The submarine that came and – eventually – went

Much has changed at Fairlight in the past 66 years. All the buildings have been demolished and replaced, and the submarine has been removed.

Much has changed at Fairlight in the past 66 years.

Every building visible in the older photo has been demolished and replaced by multi-storey buildings, including the high-rise called 1 Lauderdale Ave.

The norfolk island pine tree to the right of 1 Lauderdale Ave has grown no taller but is looking a lot scruffier than it did all those years ago.

Apart from the buildings, the biggest change since the older photo was taken in 1949 is that the submarine has been removed – and not before time, according to many people living in the area at the time, although local kids would have taken great delight in clambering over it and playing imaginary war games.

Fairlight Beach

The submarine was the Dutch vessel K12, which managed to escape the Dutch East Indies, now called Indonesia, following the Japanese invasion in 1942.

The K12 initially made for Fremantle but then came to Sydney.

Unfortunately, the K12 was old and in need of repair but, being of Dutch manufacture, there were no spare parts with which to repair or upgrade it.

At the end of the war, the K12 was sold to a syndicate that put it on display at Luna Park.

Then the K12 was brought to Manly and berthed at a purpose-built structure attached to the old harbour pool, where it became a popular tourist attraction.

But during a storm in June 1949, it was decided to tow the sub to less exposed waters but the towline broke and the sub drifted ashore at Fairlight, where it remained for 18 months before being salvaged and cut up for scrap.