Urban Village - May 2021

urbanvillage.com.au

City of Sydney’s

Green Vision

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Phoenix Calls to Creatives By

Lachlan Colquhoun

C

reative director Beau Nielson says this was quite deliberate. “What is so different is that this building is so beautiful and so distinct,” says Nielsen.

“So we are not so keen on bringing in a lot of staging elements that detract from the space, and that is a limitation but its also an opportunity because the space gives a different flavour to the performance.

“A lot of venues are remade every time they are used, this one is built to last and be a constant presence.”

Phoenix Central Park is certainly a striking building, inside and out, and while any description demands a string of superlatives it can only be experienced in situ.

Rising from the ashes of a burnt out former martial arts studio in Chippendale, the building was designed by John Wardle

LOCAL LENS PHOTO COMPETITION STREET PHOTOGRAPHY OF LOCAL PEOPLE AND PLACES, WITHIN THE CITY OF SYDNEY PRECINCTS OF GREEN SQUARE, ALEXANDRIA, EVERLEIGH, REDFERN, WATERLOO, SURRY HILLS, CHIPPENDALE, DARLINGHURST, GLEBE, POTTS POINT, DARLINGTON, NEWTOWN, PYRMONT, ULTIMO, WOOLOOMOOLOO, ST PETERS, BARANGAROO, CBD, PADDINGTON, KINGS CROSS, HAYMARKET AND ANNANDALE. FOR FULL INFORMATION, PRIZES AND T&C’S GO TO - URBANVILLAGE.COM.AU

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Photo: Rob Harley

Photo: TOGA Group

NEW ICONS

for Oxford Street

Photo supplied

When artists perform at the new space at Phoenix Central Park, they are in a collaboration with the space and the building itself.

Free

CONNECTING OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS & VILLAGES

Photo: Supplied

CITY OF SYDNEY PRECINCTS

Photo: City of Sydney

MAY 2021

Menu transformation at

The Clock Hotel

Architects and Durbach Block Jaggers and has won several prizes for design including the 2020 NSW Architecture Medallion.

The vaulted ceiling of the performance space was designed in Australia but constructed in Germany from cross-laminated timber which, while it might be wood, is suggestive of classical Byzantine brickwork but in a contemporary design shape.

Conceived to hold a maximum audience of around 150, the space is in the round, with audience seated on the perimeter of the performance area, sitting on the floor among the performers, or standing in the gallery above.

A halo-like lighting and sound rig sits above the performance area, and can be raised and lowered to effect.

Phoenix Central Park comprises not just the performance space but a new contemporary art gallery – think White Rabbit but with some more international artists - and an outdoor terrace which must be one of the most remarkable cactus gardens in Sydney.

Beau Nielsen says the curatorial program will embrace music – from indy to jazz and classical to avant garde – dance of all kinds and a diversity of performance genres.

Pianists using the space can choose between three very different instruments which are design objets all in themselves, one of them dating from the mid-19th century and another art deco futuristic piano from 1930s Denmark.

All performances are free to attend, and tickets are promoted through the venue’s social media channels and through a subscriber newsletter.

“Because we don’t sell tickets we are able to give people an opportunity they might not otherwise have,” says Nielsen.

“It’s not about getting bums on seats, so we are able to take a few more risks with different types of music for example, with different audiences attending each time.”

In addition to the Phoenix Central Park venue, Nielsen and her team are also presenting a series of acoustic musical performances – from art/folk to opera – in a church in Alexandria. Appropriately scheduled for Sundays, these are also free.

Phoenix Central Park will be presenting a new series of performances in May in both venues. Go to www.phoenixcentralpark.com. au or the venue’s social media pages for more details.

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SNEAK PEEK

Sydney Comedy Fest

17

Local Lens searches for unique neighbourhood images A new photo competition, launched by Surry Hills store CameraPro and loyalty program Local Rewards, offers a rewarding and creative opportunity to explore and celebrate our local PRECINCTS. By

Lachlan Colquhoun

T

he Local Lens Photographic Competition is now open to entries in two sections: senior for 16+ and junior for young people 15 and under.

There will be regular winners of the Local Lens competition, coinciding with each edition of Urban Village where winning entries will be published. A wider selection of entries will be posted online.

At the end of the year, an overall winner will be announced, and there are plans for an exhibition where a selection of the best entries can be shown.

CameraPro retail store manager Chris Field said he hopes the competition could be the catalyst for a wave of interest in photography, and in finding fresh new images showing unique views of Sydneys’ inner precincts and neighbourhoods.

“Our message to people is to get out there

and get snapping. We can’t wait to see what you come up with,” said Field, manager of the store which is newly opened at 507 Crown Street Surry Hills.

CameraPro will sponsor prizes for both senior and junior categories, Local Rewards gift cards and other prizes will also be on offer.

A prominent local photographer will judge each round, and the judge for round one is Sydney’s “street photographer” Tim Ritchie.

In keeping with Tim’s focus the theme for round one of Local Lens is street photography.

The only other condition is that the images must be taken in the Urban Village distribution areas which includes the City of Sydney LGA and parts of the Inner West Council areas.

“Our streets are so photogenic by night and by day and I’m excited to see what new images the competition can deliver,” said Ritchie.

Urban Village publisher Leigh Harris said he had been wanting to kick off the photography competition for some time, and was delighted to partner with CameraPro and Local Rewards.

“It’s great to have CameraPro as a new retailer on Crown Street, and they are a perfect partner for Local Rewards in the Local Lens competition,” he said.

“The whole idea is to inspire people to look at our area in a new way and come up with what we hope are some iconic images.”

The competition is open right now, and entries can be sent to info@urbanvillage.com.au

ELIZABETH LANE REDFERN BY TIM RITCHIE

ENTER NOW at urbanvillage.com.au

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Do Drop in Day Every Friday 10.30am to 2.00pm Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre Social Connection Information and Referral Limited number of computers available Bring your own device One on One computer support Devonshire Tea (no charge) $5 Haircuts (last Friday of the month) Telephone available Covid safe Practices

Although this is a drop in day, we encourage you to book a one hour time slot as numbers are limited.

FREE

a Devonshire Te s Internet acces 1 hr visits

To book please contact Ph. 93564977 or programs@shnc.org

Come on your own or with a support person or groups of 4 or less www.urbanvillage.com.au

Local News 3

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION: SEPTEMBER 4

SEPT

4th

TRANSFORMING SYDNEY Photo: The Dirt Witches Collective. Credit: City of Sydney.

Sydney’s green vision: micro-forests, solar and community In June of 2019, Lord Mayor Clover Moore declared a climate emergency in response to the ongoing and worsening effects of climate change.

By

Tess Scholfield-Peters

T

hen the pandemic hit with far-reaching and harrowing impacts on nearly every facet of the city, especially small businesses, the arts and tourism industries.

In an effort to revitalise the city now that the worst of the pandemic seems to be over, City of Sydney put out a call to artists for works that would reinvigorate the deserted laneways of the city. One such work is the Barlow Street Micro Forest by the Dirt Witches collective.

The installation contains over 30 species belonging to the critically endangered eastern suburbs banksia scrub, as well as beehives containing sugarbag stingless native bees. It serves as a poetic reminder of the 5,300 hectares of scrub that once stretched between Botany Bay and North Head.

The forest is a temporary installation, however Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Scully is hopeful that the public response will secure the micro forest’s permanency.

“I’m hopeful that the forest serves as a new way of doing things. I think it aligns really well with our Greening Sydney Strategy,” says Jess.

Sydney is the only capital city local government that has managed to increase its green canopy in the last decade.

“We have done so by setting targets and planting a tree in every possible public space that we can. But we’re getting to the point now where we need people to plant

those trees in their yards. We need to green buildings and put more green cover on and around buildings,” says Jess.

“We also need to green spaces that haven’t been greened before, like laneways.”

The most recent City success is the approval of amendments to traditional restrictions on heritage terraces that impeded those wanting to put solar panels on their rooves.

“About 38% of city of Sydney government area is considered to be a heritage or protected conservation area.

We have always prioritised heritage needs and protections.

We’ve now got to balance that with the fact that we’re in a climate emergency.”

Thanks to Jess’s motion, those wanting to use solar panels and other infrastructure like rainwater tanks in heritage conservation areas, can simply apply for an exemption to the development application process.

“I would love Sydney to have a fair and creative and inclusive recovery. I would love this very difficult moment that a lot of people are experiencing, to be the moment where we decide we can work better.

“We tend to hear a lot from the same people, but we tend to hear very little from people who have kids, people who are working age, people who are students, people who rent. I think we will get a better city with more creative solutions and ideas if we hear from those people.

“It’s a responsibility that we have if we want to live in a city that we love, but it’s also a great opportunity to make sure the city is shaped for all of us.”

For more information on the newly released Greening Sydney Strategy, head to the City of Sydney website.

ARE YOU ENROLLED AND READY TO HAVE YOUR SAY? The local government election will be held on September 4, 2021. Both individuals and businesses can vote in City of Sydney elections.

You may be eligible to vote, but you have to be on the roll – so check and update your enrolment today!

Our city is powering ahead and we are energised about continuing our great work for the city and our community for another term.

WWW.TEAMCLOVER.COM.AU Photo: Barlow Street Forest by The Dirt Witches Collective. Credit: City of Sydney.

Authorised by Frank Littlewood, 25 Francis Street, East Sydney, www.urbanvillage.com.au NSW 2010

4 Local News Image by Theresa Sarjent

Earlier this year, McIver’s Ladies Baths published a new policy that only “transgender women who’ve undergone a gender reassignment surgery” could attend the baths.

By

Janet Anderson

W

hen I first heard this, I wasn’t surprised, I wasn’t even upset. Yet again, I was seeing a step in the wrong direction, an exhaustingly upsetting headline of bigotry gone wild.

I don’t know why this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Maybe it’s the fact that I have been to the baths, and used to perceive it as a safe space, but something about this headline made me snap.

