By Henry Lawson When Henry Lawson wrote his poem 'The Sacrifice of Balls Head' in 1916, Sydney was deeply affected by the Great War. The year in which catastrophic Australian casualties were suffered on the Somme, leaving a legacy of loss; changing the City and the Nation. It was the year Anzac Day was officially named. 1916 gave rise to the infamous 6 o'clock closing law - when a group of soldiers went on a drunken rampage, finally ending when they reached Central Station and one was shot dead. It became known as the Battle of Central Station. It was the age of rail. The Harbour Bridge would not open for another 16 years, so steam powered vessels still formed the backbone of transport and commerce around the Harbour. Thus, Coal was king. Did you Know?.... The Sacrifice of Balls Head | 1916 ~ Poem ~ " ‘They’re taking it, the shipping push, As all the rest must go - The only spot left of cliff and bush That harbour people know. The spirit of the past is dead, North Sydney has no soul - The State is cutting down Balls Head to make a wharf for coal... And strings of grimy trucks shall run In everlasting trains And on the cliff where wild trees are Shall stand the soulless cranes To dump their grimy loads below, Where the great brown rocks are grand; And the deep grass and wild flowers grow - and boating couples land. No more shall poorer families Give “Grandma” and “Grandad” A glimpse of nature’s mysteries To make their old hearts glad. No more our eyes shall be relieved In the city’s garish day - A sordid crime has been achieved! And none has aught to say. "
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1