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“I killed my daughter” as neighbours desperately tried to revive a toddler found unresponsive in a car outside a Sydney childcare centre
Roy Gomes was mowing his lawn near a childcare centre on Marana Road in Earlwood about 5.30pm on Tuesday when he heard the screams
The family of a baby who died after being left in the car in Earlwood
The Herald has chosen not to identify the girl
Gomes said he rushed to the daycare centre to find a man pulling a 15-month-old girl from the back of a car
He tried to perform CPR on the toddler as other neighbours splashed the child with water to cool her down
The Herald has chosen not to identify the child
“It all happened so quick; he was screaming
he kept screaming ‘I killed my daughter’,” Gomes said
“I didn’t sleep much last night; I can see the little baby’s face all night … she was just floppy
who has not been arrested or charged with a crime
They believe he was picking up his daughter from the daycare centre when he discovered he had accidentally left her in the car during the day
parents and neighbours left bundles of flowers outside the childcare centre as children trickled into the building
Detectives were seen entering the centre about 9am
where they spoke to staff as children played
Superintendent Christine McDonald said on Tuesday night that the girl’s official cause of death was not yet known
however information provided to police “suggests that this baby was left inside the vehicle for an extended period of time on a very hot day here in Sydney”
“Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous
Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly,” she said
People arrive the daycare centre on Wednesday morning.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
The father was taken to hospital for shock and was assisting police
He is expected to be interviewed once his condition has improved
A worker at the childcare centre did not answer questions when approached on Wednesday morning but told reporters
the childcare has nothing to do with this”
Gomes said the incident was a shock for the community
which is used to seeing parents and young children coming and going from the centre
He said educators from the childcare centre had told him the girl was the parents’ only child
A distraught man speaking with police at the scene on Tuesday
The girl’s mother was also assisting investigators on Tuesday night
Police are working to establish how long the girl had been in the car and whether she was supposed to have been dropped at the childcare centre earlier on Tuesday
details that will form part of their investigation
“We need to seek that information from people that we’re currently speaking to or waiting to speak to,” McDonald said
McDonald said the child’s death was an “absolute tragedy” and that support was being offered to first responders and community members
People place flowers outside the Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre on Wednesday morning.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
It’s certainly not necessarily what we train for; it’s never easy going to jobs like this
and there are support services available for our police and first responders.”
McDonald said her “thoughts and prayers” were with staff at the childcare centre and the parents of other children who attend the centre
The teachers know the children and the babies so well they’re like their own family
They might not know right now who the baby girl is
and my thoughts and prayers are with them because that will be a very
Premier Chris Minns said he would receive a briefing from police about the “heartbreaking” incident
and I am also thinking about emergency service workers,” he said
The incident comes two years after a three-year-old boy died in Glenfield in similar circumstances
His father forgot to drop him off at daycare on February 2
He made the terrible discovery of his boy’s body more than six hours later
In December last year a 10-year-old boy named Bentley died after he became trapped in a car boot during a game of hide-and-seek
The local temperature reached 35 degrees outdoors that day
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\\u201CI killed my daughter\\u201D as neighbours desperately tried to revive a toddler found unresponsive in a car outside a Sydney childcare centre
\\u201CIt all happened so quick; he was screaming
he kept screaming \\u2018I killed my daughter\\u2019,\\u201D Gomes said
\\u201CI didn\\u2019t sleep much last night; I can see the little baby\\u2019s face all night \\u2026 she was just floppy
Police have spoken to the child\\u2019s father
Superintendent Christine McDonald said on Tuesday night that the girl\\u2019s official cause of death was not yet known
however information provided to police \\u201Csuggests that this baby was left inside the vehicle for an extended period of time on a very hot day here in Sydney\\u201D
\\u201CLeaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous
Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly,\\u201D she said
the childcare has nothing to do with this\\u201D
He said educators from the childcare centre had told him the girl was the parents\\u2019 only child
The girl\\u2019s mother was also assisting investigators on Tuesday night
