Sydney then and now: The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach

Here's a shot of the first tram in operation to Balmoral, taken on 29/05/1922 :

State Records NSW Digital ID:  17420_a014_a0140001164.jpg  "First tram in operation to Balmoral (NSW)"  [ Photograph used with permission of State Records Authority of New South Wales ]

The photograph also appears on Flickr here.

I'm not certain yet if the street was called The Esplanade, as it is today.  We see the tram tracks running adjacent to the beach side reserve, with the tracks approximately where the angle car parking is currently located.  There is no Esplanade beachfront footpath on the waterside of the reserve, and there appears to be no ocean wall. The footpath (and possibly the ocean wall) were opened in 1927. Due to the absence of vehicular traffic, the children could safely stand in the middle of the street for this notable event.

and Now:

My thanks to the management of Beaches Restaurant, 51 The Esplanade, Balmoral for permitting me to take this photograph this morning from the building's first floor balcony.