Flashback Friday

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Localnotes

Caffe’ Sport (est. 1956) now Bar Sport situated at 2a Norton Street close tot the intersection with Parramatta Road Road, opened as a coffee lounge in 1956. It is reportedly the first italian – style coffee lounge (in Italian, bar) in the area. Over the years Caffe Sport has achieved trendy statu, something that Rafaello Raffaelli it’s first proprietor and the person who named it, could never have imagined.

Raffello is originally from Bolzano, near the Austrian frontier with Italy.

Around the mid- 1950s, one of Raffaello’s sisters told him of a shop for sale in in Norton Street, close to tthe Parramata Road intersection. Back in the day it was half a fruit shop and half a milk bar. LaPavoni was the only coffee-making machine imported from italy at that time. small espresso cups and cappacino cups did not exist. Small espresso cups and cuppuccino cups did not exist so he made do. From 1983 – 2000 the Turco’s family ran Bar Sport. From 2000 Joe Napoliello whose family originates from Salerno have continued the tradition of Bar Sport, as they are in italydecked with a score board of Soccor scores a lunchtime menu good coffee and a vibey atmosphere.


Outside Caffe Sport 1973	Ralph Rafaello 1956
Bar Sport 2011 Photograph by Amie Zar 2011	Joe Napoliello Photograph by Amie Zar

Friday’s photograph

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Localnotes

Sydney Harbour Mort’s Dock c1900 Top of Ballast Point Road

Here’s a lovely photograph for Friday from our Balmain’s Industrial Heritage Collection.

Here are those Terraces today If you have any shots of Ballast Point Road we would love to create a Then and Now of places throughout the Leichhardt LGA

White Bay Power Station by Jerry Liew

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Localnotes

Put it in your diaries. Don’t miss the beautiful artwork of local painter Jerry Lieu who will be presenting his series on White Bay Power Station and Cockatoo Island Opening on:

10 June 2015 6pm for 6:30pm start at Leichhardt Library.

Cyclops Toys – Leichhardt

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Localnotes

Cyclops Toys Factory Corner of Francis and William Street, Leichhardt.

Currently the building is made-up of designer apartments with brilliant spaces and views, however this building was once the well known factory of Cyclops Toys. Next door to this building in William Street is the former machine tool manufacturing plant of John Heine and Sons.

Cyclops Toys established business in 1913 and were originally located at 1 Hay Street Leichhardt.

The Sands Directory lists Cyclops at 1 and 1a Hay Street for the years 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918. The company then re appears in the Directory in 1930 on the corner of William and Francis Street, Leichhardt. (See below 1931 Sands Directory)

Aerial view of John Heine & Son Engineering Works, Leichhardt : with Cylops Toy Factory in background c.1920.

1913

Cyclops Beginnings John Heine Sheet Metal, commenced manufacturing Flat Framed Tricycles at Hay Street, Leichhardt, Sydney, NSW.

1915

Cyclops Name Registered The Cyclops name was registered and a new model scooter the “Kangaroo Cycle Skate” was launched with great success.

1917

First Australian Car The first mass produced Australian car was a Cyclops pedal car, 30 years before the production of the Holden.

1928

Famous Dinky Trike The first of the original Australian designed Dinky Trike was produced, this original design concept was kept until 1950

1936

Cyclops Packard Pedal car Cyclops was producing

Pedal Cars using USA car model looks and names such as Buick, Chevrolet, Hudson and Packard.

1946

Cyclops Pty Ltd The company officially changed its name to Cyclops Pty Ltd after the 2nd World War

1963

50th Anniversary Cyclops Pty Ltd celebrated winning the Australian Wheel toy of the year (adding to the collection of Australian Toy of the Year and Wheel Toy of the Year awards).

1981

Growth The Cyclops wheel toy range was over 50 models

1992

Hunter Toyline Pty Ltd (Now Hunter Leisure Pty Ltd). Hunter Toyline gained 100% ownership of the brand. The Cyclops brand was back in the hands of a wholly owned Australian company

1994

Hunter Toyline Pty Ltd release many upgraded new models

2001

Micro Scooter The Micro Scooter craze took off around the world. Cyclops re gained a good share of the total scooter market in Australia.

2002

Cyclops Bicycles A complete new range of quality bicycles was released by Cyclops.

2003

Cyclops Bicycle Helmets A range of

Cyclops Bicycle Helmets was released

2004

Cyclops Moto Trike Exciting new Cyclops Designed

3 wheel Ride-On conver ts to 2 wheels.

Collated by Amie Zar If you have any stories or information regarding Cyclops Toys we would love to hear form you you can email localhistory@lmc.nsw.gov.au or reply in the comments field.

