Making an Impression

Most Georges River schoolkids have had a go at ‘driving’ the Oatley Park steamroller.  It was one of three purchased by Hurstville Council in the 1920s for road works.  This roller, weighing some ten tons, was originally manufactured by John Fowler & Co of Leeds, and it arrived in Hurstville in August 1921.

It is likely that this is the same ten-ton steamroller which, one day in June 1932 was proceeding to a job in Hillcrest Avenue, Hurstville, when the driver lost control.  The Propeller (1 July 1932) reported that, owing to the wet road, “it careered wildly downhill.  The driver leapt from his seat.  The vehicle jumped the kerb and headed for a dwelling, but luckily it hit an ornamental tree, ripping it up by the roots.  The impact halted the steamroller, otherwise serious damage would have happened to someone’s house.”   Try explaining that one to the gaffer.

By the 1960s the Council no longer required the steamrollers.  One was scrapped; one was placed in Penshurst Park as play equipment and later disposed of to a collector for restoration; and the third was installed at Oatley Park play area.  It was restored in the 1980s, and further restoration was carried out in 2006, when a child safety fence was installed around it, ensuring that children could only play on it with adult supervision.  Well, it wouldn’t do if they took the handbrake off, would it?