source, the boat had a small jib sail but locals were doubtful if it would be of much use. Rowcroft was killed when he drove his Holden utility into Little Malabar Creek, coming home from Moruya.
Rubbish. The Broulee Tip closed in February 1988, as did 13 other of the Shire's 17 rubbish tips. As a softener, large steel bins with lids were placed at various locations, at Mossy Point they were near the Anchor memorial. People found the lids heavy, and asked for chutes. However, that would have led to fly problems and offensive smells. In the end the skips were there for 14 months only, and after that holiday makers heading home had to take their rubbish to the Surf Beach Tip, or take it back to Canberra or Sydney or wherever.
- We think that it was about 1999 that wheely bins replaced the old round bins. To start with just a small all green wheely bin and a black plastic crate for recyclables. Then progressively small red lid bin for general rubbish, yellow lid large wheely bin for recyclables, and lastly a large green lid wheely bin for green waste. There are pictures of the old metal and plastic bins in The Gallery: Features and Oddities page.
Runners. See Broulee Runners above.
Rural Fire Fighters. Although not members of an actual fire brigade, in the 1950s some local men were allotted knapsack sprays and McLeod Tools (rake/hoe). During at least one winter locals burned a firebreak about where River Road is now and to the Creek. Afterwards, workers enjoyed potatoes roasted in embers, and cocoa made in Mrs Whitham's kitchen. For Mrs Whitham, see the page for Arnold/Whitham.
Rural Fire Service. 42 Annetts Parade. The fire shed block was always intended to house a community meeting place. Plans for a public hall were approved by Council in 1955, and what became known as the 'Mossy Point Bush Fire Brigade' building was built by voluntary labour, originally as a Community Meeting Place. For many years it served as a community hall, and the fire shed.
- Council started moves to sell the property in 1993, and despite continual public protest its sale was proposed to councillors in 1997, without community consultation. The proposal to councillors said that the block was "surplus community land".
- Broulee, Mossy Point and Tomakin brigades were amalgamated in 1996, and a new shed was provided on Broulee Rd.
- The Mossy Point hall was not connected to the sewerage service, and the electricity was turned off after council condemned the building.
- The land was sold by Eurobodalla Shire Council in 2012.
Ryan. 119 Annetts Parade. See the page for Ryan.
Sand Modelling and Sandcastle Competition. Held on Broulee Beach, this popular New Years Eve event has been enjoyed for over a decade by residents and holiday makers alike. To go to the page for Events: Sand Modelling Competition, click here.
Scenic Road. In the 1970s, there was a plan to run a road around the headland as part of a scenic coast drive between Moruya and Batemans Bay. It would have meant that the edge blocks would have lost about four metres. Folklore has it that one very senior naval officer would have been affected, and that the proposal was dropped after the Navy announced that the Tomaga River was about to be categorised so that any bridge across it would need a huge clearance in case a naval ship wanted to enter there.
- The sharp bend at the northern end of the bridge across The Creek is there because the bridge was aligned to serve the scenic road as well as Beach Road.
School. In the late 1800s or early 1900s Kevin's father Reeves James (Jim) Sebbens began school at the Tomakin school, on the rise, probably around Forrest Parade, north west of the current Tomakin Club. He moved with that school when it moved to Mogo. Kevin was born in 1929.
Seaview Caravan Park. Together with a store, was where the Broulee Boulevard is now. Closed around 1980, see also Broulee 2nd Store above and the page for Matheson.
Sebbens. The Sebbens family were early settlers in the area, Kevin's father Jim Sebbens worked the Kellys Creek Mine at Bimbimbie, see the page for Mogo Goldfield. He also worked at Cooks Timber Mill.
Sewerage. Mossy Point properties were connected to sewerage service in 1984. No more need for pan, pit or septic tank systems.
Shatzman. 14 Sunrise Rd, Mossy Point. From the 1960s Kurt Shatzman had a holiday home in Sunrise Road until his death in 2013. He was from Switzerland with a strong German accent and a love of Grundig equipment. He had run a radio and electrical shop in Yarralumla ACT, and he was renowned for quality repairs to radios.
Scenic Road. In the 1970s, there was a plan to run a road around the headland as part of a scenic coast drive between Moruya and Batemans Bay. It would have meant that the edge blocks would have lost about four metres. Folklore has it that one very senior naval officer would have been affected, and that the proposal was dropped after the Navy announced that the Tomaga River was about to be categorised so that any bridge across it would need a huge clearance in case a naval ship wanted to enter there.
- The sharp bend at the northern end of the bridge across The Creek is there because the bridge was aligned to serve the scenic road as well as Beach Road.
School. In the late 1800s or early 1900s Kevin's father Reeves James (Jim) Sebbens began school at the Tomakin school, on the rise, probably around Forrest Parade, north west of the current Tomakin Club. He moved with that school when it moved to Mogo. Kevin was born in 1929.
Seaview Caravan Park. Together with a store, was where the Broulee Boulevard is now. Closed around 1980, see also Broulee 2nd Store above and the page for Matheson.
Sebbens. The Sebbens family were early settlers in the area, Kevin's father Jim Sebbens worked the Kellys Creek Mine at Bimbimbie, see the page for Mogo Goldfield. He also worked at Cooks Timber Mill.