So, I organised a hashtag #letthemswim, petitions went out calling for them to change their policies and release a public apology – the latter which still hasn’t been done, even though the petition has reached 12,000 signatures.

They changed their policy to say “Only women and boys 13 years and under are allowed in.” Afterwards, they changed their policy to something seemingly welcome but incredibly vague. Charlie Murphy, the Mardi Gras board director’s comment on the issue: “An ambiguous

policy leaves the door open to discrimination.”

Some friends and I ended up organising a protest. We met with 15 cops, who tried to tell us the protest wasn’t allowed (it was), we pushed through. It all went off without a hitch. We had great media support, and unbelievable support from those who were involved/turned up.

Since this, not much change has occurred.

McIver’s Ladies Baths have faced no consequences. Nor has anyone who was involved.

To me, this is a blatant example of the fact that when it comes to trans people, there is still the perception that there is a lie. A lie that trans people are tricking you, trying to deceive you into thinking they’re anything more than predators.

This lie has absolutely no base in reality.

The truth is that having the self assuredness and bravery to live authentically makes us the most deserving of the title of women. To me, being a woman is like being right-handed. No one told me, it just felt right.

Trans women have sacrificed everything to

“ To me, this is a blatant example of the fact that when it comes to trans people, there is still the perception that there is a lie. earn this title, and it certainly won’t be taken away by a swimming pool.

I hope that through advocacy and through writing pieces like this, that people will remain aware. That transphobic acts like banning some trans women from McIver’s Ladies Bath’s won’t just be a social media movement for a few days, but rather that it stays on your mind.

Remember that McIver’s Ladies Baths, and so many places and people like it, haven’t truly suffered the consequences of their words or actions. But for those who these actions target, like trans women, we face the consequences of this transphobia every day.

Photo by Rob Harley

Doggos of Surry Hills: Instagram Page Turned Eden & Bell: Not-For-Profit Coming Up Roses in Surry Hills

Doggos of Surry Hills started out as a muchloved Instagram page dedicated to the many dogs of Surry Hills. It has since grown into a grassroots charity that hopes to give help to local dogs in need.

By

Queenie Colquhoun

S

urry Hills resident Lisa Hampton started the Doggos of Surry Hills Instagram page a year ago as a way of creating communal appreciation for our furry residents.

It began eight months ago, when her connection to both canine and human residents in the area spurred her to run drives to raise money for dog desexing and pet food.

“Because Ward Park is close to my house, I can’t remember how I came up with the idea, but I knew a lot of people in the area who were struggling to feed their dogs,” Lisa tells Urban Village.

“I put my first post on Darlo Darlings actually, asking if anyone wanted to help donate some food. I had lots of people drop off food to my house and I had people from our

www.urbanvillage.com.au

Instagram page order from Pet Circle and had it delivered.”

Every Saturday Lisa can be seen at Ward Park handing out donations to those who need it.

Lisa tells Urban Village that many of the people she helps are often unable to feed their dogs for days at a time due to financial constraints and are incredibly grateful for the initiative.

Local veterinary practice Southern Cross Vets has also joined the cause, providing close to $5,000 worth of veterinary treatments and services.

Donations occur through pet food drop offs or through a Go Fund Me page that Lisa has started. Since starting the initiative at the beginning of COVID-19 lockdown 8 months ago, she has raised over $1,000 but hopes to have ongoing support and donations to give local dogs the help they need.

A minimum of $10 donated allows participants to go in the running to win two weeks of free dog food.

In future, Lisa hopes that Doggos of Surry Hills can expand into a not-for-profit dedicated to helping the dogs of the homeless.

Doggos of Surry Hills can be contacted via their Instagram @doggosofsurryhills. Donations can be made through their Go Fund Me, Doggos of Surry Hills.

Dom and Sophie Geisser saw that Sydney’s flower growers were facing a big problem last year.

By

Queenie Colquhoun

T

heir flowers were just coming into bloom, but their amazing products faced major issues in getting to market because the COVID-19 restrictions meant that weddings, a major source of demand, just weren’t going ahead.

Watching this was part of the motivation which led to the creation of the new business Eden & Bell Florist on Crown St. Working as a wedding planner and stylist for a number of years, Sophie and her partner Dom decided to throw themselves entirely into the trade, opening up in Surry Hills to spread the beauty of flowers and homewares, as well as serving as a base for their other businesses.

During the worst of the lockdowns in Sydney, Eden & Bell switched to local flower

Bus

ines

deliveries.

Sophie says: “We started doing it mainly because – the bushfires and then the droughts and the floods last year – we have so many growers whose flowers all came into peak right when COVID was here.”

“To see them go through so much… trying to get a good product on the market for years and all of a sudden they had a flash of so many beautiful flowers because all the weddings stopped…”

“We wanted to support the growers.”

Sophie and Dom pride themselves on offering amazing service and support for all clients –corporate or brides. They believe that by channelling the same love and care into their flower deliveries has led to their warm reception in the Surry Hills community.

Eden & Bell revolves solely around the

s

experience of the customer, hoping to create an appreciation of natural beauty and tranquillity.

Geisser says: “We want people to be profoundly affected by love and beauty… we live in such a fast-paced world, and if we can just create a moment in time where someone stops and sees something beautiful and is grateful, and is refreshed, I think that’s really important to us.

For Sophie and Dom, Eden & Bell is about delivering an experience to clients. Finding an immediate connection with their Surry Hills community, Sophie and Dom hope that their store will be a place to come to for great chat and to appreciate natural beauty.

“We are really all about the experience.

I really want to make it so that when you come into the shop or whether we organise a wedding or event, we just want it to be transformative,” says Sophie.

Local News 5 In the Hood with Mike Galvin Mardi Gras: After an unprecedented past year of challenge and hardship for Sydneysiders, it was time to RISE for Mardi Gras last month. Whilst this year was certainly different, Mardi Gras did an outstanding job creating such an incredible evening.

Being part of the parade at the SCG was an absolute privilege and a special occasion so many people coming together to support our LGBTIQA+ community. It would not have been possible without the amazing work from Mardi Gras, the City of Sydney, all the participants, volunteers, the amazing audience and those working at the SCG. It was also a night our local businesses could get involved, many hosting Mardi Gras viewing parties in their restaurants and bars. Following the parade, I attended Verde Restaurant on Stanley Street for a fabulous 3 course Mardi Gras event, where we watched the delayed telecast from our table. It was a Mardi Gras to remember, a celebration I feel we all deserved.

Head to Surry Hills: An initiative of the Surry Hills Business Partnership, Head to Surry Hills is an online platform celebrating all things happening in Postcode 2010 and surrounds. It is designed to bring together all local events, promotions and big ideas, under one iconic banner. It is the new go-to for ‘what’s happening’ for events, promotions and local knowledge. From live music shows, artistic performances, markets and gallery exhibitions, to local school events, business offers and shop local promotions, Head to Surry Hills is driven by the community, for the community, www.headtosurryhills.com.au for all the details.

Victoria Street, Darlinghurst: High street revitalisation isn’t easy, but when we all work well together, great things can happen. Victoria Street has been impacted for some time and like with Oxford Street, has had many challenges with reduced foot-traffic from Kings Cross post Lockout Laws, construction work, the recent closure of the Green Park Hotel and many commercial factors that have made it challenging for businesses to operate. Where there’s a will there’s a way - We established a Victoria Street working group last year led by Deputy Lord Mayor, Jess Scully, which includes local residents, community organisations, town planners and landlords. Our working group continues

Kids not cars in Redfern Last week my partner and I joined around fifty of our neighbours from Surry Hills and Redfern to protest planned traffic changes on Cleveland Street, which we’re worried will put pedestrians and cyclists at risk and hurt local businesses.

By

I

Annette Tolhurst

t was the culmination of a busy month for the Cleveland Street Action Group.

When I first heard of Transport for NSW’s plans to remove five right turns from Cleveland St late one Friday night, my first thought was about the inconvenience. I wondered how I was going to get home from Broadway, a visit to the pool or the kids’ taekwondo lessons.

But the more I thought about it, the more concerned I was about safety. Transport’s plan will send more than 5,000 cars a day from

to build momentum which will become a foundation for the future of the Street.

There is great news to share already… Bake Bar recently opened to rave reviews, Side Note Cafe has expanded with their new footpath dining extension, and newcomer, Italian vegan and pescatarian restaurant, Bella, are drawing hungry locals with their offering. Group Fitness Sydney opened up their new personal training centre, and Tropicana Caffe, and Lil Darlin launched their ‘Live Music Sundays’ supporting local artists such as Dom Cotton, who recently released his debut single, Get Me Outta Here. With more sites now under offer, and some exciting developments at larger vacant sites, Victoria Street’s star will continue to rise during 2021.

A huge thank you to the working group, and locals like Matt Norton who get on and ‘do the work’ to make our high streets the best they can be. Instilling a ‘shop local’ culture remains critical, especially for strips like Oxford Street. With Westfields at either end, the past lockout laws and traffic

“ Transport’s plan will send more than 5,000 cars a day from Cleveland St into the local side streets, right past busy Bourke Street Public School...

Cleveland St into the local side streets, right past busy Bourke Street Public School and across the popular Bourke St cycleway in two places.

Not only that, but it will be a blow to local businesses already impacted by COVID-19.

The changes will make it almost impossible for anyone coming by car, bike or Uber from the west along Cleveland St. Most customers will just give up and go elsewhere.

Our concerns have been echoed by City of Sydney councillors, including the Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and the State Members for Sydney and Newtown. Transport has since written to Council committing to more consultation---we hope they’ll honour that.

We chose national Ride2School day to protest to help highlight what’s at stake. We’re very lucky in this area, around 80 percent of the kids at the local primary school walk or ride there each day---that’s much higher than the national average of 25-32 percent.

funnelling through, Oxford Street has had so many challenges. As the revitalisation and re-development starts, it’s up to all of us to support the wonderful businesses on Oxford Street today as they prepare for the future. One way we can all help is by simply by shopping local, and spreading the ‘good news’ and reasons why people should visit our neighbourhoods.

