Village News

Leichhardt bowlo's new chefs

There's no bowls club in Annandale, so plenty of us have long claimed the Leichhardt one just up Piper St as our own - the barefoot bowls, the kids tearing around the playground. Now the kitchen has grown up to match. The bistro has new management in Blue Ribbon Bistro, run by three chefs who first met on the line at Rockpool twenty years back and have reunited to do pub classics properly. Broadsheet's first look is worth a read.

Interview: Tan from Revolver

Tan has run Revolver, the corner cafe at 291 Annandale St, since January 2020. That was six weeks before COVID hit, when it felt like the sky was falling in. He came to it in his early 40s after 18 years in the public service, with no hospitality experience and a wife who reckoned he'd do well in business. We sat down over a flat white to hear how the whole backflip panned out. Read our chat with Tan (4 min).

Tan, a familiar face to North Annandalians

The best part of Annandale... revealed

Ben Southwell (of Ben's Wrap fame) asked Troll readers last week which pocket of Annandale readers love best, and 129 of you weighed in. Boy oh boy! Heavy bias in many of the answers, but don’t we love our suburb and a little competition. Ben has some more notes in his usual wrap below, and we've put all the data in Letters, too.

That drawer phone could be a lifeline

Most of us have an old mobile gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. It turns out it could matter to someone. The Annandale community centre is now a drop-off point for old phones and chargers, which get properly reset and passed on to people trying to stay safe and connected while escaping domestic violence. A small thing to hand over, and a quietly good use for something you'd otherwise forget about. (Source: Inner West Council FB Page)

Council Watch

DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

Address	Description	DA Number
22 Alfred St	Alterations and additions to an existing detached dwelling	DA/2026/0644

Real Estate

Ben’s Wrap

Ben Southwell · sponsored

Cobden Hayson

Last week's "Favourite Pocket of Annandale" poll sparked far more conversation than I expected. While Booth Street and the village edged ahead, the result almost became irrelevant once the comments started rolling in.

What stood out wasn't where people lived, but why they loved living there. Every pocket had its champions, and almost every response centred around the same things; neighbours, parks, cafés, walkability, community and simply feeling connected.

Perhaps that's the real takeaway. We often talk about Annandale as though it's made up of different pockets, but maybe it's made up of one community that just happens to live in different streets. That's a pretty special thing to be reminded of.

Get in touch with Ben →

JUST SOLD

Address	Price	Beds	Baths	Garages
3/1A Booth St	$1.3M	2	2	1
45 Taylor St	$1.48M	2	1	-
10 Trafalgar St	$2.06M	3	2	1

Trusted Tradie List

Updated: July 2026. Our list of tradies the people of Annandale actually use, sourced from our readers and vetted locals

Pest Control →

Mechanic →

Letters to the Troll

What readers said about their favourite pocket of Annandale:

Booth St & Village

"It is so walkable - love the energy."

"A village feel - where friends gather to chat & enjoy the ambiance"

"I live on Booth Street so I'm already biased, but it's so handy to the village, buses, Whites Creek Valley Park & Wetlands. And an easy walk to my Pilates studio on Johnston Street (shoutout to Activated Physio & Pilates). What's not to like?!"

"Brings the community together and encourages walking, always good! It's the first place I take guests coming to stay with us."

"Lovely people and close to shops. Convenience :)"

"We live here and we love it!"

Tramsheds / Jubilee Park

"The North pocket of Johnston Street has district and city views for beauty, is a short walk away from Tramsheds for shopping and eating, and has easy access to parklands and Blackwattle Bay for walking and access to the Fish Markets. We love it!"

"Being so close to the harbour, the water, the harbour city, and the fish market just around the corner, we're so lucky!"

"Love the walk around the harbour backwaters - towards the Fishmarkets or White Bay Power Station. Love that its just a hop skip and a jump from a myriad of transport options - buses, light rail and ferry to get you anywhere in Sydney and beyond. Love the options of a walk up the hill or over to the Tramsheds for restaurants or cafes and is close to supermarkets if needed. Love all that green space and the occasional playful dog in the park. It is a shame they ruined that amazing playground in the park and took out the theatre in the arches though but we can blame Sydney council for both those."

"Good for a walk or a run. Water views."

