Byfreer, the fashion destination in Mosman where style meets sustainability. Nestled in the heart of Mosman’s stylish shopping strip, byfreer  is more than just a boutique — it’s a destination where fashion, craftsmanship, and sustainability converge. Founded by award-winning designer Lesley Watson and her husband Andrew Mussett, byfreer  embodies the philosophy that clothing should not only look beautiful but also be created with purpose and care for the planet.  A Designer with Purpose Step inside the Mosman boutique and you’ll see the vision of Lesley Watson, whose lifelong passion for fashion is matched by her commitment to ethical and sustainable design. With decades of experience in pattern making, textile design, manufacturing, and luxury retail buying, Lesley brings unparalleled expertise to every aspect of her label. Founded in Sydney in 2014 and named after her mother’s maiden name, byfreer  was born from a desire to create clothing that serves a purpose, solves problems, and stands the test of time. Following the success of the Potts Point and Paddington stores, Lesley and Andrew opened the Mosman location in April this year, drawn by the area’s village atmosphere, loyal clientele, and the success of a previous pop-up event. Sustainability at the Core Sustainability is the foundation of this label, not an afterthought. Growing up in Adelaide, Lesley was immersed in an environment that valued both creativity and respect for the planet. Early lessons in solar power, recycling, and conscious living remain central to byfreer’s  philosophy and are woven into every garment. Beyond her boutiques, Lesley has presented at the World Hope Forum, offering insights on sustainable fashion to an international audience, sharing her commitment to responsible design well beyond Sydney’s borders.  Cultivating the Next Generation Education and mentorship are integral to byfreer’s  mission. In partnership with the University of NSW Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, the Paddington Atelier hosts interns through the Work Integrated Learning program, giving students hands-on experience in sustainable design, production, and ethical business practices. With the store preparing to welcome its second intern, Lesley continues to foster the next generation of designers committed to conscious fashion. A Store That Reflects Its Values Byfreer is more than a boutique - it’s a living reflection of Lesley’s ethos. Each collection is carefully curated to showcase timeless design, quality craftsmanship, and fabrics that celebrate luxury and sustainability. Silks, linens, and velvets are chosen for their tactile richness, practicality, and durability, with each piece undergoing meticulous processes to ensure it can be easily cared for at home. Designed in the Paddington atelier and produced locally, byfreer’s Australian made range are officially licensed under the Australian Made logo, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to ethical, Australian production. For locals and visitors alike, byfreer  in Mosman is a space where fashion meets integrity. Each garment carries a story of responsibility, creativity, and respect for the planet, proving that style and sustainability can coexist beautifully. byfreer. Mosman 870 Military Road, Mosman byfreer.com

Intimate yet spectacular, La Ronde Is brimming with talent and charisma By Rita Bratovich Scott Maidment and the Strut & Fret team have curated a beautiful selection of theatrical sweets and presented them as delicacies on a plate that is La Ronde . This production feels more intimate and pure in the way it allows the performers to be the central focus.  The La Ronde performers have enough personality to fill the spacious theatre tenfold. Expertise, sexiness, humour, and charm are paramount and present in spades.  The mood is set with red-hued lighting and a giant mirror ball on stage. Then the spotlight hits powerhouse singer, Geniris (Dominican Republic) who enters like royalty, with a majestic voice to match. The troupe join her on stage, introducing us to the inspired choreography of Melanie Hawkins.  The crowd is now warmed up but there is a breathless silence when Zoë Marshall (Australia/UK) walks on stage, her hair in a very tight bun held by a bejewelled band with a large ring protruding from the top. When she clips this ring to a cable hanging from the roof, the audience gasps. Slowly, she is lifted into the air, spinning and posing as the audience “ooows” and cheers.  Comedian, Sam Goodburn (UK), eases the tension with his slapstick antics. Looking like Wally (as in Where’s..) he teases the audience playfully, even awkwardly losing his pants at one point. Danik Abishev (Australia) is cheeky and audacious, stripteasing for the crowd before awing us with his incredible upper body strength and balance.  Charismatic and camp, Adam Malone (Australia) struts on stage in red silk shorts and feather boa, then drops it all to reveal an immodest red glitter jock strap. Proving skill beyond sass, Malone then spins and balances one, two, three hula hoops, gradually adding more towards a spectacular climax.  The cable descends from the ceiling again, this time for Diana Bondarenko (Ukraine/Germany), who attaches her pyramid trapeze and proceeds to perform aerial gymnastics and manic spins and manoeuvres that cause glasses of champagne around the room to be spilled.  Sergiy Mishchurenko (Ukraine) performs his magic on a suspended vertical pole, demonstrating strength, flexibility and fearlessness as he spins around, clings on with his legs, slides, climbs and rips off his pants.  Each act performs twice or more, with comic interludes and songs breaking up the heart-stopping action. An exciting and classy show that you’ll want to see with a bunch of friends.  NOW PLAYING ⚡ The Grand Electric 📍 199 Cleveland St, Surry Hills 🌐 https://larondetheshow.com   Use the code NEIGHBOURS15 for 15%  off your tickets!

