{"id":9373,"date":"2025-12-04T22:22:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T11:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=9373"},"modified":"2025-12-04T22:22:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T11:22:25","slug":"bondi-childhood-1950s-beach-life-family-memories-maggiemackenzie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/bondi-childhood-1950s-beach-life-family-memories-maggiemackenzie\/","title":{"rendered":"Bondi Nostalgia: Remembering the 1950s Beach Life & the Rise of Modern Sydney"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Maggie Mackenzie<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inspired me to write about my 1950s Bondi childhood now?
<\/strong>I\u2019d joined a stimulating creative writers\u2019 group in Blackheath, having to bring something new to read out every week. I\u2019ve done a lot of therapy, finally freeing up \u2018Little Deb\u2019. Sensory memories of true events were crystallising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started to write about my world in our block of flats, the nice entrance and the grotty entrance, racing downstairs to save a fish that leapt out of the window, the smelly concrete tiny backyard. And about the beach and the surf \u2013 being dumped, and the thrill of catching my first wave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately I was writing in the voice of a child like I was on a wave. A Bondi life in 1950s and 60s. The Waverley local history librarian validated encouragingly the significance of my personal stories. I didn\u2019t set out to write a book or memoir as such. It\u2019s an immersive ride, all told in the present tense, like you are right there with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The title arrived with a flashback. I\u2019d been made to feel ashamed of living not only in a flat, but in Bondi. Some privileged classmates recognised I was sensitive and bullyable. I worked hard academically to hold my own. It was an absolute shock when the new headmistress saw us sunbaking with no shoes and socks, but singled me out by name to \u201cGet back to Bondi where you belong\u201d I was 17, furious and silent. Until now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Ruth Park\u2019s trilogy Harp in the South that brought dignity to early days in working class Surry Hills, I wanted to bring dignity to the flats I lived in from 1952\u20131970.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bondi then vs now
<\/strong>Everything revolves around the beach, sunbathing, surfing and views. Back then there were no street trees, just buildings and cockroaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1950s everyone was more equal. Most of the population were renters living in similar blocks of three storey flats, many art deco. Post war European refugees settled in Bondi. Daily in 1950s, flats burned their own rubbish, a coke man heated the hot water, the ice man came to fill the ice chest and horse and cart vendors brought fruits and vegetables, and soft drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big changes in Bondi\u2019s attitude to property and wealth came with the new strata laws from 1961 which allowed flats to be bought and sold individually. This led to old blocks having penthouse conversions, a caf\u00e9 culture and trendy bars and eateries. Now the streetscape is green with mature native species. After Covid and Costa (of Gardening Australia, who lives in Bondi) veggie growing on the verges is spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, the Bondi and North Bondi Surf Life Saving clubs carry their continuous safety culture and opportunities for young Nippers to join. Bondi Icebergs members pride themselves on their egalitarianism membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s new are the many \u2018learn
<\/strong>to surf\u2019 schools especially for tourists. Visitors play \u2018spot the celebrity\u2019 sports star, actor, model \u2013 under the beach showers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ironically any girls attending my posh school would now be considered supercool to come from Bondi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Characters and Community
<\/strong>Mrs Ross, the breakfast cook at the Raffles Hotel, was very kind and looked after me after school when Mum was working. She lived in the middle of our building and knew the goings on but never gossiped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My wildest childhood memory is catching the bus by myself in my pinafore at age three to go to school, and getting off the bus at busy Edgecliff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family and belonging
<\/strong>The north end of the beach, the rock platforms, with its seaweeds and marine animals was my true home. An only child, my imagination blossomed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grandma joining us when we went to the beach with her old wigwam and teaching me to ride my surfoplane was the best. We hit the beach whenever we could \u2013 only after the housework was done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your sensory memories
<\/strong>Smelling the sea\u2019s salty tang, the sight and sound of the tide rushing in, foaming over rocks, brings me to tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That first wave \u2013 the speed of being out of control!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which memories did you especially select?
<\/strong>Up to \u2018coming of age\u2019 into the 60s, and true stories that were hairy \u2013 flying out of my father\u2019s car; getting stuck in the milk servery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you hope senior readers will take away?
<\/strong>Be curious \u2013 write memories down. As you\u2019re writing something can wake up in you. This book stirs memories. I don\u2019t have children but I\u2019m glad to leave a record of life in old Bondi for others to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What essence of old Bondi still lives in you today?
<\/strong>Attuning to Nature, noticing, listening, smelling all that\u2019s around me. Still being a rascal!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maggie Mackenzie www.cheekyparrotpress.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Bondi Nostalgia: Remembering the 1950s Beach Life & the Rise of Modern Sydney<\/a><\/blockquote>