Manly Council Engineer’s Department Historic Photographs - c1930s to c1960s

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During the 1930s, Manly Municipal Council embarked on a series of extensive public works, funded by the state Unemployed Relief Council. Local unemployed men were able to find work in a series of temporary projects devised by the Council’s Engineer’s department.

Collection SummaryThis collection documents the development and maintenance of streets and suburbs in the former Manly Municipal Council from the 1930s to 1960s.

Manly Council’s Engineer’s Department commissioned local photographers to record the ongoing progress of the projects. Some 1500 of their photographs have survived and are now held by Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies collection.

Many of the best of these photographs were taken by local photographer, Leon Cayley. The focus is sometimes on the gutter of a street, however, Cayley often achieves an artistic result almost in spite of this restriction.

The photographs range widely over the Manly area, and most are precisely dated and located, which adds considerably to their discoverability, research, and enjoyment. In many instances they are unique illustrations of how a particular street in Manly looked at a particular point in time. They record large scale projects, such as the reclamation of North Harbour in 1938, the reconstruction of the North Steyne seawall in 1937, work on Dobroyd Scenic Drive, and road improvements at the approaches to the Spit Bridge. But there are many examples of smaller scale works represented too, such as routine before-and-after shots of kerb and guttering improvements. SubjectsStreets, RoadsRoad construction & maintenanceKeywordsCivil Engineering
Engineers
public works
surveys
surveying
construction
earthworks
excavations
infrastructures
worksites
workmen
labourers
tradespeople
heavy machinery
heavy vehicles
equipment
materials
repairs

Photograph

Arlington Drive from Fairlight Crescent, Fairlight, 1937

Construction continues with earthworks at unidentified site, c1940s

Two men surveying an unidentified worksite from bottom of a gully, c1940s

Earthworks continue on steep slope of unidentified site, c1940s

Earthworks continue at unidentified site, brick wall and supports visible, c1940s

Construction works continue below road on steep slope with timber retaining wall, c1940s

Earthworks continue on steep slope with timber supports, c1940s

Roadworks continue on unidentified residential street, c1940s

Streetscape with view of brick double garage from unidentified road, c1940s

Unidentified street, view of house and fence from the road, c1940s

View of unidientified stretch of road with parked car, c1940s

Front garden beds between two houses, c1940s

Pedestrian ramp at the corner of Rosedale Avenue and unidentified road, Fairlight, c1940s

Unfinished footpath on unknown street, with parked car, c1940s

Unidentified street intersection with road sign reading, Sydney, c1940s

Unidentified street intersection with metal or concrete traffic dome, c1940s

Unidentified street view with traffic dome and footpath, c1940s

Brick double garage with tile pitched roof, post shows 18A, c1940s

Streetview of front steps and garden beds of a house, c1940s

Street view of fence and gate along property boarder, c1940s

Front garden beds of two houses showing street drainage in foreground, c1940s

Historic houses showing front gardens and driveway with nature strip, c1940s

Vegetation by a pathway, c1940s

LH011058 - Concreting mixing and pouring unit with work crews in Pittwater Road, Manly, 24th September 1949

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Manly Council Engineer’s Department Historic Photographs - c1930s to c1960s