Wednesday, February 19, 2025

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

 


READERS WRITE



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I said in a recent post of photographs of bygone celebrities:
“ . . . famous figures from the past (no Dave in Scotland, I’m not talking about Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot or Sophia Loren, although they are included).”

Dave B from Scotland (there are 2 Dave B's) responded by an email:
“Haha! Jean Simmons and Julie Christie perhaps!”

So this is for you, Dave –

Jean Simmons (1929-2010)


Julie Christie (1940 - )



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Friend Steve M does not share my taste in films and frequently lets me know it. I recently posted the next 3 films in the Fourth Top 10 + 2 List (Das Boot, Falling Down and Rambo: First Blood). The films previously discussed in that list: How Green Was My Valley, It Happened One Night, The Maltese Falcon and Take the Money and Run.

It elicited this email from Steve:
There we go Otto, a meeting of minds at last:
One really good film in your latest list: Falling Down. A super film!
As for the rest (How Green Was My Valley was ok) I refuse to be dragged into a conversation about such rubbish – Rambo? Honestly?
Steve M
My response:


Thanks for the input nonetheless, Steve.
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David B from the UK wrote in response to my posting an item about woke objections to Lego:
Hi Otto
Todays post raise two thoughts in my mind
Do "The Seeing Thing Queerly tour" (who object to lego because it embodies male/female dualism) also object to mechanics using nuts and bolts or electricians using plugs and sockets?
Also the phrase "getting the bonk" used to be used by racing cyclists to mean suddenly running out of energy as their blood sugar fell below a critical value.
Regards
Thanks Dave

I responded to him:
The world has gone mad – something is definitely wrong when I am starting to like some of Trump’s actions:
• He and she pronouns only.
• No trans in women’s sport
• Show the door to diversity hires who can’t back it up with ability.
Even the first docking at the International Space Station was announced as successful by the word “mated”, as I recall.
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David B from Scotland commented as well:
Loved the LGBT lego story. Says it all about these minority ass...es trying to shove their woke boll...ks down our throats! Give us a British Trump anyday! David
Thanks Dave
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Joy C likewise commented upon that post:
Thank you Otto for this email.
Re the Lego LGBTQI view… it could be argued that all Lego blocks are LGBTQI as most, if not all blocks have both ‘male’ and ‘female’ ‘bits’
I wonder if the guide contemplated that.
Many thanks for your emails which allow another dimension to my day.
Joy
Thanks for the feedback, Joy
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I posted a poem by Edgar A Guest, which I prefaced with a couplet from Dorothy Parker:
“I would rather fail my Wasserman test
Then read the poetry of Edgar A Guest.”
- Dorothy Parker

The Wasserman test was an antibody test for syphilis.

I posted my response thereto:
His poems my not be thought of as best,
But worse than a failed Wasserman test?
For all of their faults,
Their emotion and schmaltz,
I like poems by Edgar A. Guest.

Tim B of the USA sent a comment:
Good morning Otto,
I liked your poem in response to Dorothy Parker's poem. It reminded me of the response Winston Churchill gave to George Bernard Shaw concerning one of his plays.
Shaw: I am enclosing two tickets for opening night of my new play. Bring a friend- if you have one.
Winston: Cannot possibly attend opening night, will attend second night-if there is one.
Hope all is well with you and your family, take care,
Tim B
Thanks Tim.

Here is another great response anecdote:

Isadora Duncan, the dancer, said to George Bernard Shaw: ‘You have the greatest brain in the world, I have the most graceful body. Let us, then, produce the perfect child.’ To which Shaw is said to have replied: ‘But what if the child turned out to have my body and your brain?’
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Ron T, also from the US, sent me an email in response to the post about pilot Bill Newton, posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in WW2:
Fascinating Bytes, Thank you.
A generation later, Australian soldiers served gallantly in Viet Nam.
The area I was in was I Corps, along the DZ between the North and South Vietnams, and west into the foothills to Laos. The opposition was primarily North Vietnamese regular army.
I had friends who were in III and IV Corps who were in operations with Australian soldiers, and commented on their amazing abilities. That area was the southern part/half of the country, and especially disturbing since that area had major cities where the Viet Cong insurgents were everywhere. The Australian especially excelled in jungle tactics.
Truly amazing men!
Thanks, Ron.

(Ron was a marine who received the Silver Star for action in Viet Nam. Despite injury and under fire, he commanded his platoon, saved 4 wounded and exposed fellow marines and rebuffed the enemy attack.
The Silver Star Medal is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valour in combat.


