These pages will look back at a place I remember mostly with affection.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the DMR! R.I.P.

Many people came and went through the less than majestic entry doors in Castlereagh Street, Sydney. And of those people, a fair proportion left their mark on our lives, one way or another. Head Office had more than its goodly share of characters. The greater majority enriched our lives, or they did this young bloke, who walked through the foyer at No.309 in February, 1965 for his interview.

Walking through Belmore Park

The familiar symbol on 309

The early morning cuppa

Morning tea, Pitt St building

1980 Old'n'Bold Re-union

FONDLY REMEMBERED
RESTAURANTS
DIETHNES, Pitt St.
What happened to my mate
Nick Saivanidis, who later
opened the Kakavia Greek
Restaurant at 458 Elizabeth
St, Surry Hills, with chef Chris
Michael?
THE P&S Fish Cafe, Pitt St.
Paul and Stan, where are you
now?

NOTES
The Highwayman was published by Rand Consolidated Publications P/L 67 Wanganella St, Balgowlah, NSW, Australia

DMR ARTIFACTS
The annual re-union plaque
found by a retired employee
in a garbage skip during the
move out of 309.

Voucher Examining, section
'Examiner of the Year' plaque.

There are countless stories to relate about the DMR, the people, the work, the building. Many appeared in the Rec Club magazine, THE HIGHWAYMAN and you'll find some of these available via PDF files below. Relatives looking for information on family members who worked for the DMR are welcome to contact me by email or smailmail.

From my early days at HO, I often carried a camera so you'll find a spread
of photos here over time. Photos and stories are welcome from you, naturally.

You'll find more photos available HERE. Higher resolution files are available as .jpeg attachments to ex-staff members who can identify those within the photos.

Extracts from THE HIGHWAYMAN
PDF files listed below. You can print these easily. I've noted branches covered, but not names of retiring or resigning employees included in articles.

EX-EMPLOYEES ONLINE
There are two places for ex-DMR staff to meet. That's on the DMR HO Google Group which is never used, and Friendsreunited (formerly Schoolfriends) which currently contains 70+ ex-staff and current RTA folk. Here's the standard link to Friendsreunited: http://www.schoolfriends.com.au/ Use this if you have broadband and a relatively recent (and fast) computer. Once you've joined, you can use the 'text only' site http://textonly.schoolfriends.com.au/ if the main site is slow to load on your computer.
Yet to be linked, and just begun - Flickr.com photo pages.

FAQ (Frequently asked questions)
Q. From where did the DMR logo/symbol above originate?
A. No ones knows. It was replaced in the 1980s by an in-house design. The best known expression of the symbol was on the side of the 8-floor Castlereagh Street annex building. The scan above is taken from a jacket patch. These were thrown out when the design was superceded but I managed to find a few.
Q. Is there a published history of the DMR?
A. Yes, The DMR published THE ROADMAKERS, in 1976 ISBN 0 7240 0439 4 This is a comprehensive history of roadbuilding in NSW. It includes figures, numerical and financial, on both the work carried out by the DMR and monies spent, and staff figures. It does not include personal experiences, though. We hope to address that on these pages.
Q. Any other sources for information.
A. MAIN ROADS, the in-house journal, issn 0025-0597, and THE HIGHWAYMAN, the Recreation Club in-house magazine.
Q. Was there an inspection of the DMR HO site prior to rebuilding?
A. See Australasian Historical Archaeology 17, edited by Mary Casey, paper Local pottery and dairying at the DMR site, Brickfield Hill, Sydney (Mary Casey). I'm not sure if this was before or after the DMR.
Q. Can you give a timeline of the formation of the DMR?
A. Brief BACKGROUND and TIMELINE
All information up to 1970s from THE ROADMAKERS ('TR' in text, see above).
“The first practical task of the board was to find suitable premises…” DMR officer, TR p82
1924 - The Main Roads Act was assented on 10th November.
1925 - The Main Roads Board of New South Wales came into being on 1st January. The physical ‘board’ consisted of a president and two members. An organizational chart for 1927 appears on p95 of TR.
1926 - The Board rented floors one and seven in Citroen House, located at 301 Castlereagh Street. I believe the corner of Goulburn and Castlereagh Streets at that time was occupied by a motor dealer (in the 80s the DMR donated it as a park). The lease of these floors cost $2322 per year. This worked out at about 23c per square foot.
1928 - In March the Board moved to 309 Castlereagh Street, the four story fireproof building well known to all employees who at one time or another worked in Head Office. Originally the street frontage was occupied by a printer. The leasing rate was double to cost in Citroen House. Staff levels in 1928 were around 340 salaried officers and 3400 employees statewide. By 1972, these numbers had increased to around 3600 and 10,300 respectively.
1989 - DMR and DMT combine in January to form RTA.