Randwick artist, Anthea Ben-Naim, celebrates the beauty and fragility of marine life through public art. More on Randwick Though she has only lived in the area for just over three years, Anthea Ben-Naim has totally embraced the community. If you live in Randwick, you’ve probably already met her, if not directly, then through her exquisite artworks, which were reproduced on street banners for Randwick City Council’s Love the Locals campaign last year. The vibrant banners featured images of a grey nurse shark, blue groper, sea urchin, common Sydney octopus, and humpback whales and were intended to celebrate and raise awareness of the delicate marine ecosystem. “I’m endlessly inspired by what I see and experience here: the fragile beauty of our coastline, the fleeting shimmer of life that deserves to be noticed and protected,” Ben-Naim tells Neighbourhood Media. How did Anthea make her way to Randwick The artist and her family relocated to Randwick from the North Shore because of her children’s schooling. Beginning her career as a graphic artist, Ben-Naim felt emboldened to pursue her passion for art after becoming a mother. “I’m lucky to live and paint in Randwick — a surprisingly vast coastal municipality where marine and botanical life are part of daily existence. The rhythms and visuals of its landscape continually feed my work,” says Ben-Naim. “Randwick has been the backdrop to that creative unfolding — a place that holds both my home and my artistic practice.” Awards & Accolades Recently, Ben-Naim the honour of serving as judge at a Randwick Art Society competition where she met the talented local artist community and enjoyed the breadth of work. Earlier this year, Ben-Naim exhibited her own works at Sydney Street Gallery in Marrickville, featuring as one of only four artists in the Saving Scapes exhibition. “Twenty percent of all art sales were donated to local causes — supporting marine life, the Cooks River cleanup, and the protection of our shared environment,” says Ben-Naim. Her gorgeous watercolours and acrylics are inspired by Ben-Naim’s love of nature and marine life; it’s a synergetic combination that allows her to create from the heart while directly helping the environment. Notable awards and recognition include: • Honourable Mention – Ten Moir Botanicals Competition, 2025 • Finalist – Ten Moir Gallery’s Nature Exhibition, 2024 • Best in Show – Ten Moir Gallery’s Faces Exhibition, 2023 • IronCraft Challenge, 2016 • Featured in Sydney Morning Herald’s The Enriched List, 2010 Ben-Naim’s beautiful range of artworks are available on her website. “I sell my original paintings through my online gallery and have recently launched a dedicated print store, created to make my work more accessible. For many, prints offer a gentle way to bring local art into the home — and I’m deeply grateful for everyone who chooses to live with a piece of my world.” www.antheabn.com

With ten years under his belt, chef Nelly Robinson reflects on building NEL from scratch, feeding David Attenborough, and the joy of a good curry on a cold night. By Melissa Mantle Ten years ago, British-born chef Nelly Robinson opened NEL  on a stretch of Surry Hills’ Wentworth Avenue that needed some love. A decade later, the chic bunker-esque restaurant is a cult favourite, known for its theatrical tasting menus and events and its inventive takes on modern cuisine.   Nelly, who moved to Sydney in 2010, talks us through his journey – from a Michelin kitchen hand at fourteen, to becoming one of Sydney’s most notable chefs, and to the new menu that will please and tease the palette of all Anglophiles. Nelly, tell us a bit about your background and how you came to run NEL? My background is Northern England, Blackburn, north of Manchester. Born to two amazing parents and a brother. Started cooking as a young lad and got my first job in a kitchen at fourteen as a kitchen hand in a Michelin star restaurant. I became an apprentice at fifteen. I came to Sydney in 2010, opened NEL in 2015; so we've just recently celebrated 10 years of NEL. You’re originally from the UK. What drew you to Sydney and specifically, Surry Hills? Well, actually I was in a pub and had Melbourne, Sydney and New York on the back of beer mats as choices of where to go. My best mate and I decided to come to Sydney because there were actually beaches. We knew that it was hot. We needed a change of lifestyle after working in Europe for a long time. I liked Surry Hills. I picked it because at the time, it was very, very vibrant up on Crown Street with very successful restaurants. Around Wentworth Avenue there was a lot of redeveloping needing to be done, and I found a space that was affordable for me. What does a work day in the life of Nelly Robinson look like? My alarm goes off at 7AM, and my daughter wakes me up. Then I have breakfast and come straight to work. I'm at work usually between thirteen and fourteen hours a day doing all admin and creating new dishes for new menus. Also, a few meetings in there. And on your day off? What are your hobbies apart from food? A day off is really good. I've learned to spend time with my family. I've got an amazing wife, Danielle, and Lottie, my daughter, and my two dogs, Louie and Lola. Hobbies that I love are football, Formula One, and golf. I love getting out on the course - playing nine to eighteen holes, depending on the day - which really takes my brain away from food. What have been the highlights (and lowlights) since you opened in 2015? The highlight of the restaurant is that I'm still here after ten years as an independent operator. It is no small feat in Sydney to be around for ten years and also be recognised on the world stage with different awards. The lowlight is COVID-19 and laying-off staff, which was definitely very hard. What’s the Surry Hills’ community like – do you have regulars? Yes. We change our menus four to five times a year, depending on seasons, which really excites our locals. We have amazing locals around the Surry Hills’ community, but we also have a lot of people traveling to NEL from different suburbs of Sydney, different regions of Australia, and also from around the world. Tell us all about the new British menu and what inspired it. The new British menu is definitely very close to my heart. I love showing people that British food can be, one: fun, two: tasty and not grey and bland, and three: that we have amazing dishes in the UK that we can elevate into a degustation menu like we do now. What’s your favourite dish on the menu? I've got two. The chip butty, which I absolutely adore, originates from Oldham. We’ve got the original picture of the first ever fish and chip shop from 1864 – Mister Lee’s, where the chip butty was created. Number two is the baked Greggs pasty. It just takes me back to eating Greggs in the UK, and it comes out in a special bag as well. Googling you, a few celebrity names come up. Have you ever been starstruck? Yes. I got to cook for David Attenborough. It was probably one of the most amazing times of my life. I’ve also cooked for the Queen of England when she was alive, but I didn’t get that starstruck with that. It was more David Attenborough – when I got to cook for him at the Sydney Opera House. I actually got to have a conversation with him, and I was absolutely in awe. He described food like he described animals. When I was younger, I also was in the presence of David Beckham. As a football fan, seeing David Beckham right in front of my face was actually quite an amazing moment. What’s your favourite winter comfort meal to cook at home, or order in? Number one, and the only one I love to do, is Indian curries. On a cold winter’s night, when Lottie’s in bed, me and the wife get to have a really amazing curry – samosas, papadams, naan bread, and rice - I’m the happiest man in the world! And a good bottle of Chablis. What’s next for you and for the restaurant? To continue building the restaurant and bringing new guests in and elevating each menu. And to work out the best way of running a business and being a dad and a loving husband. But I think what’s next is just to be happy and content in where we are right now. We’re doing a fabulous job, and we’ll continue to keep doing that.

