March 2018

“They sat on the tram-car and ran for miles along a coast with ragged bush loused over with thousands of small promiscuous bungalows, built of everything from patchwork of kerosene tin up to fine red brick and stucco, like Margate. Not far off the Pacific boomed. But fifty yards inland started these bits of swamp, and endless promiscuity of ‘cottages’.

The tram took them five or six miles, to the terminus. This was the end of everywhere, with new “stores” – that is, flyblown shops with corrugated iron roofs – and with a tram-shelter, and little house-agents’ booths plastered with signs – and more ‘cottages’; that is, bungalows of corrugated iron or brick – and bits of swamp or ‘lagoon’ where the sea had got in and couldn’t get out.”

The final section of the “Brookvale to Narrabeen Line Tramway Part 3” was notified on 28 October, 1912 and confirmed early in 1913. It was described as being from Collaroy Beach via Ocean Street and Victoria Street (Narrabeen Bridge). The line was constructed by Public Works Department day labour with work commencing on 18 August 1913 and was completed in less than four months being handed over to the tramway department on 4 December, 1913 following a successful trial run. The extension comprised one mile 26 chains of single track with the steepest grade 1 in 20 and the sharpest curve of 660 feet radius. Catenary type overhead was used matching that between Brookvale and Collaroy. The total cost was £13,720 which included the goods depot and siding at Narrabeen.

Stopping places were located at Fraser Street, Pacific Loop, Clark Street, Devitt Street, Narrabeen Street, lagoon waiting room terminus.