Eighty-seven years ago this month, celebrations were underway as the Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened.
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What many don't know is that the historic occasion involved a party from the Shoalhaven.
The March 1932 event saw 25 residents of Roseby Park participate, and together with other Indigenous community members from La Perouse and the North Coast, they made up a group of 61.
Accompanied by Roseby Park station manager John Milne, the contingent travelled to the city by train, stayed at La Perouse, and were away for six days.
The men had a day to prepare for their role, and for the big day were described as wearing native attire with war paint decorations.
After being driven to Richmond Terrace Domain, the men marched to Phillip Street where they assembled for the opening procession.
They helped provide a program at Wentworth House during the afternoon, and next day showed prowess with the gum leave as they formed a Leaf Band to present some "real Australian music".
At one of these functions Mr Milne and his son was presented with momentoes of the occasion; two large boomerangs, the first to cross the new bridge.
They had been signed by Lennie Gwythe, the 10-year-old boy who had ridden his pony from Gippsland, Victoria to take part in the celebration.
The performance impressed Nowra Leader editor, Herbert Connolly who commented on one old Aborigine waving a spear and providing his own imitation of a mopoke.
He was conscious that the event had been well-covered by the city papers, and so kept to his own experience in travelling to the city.
They began as part of the throng that lined up at Bomaderry where stationmaster Hazzard was a reassuring official.
Next morning he sought a vantage point for the parade, and finished up hiring a "frail empty fruit box", bargaining his way to a price of one shilling despite the fact they were "going like hotcakes".
While waiting for the procession in the huge crowd, he noticed the thousands of well-dressed people and mused about the validity of "the depression that we have heard so much about".
Connolly noted another Shoalhaven link in the procession, an old carriage with connections to the Coolongatta Estate.
Information and photographs provided by the Shoalhaven Historical Society.