The history, origins, settlement and early development of Randwick, from colonisation to city status. More on Randwick By ALEC SMART Randwick, located 6km east of Sydney central business district in the Eastern Suburbs, was proclaimed as a Municipality on 22 February 1859 – the second oldest Local Government Area in NSW after City of Sydney - and contains at least 15 historic properties listed with NSW State Heritage Register. Blenheim House. Photo by John Roarty, State Library NSW Diving into the history of Randwick, we discover that the name ‘Randwick’ was derived from a property owned by Simeon Henry Pearce, an English surveyor who arrived in Australia in 1841, aged 21, with his cousin Samuel. In 1844 Pearce purchased a small 4-acre plot in the area then-known as Coogee Hills from landholder Captain Francis Marsh. The region was, at the time, dominated by market gardeners, who took advantage of the fertile soil after the forests were felled and the land subdivided. Pearce called his property ‘Randwick’ after the Gloucestershire village in south-western England where he grew up. The English Randwick is only a small village bordering the market town of Stroud. It’s probably best-known for the ‘Randwick Wap’, an ancient Spring festival featuring costume parades, festivities and a ceremonial ‘cheese rolling’ of big wheels of Gloucestershire cheese around the churchyard. Founded in the Middle Ages, in 1892 the Wap was suspended after it became renowned for drunken revelry, but in 1971 it was revived. Pearce built a sandstone cottage, Blenheim House on his property, facing the old Sandy Track racecourse (founded 1833, which eventually became Randwick Racecourse, despite Pearce’s objections, after the Australian Jockey Club relocated there in 1860). The historic house still stands today at 17 Blenheim St, Randwick, set back from the road and behind a timber fence, and has recently been converted into a multi-purpose arts and culture centre. Simeon Pearce c1880 Pearce and his brother James were responsible for the founding and early development of Randwick and the neighbouring Coogee district. This included buying and selling property and overseeing the construction of a road from the city to Coogee in 1853. By 1854 Pearce had purchased 200 acres of land on the Northern Beaches and 200+ acres in Randwick and the St George district, which were subdivided and sold. Simeon Pearce was also Randwick Council’s inaugural Mayor and served six terms between April 1859 and February 1883. Randwick, pre-urbanisation But prior to the Pearce brothers’ municipal guidance, what was the area like as the first European settlers arrived? According to the Randwick Council’s Heritage Study (2021), “Coogee was known as ‘Great Coogee’ during the early 1800s and Coogee Bay was a seaside attraction from as early as 1820. The village of Coogee was officially founded 12 October 1838 [with a] planned grid of intersecting streets… “[In] the early days of European settlement, Coogee flourished as a market gardeners’ paradise. Many of the first residents… made their fortune growing vegetables for the Sydney markets and large mansions were being built.” Old Toll Bar Randwick Rd 1865. Painting by Samuel Elyard, State Library NSW A NSW Dept Environment report states, “Randwick was... slow to progress. The village was isolated from Sydney by swamps and sandhills, and although a horse-bus was operated by a man named Grice from the late 1850s, the journey was more a test of nerves than a pleasure jaunt. Wind blew sand over the track, and the bus sometimes became bogged, so that passengers had to get out and push it free.” The report continues, “From its early days Randwick had a divided society. The wealthy lived elegantly in large houses built when Pearce promoted Randwick and Coogee as a fashionable area. But the market gardens, orchards and piggeries that continued alongside the large estates were the lot of the working class. Even on the later estates that became racing empires, many jockeys and stable-hands lived in huts or even under canvas. “An even poorer group were the immigrants who existed on the periphery of Randwick in a place called Irishtown, in the area now known as The Spot, around the junction of St.Paul's Street and Perouse Road. Here families lived in makeshift houses, taking on the most menial tasks in their struggle to survive.” Original Aboriginals Randwick town centre is just 2km from the South Pacific Ocean in Coogee Bay. Coogee (gazetted as a village in 1838) is believed to derive from the Indigenous Dharug word ‘kooja’, which referred to the pungent smell of kelp washed up on the beach rotting in the sun. The Indigenous peoples of the area were principally the Gadigal. They occupied most of the region south of Sydney Harbour, and west to Darling Harbour and the lower tidelands of the Parramatta River and southwest to Goolay'yari/Cooks River. Aboriginal Encampment 1847. Painting by Thomas Balcombe There were also smaller clans resident along Sydney’s south-eastern shores: the Birrabirragals on South Head, around what is now Camp Cove, Kutti/Watsons Bay and Bondi Beach; the Muru-ora-dial, who inhabited the coastal region from Maroubra south to Malabar and around the north shore of Kamay/Botany Bay; and the Bidjigal, who inhabited the region north of Kamay/Botany Bay and inland to Salt Pan Creek and the estuarine areas north of Tucoerah/Georges River. When the First Fleet arrived in 1788, the Aboriginal population in the greater Sydney region was somewhere between 1500 (Governor Phillip’s guesstimate of those within a 10-mile radius of Port Jackson) and 8000. The clans would have traded, socialised, shared ceremonies, sourced the same food, and inter-married, and they all spoke the same language – Dharug, albeit with several dialects. They are now known as people of the Eora Nation. The Eora hunted in the bushland - primarily eucalyptus woodlands and sclerophyll forests (characterised by hard-leaved evergreen trees and undergrowth) - fished in the seas from nowie (bark canoes), and gathered shellfish and speared marine creatures along the foreshore. The Eora of the coastal region were described as katungal - ‘sea people’ – by the paienbera ‘tomahawk people’ inland (who hunted and trapped animals), because they were primarily reliant on marine food sourced