Village News

Callan Park Master Plan revealed!

In the Troll’s first issue in October 2025, news of the Callan Park revamp was a top story. 7 months on, the draft master plan for the foreshore is on public exhibition: it pulls together every thread we’ve been following: the synthetic turf, the tidal baths, who leases the heritage buildings, which old wards come down, and how the Bay Run handles cars. Friends of Callan Park, the football families, the cricket club and the swimmers all have a stake. Feedback closes 21 June. The full plan is worth a read.

A weed hiding in plain sight

Reader Evan flagged something most of us walk past without noticing. Celtis sinensis, the ‘Chinese celtis’, is a perfectly polite shade tree, but it self-seeds at a diabolical pace, and saplings are quietly taking over Whites Creek, Badu Reserve, and the Booth St verges near the sewage station. Powers-to-be class it as a weed, but stops short of calling it noxious, which means it doesn't make council's eradication list. So it runs amok, unchecked. Here’s what to look for if you’re keen to help pull some weeds out. Thanks, Evan!

Readers split on the new 40 speed limit

Community poll results, 166 votes

Well, the mix is closer than the Troll expected. The through-roads versus back-streets divide came up again and again in the comments, which we'll publish in the letters section below.

Which brings us to Johnston St: the limit stays as it is, but driving south along it this week, I noticed something that may be a story as old as time: cars are parked at such an acute angle that one of the two lanes effectively disappears, and you have to merge quick-sticks. Has it always been like this? Do those bays need painted lines to get people parking at a wider angle. Hit reply if you've had a close call.

The famous Johnston St quick-merge

Local Business Spotlight

Adult Ballet & Tap | Tuesday Evenings | PCYC

Got happy memories of dancing as a kid? Or did you get all the kit, join the online classes during Covid, and then forget all about it? Every Tuesday evening at the PCYC, a genuinely welcoming group of adults meets to dance. Tap from 6 to 6.50pm, ballet from 6.50 to 8pm. We work hard, but don’t take ourselves too seriously, and leave feeling better than when we arrived. Email Ruth to find out more [email protected].

Events

FEATURED EVENT

Annandale The Vic Sponsored

Wednesday Night. State of Origin. The Vic.
State of Origin kicks off Wednesday 27 May and The Vic is showing it live and loud. Get in for the raffles first, then settle in for kick-off and enjoy $7.50 schooners and $9 pints of Tooheys New all game long. There's merch up for grabs too, including an official Tooheys NSW Blues jersey. See what else is on here.

Council Watch

Address Description DA Number
1 Macquarie Street Demolition of an existing garage and storage area, with construction of a two-storey structure containing a garage and studio. DA/2026/0402
4 Wisdom Street Partial demolition and ground and first floor alterations and additions to the existing dwelling house. DA/2026/0383
53 Susan Street Construction of an elevated car parking platform within the front setback, including installation of a mechanically operated gate and driveway crossover. DA/2026/0388
92 Trafalgar Street Construction of an in-ground swimming pool at the rear of the property. DA/2026/0399

Real Estate

BEN’S WRAP sponsored by Ben Southwell , Cobden Hayson

One of the understated charms of Annandale is its laneways. They’re not polished or designed for show, but they carry a personality all of their own. Old roller doors, basketball hoops, overgrown greenery, cats wandering about and kids cutting through on scooters, they tell a quiet story about the people who live here.

With more families now staying long term in the Inner West, laneways have once again become extensions of our backyards. They’re gathering spaces for impromptu cricket matches, weekend catch ups and celebrations that spill out beyond the fence line. While the front of the homes may be the polished and pretty side, it’s often out the back where the real life and party happens.

There’s something nice about a suburb that still has its hidden layers, little pockets you only really come to appreciate once you’ve spent time wandering through them.

JUST SOLD

Address Price Beds Baths Garages
25/45 Trafalgar Street $1.1 m 2 2 1
8/44 Collins Street $900 k 2 1 1

Letters to the Troll

Responses to last week’s poll question:

❝

Are you happy with Annandale's new 40 speed limit?

“I live on Trafalgar st between Booth and Collins. I've lost count of the number of speeding vehicles, it's ridiculous. I'd love council to install speed limiting measures. So many kids live around us and it's so dangerous.”

“Very happy as motorists of today race up small streets ie Reserve, Albion and Styles and tend to forget that some of us are close to 80 and cannot go at a fast walking speed when crossing intersections.”

“Important through roads are too slow at 40kmh. Fine for back streets.”

“Marion should remain 50.”

“That's ridiculously slow. They're huge wide streets, 60kms is perfectly fine.”

“Just going to add to the congestion.”

Sincerely,

Mark (resident of Annandale)

Share the Troll, bring back community

We are building a closer Annandale community, so please invite your neighbour: just forward this email or share our website link via message: annandaletroll.com.au

Keep Reading

Join the only weekly newsletter in Annandale.