 

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

 



ANCIENT ARTIFACTS


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We tend to think of the past, the ancient past rather than the recent centuries, and the ancient civilizations, as primitive and unsophisticated, but think again – Bored Panda recently featured a variety of photographs of artifacts and relics that showcase the ingenuity of ancient societies.

Click on the following to view:

The BP pics come from two sites:
‘Ancient Civilizations’ at:
and
‘This is Ancient’ at:

Here is a selection with the BP headings, my comments added . . .

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10,000-Year-Old Dabous Giraffes In Niger:


The Dabous Giraffes are neolithic petroglyphs (an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art). Located in Niger in West Africa, the artists are unknown. The carvings are 6 metres (20 ft) in height and consist of two giraffes, one male and the smaller female. They are the largest known animal petroglyphs in the world.

In the surroundings, 828 images have been found engraved on the rocks, of which 704 are animals (cattle, giraffes, ostriches, antelopes, lions, rhinoceros, and camels), 61 are human, and 17 are inscriptions in Tifinâgh. The carvings are believed to have been done between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago (not 10,000 years as the heading states), during the African humid period, when the region was less arid, and the Sahara was a vast savannah. The earliest of the Dabous carvings may date back as far as 10,000 years, however the giraffes are believed to be newer due to the lack of erosion.
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A Bird Looking At Statue Of Griffin (Persepolis):


Persepolis in modern day Iran was the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire (c. 550–330 BC).

After invading Persia in 330 BC, Alexander the Great sent the main force of his army to Persepolis. On his way to the city, Alexander and his army were met by 800 Greek artisans who had been captured by the Persians. Most were elderly and suffered some form of mutilation, such as a missing hand or foot. They explained to Alexander the Persians wanted to take advantage of their skills in the city but handicapped them so they could not easily escape. Alexander and his staff were disturbed by the story and provided the artisans with clothing and provisions before continuing on to Persepolis. It is possible Alexander started to see the city in a negative light after this encounter.

The city was destroyed by fire which from the living quarters of Xerxes I, and spread to the rest of the city. It is not clear if the fire was an accident or a deliberate act of revenge for the burning of the Acropolis of Athens during the second Persian invasion of Greece.

The above griffin photograph is only part of the sculpture, which sits on top of a column. It is the only one which has been found in the ruins. The full sculpture:


The bird in the first griffin pic may be building a nest in the griffin’s beeak.

BTW:

A griffin is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion, and the head and wings of an eagle with its talons on the front legs.
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Gold Scythian Pectoral, Or Neckpiece, From A Royal Kurgan In Tolstaya Mogila, Pokrov, Ukraine, Dated To The Second Half Of The 4th Century BC


The Golden Pectoral from Tovsta Mohyla is a gold Scythian collar or pectoral discovered in the Ukraine in 1971. It is now in the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine in Kyiv. It probably dates from the 4th century BC, and was made by Greek goldsmiths, probably a workshop based in Scythian lands.

The pectoral is made of solid 24 carat gold, with a diameter of 12 inches (30.6 cm) and weighs just over 2.5 pounds (1150 g). It is in the shape of a crescent and can be stylistically broken down into three sections:
  • The top section reflects Scythian daily life.
  • The middle section is believed to represent Scythian connection to nature. Being that there are so many delicate details in this section the artisan(s) chose to solder all of the individual elements to a solid gold plate which serves as a backing for structural support.
  • The third section is thought to represent Scythian belief in the cosmos and their mythology.
It is believed that the pectoral was created by soldering together dozens of individually cast figures and elements.

Some details:





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Egyptian Faience Beaded Fishnet Dress Dating From The Fourth Dynasty, C. 2550 BCE


This beadnet dress is the earliest surviving example of such a garment. It has been painstakingly reassembled from approximately seven thousand beads found in an undisturbed burial of a female contemporary of King Khufu.

Although their string had disintegrated, a few beads still lay in their original pattern on and around the mummy, permitting an accurate reconstruction. The color of the beads has faded, but the beadnet was originally blue and blue green in imitation of lapis lazuli and turquoise.
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125 Ton Stone Perfectly Placed At Sacsayhuaman Peru — An Incredible Feat Of Megalithic Masonry


Sacsayhuamán is a citadel on the northern outskirts of the city of Cusco, Peru, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. The complex was built by the Incas in the 15th century, with dry stone walls constructed of huge stones built on the site, the workers carefully cutting the boulders to fit them together tightly.

A section of the wall of Sacsayhuamán

Sideways view of the walls of Sacsayhuamán showing the details of the stonework and the angle of the walls.

