Thanks to everyone who jumped into last week’s poll. Your feedback is what steers things week to week.

Big shout-out to Jason, Teo, Ian, Mark and an extra-special one to young Riley :)

On the busy corner of Parramatta Rd and Johnston St, the Empire opened its doors in 1890. Early photographs show iron‑lace balconies typical of Annandale’s Victorian shopfront pubs. By 1904 it was already a community hub, with the Annandale Cycling Club advertising its annual meeting there.

In 1936 the hotel was stripped back and remodelled in the interwar Art Deco style, giving the corner the three‑storey presence it still has today. Demolition during that rebuild turned tragic in March 1937 when a rear wall collapsed, killing labourer Clarence Ingram.

Its most recent chapter started in 2021 when Public Hospitality Group (PHG) bought the pub off‑market (reportedly for ~20M). Early this year the operator launched a new restaurant Double Happy, with a menu devised by celebrity chef George Calombaris. However, last month the Federal Court declared the founder of PHG bankrupt. The Empire is now for sale via an expressions‑of‑interest campaign, closing 8 Dec 2025.

Recent sale history

Source: Inner West Council, IWLPP D/2018/251 (2018), Trove, Evening News (18 Nov 1904), Trove, The Labor Daily (6 Mar 1937), The Hotel Conversation (12 Oct 2021), Australian Hotelier / The Shout, (3 Feb 2025), The Greek Herald, 5 Feb 2025:, Drinks Digest, (30 Sep 2025), AFSA (3 Oct 2025): HTL Property (Accessed 19 Nov 2025)

The Johnston St Troll has received its first letter! Posted by a local six-year-old (Riley) who wanted to know whether the troll writes its own replies and what it likes to eat. Other neighbours say the tiny mailbox is already adding a bit of wonder to their regular walks through Annandale.

The Troll replies: I am still learning to read and write but I am lucky to have kind neighbours who help me. I like to snack on Johnston Creek’s treasures, especially the silver and green eucalyptus leaves that tumble down on windy nights. Your letter tasted of curiosity, which is the best flavour a troll can find. I hope you write again soon!

To post a letter to the Troll’s refer last weeks news article here

Inner West Council is asking residents how it should invest more than $500 million in parks, community facilities and walking and cycling links over the next 15 years. Locals can take part in an online exercise allocating points to different project types and flagging new projects.

Some early suggestions already posted by residents include extending the Whites Creek wetlands and creating a safe bike path along Johnston St to connect Annandale with Stanmore and Rozelle Bay. Have your say here

A post on the Magic Lane FB page showed two neighbours enjoying a candlelit dinner in the garden along Ferris Lane. The page says Sunday evenings have become an informal date night, with locals setting up a small table, adding candles and leaving the space tidy for whoever comes next. (Source Ferris Lane the ‘magic lane’ Facebook page).

Read more about the Magic Lane’s history here and while you are at it, take some time to browse the page at large, created by Marghanita da Cruz… an incredible hub of local knowledge!

Enjoyed this week’s Troll? Share it with a neighbour, just forward this email or share our website via your platform of choice 🙂 Thank you!
www.annandaletroll.com.au.

Sincerely,

Mark (resident of Annandale)