A BIG UNDERTAKING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 7

A BIG UNDERTAKING

SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE

WORK AT MILSON'S AND DAWES

POINTS,

From the point of view of the casual observer, the progress"~of the Harbour Bridge works on the northern side of Sydney Harbour is not as rapid as at Dawes Point, states a recent issue of the "Sydney Morning Herald." At the latter place, much work has, been accomplished, but on the northern side construction is stated to have been delayed to some extent by the legal processes necessary to complete resumptions. Many properties adjacent to Milson's Point have, however, been resumed and demolished, and others in Alfred street are now being removed. The centre of activity on the northern side of Sydney Harbour is at Milson's Point proper, and adjacent to Dofman, Long, and Co. 's workshops, which now extend almost to ,the site formerly occupied by the ticket office on the old railway station. Every portion of the latter, and also of the ferry arcade has been removed, and great excavations have .been made to obtain foundations for the huge concrete piers for the approaches to the bridge. Higher up the hill, towards the great pile of earth, known locally as Mount Bradfleld, a number of large cranes have been landed, but not yet erected. Every preparation has been made for pushing on with.the work, and everything possible is being done to keep pace with the work at Dawes Point. The object of the contractors is to maintain the preliminary work, such as the building of piers and approaches, at the same rate of progress, so that when the actual construction of the great steel arch commences equal progress will be made from both sides.

In some quarters it has been predicted that when the bridge is completed Milson'g Point will be transformed from a residential to a business area. It is noteworthy that recently several blocks of flats have been erected in the vicinity of the site of Kimbilli Station; nearly opposite the present North Sydney Town Hall, while the headquarters of tha Municipal Council are about to be transferred to new council chambers at the corner of Miller street and M'Laren street. It is the intention of the council to dispose of the present Town Hall, and doubtless the historic building will goon be demolished. .

The building was erected in 1»85 as tho Council Chambers of the East St. Leonard's Council. At thai time the area included in the present municipality of North Sydney consisted of three boroughs—St. Leonard's, East St. Leonard's, and Victoria.' In 1890 the three boroughs amalgamated, but the then East St. Leonard's Council Chambers were taken over by the North Shore Council. When the building was orected in 1885, Alderman E. M. Clark was Mayor of East St. Leonard's. Alderman Clark has served in the northern municipal councils for more than 40 years, and has sat continuously in the North Sydney Council since the amalgamation in 1890. Over the entrance to the old council chambers is the quotation, "Salus.Populi," the literal translation pf-which is "the welfare of the people." " .