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$50 of Messina for Annandale Kids
Earlier this year I was introduced to Bernard Cohen's writing workshop at Annandale North. Bernard read out a few pieces from his students and I was genuinely floored, the imagination, the voice, the craft. The workshop celebrated its 20th year at ANPS last month and it inspired me to think: why not open that up to the community?
So we're running our first kids' writing comp, a chance for local kids to publish their work, at a time when human imagination has never felt more valuable. Two age groups, six winners, $50 Messina vouchers. I'll publish all the entries here and we're looking for a few readers to volunteer as judges to help select the winners, announced on 29 June.
Know a keen young writer or someone who'd make a great judge? Share this link around:
Village News
Annandale votes with its stomach
Last week I asked you to name the one dish worth traversing Annandale for. You did not hold back. The banh mi at Booth St Bakery came up again and again, and Betel House drew a loyal crowd for its Thai. There was also real love for Cherry Moon’s almond croissant, the prawn roll at Afishonado and a humble caramel slice from the Annandale Bakehouse. The full list of your tips is below in the letters. If you’re a budding critic, feel free to email me your detailed reviews of these items and I’ll share on.

Leichhardt 50m outdoor pool shuts for revamp
Our nearest 50m pool has served the area since the 1960s. It will come back in 2028 heated and the old dive pool makes way for a 25m pool with a moveable floor for water polo, lessons and aqua classes. Exciting. The catch is the wait: the two large outdoor pools close for 2 summers (which is short when you compare to North Sydney!) The indoor & kids pools and gym will stay open though.
When Annandale played in the big league
Did you know Annandale fielded a top-grade rugby league side? I didn't. Back in 1910, Annandale played in the competition that grew into today's NRL. Five of the eight clubs were Inner West: Annandale, Balmain, Glebe, Newtown and Western Suburbs. A pop-up museum on Inner West footy is open until October in the old cottage on Mary St, across from Leichhardt Oval. They're after old stories, photos and memorabilia, which you can add to the museum's story wall here.
Events
ALL WEEKEND
GlebeCulture Yvonne Haber artwork – The Shop Gallery. Exhibition of sketches and prints exploring architecture, travel, memory and place. 11 am–6 pm. Free.
HaymarketCulture Transmedia Worldbuilding Residency Exhibition – 4A – Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Immersive digital storytelling and interactive media works by emerging artists. 11 am–5 pm. Free.
FRIDAY 5 JUN
RozelleMusic Art After Dark – Vivid Sydney presents Elsy Wameyo and RIAH – White Bay Power Station. Live performances alongside Biennale programming and after-hours exhibition access. 6 pm–9:30 pm. Tickets from $10.
CamperdownMusic Heads Talking Church St Studios 5 June 2026 – Church St Studios. Tribute concert celebrating Talking Heads songs across three decades. 7:30 pm–9:30 pm. Tickets $50.
SATURDAY 6 JUN
LeichhardtBooks Inner West play reading club: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler – Leichhardt Library, The Italian Forum. Monthly reading group discussing Ray Lawler’s classic Australian play together. 11 am–1:30 pm. Free.
HaymarketCulture 4A TALKS: Transmedia Worldbuilding Residency Exhibition – 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Residency exhibition showcasing speculative and multimedia projects by five artists. 1 pm–2 pm. Free.
LeichhardtWorkshop Sketching starter: Drawing from life in urban settings – Leichhardt Library, The Italian Forum. Learn urban sketching techniques with artist Alice Xu around the precinct. 2:30 pm–4:30 pm. Free.
CamperdownKids Finissage Family Art Workshops – Chau Chak Wing Museum. Family workshops inspired by Biennale artworks across the museum. 12 pm–4 pm. Free.
LeichhardtMusic Goonbag | Bleach | Santeblue | My Velvet Exit – Crowbar Sydney. Long weekend indie lineup featuring local and touring bands. 8 pm. Free.
SUNDAY 7 JUN
LeichhardtCommunity Leichhardt Matters: Rezoning and what it means for you – Town Hall Meeting 2 pm at the Town Hall.
LeichhardtMusic SYDNEY DETHFEST 2026 FEATURING EXHUMED AND ORIGIN – Crowbar Sydney. Extreme metal festival headlined by Exhumed and Origin across two stages. 3 pm. Tickets $84.
GlebeMusic Alexander Yau in Recital: Humour & Horizons – Master Music Studio. Pianist Alexander Yau performs works by Beethoven, Schumann and Debussy. 4:30 pm–6:30 pm. Tickets from $30.
TUESDAY 9 JUN
CamperdownMusic CLIPPING. (USA) – Manning Bar. Experimental hip-hop trio performs a Sydney stop on its tour. 8 pm. Tickets $97.
WEDNESDAY 10 JUN
LeichhardtBooks Reading between the Lines: Borderlands / La Frontera – Leichhardt Library, The Italian Forum. Guided discussion of Gloria Anzaldúa’s influential work on identity. 6:30 pm–7:30 pm. Free.
THURSDAY 11 JUN
GlebeCommunity Men's Health Week & Glebe Men's Connection – St Helen’s Community Centre. Informal discussion covering men’s health, wellbeing and support services. 10:30 am–12 pm. Free.
