Editor's Note
Morning all, and a warm welcome to my first edition of The Hardt. I’m Penny, and I’ve lived in Leichhardt for more years than I care to count. I've brought my family up here and have no plans to leave. Places you may spot me: grabbing a breakfast roll from Carpenter (they put a hashbrown in!), wandering round the Orange Grove markets, or treating myself to a cheeky ice cream at Bar Italia in the evening.
I'd love to make this the start of a conversation about what could make this suburb even better, like the idea in the letter below. What's one thing you'd add or change near you? An overdue crossing, a corner that could be a pocket park, an event or group you wish we had, a shop we're missing. Tell me (hit reply) and I'll post the most compelling ones next week. Over time I'll flag anything that comes up repeatedly in case someone wants to take it on!
This Week in Leichhardt
Come along to the pool for live Sunday sounds
Pools are open for the summer and council's trying something new with free live music every Sunday from noon to 2pm, rotating across Inner West pools right through to late March. This Sunday it's Abigail Wighton at Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre in Petersham Park (pictured). A good excuse to make the most of the pools this summer and if you're a local acoustic performer, spots are still open! (Source: Council website)
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Nine Callan Park buildings come down
Demolition has started on nine buildings at Callan Park, with 1.6 hectares of green open space set to replace them. Balmain MP Kobi Shetty has called for an end to demolition by neglect, urging the state government to fix up heritage buildings across the park and get tenants into them. Plenty of us walk (many with dogs), play and gather at Callan Park, so this is one to watch as the cleared land takes shape. (Source: Kobi Shetty FB Page)
Grandparents' Day at the Magic Yellow Bus
Inner West Council Children's Services are putting on Grandparents’ Day for little ones aged 0 to 5 and their grandparents (and parents and carers) at the Magic Yellow Bus at Petersham Park on Wed 21 Oct, 9:30am to noon. Worth a wander over if you're hanging with the grandkids! (Source: Leichhardt FB Group)
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A new art, book and craft space on Parramatta Rd
A new shop opened last weekend on the corner of Parramatta Rd and Macquarie St. Part artist space, part bookshop, part craft and maker workshop. It’s the brainchild of Georgia, who has been practising art in the inner west for ten years. Council chipped in through its Business Facade Improvement program. Lovely to see a creative space land on that stretch of Parramatta Rd. (Source: Darcy Byrne FB Page, Georgia Draws a House)
Going electric, at Leichhardt Town Hall
Across Whites Creek in Annandale, Gav Gilchrist was writing about clean energy long before rooftop solar was mainstream. In 2017 he started Inner West Community Energy, a volunteer group that’s now a registered charity.
This month the charity is bringing Electrify Inner West, a community expo to Leichhardt Town Hall, for anyone thinking about going electric. It’s on next Sat 24 Oct, 10am–1pm. Peter Garrett delivers an opening address at 11am, followed by an audience-led Q&A. Free entry, registration recommended: events.humanitix.com/electrify. (Source: Gav)
Real Estate
JUST SOLD
| Address | Price | Beds | Baths | Garages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Thornley St | $1.78M | 3 | 1 | - |
| 131A Allen St | $2.11M | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 27/69 Allen St | $1.28M | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 Cromwell St | $1.74M | 3 | 1 | - |
| 119/69 Allen St | $1.25M | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 23/1 Ivory Ln | $1.36M | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 65 Upward St | $1.97M | 3 | 1 | - |
| 109/69 Allen St | - | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Letters to the Hardt
What Leichhardt needs
"We need an art hub where any aged person can join others to paint sculpt etc. Do art lessons. Show and sell their work. Many examples of this in regional location like Forster and Albury where the council gave a building to the local community. The community lead by a committee look after the upkeep of the building and provide some classes and activities for aged and disabled people"
From Christine, Local Reader
(Christine, and others interested, Georgia's new space mentioned above could be a start - looks fantastic from the images) (Source: Letter to the editor)
What's On
Friday 16 October
Annandale Culture The Shakesbeer Sessions: A Midsummer Night's Dream Annandale - 17 Parramatta Rd, Annandale NSW 2038. Interactive, singalong Shakespeare theatre brings classic tales to life with a contemporary twist for modern audiences. 7:30pm - 9:30pm. $32.
Annandale Workshop Market Studio Workshops & Airr Made Ceramics Open Studio - 131 Booth St, Annandale NSW 2038. Celebrate local craft through clay handbuilding, ceramic painting and linocut workshops, and explore Airr Made’s working pottery studio and works by local artists. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free Entry.
Petersham Music Magpie Diaries + Charley Castle & The Boys In The Well - The Petersham Bowling Club. Magpie Diaries perform as a five-piece string band playing songs from all three albums, joined by Charley Castle & The Boys in The Well. 8:00pm - 11:00pm. $18.18.
Petersham Culture Catch Me If You Can: The Musical - 107 Crystal St, Petersham NSW 2049, Australia. Inner West Theatre Company presents a Broadway musical about Frank Abagnale Jr.’s cons and pursuit by FBI agent Carl Hanratty, featuring big-band swing, dance and a story of family and identity. 7:30pm - 10:00pm. $49.
Leichhardt Culture me you we us - 385 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt NSW 2040. Artists interpret community and personal worlds in a group exhibition spanning craft, design and diverse media at ARTROOM, with artworks available for purchase. 12:00pm - 6:00pm. Free Entry.
