The residents of Henley & Grange always loved summer, when the streets came alive with people - my memories are from 1950s, 60s and 70s mostly.
My grandmother on Seaview Road, Grange would sit on our front verandah (there is a photo of her doing this in one of my old blog posts), watching the hoards of cars from inner city suburbs fill every available parking spots on Seaview Road, and any parking spot within 'cooee' of the beach. Many unloaded inflatable beach toys, tents, umbrellas, beach balls, radios, food & drinks, towels and more, where, in winter, barely a car would be seen.
But also, summer bought carnivals and other fun things. Not only in the major beach suburbs such as Brighton, Glenelg, Semaphore (plus nearby, Port Adelaide), but also Henley (Beach) and Grange. The carnival was always popular, and even the 20 minute walk from Grange was exciting - the closer you neared the 'Henley Square' you could hear the squeals and laughter, with all kinds of sounds, music, pops, and bangs, and more. And the smells! The first to hit my nose was that of fairy floss (cotton candy if you're from USA). And that was always a favourite with me. And further along were the smells of the fried foods, and more.
And there was never any disappointment. Something always was new. The pool (billiards) hall always did good business, sited on the northside, between the shop on the Esplanade, and my favourite Fish & Chip shop on Seaview Road.
As a child I could never understand the Pole Sitters. Who would do such a thing? Sit on top of a pole for several days all for the sake of winning a meagre amount of pounds ($). I guess mainly my child's brain couldn't get past my concern of adequate/convenient bathroom usage. Also remembered one of the most popular times when something new was added. When all my boy school mates from Henley High School sought to outdo each other. Paying all of their pocket money into smashing an old 'jalopy' (car) to unrecognisable junk with a huge sledge hammer!
There were often beauty and fancy dress competitions, even eating contests (most pies eaten in 10 minutes, e.g.), best decorated bike/tricycle, and celebrity visits. Squeals and shrieks rang out from the side show rides, as well as announcements re 'lost' children. over loud speakers. Sounds that would echo through the streets until late in the night.
I and, I think, everyone looked forward to summer carnivals as it was a way, like no other, to have so much fun and laughter and break away from the bleaker days of winter. Many of the carnival goers were families from Broken Hill (employees who worked the Broken Hill Mines) who rented the many rental properties available in Henley and also Grange and other major beachside suburbs, as the children loved the carnivals and in some ways I think their joy and laughter surpassed that of the locals.
While the carnivals still continue, it is rare to see the same exuberance 'today', I think one just had to be in it, to now know that.
Another memory of 'fun' times comes from when I was very young, I'd say no more than 5 or so. And that is of a circus tent the on the strip of vacant land on Cudmore Terrace, close to Main St area, than Grange Road. I remember being scared, not only of the animals, but also of the clowns as I hadn't encountered such strange beings before. But many things thrilled me about it. I think I can remember asking why nothing was built on the land, and being told that it was being reserved to use as a train line to Henley Beach, and possibly on to Glenelg and was 'public land'. So, I'm wondering if any other local children remember these?
The Henley & Grange Town Hall was another place of community spirit, I'll write of some of that another time. Their 100th anniversary was just last Friday.
The break in my blog postings was due to some complications in life, and also forgetting I even had written these, as other things filled my life. I still have a great many stories to tell. So hope to share more soon. This one was prompted by rediscovery of this blog through H&GHS and members telling me how much they enjoyed reading my stories, and being sent a link to it, and some 3-4 days of trying to reaccess it through forgotten formats and user names and passwords. Never give up!!!
Thank you for visiting. Much appreciated.
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