On your bike: The local cycling craze continues to grow and I for one am loving my daily commutes between Darlinghurst and Surry Hills, and to the CBD. It’s a great way to see our city in a different light, as well as of course being a sustainable way to commute.

It’s also incredibly fun, not to mention the exercise you get. My trainer Dave from Fitness Playground has even reduced my ‘leg-day’ reps thanks to my cycling, so its a win-win there…

Who really likes ‘leg-day’ at the gym anyway!

Keep shopping local, and have a fabulous Autumn. Mike.

Photo supplied

It’s been a busy year, and this has been a lot to take on, especially after Keep Your Local Alive, but my partner and I, and our wonderful neighbours, agreed we couldn’t stand by and allow poor planning by bureaucrats to put the lives of local kids at risk.

Annette Tolhurst is the founder of Keep Your Local Alive, a social media group started to help people in Surry Hills, Redfern, Waterloo and Alexandria stay in touch with local cafes, bars, restaurants and small businesses as they adapted to lockdowns and the pandemic.

To learn more about the Cleveland Street Action Group visit: sites.google.com/view/ clevelandstreetactiongroup.

Email: clevelandstreetactiongroup@gmail.com or: Cleveland Street Action group - on Facebook. www.urbanvillage.com.au

6 Local News Photo supplied

TANYA PLIBERSEK FEDERAL MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

HERE TO HELP As your local representative, I can assist with enquiries or problems you have with Federal Government departments and services like Centrelink, immigration, superannuation, Child Support payments, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS), Veterans’ Affairs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the National Broadband Network (NBN), universities, employment, training, Commonwealth funding and grants.

STAYING IN TOUCH To keep up to date with my activities (incuding my mobile offices), issues and events - both locally and nationally, please subscribe to my eNews at tanyaplibersek.com.

a message from

Councilor Christine Forster

02 9379 0700 www.urbanvillage.com.au

TanyaPlibersek.com

and delivers. We need more than a selfserving spin machine that hears only its own dogma: that trumpets everything that’s popular and takes no responsibility for anything that isn’t.

Sydney needs a Lord Mayor who not only values the unique character of our Villages but provides each community with the opportunity to shape and implement projects that will make a difference on the ground.

A Lord Mayor for whom sustainability means the triple bottom line and whose policies for protecting our environment are focused on real city-wide action, not just on paying lip service to the international environmental elite.

We need a Lord Mayor who can move with the times, embrace new technology and ideas and who welcomes change and renewal. It’s time for change in Sydney.

“ It’s a wrap”: commuters ride with pride on Transdev’s rainbow tram Transdev Sydney’s passionate support for the city’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was on show for all to see during the recent festival.

Queenie Colquhoun

T

Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au

love Sydney. I’ve lived here all my life and I’m passionate about contributing to making our city the world’s best place to live, work and visit.

Over recent years, many of the inner-city precincts that make us unique have suffered from economic downturn, the knock-on effects of lockout laws and latterly the pandemic. Some areas, like Oxford Street and Kings Cross, have been the victims of Council neglect.

But Sydney and its people have shown their resilience during COVID, tackling the hardship with optimism, energy and a willingness to work together.

Now more than ever Council needs to focus on delivering the services and support to help our communities and businesses bounce back.

To get our great city humming again Sydney needs a leader who listens, responds

Photo supplied

By

1A Great Buckingham St Redfern NSW 2016

I

he Sydney Light Rail operator teamed up with Transport for New South Wales to cover one of its new trams in a Mardi Gras-themed rainbow wrap at the Randwick Stabling Yard.

The tram ran along the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines in early March ahead of the Mardi Gras parade, promoting the supportive message, “Together We Rise,” the theme of this year’s event.

Transdev also fitted trams on the L1 Dulwich Hill Line, with rainbow posters and decals on the inside of carriages in what’s become a traditional annual gesture by the global transportation giant.

Light Rail Customer Service Officers happily handed out popular “Ride with Pride” stickers to commuters in the lead-up to the parade – held this year inside the Sydney

Cricket Ground on Saturday 6 March - whilst some Transdev staff participated in the official Mardi Gras celebrations.

Transdev is a proud, equal opportunity employer and recently received a Workplace Gender Equality Agency “Employer of Choice for Gender Equality” citation for a third successive year, in 2021.

The Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation is a voluntary leading-practice recognition program designed to encourage, recognise and promote organisations’ active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.

Transdev Sydney Managing Director, Arsene Durand-Raucher, said the light rail company is very proud of its diverse workforce and formally supports the city’s LGBTQI+ community through its Corporate Social Responsibility; and Diversity and Inclusion strategies.

“Our employees represent all parts of the globe and all walks of life,” Mr DurandRaucher said, “We reflect the community in which we operate.

“That’s why we’re proud to play our part in the celebrations with such colourful, highprofile trams supporting the cause through the streets of Sydney.”

“ Transdev Sydney Managing Director, Arsene DurandRaucher, said the light rail company is very proud of its diverse workforce and formally supports the city’s LGBTQI+ community through its Corporate Social Responsibility; and Diversity and Inclusion strategies...

Local News 7 Photo by Rob Harley

TANYA PLIBERSEK FEDERAL MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

Picnic adds a “dynamic layer” The second PICNIC event was held in March to coincide with Mardi Gras, and not even a COVID pandemic could dampen its success.

By

Queenie Colquhoun

Photo: above: The Devonshire Divas by the Deep Sea Astronauts and commissioned by the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre (SHNC).

P

ICNIC began in 2020 in Ward Park, with businesses and entertainers providing a day out for the local community.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions PICNIC adapted, becoming an in-venue event. 18 participating Local Rewards venues were promoted through Head to Surry Hills and Local Rewards and were paired with performers to help celebrate Mardi Gras.

Promotional menus were offered, adding to the atmosphere as the Surry Hills Drag Queen group the Devonshire Divas visited venues.

PICNIC is an initiative of the Surry Hills Business Partnership as part of the Head to Surry Hills campaign. PICNIC is an official Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras event and is supported by the City of Sydney.

Surry Hills Business Partnership President Leigh Harris says: “PICNIC is a great event as it allows businesses and community to support and connect with each other, which is even more important during the coronavirus

pandemic.”

Many participating venues sold PICNIC rugs, with proceeds donated to the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre. The SHNC provides a space for residents to connect with their community, access support, learn new skills or give back to the community.

SHNC Community and Development Worker Stephen Lunny says: “I think it’s a really vital partnership between the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre and the Surry Hills Business Partnership. Being an NGO that is there for the whole community, our local businesses are a really important part of the community… I think it adds a dynamic layer to Surry Hills.”

“I know we’ll use that money to continue to run our Do Drop-in Day which is every Friday at 10.30pm - 2pm.”

The Do Drop-in Day started as the SHNC’s response to the COVID-19 shutdown. Seeing a rise in mental health issues and social isolation and with nowhere for many affected to turn, the neighbourhood centre created a Covid safe way to be open and support the community on a regular basis.

The Do Drop-in Day offers café style breakfast and lunch items, as well as $5 haircuts once a month. There is also a computer support service and creative table for arts and crafts.

Both the Surry Hills Business Partnership and Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre look forward to continuing the PICNIC tradition next year.

Editor Lachlan Colquhoun Words Tess Scholfield-Peters, Lachlan Colquhoun, Queenie Colquhoun, Mike Galvin, Glen Hare, Peter English, Dave Marsh, Angela Stretch, Dr Nima Rahmani, Annette Tolhurst, Councillor Christine Forster, Ivy Ireland, Janet Anderson.

Images Rob Harley, Mike Galvin, Walter Maurice, City of Sydney, Theresa Sarjent, TOGA Group, Tayla Colley, Giovanni Portelli, Anna Kucera Advertising Sacha Newell Design & Layout Ben Eckersley Publisher Urban Village Media Pty Ltd | ABN 68 623 934 609 Feature Oxford Street Icons by Lachlan Colquhoun Email info@urbanvillage.com.au Mail PO Box 644 Surry Hills NSW 2010 | ISSN 2208-6242

Urban Village is published by Urban Village Media Pty Ltd with co-operation from the Surry Hills Creative Precinct, Potts Point Partnership and the Darlinghurst Business Partnership. Our purpose is to strengthen relationships and co-operation between the business community, residents, visitors and workers of Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Potts Point and the surrounding neighbourhoods. While all efforts are made to ensure information is accurate, Urban Village Media and our co-operating chamber partners, take no responsibility for errors or omissions.

Poetry

HERE TO HELP As your local representative, I can assist with enquiries or problems you have with Federal Government departments and services like Centrelink, immigration, superannuation, Child Support payments, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS), Veterans’ Affairs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the National Broadband Network (NBN), universities, employment, training, Commonwealth funding and grants.

BY

IVY IREL AND Crossing the Sun All that is true at once: sea ice melting close by while we fall in love. How leaves, also falling, now reveal Myna birds, exiting branches as though they, too, are discarded fronds. Diving down, returning – towards what – as though anything could remain of what was. Illusion pervades this place, leaving nothing – everything – but this endless trace inside, the yearning to make it material.

The apparition sounds: major fifths chasing minor sevenths, intoning endlessly, looped through struggling synapses.

The mind cannot know where to put this, only the sacrosanct body knows; and not fully then.

Ivy Ireland is a poet and performer. Her new book, The Owl Inside, has been recently published with Puncher and Wattmann poetry. poetrysydney.org

STAYING IN TOUCH To keep up to date with my activities (incuding my mobile offices), issues and events - both locally and nationally, please subscribe to my eNews at tanyaplibersek.com.

1A Great Buckingham St Redfern NSW 2016 Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au 02 9379 0700

TanyaPlibersek.com

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8 Feature Photo supplied by TOGA group

New Icons for Oxford Street?