\\u201CWe need to seek that information from people that we\\u2019re currently speaking to or waiting to speak to,\\u201D McDonald said
McDonald said the child\\u2019s death was an \\u201Cabsolute tragedy\\u201D and that support was being offered to first responders and community members
\\u201CIt is difficult for first responders
It\\u2019s certainly not necessarily what we train for; it\\u2019s never easy going to jobs like this
and there are support services available for our police and first responders.\\u201D
McDonald said her \\u201Cthoughts and prayers\\u201D were with staff at the childcare centre and the parents of other children who attend the centre
\\u201CMost childcare centres are tight-knit
The teachers know the children and the babies so well they\\u2019re like their own family
Premier Chris Minns said he would receive a briefing from police about the \\u201Cheartbreaking\\u201D incident
and I am also thinking about emergency service workers,\\u201D he said
He made the terrible discovery of his boy\\u2019s body more than six hours later
Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories
Earlwood is home to many chicken shops, but Butterball BBQ Chicken is a standout
this spot offers more than your average chook shop: everything’s made in-house – including the paprika-red chicken salt on the outstanding chippies
every Sunday lunchtime Butterball has taken its offerings to the street with Souvlaki Sundays
Over a charcoal barbeque in the front courtyard
to be served as-is or wrapped in pita with a bright Greek salad and pickled veg
The team also fires up a churrasco barbeque for pork ribs
chicken wings and marinated pork neck – all the tasty parts of the kontosouvli box
which comes with saffron pilaf and pickles
The street-side Sunday serves are cash-only and Butterball often sells out within an hour
But the buzzing street barbeque is under threat of being permanently shut down
after Canterbury-Bankstown Council received two anonymous complaints in relation to noise brought about by the crowd and smoke wafting into other properties
travel spots and more – curated by those who know
A spokesperson for Canterbury-Bankstown Council told Broadsheet that it is “thoroughly reviewing” Butterball’s barbeque suspension
We are still reviewing the operating circumstances and that can take up to four weeks.”
The Butterball team launched an online petition last week in a bid to save the event
which at the time of writing had 366 signatures
The weekend event is currently operating with a provisional 30-day permit while a long-term solution is worked on
“The vibe on Souvlaki Sunday is indescribable
It brings families together and creates such a buzz on the street
We’re so proud to be part of this,” Sergio told Broadsheet
“By having this petition to keep Souvlaki Sunday around
“We are floored by the amount of support we’ve received,” the couple wrote on Facebook
“But we must keep the momentum going so they can see how much we really want to see Souvla Sundays stay.”
While the future of Souvlaki Sundays remains uncertain
there’s no shortage of good food to explore in Earlwood
Here are four other worthy stops to make if you’re heading to Butterball soon
Just a couple of doors down from Butterball is Pep’s Italian Ice
Owner PierLuca Di Genua-Angrisano – aka Pep – grew up in the neighbourhood and lives just blocks away from his dessert shop that specialises in Italian ice
creamier variation of granita that originated in New York
sugar and water are blended in a Carpigiani gelato machine to churn out flavours like watermelon
with each a nod to different regions of Italy
Straddling the border between Marrickville and Earlwood, Ol’ Mates is a laid-back sandwich joint that, after opening earlier this year, quickly became a favourite among locals. Run by brothers James and Nick Retsas, the same pair behind Earlwood mainstay Frank & Chitch
Ol’ Mates specialises in fresh sandwiches on schiacciata
Fillings are generous: the schnitzel features buttermilk crumbed chicken
The dining room at Little Kalymnos Taverna may be a tight squeeze
but the warm and generous hospitality from husband-and-wife owners Tammy and Michael Tsapos more than makes up for it
The food at this neighbourhood restaurant is simple and rooted in family recipes
Think hearty portions of tender chargrilled octopus
cabbage rolls stuffed with minced meat and rice
especially on Friday and Saturday nights when there’s a live band
Pick up some Italian-style Vienna loaves or Brazilian-style dinner rolls for home
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A distraught dad screamed in horror when he realised his 15-month-old daughter had died after she was left inside his car all day
Roy Gomes was mowing his lawn when he heard the chilling cries of the devastated father as he made the tragic discovery
The father had arrived to collect his daughter from Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre at Earlwood in Sydney's inner west on Tuesday afternoon
'I heard screaming and ran out and saw the father with the baby,' said Mr Gomes
whose home neighbours the childcare centre
'I took her off him and tried CPR for about five minutes until ambulance arrived
'All the neighbours were really good at putting water on her
trying to cool her down because she was obviously still very hot
But she was just floppy and there was no life.'
