Not a lot has changed since the photo above was taken more than 30 years ago of the shops in Gerrale Street, opposite Cronulla beach.
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The building is basically the same, with minor alterations, as can be seen from the photo below, taken this week from the same angle by Leader chief photographer John Veage.
Sutherland Shire Libraries, which provided the 1980s photo said, "The shopfronts have stood the test of time with the continued operation of retail in the southern end of Cronulla.
"In the early days they also provided postal services and served as the terminus for bus services which began with horse drawn coaches in the late 1890s."
The 1980s photo stirred memories when it was posted on the the Leader Facebook page, including:
Sharon Palmer: In the 1960s, the corner shop was Fish 'N Chips. Used to occasionally have F 'N C on Sunday nights in the park. Loved it. Next door was a milk bar.
Noel Todd: Wow! Does that photo bring back memories. My first trip to Cronulla was in 1952, the last one was last year after a 300 kilometre drive, still love the place.
Christine Adamson: My grandparents had a grocery shop there in the early 1900s. For a long time there was still an ad on the eastern side of the building from the shop. I think it was for tea. I'm not sure but I think they probably lived there.
Martin Smith: In 1975, a German or Swedish couple ran an electronic business from the corner shop in the photo. I remember that because they repaired my cassette player just after I moved to Cronulla.
Adam Newman: How long has it been Little Italy? I was thinking that restaurant has had some serious longevity in Cronulla.
Christina Barber: I remember a milk bar with accommodation upstairs. The buildings backed onto the school playground.
Stephen Minty: Went out with a girl who lived above the laundromat in the 80s.
Marty Newell: Michael Ninjanous family owned the mixed business in the 70s. He was in my class next door at St Aloysius. Great lollies.
Bill Bingham: It has been a laundry, take away, a grocery shop...further up the street was Cronullas first decent night club Goochys, owned by locals Bob Nichols and a guy called Gooch.
Marian Jackson: Used to stay in the top RHS in Christmas holidays.
Giulia Rose Jance: I lived down the road and my mum would send me to the corner store for milk. Whilst there I would also buy some oranges and lemons 2 for 1 cent. Ah those days
Linda Patterson: I lived in the unit upstairs where the arch is in the 90s.
Leonie Harvey: My sister in law had a hairdressers there in the 70s
Brendan Fitzpatrick: Ex Sharks player Tawera Nikau's wife had a pizza shop there for a while.
David Arthur Slim: Great to see a small piece of Cronulla's history is still intact. Fingers crossed developers won't get hold of it. Traffic is already so hectic there - you take your life into your hands trying to cross to get to the train station, shops etc.
Julian Breeds: A preservation order should be slapped on all such buildings quickly. And all remaining detached houses over 50 years old.
Kristine Golding: Shhhh! The developers are watching.