With a number of new developments announced recently for Oxford Street, is it time to hail the revival of the famous strip? Lachlan Colquhoun hopes so, but has his doubts.

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www.urbanvillage.com.au

Lachlan Colquhoun

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alking along Oxford Street is to be reminded of lost icons from Sydney’s nightlife and culture.

The Balkan Grill has gone, the Albury Hotel has long since been apartments, and the Grand Pacific Blue Room is shuttered after a brief sojourn as Don Pepinos.

Whoever remembers the Freezer which turned into the Hip Hop Club?

From the Verona Cinema walking towards Taylor Square almost 20 of the shops are either closed or for lease.

Sad to think that those art students from COFA have no local watering hole, with the Arts Bar closed up, and while the Beecham Hotel is under renovation surely it re-opens in a tough market. Where are the punters going to come from?

It’s crazy to think that this desolate row is only kilometres from some of the priciest real estate in Australia.

It is Sydney’s loss that Oxford Street has been like this for a long time, even before COVID came along and emptied the streets.

A number of new developments have been announced, however, which will change the street and – hopefully – bring back some life.

The gay community used to own the street, but the community is spread around Sydney these days, not concentrated on either side of Oxford Street. Gay businesses have a big part to play in Oxford’s Street’s future, as it is a historic homeland, but they need some help.

Maybe there are signs of life there already.

After all, Freda’s made a name for themselves and helped turn Chippendale into a go-to area, and now they are trying a café on the corner of Oxford and Flinders Street with Al Fresco dining. Strange to say, but if they can bring a little bit of that Chippendale vibe with them, Oxford Street will be greatly improved.

Just up from Freda’s, at the old Grand Pacific Blue Room site, there are plans to transform it into a hotel by the end of 2022.

Global hotels group Accor has joined forces with property group Boston Global to create a new hotel branded 25hours, a chain which

is already established in Europe and the Middle East.

At Taylor Square, private equity firm Moelis has purchased Kinsellas and the Courthouse for $67 million, with plans to merge the two into a large pub complex with accommodation and rooftop bars.

Then there is the biggest development of the three, AsheMorgan and TOGA Group have $200 million plans for a 70 room hotel and commercial office space on the opposite side of the street, at a development to be called the Darlinghurst Collection.

Watching all this unfold is Steph Gyory, the head of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership who runs the Record Store in Oxford Street.

He is supportive of the new developments, but also has his caveats.

“The TOGA development, for example, will have an impact but the question is what is going to be left afterwards,” he says.

“That block is going to be empty for however long it takes, and how many tenants are going to come back?

“So its up to the developer to curate that space and bring in businesses and show some sensitivity and intelligence.”

Gyory is supportive of commercial use rather than residential, and also supports taller height limits for new developments because more space means more people in the area.

Unfortunately, he says, TOGA were hamstrung by current restrictions, and a City of Sydney planning review needs to be completed before rules can change.

Another problem is the street itself. The State Government transformed Oxford street into a “six lane arterial road” which at one point becomes seven lanes. Oxford Street, says Gyory, was never that wide.

Then there are institutions which are buying up property in the area and completing new developments, which displace smaller businesses and give little back to the street. Its not Oxford Street, but one example is the purchase of the Green Park Hotel by St Vincent’s Hospital.

“ It’s crazy to think that this desolate row is only kilometres from some of the priciest real estate in Australia.

It is Sydney’s loss that Oxford Street has been like this for a long time, even before COVID came along and emptied the streets.

“So I think the institutions have something to answer for, and the Government for building that massive road,” says Gyory.

Another problem facing revitalisation is that landlords for the vacant shops often have little incentive to lease them. Many Oxford Street landlords are “old money” and there’s little imperative for them to lease out their buildings today, when they are thinking in terms of business cycles spanning decades.

The solution, says Gyory, lies in a “complete precinct” plan which curates the area with an integrated and cohesive vision.

The trouble is that no one organisation – from the State Government to the City of Sydney – is taking responsibility and community groups, such as the Darlinghurst Business Partnership, have neither the resources or power to do so.

And so, we wait and hope for Oxford Street to spring back to life, almost by magic.

Hundreds of millions of dollars thrown at the street in development sounds great, but will it revive the patient?

Watch this space and this street, and hope for new icons coming soon.

Local News 9 Photo by Rob Harley

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Surry Hills Pub Food Takeover It’s no secret that Surry Hills patrons are spoilt for choice when it comes to pubs, but for pub businesses this means stiff competition and a need for continual evolution.

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Queenie Colquhoun

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or the Shakespeare Hotel and the Strawberry Hills Hotel, their kitchens are leading the way. Chefs, Alex Gutierrez and Marco de Vecchi have recently joined the pubs. Bringing a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience, they’re beginning to reinvent their menus.

Alex Gutierrez left the Strawberry Hills Hotel in 2014 to travel and work overseas. Travelling through Germany, South America and the USA, he has built up a wealth of experience and has won several awards.

Alex returned to the Strawberry Hills Hotel in January of this year, drawn back to the freedom of working at the pub. “It’s the freedom and the variety that you can do with the cuisine here. There’s no limit, you can create whatever you like. You can do good food and there’s no limitations” says Alex.

Alex hopes to reinvent the Strawberry Hills menu to something that is a creative reflection of his South American heritage and travels. Alex says: “Now I’m basically putting up what I’ve learnt through my travels, doing traditional cuisines from a variety of different backgrounds, but giving everything my own little twist.”

At the Shakespeare Hotel, Marco de Vecchi has

jumped headfirst into the vibrancy of the area and the new direction of the pub. Marco says: “They mentioned they wanted to do something different to every pub around here, so I jumped on board.”

For Marco, he wants to emphasise the beautiful simplicity of pub food, as well as introduce a more share friendly addition to the menu. Hoping to emphasise the importance of antipasto share plates and introduce fine meats to customers as they chat with friends over fine food.

Although both chefs have only been working for a short time, it’s been a warmly welcomed arrival. As Alex puts it: “Now I’m seeing the changes. People are actually coming to the Strawberry Hills to eat. Or they see the food that’s coming out to other customers and they think ‘Oh, let’s order something.’”

Surry Hills pub food revival is underway.

Mensch: the hole in the wall with big ambitions Mike Samaha is the founder of Crown Street’s newest (and only) bagel shop—a long-time pipe dream that was realised because of the unique opportunities presented during the pandemic.

By

Tess Scholfield-Peters

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Photo by Rob Harley

ensch is part of the rising number of new small businesses who have taken advantage of cheapened rent to move in to coveted Sydney areas. In the middle of last year Mike was made redundant at a multinational consulting firm. He moved home, and after fruitlessly looking for similar roles, Mike realised that the time was now to begin a new venture.

“I knew that there wouldn’t be another opportunity where I could really do this—I had no obligations, I had a little bit of money saved, I thought, ‘you may as well try. It’s just as likely to succeed as it is to fail,’” Mike tells Urban Village.

“It didn’t really scare me. You just think: what is there to lose?”

So far, the gamble is paying off. Mensch sold out by 11.30am on opening weekend and

people came in droves, milling around on the footpath and out onto the street. It’s exactly the response Mike was hoping for—there’s nothing like being thrown in the deep end to iron out any new business teething problems.

Above all Mike wants the staff and customers to feel like family. The hole in the wall has the makings of a neighbourhood institution with some very big ambitions, the main goals being net zero in all facets of the business by 2031, and the eventual creation of a tech platform for businesses to track perishable inventory to secure zero food waste.

Every part of the bagel packaging is compostable: if you don’t have a compost bin, return the packaging and the team will do it for you.

“The idea is to serve really lovely bagels while benefitting the community and the environment,” says Mike.

“It’s quite a simple takeaway bagel shop, but it’s actually meant to be the seed for a much larger business that does some really cool things. We want to toe that line between being highly ambitious while also never losing sight of the fact we’re a community institution that people always come to and walk away feeling warm and well fed.”

Mensch Bagels | 475 Crown Street Instagram: @menschbagels www.urbanvillage.com.au

10 Local Arts & Community

From Drab to Fab The Reinvention of Hayden Lane, Darlinghurst

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t’s official, community gardens are trending across our community, thanks to creative locals who are taking street pride to the next level. Meet Sebastian and Mike from Hayden Lane. Sebastian and Mike are long term residents of Darlinghurst who love their neighbourhood. a few weeks ago, they got to work on turning their drab laneway, into what is now a lush green oasis, and wall murals, which has fast become a favourite place for locals to wander through, enjoying the hard yards and efforts of the two locals.

Rewind to February - Hayden Lane was drab, undesirable, and the main feature was the red and yellow lidded bins awaiting collection. Sebastian and Mike came up with a plan to change their laneway and got to work immediately to make it happen. The fabulous thing about this is what I love about so many local residents, they don’t sit back waiting for things to change, they jump on in and create the change themselves.

A post by Sebastian in the Darlo Darlings Facebook Group started an avalanche of plant donations by locals. Within a week, residents had dropped off palms, succulents,

grasses and other plant varieties for the guys to rearrange and beautify their lane. Each weekend, Sebastian and Mike would be up at the rising of the sun, repotting, planting, and cleaning up the laneway. If you’re in the area, please get along and check out their hard work.

Wall art - the future plans for Hayden Lane include a series of wall murals. With one already installed, it has already added artistic flair and character to a once soulless lane. Deputy Lord Mayor, Jess Scully paid a visit to Hayden Lane during its beautification and was blown away with the work completed.

Having worked on many community garden projects across the City, Jess supported the Darlinghurst locals by tabling a motion at Council recently, which was successful, and will help in potentially installing a sustainable rain water tank, curb extensions to support the plant installations and improved lighting to make Hayden Lane a safer place for locals.