Mr Gomes recalled the father's heartbreaking screams as they tried reviving the young girl
'It all happened so quick; he was screaming
he kept screaming "I killed my daughter",' said Mr Gomes
Emergency services raced to the scene in Marana Road at about 5.35pm on Tuesday following reports of an unresponsive child inside a car
However paramedics were unable to revive the one-year-old
Police said they believed the little girl had been mistakenly left in the car for an 'extended period of time' as temperatures soared past 30C in Sydney
They suspect the father only realised he hadn't actually dropped her off at the childcare centre earlier in the day when when arrived to pick her up in the afternoon
The exact circumstances of what happened are still being investigated
NSW Police have established a crime scene and commenced a major investigation
On Wednesday detectives were seen arriving at the childcare centre as parents arrived to drop their kids off for the day
A neighbour confirmed the sign for the childcare centre had been removed from the front yard following the horrific incident
'Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous,' Superintendent Christine McDonald told reporters on Tuesday night
'Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly
'It's something that affects the wider community as well… This has a rippling effect right throughout our community because so many of us can put ourselves in a similar situation.'
No charges have been laid over the tragedy
The male car owner was later transported to hospital suffering from shock
we'll speak to him to obtain more details,' Supt McDonald said
The child's mother was also assisting police
Emergency responders who attended the 'deeply traumatic' incident will be offered support
you can't even imagine it,' Supt McDonald said
'So no doubt the parents will be extremely upset
Photos from the scene show the cordoned off street swarming with police officers and paramedics
A distraught man was seen standing in front of an ambulance speaking to police
who remained at the scene for much of the night
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers
The latest tragedy comes just two days after the second anniversary of the death of toddler Arikh Hasan, who was left in a car for six hours on a 35C day in Glenfield in Sydney's south-west in February 2023.
Newaz Hasan bundled his two sons into his car for the morning school run, dropping his eldest at primary school and believing he had dropped his youngest to daycare before returning to their Glenfield home to work.
But when he returned to his car in the afternoon to pick the boys up, his youngest son, Arikh, was still strapped in the back seat.
Arikh had spent six hours stuck in the scorching car on the 35C day while the vehicle was parked in the driveway.
The temperature inside a car can be more than 30C hotter than outside the car, according to the NRMA.
Children trapped inside cars during hot days can become quickly distressed, dehydrated and die from organ failure.
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Earlwood have been sold via auction on behalf of the NSW Government to private bidders for $2.93 million
The Wolli Creek Preservation Society (WCPS) had protested against the sale of the land saying it was a vital missing green link between the Cooks River and Wolli Creek corridors
The WCPS's Unwin Green Street (UGS) Project aimed to protect land at the top of Unwin Street
for public use and create a suitable eastern entrance to the Wolli Creek Regional Park featuring the Wolli Bluff
A NSW Government spokesperson said the Minns Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to expand the Wolli Creek Regional Park
"This parcel of land has never been part of plans for our expansion of the park," the spokesperson said
with strong bidding throughout the auction showing that premium land is highly sought after in the suburb of Earlwood
The NSW Government has made addressing the state's housing crisis its number one priority
The 1,285sqm block at Earlwood which was sold by McGrath Estate Agents on behalf of the NSW Government
Wolli Bluff is directly below the outlined block.Through Property and Development NSW's work property audit
the Bayview Avenue site was identified as an opportunity to bring rare vacant residential zoned lots to the market for the potential delivery of low-density private housing
subject to development consent being obtained by the landowner
A third lot (zoned C1 - National Parks and Nature Reserves) adjoining the vacant residential lots was not taken to market as part of the auction
This land will be retained in public hands and protected by its existing zoning
"The existing pedestrian link between the Undercliffe Track in the Wolli Creek Regional Park and the Cooks River Corridor walkway via Unwin Street will remain and is not impeded by the sale of the Bayview Avenue residential lots," the government spokesperson said
"The residential lots at Bayview Avenue are fenced off and therefore do not provide an accessible pathway for the public to the Wolli Bluff," the spokesperson said
Wolli Creek Preservation Society campaigner Peter Stevens said
the 70 letters and the 80 phone calls that we know about were insufficient to shift the government's decision to sell then land and the auction went ahead where they sold for a bit under $3 million."
