4. What would I miss? Sydney's public transport ...

In October 2009, I had to surrender my Driver's Licence which I had acquired in August 1965 - my 17th birthday. Now that is a massive challenge, but it was done for medical reasons, and there was no arguing. To avoid spiraling into a slough of despond, my camera and I went more and more places. I learned the routes, and checked the timetables. I began to think nothing of changing lines, of changing modes. I qualified for the Seniors $2.50 per day card, and now I have a digital Opal card.

I would miss the public transport in Sydney. I travel by all three of these modes. I also travel by taxi because I have a disabled card that grants me a 50% discount. I know there are many people in this vast city who whinge about trains and buses being late, Who whinge about public transport being dirty, squashed, and smelly. That never occurs to me, but I travel out of peak hours. There is also a light rail system (aka trams) that the government is beginning to construct. So ... if I moved away from Sydney, I would miss the public transport.

Waiting for the 327

As I leant over the pedestrian overpass, waiting for a train to come from Edgecliff station, I watched this gentleman shuffle toward me. I no longer know what 'elderly' means, the closer I get to it. He acknowledged my gaze, doffed his hat, and continued on down to the bus stop. He probably remembers when he had to wait for the tram on Bayswater Road. A young man, with his life ahead of him. Dressed to the nines, to meet his girl for an evening of dancing and merriment at Chequers.

Waverley Depot

In 1902, a tram depot was established on this site in Bondi on the York St boundary of Centennial Park. In 1959 it ceased being a tram depot and instead became a bus depot.


This conversion resulted in the loss of many of the historic, though jumbled, buildings on the site, with just this one original remaining from the 1902 construction period.


Why is it that the past is always so much more romantic, and the present merely pedestrian?