Sewerage. Mossy Point properties were connected to sewerage service in 1984. No more need for pan, pit or septic tank systems.
Shatzman. 14 Sunrise Rd, Mossy Point. From the 1960s Kurt Shatzman had a holiday home in Sunrise Road until his death in 2013. He was from Switzerland with a strong German accent and a love of Grundig equipment. He had run a radio and electrical shop in Yarralumla ACT, and he was renowned for quality repairs to radios.
Shellgrit. It was mined from Shellgrit Bay on The Island. It was used to make lime for the building industry, and for feeding to chooks to make their eggshells stronger. See the page for Shellgrit Bay. |
Shimmying Record. After being robbed of a record the previous month when a power hiccup stopped the video recorder, on 8 January 2012 Melanie White of Mossy Point shattered the Guiness Book of Records' previous best of 60 minutes by shimmying for 180 minutes.
- Completing the record attempt at Broulee's Art On The Path, Melanie charmed onlookers and added hugely to the Community Association's Shared Pathway Fund. Smiling throughout, Melanie did admit later to her feet being a little sore.
- Another world class act at Broulee Bay!
Shipping. There is an absolutely fabulous article about shipping in Broulee Bay in the journal “Recollections” Edition No 21 which was published in May 2020. Obviously extensively researched and well written, t can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EuQ_XJPYRn3epHs2E5DGB1wliFhcU4kU/view
Last century Dr Dai Davies, a Canberra dentist was treating a patient who was in her nineties. She told him that her grandmother had sailed from the UK direct to Broulee to take up a pre-arranged position. If so, then Broulee was a first port of call in Ausralia for international shipping.
Shipbuilding. At the port of Tomakin (Tomaga before 1880) on the Tomaga River, the Charles Walker was launched in 1881. See the pages for: Tomago/Tomakin/Sunpatch and for: The River.
Shipwreck 1841. The schooner Rover was lost at the mouth of the Creek. In 1901, then after being out of sight for 60 years, the hull washed up on Broulee Beach in 1901. See the page for: The Rover.
Shipwreck 1856. The schooner Hope was lost off Broulee, two bodies were found on Broulee Island.
- Completing the record attempt at Broulee's Art On The Path, Melanie charmed onlookers and added hugely to the Community Association's Shared Pathway Fund. Smiling throughout, Melanie did admit later to her feet being a little sore.
- Another world class act at Broulee Bay!
Shipping. There is an absolutely fabulous article about shipping in Broulee Bay in the journal “Recollections” Edition No 21 which was published in May 2020. Obviously extensively researched and well written, t can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EuQ_XJPYRn3epHs2E5DGB1wliFhcU4kU/view
Last century Dr Dai Davies, a Canberra dentist was treating a patient who was in her nineties. She told him that her grandmother had sailed from the UK direct to Broulee to take up a pre-arranged position. If so, then Broulee was a first port of call in Ausralia for international shipping.
Shipbuilding. At the port of Tomakin (Tomaga before 1880) on the Tomaga River, the Charles Walker was launched in 1881. See the pages for: Tomago/Tomakin/Sunpatch and for: The River.
Shipwreck 1841. The schooner Rover was lost at the mouth of the Creek. In 1901, then after being out of sight for 60 years, the hull washed up on Broulee Beach in 1901. See the page for: The Rover.
Shipwreck 1856. The schooner Hope was lost off Broulee, two bodies were found on Broulee Island.
Shipwreck 1864. The following is from the memoires of Constable Brennan later Senior Superintendent Brennan.. 'A ketch was wrecked at Broulee in 1864, and the bodies of five sailors washed ashore, which I buried on the island.' Our thanks go to Wendy Simes of the Moruya and District Historical Society for this item.
Shipwrecks. There is a list of other shipwrecks at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EuQ_XJPYRn3epHs2E5DGB1wliFhcU4kU/view
Interestingly, it does not include the last two shipwrecks listed above.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EuQ_XJPYRn3epHs2E5DGB1wliFhcU4kU/view
Interestingly, it does not include the last two shipwrecks listed above.
Shipwreck 1879. The TSS John Penn (Twin Screw Steamer) ran aground at Burrewarra Point, then sank while being towed to Boat Harbour (which is in the lee of Broulee Island). Still on the bottom between Mossy Point Headland and The Island. See the page for: The John Penn. |
Shipwreck 1883. An empty lifeboat from Pleione ex Southampton was found on Broulee Beach.
Shipwreck 1883. A new schooner Bell just loaded with 7000 super feet of timber was driven ashore in an easterly gale at Tomakin and wrecked.
Shipwreck 1888. The schooner Alice Jane beached and lost at Tomakin.
Shipwreck 1892. The ketch White Cloud was wrecked on Broulee Island.
Shipwreck 1942. See separate entry above for Dureenbee, and the pages for Dureenbee and World War 2.
Shipwreck 2005. The long line trawler Ocean Odyssey ran aground on the south side of Burrewarra Point on 23 April 2005. There is a page about it, click here.