The Inca were incredibly skilled at stonework. It was a part of their normal culture to quarry and shape enormous rocks, and to move them with a system of ropes, logs and levers. They used smaller stones and sand to finish the worked stone to achieve the final look.

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Roman Mosaic Depicting The Trojan War Found In Syria Two Years Ago


More than a thousand years old, the massive mosaic, which depicts the Trojan War and mythological figures, spans roughly 120 square metres (1,300 square feet). The mosaic, which was found in Rastan, shows scenes from the Trojan War, Amazon warriors, and the Roman sea god Neptune alongside 40 of his mistresses. The ancient artwork could be part of a bathhouse, but archaeologists are still uncertain.
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Cross Section Of A Road In England (A303 Road)


The illustration depicts the development of the road through the ages.



Monday, February 17, 2025

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

 

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Dean Karnazes (1962 - ) is an American ultramarathon runner and author.

Most notable achievements include:
  • Ran 350 miles (560 km) in 80 hours and 44 minutes without sleep in 2005
  • Completed "The Relay", a 199-mile (320 km) run from Calistoga to Santa Cruz, eleven times
  • Ran a marathon to the South Pole in −13 °F (−25 °C) temperatures without snowshoes in 2002
  • Ran a marathon in each of the 50 states in 50 consecutive days in 2006
  • Winner, Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles (217 km) across Death Valley in 120 °F (49 °C) temperatures), 2004 (with five other top-10 finishes from 2000 to 2008)


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What he says above holds true not only for ultra marathoners but also for everyone for any task taken on and any challenge confronted, whether small or large.

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Winston Churchill said the same thing in a speech given in a visit to Harrow School on October 29, 1941. It included the following:
You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done. Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination. But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period — I am addressing myself to the School — surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. We stood all alone a year ago, and to many countries it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. All this tradition of ours, our songs, our School history, this part of the history of this country, were gone and finished and liquidated.

Very different is the mood today. Britain, other nations thought, had drawn a sponge across her slate. But instead our country stood in the gap. There was no flinching and no thought of giving in; and by what seemed almost a miracle to those outside these Islands, though we ourselves never doubted it, we now find ourselves in a position where I say that we can be sure that we have only to persevere to conquer.
Hear the speech at:


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POETRY SPOT


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A Prouder Man Than You
(1896)

By Henry Lawson

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Commentary:
from All Poetry at-

This poem expresses pride and defiance against those who believe they are superior. The speaker asserts their own worthiness despite societal prejudices about social status, profession, appearance, and morality. The poem's tone is assertive and challenging, highlighting the speaker's rejection of external validation and their belief in their own value. It reflects the egalitarian spirit of the working class during Lawson's time, a period of social and economic change. Unlike Lawson's other works, which often focus on the hardships and resilience of the working class, this poem is more confrontational and directly addresses issues of social inequality.
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Performances:

Slim Dusty:

John Schumann and The Vagabond Crew:

Spoken version:
__________

The Poem:

A Prouder Man Than You

If you fancy that your people came of better stock than mine,
If you hint of higher breeding by a word or by a sign,
If you're proud because of fortune or the clever things you do —
Then I'll play no second fiddle: I'm a prouder man than you!

If you think that your profession has the more gentility,
And that you are condescending to be seen along with me;
If you notice that I'm shabby while your clothes are spruce and new —
You have only got to hint it: I'm a prouder man than you!

If you have a swell companion when you see me on the street,
And you think that I'm too common for your toney friend to meet,
So that I, in passing closely, fail to come within your view —
Then be blind to me for ever: I'm a prouder man than you!

If your character be blameless, if your outward past be clean,
While 'tis known my antecedents are not what they should have been,
Do not risk contamination, save your name whate'er you do —
`Birds o' feather fly together': I'm a prouder bird than you!

Keep your patronage for others! Gold and station cannot hide
Friendship that can laugh at fortune, friendship that can conquer pride!
Offer this as to an equal — let me see that you are true,
And my wall of pride is shattered: I am not so proud as you!

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Sunday, February 16, 2025

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

 


AUSTRALIAN WORDS & PHRASES – MEANINGS & ORIGINS



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ACID, PUT THE ACID ON:

Meaning:
To exert pressure on someone, especially for a favour.

Origin:

Derived from acid test, being a test for gold or other precious metal, usually using nitric acid. The above phrase emerged in the early 20th century and is still heard today.
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AKUBRA:

Meaning:

Akubra is an Australian hat manufacturer, especially associated with bush hats made of rabbit fur felt with wide brims that are worn in rural Australia. It is beloved of politicians (including particularly urban-based politicians) travelling in the outback, and of expatriates who wish to emphasis their Australianness.


