Lawrence Hargrave Drive

Part 1 - Living on the Edge

This oral history project discusses the background and significance of Lawrence Hargrave Drive to the local community and records the history, lives, aspirations and occasional frustrations of some of the local people who rely so heavily on this road for access.

Living on the Edge was based on 23 hours of digitally recorded interviews with 22 participants - local residents, former Department of Main Roads staff, former and current Roads and Traffic Authority staff, geologists and the Alliance champion.

Part 2 - Building Bridges

This oral history follows on from Living on the Edge, which examined the history of the local area and the circumstances leading up to the closure of Lawrence Hargrave Drive in August 2003.

Building Bridges is based on 15 hours of digitally recorded interviews with those involved in the planning, design, construction and naming of Sea Cliff Bridge. It includes the official speeches made at the opening ceremony on Sunday 11 December 2005 and comments from a number of local residents and school children walking the bridge for the first time.  

A compilation CD and booklet summarising the key themes uncovered during the course of the project have been prepared, and may be ordered from the RTA Library at a cost of A$11 plus postage and handling. Orders may also be placed by fax to the RTA Library on 61 2 8849 2913.

The opinions expressed in the oral history interviews are those of the individuals concerned and do not necessarily represent in whole or in part the position of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority.

Researchers and historians wishing to access the source interview tapes and associated logs should contact Maria Whipp (email Maria_Whipp@rta.nsw.gov.au), Environmental Officer, Planning and Heritage in the RTA Environment Branch.

The sound files in the table below contain excerpts from the original interviews and summarise the key themes uncovered during the course of the oral history project.