Shipwreck 1883. A new schooner Bell just loaded with 7000 super feet of timber was driven ashore in an easterly gale at Tomakin and wrecked.
Shipwreck 1888. The schooner Alice Jane beached and lost at Tomakin.
Shipwreck 1892. The ketch White Cloud was wrecked on Broulee Island.
Shipwreck 1942. See separate entry above for Dureenbee, and the pages for Dureenbee and World War 2.
Shipwreck 2005. The long line trawler Ocean Odyssey ran aground on the south side of Burrewarra Point on 23 April 2005. There is a page about it, click here.
Shopping. Up until the late 1960s major shops were allowed to trade only between 9.00 am and 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, and 9.00 am to 11.30 am on Saturday. All butchers and some other shops closed on Wednesday afternoons as well. For locals it was not uncommon to shop in Moruya once a week, then eat meat for the next few days (before it went bad), then for protein eggs and cheese made up for the lack of meat until the next shopping trip. Local shops would take orders for goods from Moruya, runs were made daily Monday to Friday during peak visitor times and up to three times a week in other periods.
- Many men worked pretty well the same hours as shop trading hours, so it was difficult for husbands and wives to shop together. Night shopping was banned, but in the late 1950s in Canberra the department store Chas Rogers & Sons opened one Friday night “For customers to view items only”, there was no actual trading, so no rules were broken. They advertised the “display” as a chance for wives to show their husbands what was on offer. You had to wait your turn to get in the door. Then, if the customer rang on Monday, her choice would be despatched Cash On Delivery. For Rogers' store it was a huge bonanza, and before long Friday Night Shopping became a feature of Canberra life, and for some people who travelled there from Mossy Point. NSW ended up following suit, but Batemans Bay and Moruya did not embrace night trading.
Smith (1). 66 Annetts Parade. Perhaps from Central West NSW. This family was struck by an awful tragedy when a teenage daughter was killed in a single vehicle accident one Christmas holidays here (about 1960). Of about eight in the car (driven by a young man) the others sustained minor injuries only.
Smith (2). At Broulee, Smiths sold ice creams out of a green canvas insulated bag kept cool with dry ice.
- Smith and Baggett developed Broulee, subsequently Train became Smith's partner.
- The son John Smith used to ride his horse to work in Moruya, leaving it at Paton's farm, and after work ride home. Bruce Reid Senior used to shoe it for him at Lynchs Creek. On his horse he had saddle-bags, and before there was a post office at Broulee he used to ford The Creek, and collect the mail from the Mossy Point Post Office for Broulee residents.
- Many men worked pretty well the same hours as shop trading hours, so it was difficult for husbands and wives to shop together. Night shopping was banned, but in the late 1950s in Canberra the department store Chas Rogers & Sons opened one Friday night “For customers to view items only”, there was no actual trading, so no rules were broken. They advertised the “display” as a chance for wives to show their husbands what was on offer. You had to wait your turn to get in the door. Then, if the customer rang on Monday, her choice would be despatched Cash On Delivery. For Rogers' store it was a huge bonanza, and before long Friday Night Shopping became a feature of Canberra life, and for some people who travelled there from Mossy Point. NSW ended up following suit, but Batemans Bay and Moruya did not embrace night trading.
Smith (1). 66 Annetts Parade. Perhaps from Central West NSW. This family was struck by an awful tragedy when a teenage daughter was killed in a single vehicle accident one Christmas holidays here (about 1960). Of about eight in the car (driven by a young man) the others sustained minor injuries only.
Smith (2). At Broulee, Smiths sold ice creams out of a green canvas insulated bag kept cool with dry ice.
- Smith and Baggett developed Broulee, subsequently Train became Smith's partner.
- The son John Smith used to ride his horse to work in Moruya, leaving it at Paton's farm, and after work ride home. Bruce Reid Senior used to shoe it for him at Lynchs Creek. On his horse he had saddle-bags, and before there was a post office at Broulee he used to ford The Creek, and collect the mail from the Mossy Point Post Office for Broulee residents.
Standby. Standby was the name of the farm from at least the 1940s, when it was owned by Dr Annetts, who also owned The Oaks. The land began selling as The Estuary Estate in 2002, see the entries above for The Estuary Estate and for The Oaks.
Steamroller. After the war, steam driven road rollers (genuine steam-rollers) were still being used to pack recently graded dirt or gravel roads. Mossy Point roads, and the road in from the highway, were usually in poor condition.
Stephens (1). In the 1950s Frank Stephens Snr had a 'farmlet' on the flat between Hilmer Avenue and the River, near where blocks 220+ Annetts Parade are now, and provided eggs, poultry, vegetables and some milk to the Mossy Point Post Office store.
Steamroller. After the war, steam driven road rollers (genuine steam-rollers) were still being used to pack recently graded dirt or gravel roads. Mossy Point roads, and the road in from the highway, were usually in poor condition.
Stephens (1). In the 1950s Frank Stephens Snr had a 'farmlet' on the flat between Hilmer Avenue and the River, near where blocks 220+ Annetts Parade are now, and provided eggs, poultry, vegetables and some milk to the Mossy Point Post Office store.