Congratulations Sebastian and Mike for making Hayden Lane such a beautiful place that we can all enjoy. Urban Village readers can visit Hayden Lane, just off Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst. You can follow the progress and check out the wall art on Instagram @haydenlanelife

Ciao Bella! Italian wine bar opens in Darlo It’s been four months since Bella Restaurant and Wine Bar moved in to Victoria Road, after Covid forced owner and Surry Hills local Nicola to venture into hospitality from the music industry.

By

Tess Scholfield-Peters

“I

’ve been a DJ all my life, basically. Six years ago, I started a brand called ‘We Love’ in Sydney. We run events all around Australia.

It’s also a record label and agency,” Nicola told Urban Village.

“During Covid I wasn’t able to run my events. My partner, Adriana, is a really talented chef, so during Covid we started to think about the Bella project.”

Nicola is originally from the Amalfi Coast and Adriana is originally from Brazil. Adriana honed her culinary skills all over Italy for ten years and has worked in many Australian fine dining kitchens.

The restaurant is vegetarian and pescatarian, a nod to the duo’s own dietary preferences and cuisine specialty.

“We’re influenced by cuisine from the south of Italy. We have a very particular way of cooking our fish. You won’t find it in other

Moore Park Golf Debate Divides Opinions In the debate over the future of the Moore Park Golf Course there is no one right answer, just many different opinions.

By

ueenie and Lachlan Q Colquhoun

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ake Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for example. She says that golf is declining in popularity while the population around South Dowling Street is increasing.

According to Golf Australia, overall participation in the sport has fallen from 1.029 million in 2016 to 878,000 in 2019, while club membership has slumped from almost 500,000 in 1998 to 383,794.

Given these demographics, her plan is to cut the 18 hole course down to nine holes, and use the balance of the land for a public park.

The City of Sydney has released two options for this plan configuring two different wnine hole courses, with a public consultation period which ran to December.

It was a plan which angered some councilors, and was pre-empted by the State Government with Planning Minister Rob Stokes announced he was against the plan – before the consultation period had finished.

At Moore Park itself, its no surprise that the golfers don’t want their course tampered with. Paramount for them is the fact that the course has been there for 100 years, and is a

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public course in the middle of a city – a rarity in Australia.

Some golfers point to the surrounding space and say there is plenty of public space there already, and its being underutilised.

Peter Lacaze, for example, described the plan as an “outrage.”

“This is a unique asset,” he told Urban Village.

“I travel all around the world and I don’t know anywhere else in the world that has a golf course right that is right in the centre of it.

“It’s adjacent to all of the sports precincts.

I think it would be a tragedy if the proposal goes ahead.”

Lacaze, however, lives in Melbourne most of the time, but says he comes to Sydney regularly and plays at Moore Park every time he does.

This raises the issue of just who the stakeholders in this debate are. Should it be confined to residents, or do golfers – from anywhere – who use the course have an equal right to consideration?

The City of Sydney’s online survey was inconclusive. More than 10,000 people responded, with half wanting the 18-hole course to say and the other half wanting more parkland.

Of these 10,000 respondents, 48 percent had used the course in the last year.

Another smaller phone poll of 402 households in a 5 kilometre radius gave a different view – with 47% wanting the course converted to nine holes and 30 percent wanting the course to be done away with entirely and replaced by a park. Only 23

percent wanted it left as it is.

So, is there a compromise? More public access perhaps? The golf club and Minister Stokes say they are open to discussing ideas such as converting some of the course to parklands some of the time.

What happens next? The boar of Greater Sydney Parklands is coming up with options which should be given to the State Government soon.

At a local government level, the golf course could be an issue at the upcoming elections later this year.

Given the phone polling, it would seem its an electoral winner of an idea for Clover Moore, but she – and the Council – may not be the ones to make the decision.

restaurants around Sydney,” said Nicola.

Guests can expect fresh pasta prepared daily, sustainably sourced seafood and premium important Italian ingredients, with wines carefully selected from across Italy and Australia.

Nicola loves the ocean, it’s the main similarity between Sydney and his hometown.

“I miss home, but my love for Australia is bigger than how much I miss Italy. I want to be here for a while,” said Nicola.

Catch live music at Bella every Friday night and DJs and drinks specials every Saturday.

Bella | 231a Victoria St, Darlinghurst @bellarestaurantwinebar

with PINOT & PICASSO

is Surry Hills’ newest creative experience.

We offer a ‘Paint and Sip’ night like no other. BYO booze, nibbles and a guaranteed night of laughter, fun and some killer tunes.

Transdev, the operator of the city’s Light Rail network, congratulates the people of Sydney for another wonderful Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival.

SHPPUV10 FOR 10% OFF*

*Discount only valid for 1 transaction

We invite you to join us as we continue to ‘ride with pride.’

SCAN NOW TO BOOK TICKETS

FIND US 35 FOSTER ST, SURRY HILLS, NSW 2010 /PINOTANDPICASSOSURRYHILLS @PINOTANDPICASSOSURRYHILLS SURRYHILLS@PINOTANDPICASSO.COM.AU

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12 Local Stories Photo supplied

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Discover Bohemia on Bourke Street Bourke Street is now home to a little piece of eastern Europe. The airy light filled dining room and sprawling outdoor courtyard are not where you might expect to be served dishes from the heart of Bohemia.

By

Tess Scholfield-Peters

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wners Petra and Jakub have taken the best and most nostalgic cuisine from their home country, Czech Republic, and offer it to Surry Hills with a unique, modern Australian twist.

Petra came to Australia from the Czech Republic in 2009 after completing a Master’s in economics. With plans to practise her English she found herself working her way up the Sydney hospitality ladder. Jakub’s background is in advertising; at 27 he decided to leave everything—flat, car, and job—come to Australia and start again from scratch.

Petra met Jakub through shared hospitality management work and now, ten years later, they’ve gone out on their own with Beast and Co., a modern homage to their Czech roots.

Guests can expect masterfully cooked

traditional fare, inspired by Petra and Jakub’s grandparents, local and Czech beers and a casual, homely atmosphere.

Opening a new restaurant during a pandemic is not for the faint hearted. It was a risk, but the perks of cheapened rent and more time to perfect their offering was worth the gamble.

“We opened the same day the northern beaches got locked down. It was pretty unlucky,” said Jakub.

Despite numerous hurdles, Beast and Co. has been a hit with locals and word is spreading fast. Their locally minded, seasonal approach to the menu means that the food is always changed, bar a few closely guarded favourites (see the pickled camembert, inspired by the popular Czech snack.)

“At the moment it’s all about word of mouth, and the joy of locals coming in and trying us out, giving us a chance, loving it, coming back and bringing more people,” said Petra.

Beast & Co is open 4pm–late Tuesday– Thursday, from 12pm–late Fridays, 11am–late Saturdays and 11am–10pm Sundays. Visit their website www.beastandco.com.au for more information, offers and updates.

Beast & Co. | Shop 15/425 Bourke St, Surry Hills @beastandco

The Clock’s Luke McEnallay on his new Mediterranean inspired menu The culture of pub food has undergone a serious metamorphosis in the last decade. In a suburb like Surry Hills, it’s impossible for pubs to ignore the changing tides of cuisine, particularly towards sustainability, carbon footprint reduction and focus on top quality produce.

By

Tess Scholfield-Peters

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eadlining one such pub transformation is The Clock’s Luke McEnallay, who has been head of the kitchen since January 2020. Previously, Luke was head chef at the Marly in Newtown and Edinburgh Castle on Pitt Street, both venues within the Solotel family.

McEnallay moved to Sydney from his hometown Newcastle at sixteen, after a long-time obsession with SBS show Iron Chef pushed him to get an apprenticeship in a kitchen.

Fifteen years later, McEnallay has accrued an impressive string of gigs and brings his work

“ We find it more interesting to make it ourselves... ethos of creativity, thinking innovatively and maintaining a work life balance to The Clock.

“I’ve worked in fine dining and pub kitchens. Sometimes fine dining can be too encompassing to your whole life. I find you get to have a lot more fun with food in a more relaxed environment,” says Luke.

“You can have a passion for food without being so crazily detail oriented.”

Taking cues from his favourite restaurant, Stanbuli in Enmore, Luke’s new menu is packed full of vegetables, Mediterranean inspired share plates and a focus on seasonal produce.

“Our kitchen isn’t huge but we’re really busy, so we’ve got to keep it quite simple. We wanted to lighten the food up a bit and get a lot more colour on the plate,” says Luke.

“I’ve become a lot more vegetable focused the last few years. The Marly was a mostly vegan menu, which really changed my thinking on how to put food together. You can’t just rely on a piece of meat; you have to get creative

Student Corner: Bourke Street Public School students Alisa, Felix and Byron wrote about what their suburb means to them, and why they and so many others love living in Surry Hills.

Alisa, Year 6 he reason I love Surry Hills so much is because of the diverse community and how amazing and beautiful it is. Surry Hills Is a wonderful place to grow up, learn and meet different people. There are wonderful schools in Surry Hills. There is wonderful food and a diverse pack of food to choose from, I guarantee that there is a cuisine for you.

My family have lived here since before my older brothers were born. My parents met here, I grew up here, and I want you to experience the magic and charisma that Surry hills has to offer.

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Photo by Rob Harley

www.urbanvillage.com.au

Felix, Year 6 istant laughs and happy kids is all I hear when I'm in Surry Hills. Happy customers receiving from great trustworthy businesses and happy families is what I see.

There are parks for your dogs, delicious bakeries and cafes for a nice snack, and best of all the incredible community. If you are looking for a great place to have a picnic, hang out with friends or just to take a walk, I would highly recommend to venture through the neighbourhood and community known as Surry Hills.

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with how you use vegetables and flavour.”

The Clock kitchen now produces its own ricotta, pickled vegetables and mustards. The pickled vegetables change according to what’s seasonal and what specials the producers are offering.

“I think pubs are a lot more willing to go all in and take risks with food, to lead a venue with food. The food is what’s going to bring people in day to day, because you can get a beer almost anywhere.”