Snails Bay Sabot Sailing Club – Author Talk @ Balmain

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Localnotes

Snails Bay Sabot Sailing Club

Snails Bay Sailing Club by Asa Wahlquist
Snails Bay Sabot Sailing Club : 1962-1973
Author : Asa Karin Wahlquist worked as a rural journalist, winning more than a dozen awards, including a Walkley Award and the Eureka Prize for Environmental Journalism.
Available at Leichhardt and Balmain Library $22.00
Snails Bay Sabot Sailing Club is about more than a children’s sailing club. It is about the old sailing culture in Balmain, and the area’s waterfront industries. It is about the men who worked on the waterfront, who sailed open boats with their huge sails, and the lessons they taught the children of Snails Bay Sabot Sailing Club. It is about being a child in Balmain in the 1960s, before the suburb was gentrified, the waterfront industries closed down and most of the old sailing families moved out. The book also documents the history of the Sabot in Australia.

When:11 June 6pm for 6:30pm start

Where: Balmain Town Hall Meeting Room

Bookings: Link Here

ANZAC Day 2015

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Localnotes

In 1922 thousands gathered around Leichhardt’s 1st memorial which was situated in the middle of Marion and Norton Street. Look at that crowd, it was just one year after the Council’s Jubilee year celebrations in 1921.The memorial was relocated in 1949 to Pioneers Park (previously Balmain Cemetery)The magnificent figure of peace was designed by Gilbert Dobel, it is a grey marble obelisk surmounted by 3 steps and the figure of a lady at the top.The memorial commemorates the names of 379 men who fought in World War 1 with a total of 537 names for the Boar War, World War 1, World War 2. The memorial was dedicated on 9th April 1922.Image Courtesy of State Library NSW and Posted by sydneythenandnow	Image of The figure of peace by Patriccia Baillie c.2008 from the Leichhardt Library Image collection.
Put it in your Diaries ANZAC Day Dawn Service and March on Darling Street commences at 5:45am	Loyalty Square This is possibly Australia’s first memorial to WW1 soldiers, unusual because it lists only those killed in action prior to the involvement of the AIF on the Western Front in France. It was unveiled on 23 April 1916 just before the first anniversary of the Gallipoli landing to record the names of soldiers form this district who have fallen in the service of the Empire. It was the subject of a a Balmain Council design competition in 1915.
www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/ANZAC	For more information visit: www.leichhardt5000.com.au/memorials-plaques/balmain-loyalty-square/

In 1922 thousands gathered around Leichhardt’s 1st memorial which was situated in the middle of Marion and Norton Street. Look at that crowd, it was just one year after the Council’s Jubilee year celebrations in 1921.The memorial was relocated in 1949 to Pioneers Park (previously Balmain Cemetery)The magnificent figure of peace was designed by Gilbert Dobel, it is a grey marble obelisk surmounted by 3 steps and the figure of a lady at the top.The memorial commemorates the names of 379 men who fought in World War 1 with a total of 537 names for the Boar War, World War 1, World War 2. The memorial was dedicated on 9th April 1922.Image Courtesy of State Library NSW and Posted by sydneythenandnow

Image of The figure of peace by Patriccia Baillie c.2008 from the Leichhardt Library Image collection.

Put it in your Diaries ANZAC Day Dawn Service and March on Darling Street commences at 5:45am

Loyalty Square This is possibly Australia’s first memorial to WW1 soldiers, unusual because it lists only those killed in action prior to the involvement of the AIF on the Western Front in France. It was unveiled on 23 April 1916 just before the first anniversary of the Gallipoli landing to record the names of soldiers form this district who have fallen in the service of the Empire. It was the subject of a a Balmain Council design competition in 1915.

www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/ANZAC

For more information visit: www.leichhardt5000.com.au/memorials-plaques/balmain-loyalty-square/

Compassion & Conflict In The Asylum LEICHHARDT Library – Exhibition

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Localnotes

If you haven’t see it yet get down to Leichhardt Library to see the fantastic historical Display of Callan Park.
LEICHHARDT– Exhibition
Compassion & Conflict In The Asylum

Leichhardt Library and friends of Callan Park

Exhibition / Display – No phrase more successfully captures the therapeutic environment and conflicted history of this psychiatric institution. After decades of ‘bad press’, former Asylums the world over are now being reassessed in light of new thinking about the value of respite. The imperative to retain green, open space within our increasingly urban surroundings is also keenly understood. A new, modern model of care proposed for Callan Park could be a beacon for re-channelling compassion and conflict. Hear the stories of people who experienced living at Callan Park in the past.
When: 1-29 April 2015, Library opening hours, see website for details.
Where: Leichhardt Library 23 Norton St, Piazza level, Italian Forum. Leichhardt 2040
Cost: Free
Contact: localhistory@lmc.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.callanpark.com and www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/Library