Stephens (2). From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Brothers Stan, Frank and Alf, and their father Frank Stephens.
- Stan Stephens was born at the mineface at Bimbimbie where his father Frank was a miner. In later years Frank and Alf operated the main mine at Bimbimbie." [Kellys Ck Mine, see also the page for: Mogo Goldfield. As well, there are more photos of Kellys Creek Mine in the Gallery].
- "With some help from Council workers, Stan Stephens and 'Captain Tim' Nye ['Captain Tim' was actually Butler, see the entry for Butler above] built the public wharf."
- Stan and his wife Muriel built and opened the Mossy Point PO Store.”
- Stan Stephens was born at the mineface at Bimbimbie where his father Frank was a miner. In later years Frank and Alf operated the main mine at Bimbimbie." [Kellys Ck Mine, see also the page for: Mogo Goldfield. As well, there are more photos of Kellys Creek Mine in the Gallery].
- "With some help from Council workers, Stan Stephens and 'Captain Tim' Nye ['Captain Tim' was actually Butler, see the entry for Butler above] built the public wharf."
- Stan and his wife Muriel built and opened the Mossy Point PO Store.”
Stevenson. 191 Annetts Parade. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Fairly Early subdivisional purchaser.”
- From Port Hacking, founded Sydney Radio Station 2UE. - Had an associate Sir John Butters who was VP of the Board of Commissioners of the Bank of NSW, and Chairman of the Board of 2UE. - Was an advisor for the Federal Liberal Party. - Ran outdoors Film Nights (see the entry for Film Nights above). Stingray. The stingrays by the Mossy Point boat ramp are a popular attraction. We think that there are four, one called "Stumpy" has lost its tail. More than 1.5 metres across, they're said to have first been noticed around 2004. Now quite tame, they will take fish scraps from a fisherman's hand. To view a short video, click here. |
Street Names. There is a page in "Places" on Broulee's street names.
Street Numbers. In 1978 Street Numbers replaced Lot Numbers as addresses. House to house mail deliveries began on 18 November 1980, before that mail was picked up at the Post Office Store.
Street Numbers. In 1978 Street Numbers replaced Lot Numbers as addresses. House to house mail deliveries began on 18 November 1980, before that mail was picked up at the Post Office Store.
Submarines. Mrs Radclyffe Snr (see the entry for Radclyffe above) and Reg Cooper (see the page for Cooper) used to patrol Broulee Beach each night during World War 2 to listen for Japanese submarines that were attacking ships off the coast. The submarines were sometimes heard charging their batteries in Broulee Bay, that is the bay shown on marine charts, it actually extends from Burrewarra Pt to Broulee Is.
- The Japanese submarines, and a lone German submarine, sank seven ships between Jervis Bay and Gabo Island with the loss of one hundred and thirteen merchant seamen. See also the page for World War 2.
- Broulee bay has good acoustics, carried by terrain. In the days of septic tanks sometimes the hum or drone of the engine of a trawler in the bay could be heard coming from the “megaphone” that was the toilet bowl.
- The Japanese submarines, and a lone German submarine, sank seven ships between Jervis Bay and Gabo Island with the loss of one hundred and thirteen merchant seamen. See also the page for World War 2.
- Broulee bay has good acoustics, carried by terrain. In the days of septic tanks sometimes the hum or drone of the engine of a trawler in the bay could be heard coming from the “megaphone” that was the toilet bowl.
Sunpatch. Tomakin's name was changed to Sunpatch in the early 1960s as part of the extensive development there which saw the introduction of streets named after Canberra suburbs. After a couple of decades it reverted to Tomakin. For a while there was a short landing strip in Sunpatch (Tomakin) used by light aircraft bringing potential buyers from Canberra. It was on "The Rabbit Flats" where Reflections now is. See the page for Tomaga/Tomakin/Sunpatch. |
Surf rescue. 117 Annetts Parade. In the late 1950s there was an incident involving holiday renters at Arlens' Song of the Sea one Christmas Day with the rescue of quite a few swimmers who were swept out in the surf. There had been some partying.
Surfaplane. Before foam boogie boards and the like, from about 1955 there were surfaplanes that were blow-up “small airbeds” about as big as today's adult size body boards. For a teenage boy to have status in the surf among The Gang, a surfaplane was a necessity until about 1961 when malibu surfboards took over as the major status symbol.
Telephone. In the 1940s and 1950s there used to be a "party line" telephone service, the Mossy Point 2nd Store's number was "Mossy Point 1", Elaine Clark's number was "2". With party lines, anybody else on the same party line could listen in to any conversation.
Telephone – Public. We think that it was in about 1999 that Mossy Point's public telephone box (outside Muffins) was removed.
Timber Mill. We know of three timber mills on the Mossy (Connells) Point side of The River. One was near the upstream public jetty, not far from the road down to The River from Muffins. Cook's, in front of 165 Annetts Parade just upstream from the boat ramp, it was the last to close, it burned down in 1924. And one on the flat land below the Anchor Memorial, just before the breakwater. See also Cooks Timber Mill.
