Sans Souci Memories Walk
Today before I flew to see my family in Brisbane I did a walk along Rocky Point Road at Sans Souci, down Russell Avenue to Dolls Point.
This is more of a memories walk, as my grandparents home was on Rocky Point Road, just near the corner with Russell Avenue, and as children we all spent a lot of time down at Dolls Point.
I started at St. Andrew's Church on Rocky Point road. This is where my grandparents attended church every week of their lives before moving from Sans Souci in 1972. My parents were married here, as were my auntie Joan and uncle Bob, and my cousin Glenda and her husband Robert.
I walked along Rocky Point Road to where the news agents is/was. When we were kids this was where we went to buy lollies and ice cream. It was more of a corner store selling everything if I remember rightly, than a news agents back in the 1960s. It is just near the intersection of Russell avenue and Rocky Point road.
The house where my grandparents lived is long gone, but my memory of it is strong, and from what I felt there, and what my mum told me of her youth I know it was a home full of love.
Unfortunately all that is there now is a new apartment block called "The Jameson". However I stood out the front trying to determine where number 530 Rocky Point road would have stood.
Behind my grandparents home was a lane way that I remember climbing the back fence to look at as cars drove down it.
The lane way led on to Russell avenue which we use to walk down to get to Dolls Point.
At the end of Russell avenue is Primrose House, now my memories of this are confusing as I can remember it being either a hospital or a nursing home. I know that my grandmother was there in the 1940s when she had TB, but for me it was just the big house across the road from the beach.
The park at the beach at Dolls Point surrounds Le Beach Hut. I remember this very much but I do not remember ever going inside as I think because it was where alcohol was served, maybe not.
Now when I went in to the park I looked for the Rocketship that we use to climb on but it wasn't there, but the sheltered picnic tables was and for some reason this got me very emotional as I remember being there many times with all my family. In fact apart from some drawings on the walls it looked and felt like it did back in the 1960s.
I then walked along the water's edge and saw the only remnant of where I first started to learn to swim. I have a very distinct memory of watching my father swim in the old pool here but any sign of the old wooden polls are long gone.
The pathway keeps going, and you can make your way right up to Kyeemagh, and look out towards La Perouse and Kurnell.
I must be honest I was very surprised on how much of the area was still as it was when I was a young child, and it instantly brought back great memories of my childhood.
More information about the area can be found at:-
Date: 4 December 2015
Attendees: Just Kevin!