When lockdown happened last year, Luke moved back home to Newcastle and focused on gardening, making ceramics in his Mum’s studio and cooking for his family.

“In Sydney I’ve got a garden now and I cook much more for myself. On my nights off I make a conscious effort to cook. It helps my work because when you take time off you come in more refreshed.

“I try things out at home that I wouldn’t at work because I’m just cooking for myself.

You’re not worrying about the costs. You can just experiment a bit.”

Luke recommends the falafel pita, made by local inner west supplier Kade, as well as the house made ricotta with pickled vegetables.

Pop in for lunch or dinner and sample the new menu for yourself.

The Clock | 470 Crown Street | @clockhotel

Bourke Street Public School Byron, Year 5 hat I like about Surry Hills is it's a beautiful community, it has lots of people and shops and everything is so close to each other. Surry Hills means alot to me because it’s my home, my school and my community. I also like Surry Hills because it has a lot of bike lanes so I can ride my bike everywhere.

The oldest school in NSW is Crown Street Public School. But Bourke Street Public School is the second oldest school. Did you know that t​errace​houses and workers' cottages were built in Surry Hills from the 1850s. T ​ he first land grants in Surry Hills were made in the 1790s.

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Local Stories 13 Mother’s Day Concert – Giovanni Portelli Photography

Photo by Rob Harley

Bourke Street Public School: Loving their school space Walking into the Bourke Street School the sense of community is inescapable, but it wasn’t so long ago that this school community was under threat.

By

Queenie Colquhoun

E Mother’s Day Violin Serenade This Mother’s Day, families in Surry Hills can choose a different option as they show their appreciation to the family Matriarch.

After the traditional lunch, they can come to St Peter’s Church for a violin concert.

By

Queenie Colquhoun

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acqui Carías is an orchestral violinist who has performed all over the world, including Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, the UK and Germany.

Jacqui has also toured through China and this Mother’s Day; she’ll be treating patrons to an in-house concert at St Peter’s Church on

Devonshire Street.

Jacqui always had a passion for music from a young age, watching the Vienna Orchestra broadcast every year on SBS from the age of three. Jacqui says: “I would always say to my mum and dad, ‘I want to play the violin, just like they are, in an orchestra’… In 2009 I had the opportunity to play in Vienna in an orchestra.”

Early in her career she was given the opportunity to travel from her hometown of Adelaide to Port Macquarie for three years to work with regional students, who didn’t previously have access to a good musician to teach them.

It was here that Jacqui found her love for teaching music. She now currently teaches at the Inner West School of Music and Ascham and is completing a Master of Teaching.

Since moving to Sydney for education and work, Jacqui has become a regular at St Peter’s

Parish in Surry Hills. She says: “St Peter’s is my church and I’ve seen how that hall there, the 1880, has a really special aura to it. I just knew it would be a really great place to put on a music concert.”

“From an artistic point of view, I think that it would be a very beautiful experience to create for our mothers, the ones who go above and beyond for us. To have a really nice event where we can chill out and listen to some great music played by a professional chamber musician and paired with some exquisite high tea” says Jacqui.

The Mother’s Day concert at St Peter’s Parish will include works by famous Baroque composer George Frideric Handel, including The Royal Fireworks and Water Music.

The Mother’s Day High Tea Concert will be held at St Peter’s Catholic Church Surry Hills on Sunday May 9th at 2pm. Ticket prices range from $60-$80.

Info + bookings: www.trybooking.com/BPRGI

arlier this decade the school had only 70 students and was facing the threat of closure. But then something happened – new families moved into Surry Hills and school numbers took off, reaching over 400 today.

And with the new kids, came rapid change.

After recently being allocated new land and an accompanying building to meet the growing demand of the school, many felt that the facilities did not meet the needs of the children.

Bourke Street Public School Principal Jason Goode says: “The playground was redesigned in terms of flattening, but there wasn’t much equipment and consequently there wasn’t much engagement from the students, so they were very much sitting there stagnant.”

The school’s P&C funded the project by holding a fete in 2018, which funded the new playground. The new Bourke Street Public School playground was also built, painted and maintained by a dedicated team of parents.

Principal Jason Goode says: “We’re so lucky that we have a very engaged community of parents, they were so proactive in steering this.”

Local artist Gemma Smith is both a neighbour and a parent of Bourke Street Public School. She contributed to the new space by donating an artwork based on her most recent MCA exhibition of her ‘Tangle Paintings’.

The paintings create an interesting and puzzling visual stimulus for students. “When I was making the work for the MCA I found that kids had a really lovely response to it. When Bourke St asked me if I would like to make a painting, I thought this would be a great idea for this work as well,” says Gemma.

Like many parents, Gemma contributed her time and effort to the project out of a love for both the school and its community.

“I think the school community is a really special place. It’s an unbelievably generous and supportive community.”

Architect Sacha Coles also helped to develop the new space. Specialising in outdoor spaces and children’s play areas Sacha felt compelled to do his part for the school, based on a similar sense of community.

“There are some amazingly capable and enthusiastic people in this community and its very diverse. The community is incredibly giving and once you start to involve yourself and give your time for free in these ways, then I think that everyone comes along and does their own version of that.”

Students have been very appreciative of their parents hard work, and have welcomed the new playground with open arms.

Parent Linda Ryan has said that her child Alex has responded incredibly well to the new space. Linda says: “He loves it. He’s been here for several incantations of playgrounds. He thinks it’s wonderful.”

Goode says: “The kids particularly have grown in a sense of pride, there’s a new sense of loving their school space.”

On the efforts of the parents the school’s principal Jason Goode is beyond thankful.

“They work so strongly and in partnership with us. If they didn’t do things like this it wouldn’t happen.”

List the space you have.

Find the space you need.

Check out VillageHub to find a space for your idea, and support local businesses at the same time.

Scan here to learn how VillageHub helped Yasmin reinvent herself as an art teacher following COVID, and find unique and affordable spaces for her art class collaborations, like Bayswater Fine Wines.

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14 Local Advice Photo supplied

The first of a three part series by finance contributor Glen Hare

Property vs Shares, PART 1:

Photo by Walter Maurice

Australia: The Lucky Wealthy Country.

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orget the ‘lucky’ country, if Credit Suisse are to be believed; we should be changing our oft-used moniker to the wealthy country. According to their 2019 “Global Wealth Report” Australians enjoy the highest median wealth per adult in the entire world. Clocking in at an impressive $264,903, the median wealth per adult means that fifty per cent of Australians are wealthier than that figure and fifty per cent are not. While it might not always feel like it, our collective wealth is eye watering when compared with the global (per adult) median of $5,820. That’s right, our median wealth sits at a whopping forty-five times the global average.

Interestingly, the two key drivers of Australian’s wealth are the (seemingly unstoppable) forward march of property

prices and our compulsory super system.

In other words, the two primary drivers of Australian's burgeoning and fabulous wealth lie within the realm of our property and share markets. Acknowledging these facts should inevitably lead to questions along the lines of “which is right for me?” Or “how can I get in on the party?” Naturally, there is no easy answer to these questions and both options come with a whole slew of pros and cons. In fact, there are so many positives and negatives to cover - I’d never be able to fit them in to our Urban Village word count, which is why we will be taking a deep dive into both over the next two issues. So, if you’re keen to know whether a terrace on Riley St or ASX 200 portfolio performed better over the past twenty years - and which one is right for you, watch this space.

Small businesses scale up with digital marketing Small businesses are always wanting to reach more customers and expand their market, and today’s digital tools give them that ability to scale up.

By

Queenie Colquhoun

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roperty inspection business Tyrells Property Inspections is a Sydney-wide business, but its marketing message wasn’t cutting through the noise – until they tried a search engine optimisation and digital marketing strategy.

Through engaging Surry Hills business Pulse Agency, Tyrells invested in a tailored response comprising video written content and strong search engine campaigns to achieve better rankings.

By the end of the campaign, Tyrells Property Inspections users were up by almost 30% and sessions on the platform had increased by just over 50%.

Pulse Agency’s Nico Pustilnick says Tyrells is only one example of what targeted digital marketing can achieve for a small business.

Originally from Argentina, Nico started working in advertising to sustain his love of music. Moving to Sydney and working for a number of large-scale advertising and digital marketing agencies, Nico felt the pull of being your own boss, deciding to start Pulse Agency.

Nico says: “We try to tailor the services of the industry needs and to specific business needs. What we do is very dependent on whether they’re a not-for-profit, a professional services company, an institution, an e-commerce business, or any kind of business.”

“Basically, we tailor those services depending on the business needs and the industry. It also depends on where they are in terms of growth.”

Pulse Agency has worked for a number of inner-East Sydney businesses, as well as working with the Surry Hills Business Partnership.

The attention to personalised service, means that Nico and his team develop in-depth knowledge of their customers’ business which becomes a competitive advantage.

“What we find is that we end up knowing a lot about the business… Eventually we can understand pretty much everything about them” says Nico.

Photo by Rob Harley

Photo Supplied

To Track or Not to Track?

By

Dave Marsh

Research has shown that people who track their progress on goals like losing weight are all more likely to improve than those who don’t. One study of more than 1600 people showed that those who kept a daily food log lost twice as much weight as those who did not. The mere act of tracking a behaviour can spark the urge to change it. Habit tracking also keeps you honest, the fact of the matter is we tend to have a distorted view of our own behaviours. We think we act better than we do.

M

easurement offers one way to overcome the blindness of our behaviour and create better awareness around what we do.

Habit tracking is attractive, and the most

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effective form of motivation is progress.

When we get a signal that we are moving forward we become more motivated to continue down that path. In this way, tracking can have an addictive effect on motivation.

Each small win feeds your desire. This is particularly effective on a bad day as tracking provides visual feedback about how far you’ve come and reminds you of the progress you’ve made whilst keeping your eye on the ball.