Toilet. Lane (see the entry for Lane above) of 115 Annetts Parade had his outside pan toilet backed up to the fence between his and Pike's blocks. When Pike (see the entry for Pike above) started to position his new outside pan toilet backed up to Lane's, Lane reminded him that such a situation couldn't be allowed, what if a gentleman and a lady were both in occupation at the same time? Pike immediately recognised his error, and repositioned the structure a proper distance away, and sensitivities were protected.
Toilet. The 1940s, and 1950s most toilets were pan toilets, and the practice of digging holes and disposing of toilet waste is a task that's not missed! From the 1960s onwards there were mainly pit (long drop) toilets and septic tanks and a few pan toilets, that lasted until sewerage was connected in 1984. Permanent residents who had pan toilets used to bury the waste in sections of their yard, with vegetable garden sections following waste burial sections around the yard.
Travel 1948. In 1948 the bus from Canberra was using the Araluen/Deua River road because it was in better shape than the Clyde Mountain road.
Travel 1950. Around 1950, if it didn't get delayed by mechanical trouble the 1940s or older bus from Canberra took from 8.00am to 4.00pm to the Mossy Point turnoff at the highway, the ticket included lunch at Braidwood. Children were marched into the Mum & Dad Cafe for a mixed grill (it was part of the ticket) even if it was the hottest day of Summer. Quite rightly, it was thought, children were made to eat all of the hot meal despite the heat because “Children in China are starving.” On two of the notorious hairpin bends on the Clyde the bus (about 29 seater) was forced to do three point turns, or sometimes on one a five point turn. There were two fords across Currowan Creek, when the creek was too deep to ford there was a longer, slower more winding road known as "The Horseshoe" around them. But sometimes, the road between Batemans Bay and Queanbeyan was simply impassable.
Travel 1955. Even well into the 1960s, cars would often boil in Summer while ascending the Clyde. Passengers were often asked to walk for a while to let the car or bus cool down a bit, on a really hot day a car that didn't boil could pass 20 or more people walking up the mountain.
Surfaplane. Before foam boogie boards and the like, from about 1955 there were surfaplanes that were blow-up “small airbeds” about as big as today's adult size body boards. For a teenage boy to have status in the surf among The Gang, a surfaplane was a necessity until about 1961 when malibu surfboards took over as the major status symbol.
Telephone. In the 1940s and 1950s there used to be a "party line" telephone service, the Mossy Point 2nd Store's number was "Mossy Point 1", Elaine Clark's number was "2". With party lines, anybody else on the same party line could listen in to any conversation.
Telephone – Public. We think that it was in about 1999 that Mossy Point's public telephone box (outside Muffins) was removed.
Timber Mill. We know of three timber mills on the Mossy (Connells) Point side of The River. One was near the upstream public jetty, not far from the road down to The River from Muffins. Cook's, in front of 165 Annetts Parade just upstream from the boat ramp, it was the last to close, it burned down in 1924. And one on the flat land below the Anchor Memorial, just before the breakwater. See also Cooks Timber Mill.
Toilet. Lane (see the entry for Lane above) of 115 Annetts Parade had his outside pan toilet backed up to the fence between his and Pike's blocks. When Pike (see the entry for Pike above) started to position his new outside pan toilet backed up to Lane's, Lane reminded him that such a situation couldn't be allowed, what if a gentleman and a lady were both in occupation at the same time? Pike immediately recognised his error, and repositioned the structure a proper distance away, and sensitivities were protected.
Toilet. The 1940s, and 1950s most toilets were pan toilets, and the practice of digging holes and disposing of toilet waste is a task that's not missed! From the 1960s onwards there were mainly pit (long drop) toilets and septic tanks and a few pan toilets, that lasted until sewerage was connected in 1984. Permanent residents who had pan toilets used to bury the waste in sections of their yard, with vegetable garden sections following waste burial sections around the yard.
Travel 1948. In 1948 the bus from Canberra was using the Araluen/Deua River road because it was in better shape than the Clyde Mountain road.
Travel 1950. Around 1950, if it didn't get delayed by mechanical trouble the 1940s or older bus from Canberra took from 8.00am to 4.00pm to the Mossy Point turnoff at the highway, the ticket included lunch at Braidwood. Children were marched into the Mum & Dad Cafe for a mixed grill (it was part of the ticket) even if it was the hottest day of Summer. Quite rightly, it was thought, children were made to eat all of the hot meal despite the heat because “Children in China are starving.” On two of the notorious hairpin bends on the Clyde the bus (about 29 seater) was forced to do three point turns, or sometimes on one a five point turn. There were two fords across Currowan Creek, when the creek was too deep to ford there was a longer, slower more winding road known as "The Horseshoe" around them. But sometimes, the road between Batemans Bay and Queanbeyan was simply impassable.
Travel 1955. Even well into the 1960s, cars would often boil in Summer while ascending the Clyde. Passengers were often asked to walk for a while to let the car or bus cool down a bit, on a really hot day a car that didn't boil could pass 20 or more people walking up the mountain.
