The daily commute: from dodging sharks to bus rides

Men have to pass across the mouth of Tom Thumb Lagoon, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day and run the risk of drowning or being taken by sharks!

This was the statement made by a deputation of Wollongong residence meeting with the NSW Minister for Public Works.  They were describing the trip to work for the men working on the coal ships at Port Kembla. They were pleading for money to build a bridge across the lagoon.

By the 1890s, the number of coal ships visiting Port Kembla had skyrocketed. Amongst each crew, up to 20 men were employed as coal trimmers. Their main task was to ensure that coal on the ship was distributed evenly making the ship trim in the water.

Few of these men lived close to Port Kembla and with no easy route to work they had no option but to get wet.

Eventually construction of the bridge was approved, and by 1903 Trimmers Bridge was ready for use. Built by volunteers, it was constructed of rough bush timber and was about one metre wide. However, you might still get your feet wet as during high spring tides the bridge was sometimes submerged by water.

The image of ships at the Port Kembla was taken in 1940 by which time workers could catch the bus to get to work.

The oral history of Les Dion from the Dion’s Bus Company has recently been added to the Illawarra Stories website.

Visit Illawarra Stories to listen to this or other great tales of work life in the Illawarra.