GlebeCulture Shaunagh Ashby & Tory Epworth exhibition – The Shop Gallery. Exhibition exploring colour, light and form through paintings and sculpture. 11 am–6 pm. Free.
CamperdownMusic CHAT PILE – Manning Bar. Oklahoma noise-rock band brings its first Australian tour to Sydney. 8 pm. Tickets $87.
Council Watch
| Address | Description | DA Number |
|---|---|---|
| 319 Annandale Street | Modification to an approved development involving an increase to the finished floor level around the in-ground swimming pool and within the rear side setback area. | MOD/2026/0186 |
Real Estate
BEN’S WRAP sponsored by Ben Southwell ,
Sydney's clearance rate last weekend was 34.4%. This time last year, it was 50.24%. The number matters, but it doesn't tell the whole story for Annandale.
On the ground, Bays West and Rozelle are reshaping what's on our doorstep. Greater access to culture and improved infrastructure on one hand; more traffic and congestion on the other. These things cut both ways. Underground, Annandale is quietly becoming one of the best-connected suburbs in Sydney. Already 15 minutes from the airport via the M8, soon 15 minutes to Mosman when the Western Harbour Tunnel opens, and still a bike ride to the CBD. Then layer on the significant changes flagged in the federal budget around housing supply and lending, and there's a lot to navigate.
Working out how all of this affects what your home is actually worth right now is one of the parts of this job I love most. Thinking about your options? Drop your address below and I'll give you a buzz with my honest take, no pressure, no pitch. Click to connect
JUST SOLD
| Address | Price | Beds | Baths | Garages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 352 Annandale Street | $3.64 m | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Letters to the Troll
Responses to last week’s poll about best individual dishes in Annandale:
“Charles Bistro at the Victoria Hotel on Young St. The fish curry, pork knuckle or the green curry barramundi. Top three, it has to be, as I can't choose just one. Best in Sydney.”
“Chicken curry at the Vic.”
Prawn roll from Afishonado.
“Prawn roll from Afishonado, cherry pie from Cherry Moon, classic banh mi from Booth St Bakery, banoffee pie from Chargrill Charlie's.”
“Crab fried rice from Betel House.”
“The $6 mushroom quiche from the Annandale Bakehouse, for a cheap and delicious brekky.”
“Afishonado's fish parcels, seriously, pop them in the oven. Delicious.”
“Fat Fish snack pack.”
“Caramel slice from Annandale Bakehouse, even better with one of their coffees.”
“Veggie focaccia at Cherry Moon, and the Wholesome Bowl at Cafe Booth.”
“Lemongrass pork banh mi at Bakery on Booth. Hands down.”
“Almond croissant.”
“The Penne Mamamis from Made in Italy, almost everything from Betel House, and the borek and sweet treats from 37 Precinct.”
“Kang curry chicken from the Betel House.”
“Bacon and egg roll at Annandale Bakehouse.”
“The lemongrass chicken roll from Booth Street Bakery, close second is their meat pie.”
“The chocolate almond croissant at Cherry Moon. Seriously too good.”
“The duck pad see ew at Betel House.”
“I'm absolutely addicted to the smoked trout crumpets with two poached eggs at Precinct 37.”
“At the Annandale pub, the grilled fish with potatoes.”
“Chicken schnitty at the North Annandale pub.”
“Miso chilli crab scrambled eggs at Cafe Booth. Well known, but also the Booth St Bakery for the banh mi.”
“The banh mi's at Booth St Bakery. The flaky square pies at Annandale Bakehouse, next to the chemist. Leo's borek slices with a fried egg on top at Precinct 37.”
“Steamed chicken dumplings at Bar Asia.”
“The Annandale Special at Fat Fish. Doesn't get better.”
“The sizzling seafood platter at Betel House.”
“Combination laksa at Bar Asia.”
“Bacon and egg roll, Clover on Booth Street.”
“The Ricepaper Workshop at the Tramsheds, technically Forest Lodge, but right on the border of Annandale. The tofu banh mi is to die for. A little more than I'd like to pay at $14, but worth it.”
“Anything at the Vic.”
“The Moo Grob Pad Cha at Betel House, crispy pork belly in a red creamy sauce. So delicious, crispy and juicy, not too spicy and very decadent.”
“The avocado on toast at Cherry Moon. It's a special, but hopefully it becomes permanent.”
“Chicken schnitty burger from Chargrill Charlie's.”
“The breakfast banh mi at Precinct 37.”
“Lobster roll from Afishonado.”
“Anything at Cherry Moon.”
“Banh mi from the Booth St Bakery.”
“The roast pork roll, with crackling, from Booth St Bakery.”
“The Nutella french toast at Revolver, the spinach eggs at Black Toast, and the lemon chicken at Double Happy.”
“Meli, anything on the menu. Hangover: egg and bacon roll with a sneaky hash brown. Feeling healthy: salmon poke bowl. Thirsty: green juice.”
Photo of the week

A choir in full voice, Cafe Booth. What a sight. (Thanks Eloise!)
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
