A PROTEST meeting in 1960 regarding the development of flats at Cronulla was the biggest Sutherland Shire had ever seen, former long-time president (mayor) Arthur Gietzelt recalled.
He said at this "crazy" time there was also community anger over a proposed 18-storey hotel with rooftop heliport opposite Cronulla beach.
"What started as a small dribble of new home units in the mid-'50s was spiralling out of hand by 1960, as a few 'sharpies' saw how easy it was to make a quick buck by replacing old single houses with low-standard flats," he wrote.
"High-rise units of poor standard were appearing indiscriminately among single residential lots — especially in Cronulla — which were totally incompatible with the privacy and comfort needs of the individual family.
"There was no organised approach to managing this type of ugly intrusion.
"By 1960, the problem had swamped the east end of the shire and residents of Cronulla and Woolooware were saying 'enough is enough'."
Mr Gietzelt said 900 people attended a meeting at the Cecil Ballroom "on a wintry night to vent their anger at the appalling style of housing development all over Cronulla".
"It was at the time the biggest protest meeting ever in the shire."
Mr Gietzelt said the council responded with new policies on building standards and established zones for flats.
In the middle of this controversy, an application was made to the council for an 18-storey hotel with rooftop heliport in Gerrale Street.
"It was typical of how crazy it all was at that time," he wrote.
Mr Gietzelt said the Leader reported how the "£3 million [$6 million] hotel would create excessive noise and parking problems and would shade the beach.
The Liberal-controlled council supported the plan but it was rejected by the overriding planning authority, Cumberland County Council, he said.
BEHIND THE TITLE
The title Sticks & Stones resulted from the 1971 bombing of Mr Gietzelt’s Caringbah home and the book’s cover features the Leader report.
Mr Gietzelt blamed the attack partially on the council being the first government body in Australia to impose sporting sanctions over the apartheid policy by banning a South African surf lifesaving team from competing at Cronulla.
He claimed the Askin Liberal government’s decision not to proceed with charges against builder and lifesaver Oscar Smith, who since died, was politically motivated.
Copies of the book: arthurgietzelt.com.au
TIMELINE OF CHANGE
Landmarks, including Miranda Fair, Elouera beach, ‘‘Shark Park’’, Tradies, E.G. Waterhouse Camellia Gardens, Royal National Park and Towra Point Nature Reserve were developed or protected.
Development proposals for Caringbah in the 1950s included a major shopping complex over the railway station and a Greater Union cinema opposite the post office.
Sylvania Waters stemmed from complaints by residents in surrounding suburbs about ‘‘smells from the Gwawley Bay mud flats’’.
Department of Main Roads intended Captain Cook Bridge to have only two lanes in each direction until the council persuaded it otherwise.
Council liquidity problems in the early 1960s caused by residents who were late paying rates were overcome with an ‘‘innovative new scheme’’ of quarterly payments.
Do you recall those events from the 1960s?