Travel 1957-1962. For a while in about 1956 there was no bus service to and from Canberra, then Havyn Thompson began a service using either two Volkswagen micro-buses (which carried ten passengers each, and their luggage on the roofrack) or a 14 passenger GMC former school bus with a roofrack. The Volkswagens were 36 horsepower (27 kw). There was still a lot of gravel road, and they took up to five hours between Canberra and the Mossy Point turnoff, but were regarded as “miniature luxury coaches” in comparison with the previous 1930s or 1940s 29 seaters. |
Travel 1964. The Princes Highway was sealed to Moruya in about 1950. Batemans Bay bridge opened in late 1956. The Kings Highway was sealed around 1963 and Nelligen Bridge opened in late 1964. On Easter Monday 1964, when the Nelligen Punt was still in operation, Mossy Point to Canberra was 3.00pm to 11.00pm using the punt, 5.00pm to 9.00pm taking the dirt road from Mogo through Runnyford to the inland side of Nelligen. Traffic waiting for the punt was backed up past the Princes Highway intersection near Batemans Bay, there was a traffic policeman there giving traffic from the north and the south turns to enter the Kings Highway. |
Travel 1966. The road bridge
over The Creek was finished in December 1965, it was officially opened in 1966, and a while later to
the old Mossy Point Road was closed.
Travel 1974. In 1974 the gravel road behind the dunes at Bengello Beach was washed away, the lovely drive to Moruya would be no more. Council said that for the sake of the environment the road would not repaired. But there were moves afoot at the time to make a multi-storey hotel development at the edge of the beach. Nevertheless, the remains of the road now provide Mossy Point people with a beaut walk or bicycle ride to the Moruya Airport.
Travel 1992. In 1992 the bridge on George Bass Drive across The Creek was opened.
Tsunami. The 11 March 2011 magnitude 9.0 Honshu, Japan earthquake generated a tsunami, they used to be known as a tidal wave, that was observed all over the Pacific region and caused tremendous devastation.Not causing any damage locally, the tsunami caused Candlagan Creek to rise and fall about 40 centimetres four times over a two hour period. Showing the ability to adapt to different situations, kayakers enjoyed coasting one way and then the other on the surges.
In the surf, at least one board-rider claimed to have ridden a tsunami.
Turner. 157 Annetts Parade. The Turners senior, Geoff and Mary, had a house on the headland. In 1951 Mary lost her life in a boating tragedy off the mouth of The River, she was 58. Charlie Milwain, Bert Duckworth and Ed Clark (see the entries for Milwain and Duckworth above) rescued Geoff and tried to bring his wife Mary's body to shore from a rock between Cone Rock and Melville Point Tomakin. They carried out the rescue in rough seas, strong wind and driving rain using a seven foot (2.1m) dinghy, Milwain was a non-swimmer, he had an empty four gallon (18 litre) drum with him. The three were each awarded a Silver Medal by the Royal Shipwreck Relief & Humane Society of NSW for their great bravery. Others assisted once they knew what was going on, not the least being Ron and Rita Young.
- Geoff and Mary had children Pauline, Lloyd and Beverley. Lloyd married Lyris McFarlane, they had children Ian, Jenny, Geoff, Roslyn, and Libby. Beverley lived for many years at 173 Annetts Parade Mossy Point, and was a strong contributor to the Mossy Point Progress/Community Association. She passed away c2014.
Tyrrell. Sir Murray Tyrrell was the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia from 1947 to 1973. One of the original owners at Mossy Point, he owned the house at 120 Annetts Parade, called Ellen's Folly after Lady Tyrrell.
Van Cornewal. 121 Annetts Parade. Their house was called De Batavia when it was first built in the early 1950s, and after a few years re-named De Batavieren. Hans, Jean and son Roger. As was often the case Van Cornewals initially built a garage, and a house evolved from it. Hans and Jean retired there from Canberra mid 1970s, left in 1980s, the house was then let long term to Ken and Noreen Morris, and sold in about 1998 to Campbell. It was later owned by Jurkevitz from 2005 until 2014.
VAOC. The No 2 Volunteer Air Observer Corps Moruya Control was established on 9 January 1942, it was with No 11 Operational Base Unit at Moruya Aerodrome until it was disbanded on 2 October 1944. During its period of service it operated as a most vital auxiliary to RAAF operations from Moruya particularly at the height of Japanese submarine operations from July 1942 to early 1943.
- The Corps was made up mainly of civilians, each town or village would have one or two members keeping lookout.
- No 2 VAOC carried out continuous watch, reporting the presence of submarines, unidentified ships and aircraft and any other unusual incident regarding ships or aircraft. The unit also provided rescue launch facilities which searched for survivors and was instrumental in bringing into Moruya Hospital dead and injured from ships which had been torpedoed or shelled by enemy submarines.
We don't know if Mrs Radclyffe Snr and Reg Cooper (see the entries above) were actual members of the corps, or whether they just reported to it.
Wages. Even through the 1960s, the Shop Assistants' Award provided for an employee under 25 years old to receive annual increments until the full rate of pay was payable upon attaining 25 years of age. It meant that a young (for example, 22 year old) married father with a family to support could be receiving less than a single subordinate who was over 25. Women were paid 62.5% of the male rate, except for those working in a hardware store, they received the male rate. It was in the Whitlam era (1972 - 1975) that adult wages began to be applied from 18 years old, and the move to equal pay for women took off.