USEFUL LINKS
01. 1933 photo, 307-317 Castlereagh St
02. DMR Granville, info with Granville Historical Society (but not online)
03. RTA Oral History Programme on the RTA web site, re the DMR. RTA switch 131782
04. Current occupancy of DMR HO site J B White Surveyors site
05. Anthony Hordern and Sons Ltd, Brickfield Hill - page on my site
06. Paul's Aussie Expressway site.
07. RTA FAQ (abbreviated).
08. DMR Film Library, Auburn [Lidcombe]
09. From the skies – aerial photos of Sydney, 1943, 10 x A1 posters OR CD. You can order online at the NSW Government Online Bookshop. Alternatively, phone the RTA Library on (02) 8837 0151 or email library@rta.nsw.gov.au .
10. RTA HERITAGE & CONSERVATION REGISTER Preserved DMR items
11. DMR ARTIFACTS in private hands, see on this page.
12. Voucher Examining HO inmate list 1969 to 1984 Photos page from the 1970s.
13. RTA IMMORTALS The RTA values the skills, experience and expertise of its staff and offers The Immortals - an RTA Alumni - as a way to keep connected with former employees. There is a website, www.rtaimmortals.com.au , which is accessible to anyone, and which also has some members-only tabs.

DMR H.O. SYDNEY BUILDING PLANS
Larger .jpg files available as attached documents to ex-staff and researchers.

Left - DMR HO block floor plan Above - DMR HO Section view

COMMENTS and QUERIES, including LETTERS; latest at the end.
To protect privacy, no one will be hotlinked unless they request same.

Mark Alamangos 21/12/2007
I came across your most memorable website last night just out of curiosity anything to do with the DMR.
I began my apprenticeship in 1971 at Central Workshops at Granville as a signwriter and spent part of the apprenticeship at Head Office down under the garage in the paint shop with Norm Hibertson. I think from memory he was the leading hand painter and also [spent] some time on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Was retrenched in 1992 and have remained in the trade and in the "road sign" industry.
What ever happed to the large model of planned roads on level 2?
Regards
Mark Alamangos
Can anyone answer Mark's question?

Alan Humphreys 29/2/2008
Do you know what happened to Jim Buckmaster, Gary Birmingham, Alan Jennens,
Barry Atkins, Kevin Wotherspoon and Kerry Kneller?
Regards
Alan Humphreys
If anyone can put us onto any of the above, please contact us via the link below. Alan is in contact with Nick Sotnick and John Jeffrey. Voucher Examining inmate list for 1969-84 is now online.

Dane Richards from Greg Johnston 31/3/2008
I got a call from Alan Adderley this morning to confirm that Billy Boyd passed away in hospital yesterday the day after his 63rd birthday.

Denis Hawkins 11/6/2008
I do not now where any of those mentioned are but Vern Ellis is living in Forster and working at Manning Base Hospital or around the health Region; I am in Taree and can be contacted on djhawkins@gmail.com , Denis Hawkins

Adam Wotherspoon 19/6/2008
Alan Humphreys request, I am Kevin's son, dad passed away 24/01/1995 aged 43 yrs old. I hope this helps his inquiries.
Regards
Adam Wotherspoon
Thanks, Adam; sorry to hear. I've fixed your dad's entry on the Voucher Examining page.

Pat and Les Cliff 7/2008 [Abridged from a letter.] Re: Harold [Cliff] ex-Records, HO.
Harold is now in an Aged Care Facility following a very bad fall at home on 17th April. ...He has not walked since fall. ...He is now in Ocean View Nursing Home, 2 Jenkins Street, Mona Vale.
and later, 9/2008
Sorry to inform you Harold passed away on Tuesday 16th September. There was a rapid deterioration over the last 16 days. He spent 8 days in Mona Vale Hospital then returned to the nursing home ...He was on morphine, so was very restful and not in pain ...
Our condolances to you and the rest of the family. Harold "Slim" was a good mate and one of the truly unforgettable characters of DMR HO. We mourn his passing.

D. M. T. REUNION - 2009 (Department of Motor Transport)
All former D.M.T. employees are invited to attend our next reunion, including DMT staff who continued employment with the RTA. Come along and renew great mateships, hateships and loveships, to celebrate and reminisce about the 'best ever days' of our working, social and sporting lives.
Pass the information onto friends you still see, or contact former nworkmates you haven't seen for a while. Make arrangements to travel together, especially from country areas and interstate. Females, why not organise a get together of your girlfriends from the old sections you may be still in contact with, as it is very difficult to locate many former employees when they have since married and their surnames have changed.
Please note, a cover of $5.00 on the night to cover the cost of the room hire, bar attendants etc. As per usual, beverages can be purchased at club prices.
Date: FRIDAY, 13th February 2009
Time: Commencing at 6pm until midnight (and the club facilities will be open until 2.00am)
Venue: City of Sydney rsl (on 3rd floor), 565 George St., (A few minutes walk south of Town Hall railway station in the city itself).
Please email this page, or pass on this notice to all your D.M.T. friends, who you are still in contact with in case they may not be aware of, or have not received this info, as I am only sending out limited invitations by post.
For any additional info please email to friendsofdmt@hotmail.com
HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE DMT REUNION ON FEBRUARY 13th, 2009.
Steve Neville

WEB EDITOR CONTACT DETAILS
If you have any queries on the above, email John at opsbooks @ aol.com
You'll need to copy this email address, paste into a blank email and remove the spaces either side of the @ - it's not hot-linked due to spamming problems.
Or by snailmail to:
John Tipper at PO Box 781, KATOOMBA NSW 2780

NEW PROTECTED HOTLINK dmrsydney@aol.com
FOR FORMER DMR EMPLOYEE QUERIES and DMR
SYDNEY HISTORY QUERIES ONLY.
I CAN'T HELP WITH RTA ROADWORKS QUERIES.
Please include your name in subject line.
Don't include attachments or else message will be dumped;
use the unlinked address above, instead.

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