If I told you to drive to a location three hours with no directions or using a map it would probably take you double the time, right? So why treat your fat loss goal any different. Tracking your nutrition, steps, and daily activity is a map to make sure you’re on the right path to your goal. Stop the guesswork and you’ll get to your goals a lot quicker.

Dave Marsh is a Surry Hills based fitness professional. Get in touch with him via Insta @ coachdavemarsh or www. coachdavemarsh.com

Pet Advice:

Look out for Leptospirosis By

Dr. Nima Rahmani

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eptospirosis is a disease that has become more prevalent in inner Western Sydney throughout the last two years, particularly the areas of Surry Hills, Glebe and Darlinghurst.

The disease is largely carried by rats. With an increased population of rats in the area due to the large number of construction projects in the area, the rats come to the surface and urinate throughout water sources, soil and food, spreading the disease.

It is a potential zoonotic disease, meaning that it can also be passed on to people.

The disease mainly impacts dogs, however cats can also get the disease, but they only serve as carriers of the disease.

Risk Factors: It mainly impacts the kidneys and liver. Unfortunately, by the time animal starts showing symptoms it is already too late to do much for the dog. Most of the dogs who show symptoms pass away.

It is most commonly caught by off-leash dogs, but this is only a slight difference.

Symptoms: Symptoms are unfortunately quite vague but include vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy from kidney injuries and failure.

Animals either drink a lot and urinate frequently, or they completely stop urinating.

Dogs are also known to turn yellow, as well as pant frequently.

Diagnosis: It takes about 1-2 weeks for the disease to be diagnosed. Leptospirosis is

diagnosed using a blood test and urine test.

Treatment: Once the dog has contracted the disease, there is little hope. The treatment options that exist are not advanced enough yet to guarantee there is a vaccination for dogs. Vaccinating significantly minimises the chance of contracting the disease. Every country or even every area might have different strains of the disease, meaning that there is no one general vaccination. If your dog has been vaccinated for leptospirosis in another country, they should be vaccinated again in Sydney.

To combat this disease, it is important that dogs are vaccinated as soon as possible. Doing so protects your pet, other pets and people.

Local Stories 15 Photo supplied

Noise Complaints in Strata Buildings By law, every strata scheme must have a set of by-laws to deal with noise.

They can be different for each strata scheme.

Foreign Return: More than B Butter Chicken A new arrival to Crown Street’s restaurant scene, Foreign Return showcases a wide variety of modern Indian cuisine. Urban Village spoke to owner gG about the great variety Indian food has to offer, Foreign Return’s ethos and a mutual love for Surry HillS By

Queenie Colquhoun

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here is a popular story in India about the Rock Pigeon, which flew around the country carrying messages of love and hope before he arrival of the telegraph in the 19th century.

The Foreign Return restaurant takes its inspiration from that story, offering cuisine from all of India’s regions as they may have been collected and carried by the famous pigeon. And now, the pigeon has brought its recipes to Surry Hills.

Foreign Return owner gG has been working in Sydney restaurants for 15 years and has worked in some of the best restaurants

and hotels the city has to offer. Throughout his experience, he and partners Kunal and Javed noticed a lack of variety of Indian cuisine in Sydney. gG says, “We saw that there was a gap in the market in terms of really introducing to locals that there is more to Indian food than butter chicken.”

Foreign Return seeks to set itself apart from other restaurants through its approach and thought process. “It’s the thought process behind how modern India dines and drinks in today’s time, but there is also a strong emphasis on regional cuisine of India and it’s not just North India, as we see in a lot of restaurants.”

“I haven’t seen an Indian restaurant with a focus on bars. We have an Indian inspired cocktail program, there’s an amazing wine program.”

Foreign Return also sets itself apart as it focuses on offering all day. gG says, “I like to believe that Indian restaurants have always been perceived as a dinner destination or as a curry take away…”

“We wanted to create a space for all. So, if someone wants to come in for a beer, they should be able to come in and have lunch

and a beer. If someone wants to come in for an intimate date, they should be able to do that too, or make a weekend affair with the family…”

Foreign Return also features decorations representing different parts of India’s geography, culture and history, such as a nod to its colonial past, as well as lighting pendants made from fisherman’s nets to represent the coastal areas and their cuisine.

The restaurant has even been approached by restaurant and bar publications hoping to showcase the businesses aesthetic interiors and great food.

The decision to open in Surry Hills was an obvious one for the Foreign Return team, with gG adding, “I’ve always liked the vibe, I like the whole community here. I think the best chefs have come from this street. There have been successful examples from this street… I think that Crown Street is where the hub is.”

The Foreign Return team consist of owners and directors gG, Javed and Kunal as well as head chef Siddarth, who hails from the Southern part of India and has worked as the official chef of the Australian cricket team.

Siddarth is also trained under Atul Kochhar, one of the two London Michelin-star chefs.

y-laws are rules voted on and adopted by the strata owners that owners, tenants and, in some cases, visitors must follow. By-laws cover the behaviour of residents and the use of common property.

In addition to noise, they can cover issues such as the keeping of pets in the building, how smoking is regulated, the operation of short-term rental accommodation, parking cars and storing bikes.

If you are a tenant, and your neighbour ignores your request(s) to “tone it down”, take the matter up with the agent and insist that they refer the issue to the owner of the unit and By

Peter English

Peter English is a Registered Trade Marks Attorney and is the director & founding partner of Surry Partners Lawyers. www.surrypartners.com.au

the owners’ corporation.

If the owners’ corporation is satisfied that an owner or occupier (tenant) of a lot has contravened a by-law, the owners corporation can serve a notice requiring the owner or occupier to comply with the by-law.

If the person who receives the notice breaches the notice within 12 months of the notice being served, the owners’ corporation can apply to NCAT for the person to be fined up to $550. In addition, a breach of a by-law by that third party, if they are also a tenant, will likely be a breach of their lease and could lead to their lease being terminated.

Action to enforce a by-law cannot be taken by an individual affected by the noise, it can only be taken by the owners’ corporation.

Also, the enforcement of a by-law by the owners’ corporation can only be pursued where there is a noise issue within a particular strata scheme. It is not relevant, for example, where there is construction noise, or party noise, from an adjoining development.

Independently of the by-laws, Local Councils are authorized to take action against parties who are in breach of laws and/or regulations concerning noise.

In some cases, if you have rented premises and your landlord does not act in response to a noise complaint, the landlord may be in breach of the residential tenancy agreement. In that case, you could make an application to NCAT for an order that the landlord stop breaching the residential tenancy agreement (that is, sort the problem out) or, if it’s so bad that you feel you cannot stay in the premises, you may be able to terminate the lease.

More info: www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au

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16 Local Arts & Community The National MCA. Photo by Anna Kucera

Art: the memory of the future By

Angela Stretch

The National 2021 is an ambitious six-year program with an ethos to support new work in the context of what it means to make art in Australia at this point in time.

T

he landmark project is presented in a series of three exhibitions and is a partnership between the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW), Carriageworks and the Museum of Contemporary Arts Australia (MCA).

The National 2017 was the first exhibition

that featured 150 artists and provided a shift in orientation towards seeking to reimagine an alternate collective Australian identity from artists across the country of a variation of generations and cultural backgrounds. In 2019 the institutions presented 70 artists, of which 60 percent were women and over a third were of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. The collective presentations attracted over 600,000 visitors.

This year there is a focus on art that offers ways to heal and care for our fragile natural and social ecosystems. 39 artists are featured and a number have been developing past iterations through installations and performance with large-scale survey works on planetary themes of responsibility, global uncertainty and relationships to Country.

Modes of care within all our relations in art make an experience felt. Indigenous ways of knowing, seeing and being in a variation of forms that are expressed by the body is the AGNSW approach to the characteristics and conditions of

contemporary Australian art.

Co-curators Matt Cox and Erin Vink have integrated the Manifesto for Maintenance Art written 50 years ago by feminist American artist Mierle Laderman Ukles. Ukles claims: “care work is art because it involves creative; challenging; emotional work, just like making art does.”

“Everything I do is art is art.” Ukles Manifesto 123. Her performances of Washing Inside and Outside (1973), were documented by her husband - her washing the outside steps, cleaning nappies and erasing footprints left behind by people who walked on enactment surfaces. These acts culminated in an exhibition, CARE, that challenged the domestic role of women.

The National 2021: New Australian Art opens on 26 March 2021 at AGNSW, 5 September 2021; Carriageworks, 20 June 2021 and MCA, 22 August 2021.

For more information, visit www.the-national.com.au

Creativity flourishes at Viola Café Hidden away in a leafy corner of Bourke Street is Viola, the newest café to take up residence in Darlinghurst. Walk in and you’re met with bursts of pink and orange flower arrangements by owner, Reaka Zhong, and her friend’s flower business.

By

Tess Scholfield-Peters

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ocally sourced coffees and teas line the display shelves and paintings by manager Matt’s mum are hung for sale on the walls. Your eyes then fall to the glass cabinet in the centre of the café, where rows of meticulous pastries and desserts sit, made freshly this morning.

I sit down with Matt, who two months ago walked in after the barista position and www.urbanvillage.com.au

walked out with a management role. It’s easy to see why: his energy and unwavering smile match perfectly with the vibrant space.

Five owners have passed through this lot in the past decade. Matt and Reaka are hoping that their unique blend of Asian boba tea and intricate high tea style pastries, as well as full brunch menu, will continue to grow their already solid local fan base.

“Our head chef is from a fine dining background and our pastry chefs come in three times a week and will spend 4-5 hours just making our pastries,” says Matt.

“We encourage creativity in our kitchen and if the chefs have an idea, we let them run with it and put out tasters. We really want customers to get on board and try something new.”

It’s not hard to see that creativity is rife: you won’t see the high-end brunch menu, range of ‘can cakes’ perfect for catered events, and unique selection of teas anywhere else in Darlinghurst.

With lots of menu additions on the cards, keep an ear out for Viola happenings in the coming months.