Etymology:

The word 'Akubra' is derived from an Aboriginal word for 'head covering'. Alfred George and Winifred Adele Fletcher registered Akubra as a trademark in Tasmania in the 1910s.

BTW:

The Akubra company has been owned by Andrew Forrest’s Tattarang since 2023.
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AMBIT CLAIM:

Meaning:

In negotiation, an ambit claim is an extravagant initial demand made in expectation of an eventual counter-offer and compromise. In labour union negotiations, this is called a Blue Sky demand. First recorded in the 1920s.

Etymology:

The word ‘ambit’ comes from the late Middle English ‘ambyte’, borrowed from the Latin ‘ambitus’ meaning ‘circuit; circumference, perimeter; area within a perimeter; ground around a building; cycle, orbit, revolution’.

First record in connection with a claim is in the 1920s –
1923 Mercury (Hobart) 21 March: 
In the Commonwealth Arbitration Court .. Mr Justice Powers to-day delivered judgment on the point. He said that the ambit of the dispute before the Court was confined to constructional work, but that the Court could and would deal with claims for maintenance work.
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AMBO:

Meaning:

An ambulance officer.


Etymology:

This is an abbreviation that follows a very common Australian pattern of word formation, with –o added to the abbreviated form. Other examples include:
arvo (afternoon),
Salvo (Salvation army officer),
gyno (gynaecologist).
The -o form is often found at the ending of Australian nicknames, as in Johnno, Jacko, and Robbo.

Ambo was first recorded in the 1980s:
1986 Sydney Morning Herald 1 February: 
Even though I was a nurse before I became an ambo, at first I thought, can I handle this?
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ANT'S PANTS:

Meaning:

Something extremely impressive; the best of its kind.

Etymology:

Ant's pants is an Australian variant of the originally US forms bee's knees and cat's whiskers with the same meaning.

The term is first recorded in the 1930s.
1933 Brisbane Courier 12 May: 
These Men's Pull-overs of ours. They're the Ant's Pants for Value.

BTW:

A variation:

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ANZAC:

Meaning:

ANZAC stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corps, the soldiers deployed to Galipolli in 1915 during WW1. Today ANZAC Day on April 25th each year honours those who have died, served and are serving militarily.


Etymology:

There are various versions as to how the name came about:

#1:
In the introduction ‘The Anzac Book’, a collection of drawings, poems, and stories written and created by the men on Gallipoli in 1915, General Sir William R. Birdwood wrote the introduction (dated 19 December 1915) in which he stated:
When I took command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in Egypt a year ago, I was asked to select a telegraphic code address for my Army Corps, and then adopted the word “Anzac”. Later on, when we had effected our landing here in April last, I was asked by General Headquarters to suggest a name for the beach where we had made good our first precarious footing, and then asked that this might be recorded as “Anzac Cove­”—a name which the bravery of our men has now made historical, while it remains a geographical landmark for all time.

#2:
In his book ‘The story of Anzac’, Australian war historian C.E.W. Bean attributed the acronym to Lieutenant A.T. White, RASC, of the British Army:
One day early in 1915 Major C.M. Wagstaff, then junior member of the “operations” section of Birdwood's staff, walked into the General Staff office and mentioned to the clerks that a convenient word was wanted as a code name for the Corps. The clerks had noticed the big initials on the cases outside their room—A. & N. Z. A. C.; and a rubber stamp for registering correspondence had also been cut with the same initials. When Wagstaff mentioned the need of a code word, one of the clerks (according to most accounts Lieutenant A.T. White …) suggested: “How about ANZAC?” Major Wagstaff proposed the word to the general, who approved of it, and “Anzac” thereupon became the code name of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It was, however, some time before the code word came into general use, and at the Landing many men in the divisions had not yet heard of it.

In a footnote, Bean added that “the word had already been used amongst the clerks. Possibly the first occasion was when Sgt G.C. Little asked Sgt H.V. Milligan to throw him the ANZAC stamp.”

#3:
In his book ‘Gallipoli’ Robert Rhodes James told a similar story to Bean:
Two Australian sergeants, Little and Millington, had cut a rubber stamp, with the initials A. & N. Z. A. C. at Corps headquarters, situated in Shepheard's Hotel, Cairo … When a code name was required for the Corps, a British officer, a Lt. White, suggested “Anzac”. Little later claimed that he made the original suggestion to White. It was in general use by January 1915.