from the harbour, beaches, tidal rivers and estuaries. Near Coogee. Painting by Conrad Martens c1838 Displacement and Death Sadly, the Indigenous peoples were displaced by the British after their arrival in 1788 to set up a penal colony, either driven inland or killed in confrontations with the gun-wielding invaders. Many Aboriginals succumbed to European diseases due to their reduced immunity, especially the devastating smallpox epidemic of 1789. The latter was likely deliberately started by Royal Marines, gifting infected blankets to an Aboriginal campsite at Balmoral Cove. However, there is still plenty of evidence of their existence across Sydney metropolitan area and especially along the coast, including fading rock engravings and hand stencils, axe-sharpening grooves in favoured rocks, shell middens (piles of scrap shells on foreshores) and scarred old trees from which bark was extracted for canoes. The Dharug word ‘Bobroi’ may have been the name for the region encompassing what is now Randwick, Coogee and Clovelly to the north, but British settlers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries weren’t in the habit of asking the locals the place names of the areas they were colonising. The British administrators were, however, in the habit of giving land grants to favoured people, including distinguished former convicts whose skills were useful to the expanding colony, and high-ranking military personnel. St Judes church Randwick, looking SW towards Coogee Bay c1860. Sketch by Thomas Balcombe The Royal Marines, the first garrison of colonial-era Australia (1788-90), succeeded by the New South Wales Corps (1790 – 1818), were recipients of huge tracts of land, many of which were traded, sold and sub-divided. After the first Governor Arthur Phillip returned to Britain in 1792 due to ill-health, Major Francis Grose effectively transformed the penal colony into a military dictatorship. He cut food rations to convicts and gave generous land grants to officers of the Corps – who by 1793 were known as the ‘Rum Corps’. This was because they gained a monopoly over imported rum, which they used as currency to make up for the shortage of minted coins, and further diverted vital grain supplies from food to the brewing of rum. Although successive governors – John Hunter, Phillip King, William Bligh – tried to diminish the power of the NSW ‘Rum’ Corps, they were thwarted and English courts 17,000km away effectively powerless. An 1808 coup d'état, the ‘Rum Rebellion’, backed by wealthy agri-baron John Macarthur, ousted Governor Bligh and placed him under house arrest. Eventually, the mutinous New South Wales Corps, renamed the 102nd Regiment of Foot, were recalled to England and replaced with the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot, whose commanding officer, Lachlan Macquarie, took over as NSW Governor. It wasn’t until Governor Lachlan Macquarie assumed power (1810-21) that some sort of order was maintained and the rum economy regulated. One of the first land grants in the Randwick region was made – unsurprisingly – to a military commander, Captain Francis Marsh, an officer of Her Majesty's 80th Regiment of Foot. In 1824 he received 4.9 hectares (12 acres) of land in what is now within the boundaries of Botany and High Streets and Alison and Belmore Roads. Marsh later subdivided his estate and one parcel of land he sold to the aforementioned Simeon Henry Pearce. Randwick was not proclaimed a City until 1990, which included 10 beaches and bays from Clovelly in the north to La Perouse in the south, and the suburbs Chifley, Clovelly, Coogee, Kensington, Kingsford, La Perouse, Little Bay, Malabar, Maroubra, Matraville, Phillip Bay, Port Botany, Randwick, and South Coogee and most of Centennial Park. Coogee April 1888. Photo by Henry King =================================

Celebrating Australian cinema legends on the Australian Film Walk of Fame at the historic Ritz Cinema in Randwick More on Randwick By ALEC SMART The Australian Film Walk of Fame is a collection of circular brass plaques on the footpath outside the Randwick Ritz Cinema that celebrate actors and influential figures for their contributions to Australian cinema. Ritz_Cinema. Photo: Sardaka - Wikipedia Established in 2008 by Barry Watterson, organiser of the Australian Film Festival, and Randwick City Council, it was officially opened the following year by Midnight Oil singer Peter Garret, who was, at the time, Federal Minister for the Arts. The first recipient that was inducted into the walkway in 2008 was Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell, a well-known face of Australian film and TV. He was also a local lad – born and raised in Coogee – and for a while he volunteered as a surf lifesaver at Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. Tingwell’s career began in radio – he worked as a cadet at 2CH Sydney radio station while still at school and became Australia’s youngest radio announcer. Sadly, he died in 2009, aged 86, the year after he was honoured at the Walk of Fame. The following year, Michael Caton and New Zealand actor Roy Billing were similarly honoured with a plaque in the walkway. The moustachioed Caton is probably best known for two defining roles: Uncle Harry in the long-running Australian family series The Sullivans and for the droll, wise-cracking father Darryl in the celebrated film The Castle. Billing is familiar to Australians from the Melbourne chapter of the Underbelly TV drama series about the notorious Moran family and their associates – he played organised-crime boss “Aussie Bob” Trimbole. In 2010, Claudia Karvan and Steve Bisley were inducted into the Film Walk of Fame. Claudia Karvan is a well-known talent in screen and television and began her distinguished acting career aged 11 in Molly, a drama about a singing dog. In 2011, Gary Sweet and veteran star Jack Thompson were honoured, followed by Barry Otto and Deborah Mailman in 2012. Then the footpath awards were halted. It was feared they wouldn’t be resurrected and might follow the decline of a similar path of honour – known as ‘the Footpath of Fame’ – that still exists on the western side of Pier One in Dawes Point, alongside Sydney Harbour. Pier One Footpath of Fame Instead of brass plaques, the Pier One celebrity walkway features a collection of concrete