Stanmore Culture Journey: BirdLife Australia Bird Week Exhibition - The Corner Gallery. An exhibition explores over 48 artists’ connections to Australian birds, with 20% of sales donated to BirdLife Australia. 11:00am - 5:00pm. Free Entry.
Stanmore Workshop Beginners Learn to Sew Clothing Course - 74 Parramatta Rd, Stanmore NSW 2048, Australia. This six-week beginners course covers sewing a garment from machine use and pattern reading to cutting, fitting and sewing, with small-group guidance and equipment provided. 10:00am - 1:00pm. $450.
Saturday 17 October
Annandale Workshop Market Studio Workshops & Airr Made Ceramics Open Studio - 131 Booth St, Annandale NSW 2038. Celebrate local craft through clay handbuilding, ceramic painting and linocut workshops, and explore Airr Made’s working pottery studio and works by local artists. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free Entry.
Stanmore Culture Journey: BirdLife Australia Bird Week Exhibition - The Corner Gallery. An exhibition explores over 48 artists’ connections to Australian birds, with 20% of sales donated to BirdLife Australia. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free Entry.
Leichhardt Community Makers Frontyard Trail - Wetherill St, Leichhardt NSW 2040, Australia. Explore Inner West front yards, driveways and verandahs to meet local artists and makers and discover handmade work at this free celebration of creativity and community. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free Entry.
Summer Hill Community A Handmade Life Collective - 18 Spencer St, Summer Hill NSW 2130. A two-day pop-up market featuring Inner West makers selling locally made artworks, homewares, jewellery, accessories and textiles. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free Entry.
Petersham Culture Catch Me If You Can: The Musical - 107 Crystal St, Petersham NSW 2049, Australia. Inner West Theatre Company presents a Broadway musical about Frank Abagnale Jr.’s cons and pursuit by FBI agent Carl Hanratty, featuring big-band swing, dance and a story of family and identity. 7:30pm - 10:00pm. $49.
Stanmore Workshop Beginners Learn to Sew Clothing Course - 74 Parramatta Rd, Stanmore NSW 2048, Australia. This six-week beginners course covers sewing a garment from machine use and pattern reading to cutting, fitting and sewing, with small-group guidance and equipment provided. 1:30pm - 4:30pm. $450.
Sunday 18 October
Petersham Culture Catch Me If You Can: The Musical - 107 Crystal St, Petersham NSW 2049, Australia. Inner West Theatre Company presents a Broadway musical about Frank Abagnale Jr.’s cons and pursuit by FBI agent Carl Hanratty, featuring big-band swing, dance and a story of family and identity. 2:00pm - 4:30pm. $49.
Stanmore Culture Journey: BirdLife Australia Bird Week Exhibition - The Corner Gallery. An exhibition explores over 48 artists’ connections to Australian birds, with 20% of sales donated to BirdLife Australia. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free Entry.
Annandale Workshop Market Studio Workshops & Airr Made Ceramics Open Studio - 131 Booth St, Annandale NSW 2038. Celebrate local craft through clay handbuilding, ceramic painting and linocut workshops, and explore Airr Made’s working pottery studio and works by local artists. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free Entry.
Summer Hill Community A Handmade Life Collective - 18 Spencer St, Summer Hill NSW 2130. A two-day pop-up market featuring Inner West makers selling locally made artworks, homewares, jewellery, accessories and textiles. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free Entry.
Leichhardt Culture me you we us - 385 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt NSW 2040. Artists interpret community and personal worlds in a group exhibition spanning craft, design and diverse media at ARTROOM, with artworks available for purchase. 12:00pm - 6:00pm. Free Entry.
Stanmore Workshop Beginners Learn to Sew Clothing Course - 74 Parramatta Rd, Stanmore NSW 2048, Australia. This six-week beginners course covers sewing a garment from machine use and pattern reading to cutting, fitting and sewing, with small-group guidance and equipment provided. 1:30pm - 4:30pm. $450.
Tuesday 20 October
Stanmore Culture Journey: BirdLife Australia Bird Week Exhibition - The Corner Gallery. An exhibition explores over 48 artists’ connections to Australian birds, with 20% of sales donated to BirdLife Australia. 11:00am - 5:00pm. Free Entry.
Wednesday 21 October
Petersham Culture Catch Me If You Can: The Musical - 107 Crystal St, Petersham NSW 2049, Australia. Inner West Theatre Company presents a Broadway musical about Frank Abagnale Jr.’s cons and pursuit by FBI agent Carl Hanratty, featuring big-band swing, dance and a story of family and identity. 7:30pm - 10:00pm. $49.
Leichhardt Community Trivia Night - The Bowlo. Food available | Prizes to win 7:00pm.
Lilyfield Workshop Year of the Novel with Ashley Kalagian Blunt - Balmain Rd, Lilyfield NSW 2040, Australia. Ashley Kalagian Blunt’s three-phase novel-writing course provides tools, support and encouragement to plan, write and edit your novel. 12:00am - 11:59pm. $2850.
Leichhardt Workshop Afternoon Wildlife Drawing Classes – Wednesdays - 122-138 Flood St, Leichhardt NSW 2040. Join wildlife artist Shannon Dwyer for relaxed, beginner-friendly wildlife drawing classes in Leichhardt, with step-by-step guidance and support for your preferred medium and individual style. 3:30pm - 6:00pm. $225.
Thursday 22 October
Stanmore Culture Journey: BirdLife Australia Bird Week Exhibition - The Corner Gallery. An exhibition explores over 48 artists’ connections to Australian birds, with 20% of sales donated to BirdLife Australia. 11:00am - 5:00pm. Free Entry.