Viola Café | 266-268 Bourke Street @violacafesydney

Photo by Rob Harley

“ 39 artists are featured and a number have been developing past iterations through installations and performance with large-scale survey works on planetary themes of responsibility, global uncertainty and relationships to Country.

Local Arts & Community 17 Schapelle Schapelle: The Musical

$2 million Glebe sale flashpoint in social housing debate

Schapelle Schapelle: The Musical -

A deeper exploration of media vilification W The Schapelle Corby musical began as a joke inspired by a running Seinfeld gag, but soon became more complex and developed into a stage show set to debut at the Sydney Comedy Festival.

By

Queenie Colquhoun

riter and director Abby Gallaway says Schappelle’s story is both a comedy and something much more serious. The musical is a satirical exploration of Australia’s weakness for media sensationalism told through the eyes of Corby during her 2005 arrest in Bali for drug smuggling.

“It lends itself to comedy, but we also discovered it’s also a familiar tale of a woman in the media and how we can vilify them or how we can raise them up as heroes,” says Gallaway.

“Her story has such an arc and such a journey. When you start looking into it and you look at her family and these characters, we all know a Roseleigh Rose Corby, or a Mercedes Corby, they’re so recognisable as part of our identity.”

For those wondering, the Corby’s have heard of the musical. “They’re aware that the musical exists, and they made the very fair point that what happened to their family wasn’t funny, but we’re also up for making fun of ourselves,” says Abby.

“They said they would love to see the show

but it’s in Sydney and it’s too far away.”

Abby Gallaway and her team at Piano Room Productions have enjoyed the creative and producing freedom of the Sydney Comedy Festival and are “…excited to be a part of the festival because it’s such an amazing festival and the artists that are a part of it are top comedians. We feel really honoured and privileged to be part of such an illustrious festival.”

Other highlights from this year’s Sydney Comedy Festival include performances from Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss (who has received a travel exemption for the Festival), Effie, Gen Fricker, Geraldine Hickey, Tom Gleeson and The Bear Pack.

The Sydney Comedy Festival will run from Monday April 19 – Sunday May 16, at the State Theatre, Enmore Theatre, The Concourse Chatswood and Riverside Theatres in Parramatta, amongst others.

To book tickets to Schapelle Schapelle: The Musical and to check out the full list of shows head to: www.sydneycomedyfest. com.au/events

In March, a Glebe terrace house sold for more than $2 million. It was, according to the real estate blurb, a “blank canvas” and an “enormous opportunity.”

Nothing remarkable about that in this current market, but what was different was that this house was publicly owned and the State Government was selling it into private ownership.

BY

Lachlan Colquhoun

S

o strong was the opposition to the sale, and fear of a planned protest at the auction, that the event was relocated at the last minute.

The sale of the Victorian era home at 92 Cowper Street epitomizes a key issue for inner-city Sydney, and that is the State Government’s plans to transform a public – or social - housing model at least 50 years old into a new private/public model.

Glebe is in the vanguard of this change. The State Government has planning proposals to change social housing units in Cowper Street, Wentworth Park Road and a further site at the Franklyn Street Estate in Bay Street.

In each location, social housing units will be demolished and replaced with new blocks which combine social housing with private homes.

In Cowper Street and Wentworth Park Road, 19 social housing residences will be replaced by 35 new social housing properties and 39 private homes.

The Bay Street plan is for 425 new homes, 130 of them public social housing, in a new

tower 14 storeys high.

The plans are creating a storm of activity among community groups in Glebe, with groups such as Hands Off Glebe, which are mobilizing rapidly in opposition.

Where the State Government says its new model ultimately means more public housing, the opponents point out that existing tenants – many of whom have been living in their communities for decades – will be forced to move out temporarily, with little guarantee of returning.

The new social housing will also be smaller, and less suitable for families who face the prospect of being forced out of the inner city.

Balmain MP Jamie Parker puts it this way: “Residents are understandably outraged that the government wants to kick them out and destroy their homes. If they are granted the right of return then they will all be crammed together into a 13 storey apartment.

“The Government’s usual sleight of hand is to increase the number of dwellings but reduce the amount of accommodation by replacing two and three bedroom apartments with one bedrooms homes.”

The real beneficiaries of the new model, he says, will be developers and the private housing market at the expense of vulnerable people who are desperate for housing.

There are around 1000 general applicants for public housing in the Leichhardt/ Marrickville Allocation Zone, and this includes Glebe. They can wait between five to ten years for a studio or one bedroom apartment, and longer than that for larger dwellings.

The State Government is selling the new model as a “renewal” of “ageing assets,” and says a private/public mix is the future.

There is certain to be more arguments and a dislocation of many lives before the new model is complete, and in the meantime watch this – empty (or for sale) – space.

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18 Local Rewards Rewarding

Local Businesses The Clock Hotel The Clock really is a drinker’s playground, with a food menu to match. Every part of the venue offers a different experience and atmosphere to the customer. There’s the Balcony Bar serving up mainly gin and cocktails, the Courtyard, the quintessentially Sydney Street Bar, and the London-inspired Whisky Room, serving over two hundred different expressions.

Plus, the new Mediterranean inspired menu has the locals coming in droves.

470 Crown St, Surry Hills @clockhotel Suzie Q’s Suzie Q Coffee & Records is a celebration of the finer things in life, namely delicious food, music, great coffee and good company. With friendly service and a meticulous attention to detail that extends to every facet of the business, from a menu paying homage to classical jazz, rock and techno songs to the hand-picked collection of rare records, Suzie Q is a hub for likeminded people to meet, relax and gorge on quality produce.

The Dove and Olive Dove and Olive is a Surry Hills institution, serving up delicious local craft beers and top-notch pub food with a tinge of US nostalgia. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite on your lunch break or having a weekend session with mates, there’s

something for everyone at the Dove. The atmosphere is what keeps locals coming back—make a b-line for the courtyard for beer garden vibes, or pop up to the terrace for cocktails with a view.

156 Devonshire Street Surry Hills @doveandolive

1/18 Hutchinson Street Surry Hills @suzieqcoffee The Shakespeare Hotel The Shakespeare Hotel (affectionately known as “The Shakey” by locals) is a Surry Hills institution. The building has remained practically unchanged since doors were opened in 1879, making it a rare time capsule of old-school pub culture. Inside you’ll find an eclectic mix of locals, some who have been drinking at the Shakey for 50 years. There’s heaps of room, including space for private functions in our beautiful bar upstairs. The food is delicious, the beers are cold and the staff are friendly and always happy to help with whatever you need.

All About Salon All About Salon are passionate about making their clients feel great. Each stylist delivers top quality cutting, styling and dying. The salon is part of the small business culture of Crown Street, an ecosystem of neighbours who help and support each other through

what has been an immensely challenging period. All About has partnered with Sustainable Salons ANZ, a social enterprise that rescues up to 95% of salon resources from landfill and finds repurposing solutions.

391 Riley St Surry Hills @allaboutsalon

200 Devonshire St Surry Hills @shakespearehotel Rusty Rabbit After over five years of experimenting, learning and building their brand, Rusty Rabbit are expanding their exceptional café offering nationally. Their Darlinghurst shop is located on the corner of Forbes and Burton Street and features all day brunch with timeless favourites and multiculturally inspired fare. Accompany your meal with Toby’s Estate coffee , freshly made juices and smoothies. Pop into Rusty Rabbit today or contact the team if you have an event that needs catering.

252 Forbes Street Darlinghurst @therustyrabbit Noraville Green Enter through the Chisholm Street back alley to find the lush terrace jungle of handpicked plants. Tanya Baker and Bobby Hamilton have always been plant people, but it wasn’t until 2017 that the couple turned their green hobby into a business.

The Noraville Green team members hand pick their plants from nurseries twice a week and are there in store to make sure you choose the plants best suited to your space. For all your plant interior needs, head to their Darlinghurst terrace shop.

62 Flinders St Darlinghurst @noravillegreen

www.urbanvillage.com.au

Lucky Pickle If you’ve ever had the chicken katsu sandwich from The Lucky Pickle, it will come as no surprise to learn that customer satisfaction is the team’s paramount value. Owners Ricky Nanda and Schez Umrigar took over Lucky Pickle in 2016, staying true to the original recipes that have bestowed neighbourhood

notoriety upon this humble sandwich shop.

Their most popular sandwich is the chicken katsu with cabbage, sesame, mayo and tonkatsu sauce. A close second is the pork belly with duck liver, pickled carrot, daikon, cucumber, coriander, mayo and sriracha.

Shop 3 509-511 Crown Street @luckypicklesydney

Local Rewards 19 Rewarding

Local Businesses Maloney’s Grocer Maloney’s Grocers have become a feature of the Crown Street strip. The grocer are a go to place to source quality produce which caters for organic and vegan shoppers, and also home delivers to customers.

The Maloney’s website also offers recipes and meal suggestions. The store philosophy is simple. Provide quality produce, source some great items from local producers, and make the store a nice environment where people enjoy browsing and shopping.

Bus

ines

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4/490 Crown St Surry Hills @maloneys_grocer Beast and Co. Petra met Jakub through shared hospitality management work and now, ten years later, they’ve gone out on their own with Beast and Co., a modern homage to their Czech roots. Guests can expect masterfully cooked traditional fare, inspired by Petra and Jakub’s grandparents, local and Czech beers and a casual, homely atmosphere. You’ll find Beast and Co. on buzzing Bourke Street, serving up fresh, seasonal produce in innovative dishes that fuse their home of Bohemia with modern Australian cuisine.

425 Bourke Street, Shop 15 Surry Hills, @beastandco_surryhills

e h t r o f t u o k o Lo s d r a w e R l Loca Blue Dot!

www.urbanvillage.com.au

maloneysgrocer.com.au COOGEE 214 COOGEE BAY RD | SURRY HILLS 4/490 CROWN ST WOOLLAHRA 68 MONCUR ST

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