slabs set into the ground. Bud Tingwell's star on the Walk of Fame. Photo: Sardaka - Wikipedia When the concrete sections were first poured and hadn’t yet set, the actual luminaries – personalities from sports and entertainment culture – carved their signatures and pressed their hands (or feet, in the case of Big Bird from the children’s TV series Sesame Street) into its impressionable surface. A few who’ve since fallen from grace, such as Rolf Harris, appear there too. Pier One was first constructed in 1912 as a cargo wharf and used as a transit point for cross-harbour ferries between Dawes Point and Milsons Point before the 1932 opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thereafter, it was a passenger terminal for ships and, until 1977, international ocean liners. Pier One was revitalised in 1982 as a recreational hub. The ‘Footpath of Fame’ was created during this era, when the pier alongside was a thriving centre of mixed commerce, arts & crafts, assorted cafes and historic revival stalls. However, Pier One fell into decline in the mid-1990s, but has since been revitalised as a luxury hotel. The fading Footpath of Fame is still there, albeit beneath an outside dining area. Walk of Fame relaunch Steve Bisley with his star on the Walk of Fame. Photo: Australian Film Festival In 2022, after a hiatus of 10 years, the Australian Film Walk of Fame at The Ritz in Randwick was revived and that year honoured Aboriginal Australian actress Leah Purcell. The multi-talented Purcell is best known for The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, a film she directed, co-produced, wrote the script and played the lead role. It was adapted from the novel (published 2019) and stage play she wrote, which was inspired by a Henry Lawson short story. In 2023, actress Sigrid Thornton was honoured at the Walk of Fame, followed by actor/producer/director David Wenham in February 2025. Incidentally, David Wenham’s portrait won the 2019 ‘Packing Room Prize’ (staff favourite) at the distinguished annual Archibald Prize, which was displayed among the finalists at the Art Gallery of NSW. Neighbourhood Media interviewed the artist, Tessa MacKay, in 2024. The Ritz Cinema, the Heritage-listed theatre in St Paul's Street, Randwick, was designed in 1937 by Crimean-born architect Aaron Bolot, who previously worked with Walter Burley Griffin, the designer of Canberra. Aaron Bolot c1925, aged around 25 Bolot was inspired by the then-trending style of Art Deco, a French-originated arts and architecture movement founded in Paris in 1910 that stood for Arts Décoratifs. Art Deco embraced modernism and luxury, and introduced what were then new materials – chrome plating, stainless steel and plastic – into building construction. Although other Bolot designs, such as several apartment complexes around Potts Point, are still in situ, the Randwick Ritz is the last of his theatre-cinemas still standing. In 1984, the owners applied to demolish The Ritz but were blocked by Randwick Council in a legal challenge that saved it, and it has since been Heritage-listed. In June 2025, two non-actors were honoured in The Ritz’s Walk of Fame – celebrated film critics Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton (the latter a director of the Sydney Film Festival for nearly two decades). Sadly, the launch event was Stratton’s last public appearance – he passed away on 14 August 2025. Known for their long-running TV show At The Movies (2004-14), which was preceded by The Movie Show (1986-2004), the duo discussed and often debated newly-released films and gave them a rating out of five stars. Only seven films achieved a perfect 5-star rating by both Pomeranz and Stratton: Good Night, and Good Luck Brokeback Mountain No Country for Old Men Samson & Delilah A Separation Amour Birdman or (the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton hosting ABC TV's 'Rage', 16 Feb 2013 ================================================

The revitalisation marking a fresh chapter for Randwick’s historic neighbourhood hub - The Spot. By Lucy Pearson The Spot, beloved for its eclectic charm, rich heritage and bustling dining scene, is set to undergo a major transformation. Randwick Council has endorsed a $6.3 million plan to revitalise the precinct, known to locals for its cultural vibrancy and village feel. Located in central Randwick at the junction of St Paul’s Street and Perouse Road, The Spot is an area shaped by history. Once known as “Irishtown,” it was home to a working-class Irish Catholic community. Today, its two-storey shopfronts showcase a diverse blend of Victorian Italianate, Federation Free Classical and Inter-War Art Deco architecture. The iconic Ritz Cinema stands proudly as the area’s best-known landmark and a reminder of its strong community ties. The planned upgrades aim to highlight the area’s unique identity while making it safer, greener and more pedestrian-friendly. Powerlines will be relocated underground and replaced with new Smartpoles, improving sightlines and enhancing visual appeal. A widened footpath on the southern side of St Paul’s Street will create more room for alfresco dining, strengthening the precinct’s reputation as one of Sydney’s most beloved neighbourhood dining destinations. New trees, shrubs and upgraded paving will improve amenity and accessibility while expanding the tree canopy. Raised pedestrian crossings and enhanced lighting will further support walkability and road safety. These improvements aim to benefit the evening economy by encouraging diners and moviegoers to spend more time enjoying the local atmosphere. Parking has been a prominent community talking point. Fifteen to twenty spaces will be removed from St Paul’s Street, with Council proposing the creation of 19 new angled spaces on Coogee Bay Road and a further 23 spaces on Lee and Stewart Streets. Parking restriction reviews are also underway to encourage more short-stay visits that support local business activity and prevent all-day parking that limits turnover. Community consultation has played a central role in shaping the proposal. More than 86% of survey respondents expressed support, either fully or with suggested adjustments. People praised the improved pedestrian experience and the more attractive dining environment. However, there are concerns around parking and cyclist safety, which will continue to be considered as the design progresses. Council is also engaging nearby businesses and residents to help manage the impacts of construction, which is expected to begin in stages during 2025 and 2026. More on Randwick

