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Life in a shack community

19 Images

Founded 100 years ago during the Depression, the first owners built shacks out of bark and scrap. Over years the tenure of the families who own the 130 remaining shacks and huts at Little Garie, Era and Burning Palms has always been as precarious.

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Tim and Denise Strange's shack overlooking Little Garie Beach, Royal National Park, Sydney 5th April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Diana Garder contemplating her family's legacy of being one of the first ever shackies, Era Beach shack community, Royal National park, Sydney 2nd April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Shane Traynor standing in front of the beer bottle wall, Burning Palms shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 6th April 2015.Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Gary McKenzie sitting outside the family's beach shack, Little Garie Beach shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 5th April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Gary McKenzie's grandmother purchased a shack at Little Garie in 1951.Credit:Gary McKenzie

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The shack community's hall celebrations.Credit:Gary McKenzie

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Peter and Carol Pracy relaxing at Era Beach shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 6th April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Denis Brown's son and grandsons waiting patiently for him to make them a cup of tea, Burning Palms shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 3rd April 2015.Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Richard Hendry sitting in the living room of one of the first shacks ever built, Era Beach shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney 1st April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Geoff Stevens and the traditional outback toilet, Era Beach shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 2nd April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Skinning and gutting fish at the beach, Era Beach community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 6th April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Interior of shack showing double bunk beds, Era Beach shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney 2nd April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Collected artefacts adorn the shacks, Burning Palms shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 3rd April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Beach shacks, Era Beach shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 2 April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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View overlooking Burning Palms shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 6 April 2015. Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Brothers Wayne and Philip Vaughan, Burning Palms shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 3rd April 2015.Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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###FOR SINGLE USE IN PRINT AND ONLINE IN SMH - TO ACCOMPANY JULIE POWER STORY - ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED - MUST CREDIT Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library - DO NOT ARCHIVE### A sprawling view of the beach, Era Beach shack community, Royal National Park, Sydney, 4 April 2015. Photo: Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State LibraryCredit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Interior of beach shack showing library, Garie Beach shack community, Royal National Park. 5th April 2015.Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library

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Exterior of shack showing individuality in how the original community shacks were made, Royal National Park, Sydney, 5th April 2015.Credit:Dean Saffron / Courtesy of NSW State Library