Wanderra. Mt Wanderra tower began transmitting television and ABC radio in the 1970s.
Wattle Bark. Wattle bark provides tannin (the brown stain seen in The Creek and The River after a lot of rain), it's used for tanning leather. Without the tannin, dried leather is hard and brittle. To harvest the tannin the bark was stripped off young trees. Kevin Sebbens recalled that until the 1950s wattle bark was still being harvested at Jeremadra (from the Highway to George Bass Drive), he trucked it to be ground to a powder at a mill behind the Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen, when that mill closed it went to a mill in Wattlebark Place Moruya before being bagged and shipped to Sydney. By about the mid-1950s South Africa had obtained seeds and then, with much cheaper labour costs, took over the market.
Webb. 143 Annetts Parade. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Early subdivisional purchaser: Mr Webb of Fairlight station, (Old Yass Road Uriarra to Yass).”
- Webbs named the Mossy Point cottage Fairlight as well. Webb was an English professor at a Sydney university, his grandson went on to be a member of parliament. They had whale-bones (some verterbrae and a couple of ribs) as garden ornaments, on the cliff side.
Wells. There was a well up on the Headland at Mossy Point, fed by a spring there, near 143-145 Annetts Parade (Lot 73-74). The spring still drains across the narrowest part of the “headland walk” after rain.
- Reg Cooper's well was probably a combination of some spring-fed but mostly groundwater, it was at about 100 Annetts Parade, in the depression almost opposite the road to the boat ramp. He would bucket water to vegetable plants. See the page for Cooper.
- Until about 1950 a groundwater well and a still-working hand lever pump were on 173 Annetts Parade, they had serviced Cooks Timber Mill and the Boarding House, see the page for the Timber Mill and Boarding House.
- There were also wells in Broulee, one in the dunes immediately south of the Creek just upstream of where the bridge is now; and one near the beach end of Bayside St. They tapped into the groundwater.
West. 153 Annetts Parade. Owned by 'Jolly' West, who was a cleric from Goulburn. He was the one who with Theo Cooper (see the page for Cooper) travelled from Queanbeyan to Mossy Point by motorbike and sidecar probably before WW2, they both bought lots.
Whales. In August 2010 some (at one time six) southern right whales visited Broulee and Bengello beaches for a couple of weeks. To see a Total Eco Adventures video of a friendly whale encounter off Broulee Beach, click here.
Whitham. 19 Annetts Parade. Jean Whitham - this dear lady married Adam Arnold. See the page for Arnold/Whitham.
Travel 1992. In 1992 the bridge on George Bass Drive across The Creek was opened.
Tsunami. The 11 March 2011 magnitude 9.0 Honshu, Japan earthquake generated a tsunami, they used to be known as a tidal wave, that was observed all over the Pacific region and caused tremendous devastation.Not causing any damage locally, the tsunami caused Candlagan Creek to rise and fall about 40 centimetres four times over a two hour period. Showing the ability to adapt to different situations, kayakers enjoyed coasting one way and then the other on the surges.
In the surf, at least one board-rider claimed to have ridden a tsunami.
Turner. 157 Annetts Parade. The Turners senior, Geoff and Mary, had a house on the headland. In 1951 Mary lost her life in a boating tragedy off the mouth of The River, she was 58. Charlie Milwain, Bert Duckworth and Ed Clark (see the entries for Milwain and Duckworth above) rescued Geoff and tried to bring his wife Mary's body to shore from a rock between Cone Rock and Melville Point Tomakin. They carried out the rescue in rough seas, strong wind and driving rain using a seven foot (2.1m) dinghy, Milwain was a non-swimmer, he had an empty four gallon (18 litre) drum with him. The three were each awarded a Silver Medal by the Royal Shipwreck Relief & Humane Society of NSW for their great bravery. Others assisted once they knew what was going on, not the least being Ron and Rita Young.
- Geoff and Mary had children Pauline, Lloyd and Beverley. Lloyd married Lyris McFarlane, they had children Ian, Jenny, Geoff, Roslyn, and Libby. Beverley lived for many years at 173 Annetts Parade Mossy Point, and was a strong contributor to the Mossy Point Progress/Community Association. She passed away c2014.
Tyrrell. Sir Murray Tyrrell was the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia from 1947 to 1973. One of the original owners at Mossy Point, he owned the house at 120 Annetts Parade, called Ellen's Folly after Lady Tyrrell.
Van Cornewal. 121 Annetts Parade. Their house was called De Batavia when it was first built in the early 1950s, and after a few years re-named De Batavieren. Hans, Jean and son Roger. As was often the case Van Cornewals initially built a garage, and a house evolved from it. Hans and Jean retired there from Canberra mid 1970s, left in 1980s, the house was then let long term to Ken and Noreen Morris, and sold in about 1998 to Campbell. It was later owned by Jurkevitz from 2005 until 2014.
VAOC. The No 2 Volunteer Air Observer Corps Moruya Control was established on 9 January 1942, it was with No 11 Operational Base Unit at Moruya Aerodrome until it was disbanded on 2 October 1944. During its period of service it operated as a most vital auxiliary to RAAF operations from Moruya particularly at the height of Japanese submarine operations from July 1942 to early 1943.