WOW, a not-for-profit on a mission to improve mental health, are bringing a free, 8-week surf therapy program to Bondi. Mental health challenges are more common than ever, affecting people from all walks of life. Anxiety, depression and stress are realities for many Australians, yet access to effective, affordable, and engaging support remains limited.  To tackle this growing problem, Waves of Wellness (WOW) was born - a not-for-profit mental health surf therapy organisation. WOW delivers free, evidence-based 8-week surf therapy programs designed to support people at all stages of their mental health journey. By combining physical activity, mindfulness, and social connection with the unique healing environment of the ocean, programs offer participants practical tools for managing stress, building resilience, and improving overall wellbeing.  Each session is led by trained surf coaches and qualified mental health professionals, ensuring participants feel supported and valued. The group setting fosters peer connection and belonging, breaking down stigma around mental health and sparking meaningful interactions.  Since its founding, WOW has delivered hundreds of programs across Australia, reaching thousands of participants including young people, veterans, first responders, and everyday Australians. In a landscape where mental health resources are often overstretched, WOW provides a rare and valuable service - making mental health support not only accessible, but engaging, inclusive and enjoyable. This summer, WOW is hosting an upcoming 8-week surf therapy program in Bondi, offering locals and visitors alike the chance to experience the benefits firsthand. With mental health challenges on the rise, programs like this are critical, providing much-needed support for individuals while fostering stronger, more connected communities. WOW’s broader mission extends beyond individual programs. Through research, partnerships, and advocacy, their vision is to establish nature-based therapy as recognised, complementary treatment options. Their vision is a world where taking care of mental wellbeing is as natural as catching a wave - where connection, community, and the ocean play a central role in healing. In an era where mental health struggles are increasingly common and resources are scarce, Waves of Wellness offers a vital lifeline. The upcoming Bondi program is more than a chance to learn to surf; it is an opportunity to support mental wellbeing, build resilience, and become part of a compassionate, connected community. The 8-week women's  program starts at Bondi Beach, January 28th, 2026 - register here: wow.tfaforms.net/61

The history of Randwick Boys High School goes back to 1883, and during that almost 130 years it has produced some notable graduates.  By Rita Bratovich Located on the corner of Avoca and Rainbow Streets, the newly amalgamated co-ed Randwick High School was, until this year, a boys-only Year 7 —12 institution.  As Randwick Boys High, it was well respected and consistently produced impressive academic results. On top of that, it can lay claim to educating some big sporting legends, entertainers, academics, and politicians.  Here are just a few of the alumni who went on to make their mark beyond Randwick.  Daryl Braithwaite Braithwaite was the lead singer of one of Australia’s biggest bands, Sherbet, from 1970 to the early 1980s. After a brief lull in his career, he made a solo comeback in 1988 with the hugely successful album, Edge,  and a string of hits including “As The Days Go By”, “One Summer”, and “The Horses”.  Graeme Isaako This multi-talented singer/dancer/actor/entertainer has appeared in several major musicals including Aladdin, The Lion King , and Moulin Rouge.  He gained popularity as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance Australia. Henri Szeps Best known for playing Robbie in the original series of Mother and Son,  Szeps had a long and respected career on stage and screen. He received the Helpmann Award for Best Actor in 2003.  Simon Townsend Simon Townsend’s Wonder World  was a very popular kid’s TV show, screening on Channel 10 from 1979 to 1987. Townsend hosted with his beloved hound, Woodrow. The show launched the career of a number of Aussie identities who began as presenters.  Jonathan Coleman Coleman was one such presenter mentioned above who started his career on Wonder World and went on to become a successful comedian, host and half of the number 1 radio show, Jono and Dano, on Triple M. He was a popular entertainer in Australia and England from the 1970s through to the early 2000s.  David Dale (journalist) Australian Walkley Award-winning author, journalist and travel writer, television commentator, lecturer, international correspondent, political reporter and radio broadcaster. Dale wrote about travel, food and pop culture for major Australian newspapers and provided media commentary for the ABC.   Jim Sharman (director, writer, producer) Jim Sharman is a recognised name in the world of stage and film, with more than 70 productions to his credit. Arguably his best known works are 1973 stage production of The Rocky Horror Show , and its film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) as well as the lesser known sequel, Shock Treatment  (1981). David Warner (cricketer) Former international cricketer, captain of Big Bash League team Sydney Thunder, and captain of Pakistan Super League team Karachi Kings, Warner is a left-handed opening batter and legend. He was the first Australian cricketer in 132 years to be selected for the national team in any format without experience in first-class cricket. He is one of only a few players to be awarded the Allan Border Medal more than once.  Other alumni worth mentioning:  Terry Reid (wallaby) Bob Outterside (wallaby) Reece Robinson (rugby league) Mat Metzker (Olympic swimmer) Alan Abadee (Supreme Court Justice) Bruce Notley-Smith (Mayor of Randwick) Mike Gallacher (politician)