Covering Georges River Council, Bayside Council and general news. For news tips contact me at jgainsford@theleader.com.au
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A one-year-old girl has been found dead after being left in a car outside a childcare centre in Sydney’s Inner West
in what police have described as “an absolute tragedy”
NSW Police say the child was found at 5.35pm after emergency services responded to reports of a toddler being located unresponsive in a vehicle outside a childcare centre on Marana Road
reportedly turned up to the daycare centre to pick up the toddler
It’s understood the man then discovered the girl was still in her baby capsule in his car
Get the first look at the digital newspaper
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Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Paramedics were called to the scene but were unable to revive the girl, declaring her dead.
Superintendent Christine McDonald said police were still piecing together a timeline of events before the child was found and the cause of death would be determined by the coroner.
“The information provided to us suggests that this baby was left inside the vehicle for an extended period of time on a very hot day here in Sydney,” she said, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday night.
“Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous. Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly.
Supt McDonald did not confirm whether the man who found the child was the girl’s father but described him as a “direct relative”, adding he had been taken to hospital suffering from shock.
“Once (the man) is able to, we will speak with him to obtain more details,” she said.
The child’s mother is also “assisting with inquiries”.
Supt McDonald said it was impossible to imagine how the parents were feeling, but they were “no doubt, extremely upset”.
Officers from Burwood Police Area Command have established a crime scene and are continuing their investigation.
Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T
Perth and even further for a taste of homeTreats abound at Baked at Bina’s in Earlwood: fried
just-baked custard tarts and soft-centred Brazilian rolls filled with tender strips of steak
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the proud proprietors of Baked at Bina’s.Dominic Lorrimer2 / 9Pao na chapa com picanha
a soft-centred Brazilian roll filled with tender rump cap steak and fried onions.Dominic Lorrimer3 / 9Malasada (deep-fried yeast doughnuts).Dominic Lorrimer4 / 9Bolo de caco
flat Portuguese muffin.Dominic Lorrimer5 / 9Pao na chapa com mortadella.Dominic Lorrimer6 / 9Portuguese tarts.Dominic Lorrimer7 / 9 Dominic Lorrimer8 / 9Vienna loaf.Dominic Lorrimer9 / 9Baguette sticks.Dominic LorrimerPrevious SlideNext SlideBrazilian$$$$
Several things stand out at Brazilian-Portuguese bakery Baked at Bina’s
most of whom owners Sabrina and Brian Dias know by name
sun-filled shop beside a suburban bus stop in Earlwood
locals in utes and older gentlemen in zip-up jackets hopping off the bus
sugar-dusted Portuguese yeast doughnuts filled with custard
shimmering and bronzed within a glass cabinet
A tray of Portuguese tarts.Dominic LorrimerAdvertisementPeople sit at the half a dozen tables
shooting the breeze over a pao na chapa com picanha
a soft-centred Brazilian pao frances roll filled with an eye-widening amount of chubby strips of tender rump cap steak and fried onions
A Portuguese malasada (or sonho in Brazil) is $4
and the six varieties of pao na chapa (Brazilian for “pressed on the grill”) sandwiches range from $4.50 for the butter-only (mantega) version to $14.50 for the steak
You can take home frozen packs of 10 croquettes
The pao na chapa fillings define the Brazilian-Portuguese-Italian-Australian heritage of Brian and Sabrina – mortadella
“That means everything – all the fillings on one roll.”