- The Corps was made up mainly of civilians, each town or village would have one or two members keeping lookout.
- No 2 VAOC carried out continuous watch, reporting the presence of submarines, unidentified ships and aircraft and any other unusual incident regarding ships or aircraft. The unit also provided rescue launch facilities which searched for survivors and was instrumental in bringing into Moruya Hospital dead and injured from ships which had been torpedoed or shelled by enemy submarines.
We don't know if Mrs Radclyffe Snr and Reg Cooper (see the entries above) were actual members of the corps, or whether they just reported to it.
Wages. Even through the 1960s, the Shop Assistants' Award provided for an employee under 25 years old to receive annual increments until the full rate of pay was payable upon attaining 25 years of age. It meant that a young (for example, 22 year old) married father with a family to support could be receiving less than a single subordinate who was over 25. Women were paid 62.5% of the male rate, except for those working in a hardware store, they received the male rate. It was in the Whitlam era (1972 - 1975) that adult wages began to be applied from 18 years old, and the move to equal pay for women took off.
Wanderra. Mt Wanderra tower began transmitting television and ABC radio in the 1970s.
Wattle Bark. Wattle bark provides tannin (the brown stain seen in The Creek and The River after a lot of rain), it's used for tanning leather. Without the tannin, dried leather is hard and brittle. To harvest the tannin the bark was stripped off young trees. Kevin Sebbens recalled that until the 1950s wattle bark was still being harvested at Jeremadra (from the Highway to George Bass Drive), he trucked it to be ground to a powder at a mill behind the Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen, when that mill closed it went to a mill in Wattlebark Place Moruya before being bagged and shipped to Sydney. By about the mid-1950s South Africa had obtained seeds and then, with much cheaper labour costs, took over the market.
Webb. 143 Annetts Parade. From Mossy Point Progress Association Record c1980: “Early subdivisional purchaser: Mr Webb of Fairlight station, (Old Yass Road Uriarra to Yass).”
- Webbs named the Mossy Point cottage Fairlight as well. Webb was an English professor at a Sydney university, his grandson went on to be a member of parliament. They had whale-bones (some verterbrae and a couple of ribs) as garden ornaments, on the cliff side.
Wells. There was a well up on the Headland at Mossy Point, fed by a spring there, near 143-145 Annetts Parade (Lot 73-74). The spring still drains across the narrowest part of the “headland walk” after rain.
- Reg Cooper's well was probably a combination of some spring-fed but mostly groundwater, it was at about 100 Annetts Parade, in the depression almost opposite the road to the boat ramp. He would bucket water to vegetable plants. See the page for Cooper.
- Until about 1950 a groundwater well and a still-working hand lever pump were on 173 Annetts Parade, they had serviced Cooks Timber Mill and the Boarding House, see the page for the Timber Mill and Boarding House.
- There were also wells in Broulee, one in the dunes immediately south of the Creek just upstream of where the bridge is now; and one near the beach end of Bayside St. They tapped into the groundwater.
West. 153 Annetts Parade. Owned by 'Jolly' West, who was a cleric from Goulburn. He was the one who with Theo Cooper (see the page for Cooper) travelled from Queanbeyan to Mossy Point by motorbike and sidecar probably before WW2, they both bought lots.
Whales. In August 2010 some (at one time six) southern right whales visited Broulee and Bengello beaches for a couple of weeks. To see a Total Eco Adventures video of a friendly whale encounter off Broulee Beach, click here.
Whitham. 19 Annetts Parade. Jean Whitham - this dear lady married Adam Arnold. See the page for Arnold/Whitham.
World War 2. The war did come to this part of the world, see the page for World War 2. Moruya Aerodrome was home to RAAF
No 11 Operational Base Unit, and Burrewarra Point was home to RAAF No 17 Radar Station. One hundred and thirteen sailors were lost in submarine attacks on seven ships between Jervis Bay and Gabo Island. Today the semi-underground operations room, bigger than a house and with pillboxes on the top, is home to a pistol club.
No 11 Operational Base Unit, and Burrewarra Point was home to RAAF No 17 Radar Station. One hundred and thirteen sailors were lost in submarine attacks on seven ships between Jervis Bay and Gabo Island. Today the semi-underground operations room, bigger than a house and with pillboxes on the top, is home to a pistol club.
Yacht. The $300,000 trimaran Enough Rope dragged its anchor from the lee of Broulee Island on 21 March 2010 and headed for the rocks at the entrance to The Creek. David Bain was on the beach beginning a surfing lesson for Broulee Surf School, and saw what was happening. He quickly led a charge of beachgoers out to chest deep water where the sheer number of helpers prevented the vessel from hitting the rocks. With a bit of a struggle the craft was beached without touching the rocks, and was saved. |
Young. 1 Surfside Avenue. Ron and Rita took over the Mossy Point Post Office Store in 1950, ran it with their daughter Lynn until 1962. They came from Willoughby Sydney, Ron had worked for Groom Bros Berrys Bay Sydney, doing marine and mechanical work. He built the boat that in 2015 is on display outside Muffins. See the page for Young.