Massive crowd at Sydney's Coogee Beach , December 10, 1929.
The mercury had hit 36.9 during the day which caused residents to "rush" the beach with its recently officially opened shark nets for relief. Three ambulances were kept busy during the night coping with people hit by cars, overcome by the crush and collisions in the congestion, there being an estimated 50,000 people in the area.( NSW State Library photo ).
There were about 20,000 on the beach. It cost a penny to swim in the safe area, threepence to stand on the pier.