BTW:

I have posted the following anecdote previously but it is worth another airing.


When he wasn't saluted by an Australian soldier, Lieutenant General William Riddel Birdwood (above), British commander of the Gallipoli forces, asked the soldier if he knew who he was.
Soldier: "Not a bloody clue." 
General: "I'm General Birdwood."
Soldier: "Then why don't you wear feathers in your arse like any other bird would?"
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ANZAC BISCUITS:

Meaning:

Anzac biscuits are a sweet biscuit, popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter (or margarine), golden syrup, baking soda and boiling water.


Etymology:

Anzac biscuits have become synonymous with honouring Australia's wartime legacy because they were often included in food parcels sent to Aussie troops fighting in Gallipoli and France during WW1. These parcels supplemented the soldiers' plain diet of tinned 'bully' beef and hardtack, also known as the 'Anzac wafer' or 'Anzac tile'. Anzac biscuits made from rolled oats, golden syrup and flour had high nutritional value and kept well while being transported overseas.

The earliest known recipe combining the words 'Anzac' and 'biscuit' is a recipe from 1916 for "ANZAC GINGER BISCUITS".

BTW:

Anzac biscuits are an explicit exemption to an Australian ban on commercial goods that use the term "Anzac", so long as they are sold as "biscuits" and not "cookies".

BTW #2:

Approved Anzac biscuit recipe

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup desiccated coconut
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup plain flour

Method
Heat oven to 160°C.
Melt butter (or margarine) and syrup.
Add dissolved bicarbonate of soda and water.
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, add the liquid mixture and stir.
Place small balls of the mixture (about 1 teaspoon) onto a greased tray.
Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown.
Lift biscuits onto a cake cooling rack and wait for them to cool.


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Saturday, February 15, 2025

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

 



CONTINUATION WEEK


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DRUMMOYNE

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One I like, I used to live here.

Location:

Drummoyne is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Drummoyne is six kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Canada Bay. Drummoyne sits on the peninsula between Iron Cove and Five Dock Bay. It is surrounded on three sides by the Parramatta River and, as such, has some of Sydney's best waterfront views.

Name origin:

William Wright, merchant, whaler and sealer, named his land Drummoyne Park in 1853 after his family home on the Clyde in Scotland.

About:

In the 2021 census the population of Drummoyne stood at 12,011 people with a median age of 42 years, 66.9% of people having been born in Australia.

Drummoyne is now part of the City of Canada Bay, a municipality formed in 2000 by the amalgamation of the municipalities of Drummoyne and Concord.

Victoria Road, one of Sydney's busiest roads, cuts through the heart of Drummoyne en route to the Sydney central business district.

Drummoyne is mostly residential with some commercial developments, and still retains some of its industrial heritage. The main shopping strip is located along Victoria Road and the intersecting Lyons Road. The Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre, featuring a Coles supermarket, specialty shops and factory outlet stores is located at Birkenhead Point.

The Bay Run is a popular route for runners and walkers.

Gallery:

Apartments on the Parramatta River, Drummoyne

Afternoon traffic on Victoria Road

Drummoyne Presbyterian

Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre

Drummoyne Reservoir, Rawson Avenue, Drummoyne, NSW is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. Built 1910-1914, Drummoyne was one of two reservoirs built with an attached tower and was the only reservoir in the group to feature a tower as a deliberate ornament. It is now the only reservoir with its tower surviving.

Sydney Water sold the property in September 2018 to owners of a chain of childcare centres, who plan to convert the site into a childcare centre while retaining most of the heritage structure.

Gladesville Bridge is a heritage-listed concrete arch road bridge that carries Victoria Road over the Parramatta River, linking the Sydney suburbs of Huntleys Point and Drummoyne.

As at 2013, Gladesville Bridge has state heritage significance as the longest concrete arch span bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1964, being 305 metres (1,000 ft). One of only two of its type in NSW, Gladesville Bridge is considered to be a leading example of technical and engineering achievement on the international stage. An innovative design that set new global standards for design and construction, Gladesville Bridge was one of the first bridges in the world (if not, the first) to utilise computer programming in its construction.

Corner Off Lyons Road And Victoria Road

Drummoyne Post Office

Old home in Wrights Road, Drummoyne

‘Tudor House’, 23 College Street, Drummoyne in 1905. Built for Sir Thomas Henley (1860-1935) in circa 1895. Since demolished.

Sir Thomas Henley's funeral procession in Lyons Road Drummoyne, 1935

Some homes . . .






Water . . .




Bay Run . . .