Four trials, one death sentence and a menacing mystery that haunts Hopetoun House. By Elliot Lindsay 5 Frances Street, Randwick, 27 December 1952. The grand sandstone façade of Hopetoun House, once the eastern suburbs retreat of Lord Hopetoun, Australia’s first Governor-General, stood silent under a summer moon. Inside the 30-room guest house at number 5, the corridors smelled of linoleum polish and boiled cabbage. At 6.45 p.m., Mrs Stella Rose Hearn borrowed the evening newspaper from her neighbour in Room 12, 86-year-old widow Mika Marie Minnitt. “Goodnight, dear,” Mrs Hearn called. Mrs Minnitt, frail but sharp, settled back to her nightly game of patience beneath a single bulb, her crochet hook resting beside the cards. By 8 p.m., the house stirred with small sounds: a radio from the common room, the clatter of teacups, the creak of floorboards as guests returned from the Ritz Cinema. Then came the scream – high, piercing, cut short. Mrs Patricia Maria Avenell, walking to the front gate for a breath of air, glanced up. Framed in Mrs Minnitt’s window was the silhouette of a man, fists rising and falling in fury. Below the sill, something thumped and gurgled. “Like two cats fighting,” another guest later said. Mrs Avenell, assuming a domestic row, retreated to her room. No one knocked on Room 12’s door. Ten hours later, cook Vasilios Hagiyiacomi arrived in the kitchen beneath Mrs Minnitt’s room. At 7.30 a.m., he observed blood dripping from the ceiling onto the lino floor. Hagiyiacomi climbed the back stairs, peered through the locked window, and saw the old woman crumpled on her bed, skull fractured, face purpled by strangulation. Manager Robert Adams forced the door with a master key. The room was a slaughterhouse: blood soaked the mattress, spattered the wallpaper, pooled beneath the patience cards still laid out in a half-finished game. Detectives from Randwick Police Station - led by Inspector J. Rogers - arrived before the breakfast plates were cleared. They found a broken string of beads, a shirt button torn from its thread, and, most damning, the cord from a dressing gown knotted near the body. In the adjoining Room 11 slept nightwatchman Robert Henry Bungate, 42, a heavy drinker with a bandaged wrist and a history of “blackouts.” By nightfall, Bungate was in the cells, charged with wilful murder. Trial One: March 1953 – The Prejudicial Question Central Criminal Court, Darlinghurst. Mr Justice McClemens presiding. Crown Prosecutor C. V. Rooney, Q.C., painted Bungate as a sexual deviant who had battered Mrs Minnitt with his fists, then a bottle, before returning in the small hours to silence her with the dressing-gown cord. Public Defender F. W. Vizzard fought to exclude mention of Bungate’s prior suicide attempt. When Rooney asked a witness whether Bungate had “tried to kill himself five weeks earlier,” Vizzard objected. McClemens agreed: the question was “grossly prejudicial.” Jury discharged. Francis Street buzzed - would the watchman walk free? Trial Two: April 1953 – The Vanishing Witness The second trial took place in the same courtroom under Mr Justice Brereton. The Crown wheeled in a parade of witnesses: Mrs Avenell describing the silhouetted attacker, Hagiyiacomi recounting the blood dripping ceiling. Then disaster - a key Crown witness, a boarder who claimed to have seen Bungate lurking near Room 12 at 1 a.m., collapsed with chest pains. Brereton had no choice. Jury discharged again. At the Clovelly Hotel, punters laid odds: “Third time lucky for the Crown - or for Bungate?” Trial Three: June 1953 – The Hung Jury This time before Mr Justice Dovey. Five days of evidence including the cord, the button, the bead found in Bungate’s laundry bundle. Bungate took the stand: “I never set foot in that room. I was blind drunk, woke at 10 p.m., had a plunge bath, [and] went to a dance at the Trocadero.” The jury retired at 4.10 p.m. on Thursday. By Friday morning, after 18 hours locked in the jury room above King Street, they returned deadlocked. Dovey discharged them. Randwick gossiped over back fences: “Four trials? They’ll never hang him.” Trial Four: June–July 1953 – Verdict at Dawn Before Mr Justice Dovey again with the same prosecutor and same defence. But the jury was different - twelve strangers who knew nothing of the prior fiascos. Rooney opened with chilling precision: “This dear old lady of 86 was the victim of a sex maniac.” He walked them through the timeline: the 8 p.m. screams, the silhouette, the blood dripping into the kitchen like a macabre clock. Medical evidence confirmed two assaults - first the battering, hours later the strangulation to silence a witness who might identify her attacker. Vizzard countered: circumstantial only. The cord could have been planted; the button was common; the bead might have fallen among Bungate’s clothes when police bundled the bloodied bedlinen. Bungate again denied everything. “I hardly knew the woman,” he said, voice flat. “If I was in there, I would have had a blackout.” The jury retired at 5 p.m. on Thursday, 2 July. They deliberated through the night, pacing the jury room while trams clanged below on the busy Street. At 9.45 a.m. Friday, they filed back in. The verdict… Guilty. Bungate stood motionless as Dovey donned the black cap. “In the case of one so inhuman and callous,” the judge intoned, “it would be a waste of words to do more than voice the sentence which the law requires.” Death. Long Bay and Beyond Bungate’s appeal - claiming Dovey had unfairly admitted crime-scene photographs - was dismissed in October 1953. He was transferred to Long Bay Gaol’s condemned section, Cell 7, Wing 3. There he waited on death row, playing cards with trustees, writing letters home to a sister in Paddington. However, in April 1955, the Homicide Act abolished capital punishment in New South Wales. Bungate’s sentence was commuted to life. He became a quiet fixture in the prison laundry, mending inmates’ greens, speaking little of Frances Street. On 31 May 1971, eighteen years after the verdict, Robert Henry Bungate died of a heart attack, aged 60. Hopetoun House at 5 Frances Street Randwick stood until at least 1982. However, the forces of progress had handed down its own death sentence and by 1986 the old mansion was demolished and replaced with a block of flats. As memory of the old mansion faded away, so did memory of the murder of poor Mika Minnitt and the four trials of Robert Henry Bungate.

