As previously reported by The Bugle, it was unclear what had happened to the Jubilee Gates where only the pillars now remain in Blackwood Street Gerringong. A number of Gerringong residents expressed interest in what actually happened to the gate, formerly the entrance to the park, and now Blackwood Street.

Gerringong Museum has very kindly given The Bugle all the information it has on the Jubilee Park Gates Pillars in Blackwood Street Gerringong. David Hindmarsh also very kindly came forward with photographs his grandmother, Edith Sharpe with her husband, Gerringong Mayor Stanley Sharpe officially opening the Jubilee Gates on 14 November 1936.

Some mystery remains as it is still unclear what year the Jubilee Gate was actually removed and when Blackwood Street was opened to Rowlins Road.

The gate still exists at a residence in Greta Street. According to the material from David Hindmarsh, it became the property of Norman Parrish who lived adjacent to the gate’s way. Reports say the gates still exist on a property in Greta Street.

The gates were designed and built by Alexander George Carson of Kiama at a cost of £54 to commemorate the opening of the new pavilion and sports ground.

The gates were commissioned by Gerringong Municipal Council and named in honour of King George V.

The gates were officially opened on Saturday 14 November 1936. Although rain had been predicted for the weekend, everyone welcomed the beautiful afternoon which was enjoyed for the official opening of the new sports pavilion and memorial gates at Jubilee Park. 

Here is the entire report for the Kiama Reporter on 18 November 1936:

  The Kiama Reporter published an article on the opening ceremony in the Wednesday 18th November 1936 edition There was a large attendance, including visitors from neighbouring centres, and were loud in the praise of the fine new sports area and substantially built pavilion, with its beautiful views over land and sea. The memorial gates are also very artistic and a fitting entrance to what is one of the nicest parks along the coast. 

At four o’clock the people assembled at the gate and the Gerringong Band, conducted by Mr J.A. Winley, augmented by bandsmen from Kiama and Berry, played a selection.

The mayor (Ald. S.N. Sharpe) said that Gerringong Municipal Council had thought it very fitting to dedicate the entrance to their park as a token of respect to the memory of the late King George V., their beloved Monarch, who was one of the best Kings who ever sat on the throne of England.

His Worship then handed a nice pair of presentation scissors to Mrs Sharpe who cut the tricolour ribbon, which was stretched across the gates, and also unveiled the brass memorial tablet, thanking the Aldermen for their kind invitation to perform the ceremony and declaring the park officially open. Mrs Sharpe then distributed pieces of the ribbon as souvenirs of the memorable occasion. 

The Band played the National Anthem and the Town Clerk called for three cheers for the King, which was heartily given.

A procession of cars was then formed and drove into the park and up to the pavilion. 

The mayor said that Mr Spooner, the Minister for Works and Local Government, had been unable to come, but they had a very good substitute in Mr H.J. Bate, M.L.A. the member for South Coast, and an old friend of the Gerringong district.

As regards the park, council considered it one of their duties to provide facilities for the sporting bodies, and they thought that the money had been well spent on the reconstruction of the park and the building of the new pavilion, so that this park was now second to none on the South Coast.

Mr Bate said that the dedication of the gates to the memory of the late King Geroge was a gesture such as might have been expected from the Gerringong people. They were to be congratulated on their fine new pavilion and reconstructed ground, which had been carried out with the aid of a Government Grant. 

Mr Bate used a fine presentation silver key to open the pavilion. This was combined with a paper knife and presented to Mr Bate by the mayor. 

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