Rozelle Parklands / Whites Creek

"Whites Creek Valley Park was built by activist locals working with Council on the park's management plan. And it shows. It's a park with something for everyone."

"Whites creek park is the soul of Annandale - so lucky to have such a beautiful space to roam. Thank you to all the volunteers that keep the community garden and food forest so beautifully."

Camperdown Fringe

"Glorious wide, quiet and elegant streets with karma of the Buddhist Temple and Cherry Moon just a Russian Honey Cake away - what can possibly go wrong?!!"

"I wrote to Albo years ago about the Federal government giving a grant to help repair/restore the beautiful Hunter Bailey Church. What did I get? Crickets."

Leichhardt Fringe

"Reserve St is alive with families walking kids up to APS every morning, Evan Jobes playground on border of Leichhardt & whites Creek. Great place to live."

Events

ALL WEEKEND

RozelleCulture The Complete Works of Jane Austen - Abridged - Genesian Theatre. A short, fast-paced stage performance of six abridged Jane Austen novels for theatre fans. 7:30pm - 10:00pm. Tickets From $33.

StanmoreCulture Feathered Heads: A Flying Visit - The Corner Gallery. Visit a short photo exhibition of award-winning bird images by Angela Robertson-Buchanan, with sales supporting bird conservation. 11:00am - 5:00pm. Free Entry.

FRIDAY 7 AUG

StanmoreKids Storytime at Stanmore Library - Stanmore Library. Drop in for storytime at Stanmore Library, a kids’ session with reading and stories. 10:30am - 11:00am. Free Entry.

SATURDAY 8 AUG

CamperdownMusic Saved My Soul EP Launch - Camperdown Quarters. Attend the Saved My Soul EP launch at Camperdown Quarters for live music and a chance to hear the new release. 7:00pm - 9:00pm. Tickets $10.

LeichhardtMusic La Etnnia (COL) - Crowbar. Catch La Etnnia (COL) with Negro Ramón (COL) live at Crowbar in Leichhardt. 7:00pm.

SUNDAY 9 AUG

StanmoreWorkshop Tiny Forests: A whimsical drawing workshop for youth - Stanmore Library. Youth drawing workshop with illustrator Binny Talib, inspired by nature, folk art and patterns. 1:00pm - 2:30pm. Free Entry.

MONDAY 10 AUG

CamperdownMusic Monday Night Confessions - Church Street Studios. Enjoy original jazz and improvised music in an intimate Monday night session. 8:00pm.

WEDNESDAY 12 AUG

LeichhardtWorkshop Afternoon Wildlife Drawing Course – Wednesdays - Leichhardt MarketPlace Community Room. Join artist Shannon Dwyer for a relaxed wildlife drawing class on Wednesday afternoons. 3:30pm - 6:00pm.

LeichhardtBooks Reading Between the Lines: The Children’s Train by Viola Ardone - Leichhardt Library. Join a monthly literary discussion about The Children’s Train by Viola Ardone, led by guest presenters from nearby universities. 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Free Entry.

THURSDAY 13 AUG

LeichhardtCommunity Justice of the Peace at Leichhardt Library - Leichhardt Library. Get documents witnessed by a Justice of the Peace at Leichhardt Library. . Free Entry.

RozelleCommunity Organic Buyers Group Hub: Rozelle - Rozelle Public School. Join the weekly Organic Buyers Group to buy, share and save on organic produce. 5:00pm - 5:45pm.

LeichhardtMusic Sunk Loto - Crowbar. Catch Sunk Loto live with Verona Lights and Immortal Within at Crowbar in Leichhardt. 8:00pm.

FRIDAY 14 AUG

LeichhardtMusic Ceres - Crowbar. Tyler Richardson celebrates the 10-year anniversary of 'Drag It Down on You' in Ceres. 8:00pm.

SATURDAY 15 AUG

LeichhardtMusic Big Noter - Crowbar. Homesick and Kirklandd support Big Noter, an alt-metal band’s debut headline Sydney show. 8:00pm.

LeichhardtMusic 3-WAY - Front Bar @ Crowbar. A DIY punk festival across three Leichhardt venues, with bands and entry by donation supporting Food Not Bombs. 1:00pm.

Sincerely,

Mark (resident of Annandale)

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Annandale Troll Edition 43