One night, countless laughs - The All Star Gala is Just For Laughs at rapid fire and full strength. Each year, Sydney’s Just For Laughs Festival  brings comedians from every corner of the comedy world for a jam-packed, multi-day festival of laughs. A centrepiece of the festival is the star-studded All Star Gala - an event I attended for the first time this year, and one I’m certain will become a permanent fixture on my annual calendar. This year’s event was hosted at the iconic Sydney Opera House, hosted by Australian actor, comedian, TV presenter and writer, Shaun Micallef. He shone in this role, delivering quick-fire wit and intermission banter that had the audience laughing just as hard as they did during the headline sets (if not a little harder). Now talk about a line-up! International heavyweights like Reggie Watts, Preacher Lawson and Melanie Bracewell brought the house down. But what really delighted me was the huge showcase of homegrown talent. Wil Anderson, Joel Creasey and Celia Pacquola each delivered stand-out sets - so good, in fact, that I’d urge you to catch their solo shows while you can. The All Star Gala is the perfect pick for anyone wanting to experience some of the world’s best comedy in a fast-paced, varied format. Sets run a punchy 20–30 minutes, each with its own energy, style and sense of humour. You’ll be fully engaged, constantly surprised and counting down the moments to whatever brilliance comes next.

From the canoes of the Eora people to the engineering marvel of the Sydney Harbour Bridge - this is the story of how Sydney learned to cross its harbour. By Matt Murphy The Sydney Harbour Bridge is approaching 100 years of age. Along with the Opera House, it is synonymous with Sydney and in fact it is hard to imagine Sydney without it. More than a landmark, it is an important part of Sydney’s infrastructure; about 160,000 cars, trucks and buses, as well as 500 trains, traverse the bridge every day. Prior to 1788, the Eora people of Sydney had been crossing the harbour in their large canoes. Known as nawi, they were four metres long and wide enough that a fire was kept alight in the centre with enough room either side for people to walk around. Not long after Sydney was colonised, the concept of a bridge linking to north of the harbour was discussed. The first of these was from a visitor when Sydney was only a year old. Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of the famous naturalist Charles Darwin, visited in 1789 and wrote a poem in which he extolled the beauty of the harbour and that he envisioned a ‘proud arch, Colossus-like’ that would link the harbour’s north and south. An emancipist named Billy Blue, after whom Blues Point was named, saw an opportunity in 1807 and started a ferry service. For a fee you were given access to his boat but you were also given an oar. Blue steered the vessel while the passengers rowed. By 1817 his fleet had grown to 11 vessels. In 1814 Francis Greenaway, an architect and convict who designed much of colonial Sydney, proposed to Governor Macquarie that a bridge be built to the north shore, but nothing came of it. A decade later Greenway again pushed for a bridge across the harbour noting not only the practicality and need for such a structure but that it would ‘give an idea of strength and magnificence that would reflect credit and glory on the colony and the Mother Country’. With Sydney growing, proposals were put to the colonial New South Wales government in 1857,1878 and 1881; one of which suggesting a tunnel instead of a bridge. The 1881 model was formally accepted by the government, and while that caused some excitement it never left the drawing board. In 1890 a Royal Commission was established however as a depression hit Sydney shortly after, the idea again failed to gain momentum. From the early 1860s, while all the talk of a bridge was being debated, steam powered ferries became popular yet couldn’t keep up with Sydney’s growing population. By 1900 both the ferries were overcrowded with people and the wharves overcrowded with ferries. On many occasions passengers were forced to alight from their ferry to another ferry and to a third or fourth before setting foot on the wharf. The need for a bridge was becoming increasingly dire. The first crossing of the harbour was to be further west. The original Gladesville Bridge was built in 1881. It provided only one lane of traffic each way, and a tram line. Being much lower than the current Gladesville Bridge, the southern half swung open to allow ships to access the Parramatta River. The old bridge was closed, and the current Gladesville Bridge was opened slightly to its east, in 1964. In 1900 the New South Wales government held a competition to design a bridge and in 1902 granted prizes of £1000 to a London based entry of a suspension bridge and £500 to a Sydney-based engineer, Norman Selfe, for his design of a cantilever bridge. Selfe was also awarded a second time for a suspension bridge he later designed. But yet again the bridge idea was scrapped, and again primarily for financial reasons. In 1914 John Bradfield was appointed the chief engineer for the Sydney Harbour Bridge project and like Selfe favoured a cantilever construction. This time a bill was passed by the government however like all previous proposals it failed to get started. This time it was not just because of money, but because of WWI. This was not only because much of Sydney’s manpower were involved in the war effort but also because the nation was also more focussed on the fight in Europe, especially after the slaughter and Gallipoli. However after the war, and with the state’s finances in good shape, the planning minds of Sydney were more focused and more determined. Another international competition commenced in 1922. The winning tender being the English firm Dorman, Long and Co who had built the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle which was of much the same design and, at the time, nearing completion. The major difference is that the Sydney Harbour Bridge was to be almost three times larger at 1150 metres in length. The ceremonial start of the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was on 28 July 1823 but this was mainly on the approaches to the bridge, not the structure itself. The concrete peers that would support the bridge were in place by September 1926 with work on the famous arch commencing in late 1928. The two halves touched in the middle on 19 August 1930 which understandably caused much jubilation for Sydneysiders and undoubtedly some satisfaction for the engineers. The bridge was completed in early 1932 but before it was open to the public three weeks of tests were conducted to ascertain its strength. The most famous of these tests being when 96 steam trains were placed end-to-end on the tracks. The bridge was officially opened on 19 March 1932 as a public event and celebration. It is curious that the reason the bridge was not built earlier was often blamed on economic restraints and yet it was completed during the Great Depression. 16 workers died during its construction. You can contact our resident historian, Matt Murphy, via Instagram: @mattmurphy8