Hawkesbury River, Sydney, Australia 1972

This authentic colour photograph, captured in 1972, documents a quintessential roadside diner—the Food Bar—located at a scenic rest area along the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney, New South Wales. The archival image highlights the striking mid-century modern architecture of the facility, featuring a prominent white “butterfly” or inverted-pitch roof with bold red “FOOD BAR” lettering. Travellers are seen standing at the long service counter, while a variety of period-correct vehicles are parked in the foreground, including a blue Volkswagen Kombi van loaded with roof luggage and several Australian sedans. In the background, the tranquil waters of the Hawkesbury River are visible, dotted with small boats and framed by the densely forested hills of the Central Coast. This factual record perfectly preserves the atmosphere of 1970s Australian road travel, capturing a time when such iconic stops were central to the journey between Sydney and the north. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.