Also doing a hot trade is Sabrina’s range of freshly baked bread
Malasada (deep-fried yeast doughnuts).Dominic LorrimerRacks are filled with kalamata rolls and loaves
who was born in Australia and has Portuguese heritage
who was born in Brazil and has Brazilian and Italian heritage
began her baking career after moving to Australia about 30 years ago
with time as head chef at Glicks Bakery in Melbourne
who says his mother named him after the late Nine newsreader Brian Henderson
previously worked in hospitality and as a mechanic
Pao na chapa com mortadella.Dominic LorrimerHe believes Baked at Bina’s
which the pair opened after running a patisserie in Marrickville
is Australia’s only Portuguese-Brazilian bakery
That means a wide and passionate clientele
“It’s basically anyone that’s Portuguese-speaking from any part of the world,” he says
A lot of people from the Africas come here
“That includes the pineapple doughnuts,” he says
“That’s an Australian thing and you’ve got to have that because there are not many bakeries that have them any more
It’s a memory from when I went to school in Randwick
a soft-centred Brazilian roll filled with rump cap steak and onions.Dominic LorrimerThe feeling here is like visiting family
Brian fitted it to resemble a kitchen with brass lightshades
glass-fronted cabinets filled with tea and coffee packets
and a creamy stone floor and counter tiles
“I love it when people walk in and they say
it smells so good in here.’ That’s why I love it
It’s a good way of making people happy while also filling their bellies.”
Vibe: Brazilian-Portuguese bakery offering buns
rump cap steak and onions in a pao fances roll
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The distraught father of a baby girl who died after being left in a hot car has broken his silence for the first time
Etienne Ancelet spoke exclusively to Daily Mail Australia to dispel previous media reports which claimed he and his partner Kim Visconti had made a public statement together over the death of their 14-month-old daughter Olivia.
The tot was found lifeless, still strapped into her baby capsule in his car, outside Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre in Earlwood, in Sydney's inner west
Mr Ancelet made the horrific discovery just after 5.30pm when he arrived to collect her from daycare but staff had told him she had never been dropped off
He then found Olivia inside his car where she had been mistakenly left for hours while temperatures outside exceeded 30C
Mr Ancelet told Daily Mail Australia the couple were grappling with the tragic loss of their daughter
And he said he was mystified by the previous statements which had been made public on his behalf without his knowledge
the statement I'd like to make is that we haven't made any statements to the media and we're still processing this,' Mr Ancelet told Daily Mail Australia
'I would appreciate a clarification that the family hasn't made any statements.'
It is understood that other members of the family issued a media statement on Mr Ancelet's behalf without his knowledge or express sign-off
Mr Ancelet's heartbreaking screams rang out when he discovered his daughter in the back of the car
prompting nearby residents to rush to his side
They desperately tried to revive Olivia before paramedics arrived five minutes later
F*** I can't process this,' he yelled before he was taken to hospital suffering from shock
was mowing his lawn when he heard Mr Ancelet's cries
whose home is next to the childcare centre
'I took her off him and tried CPR for about five minutes until ambulance arrived
'But she was just floppy and there was no life.'
Police established a crime scene and have started a major investigation
Detectives were seen arriving at the childcare centre on Wednesday as parents arrived to drop their kids off for the day
Several left bouquets of flowers at the gate and on the nature strip
'Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous,' Superintendent Christine McDonald said on Tuesday night
'It's something that affects the wider community as well… this has a rippling effect right throughout our community because so many of us can put ourselves in a similar situation.'
we'll speak to (the father) to obtain more details,' Supt McDonald said
a police spokesman said they would not be issuing any further updates on the tragedy
Posts online show Mr Ancelet as a loving father who readily embraced being a first-time parent
he shared a photo of him and Olivia napping together with his little girl in his arms
Alongside the image he wrote: 'My most memorable birthday yet.'
The latest tragedy comes after the second anniversary of the death of toddler Arikh Hasan, who was left in a car for six hours on a 35C day in Glenfield in Sydney's south-west in February 2023.
Newaz Hasan bundled his two sons into his car for the morning school run
dropping his eldest at primary school and believing he had dropped his youngest to daycare before returning to their Glenfield home to work
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that’s been transformed into the already-heaving dessert shop
“It’s an American term that stems from granita,” Pep tells Broadsheet
“Someone in New York tried to make granita in a gelato machine and it came out a lot smoother and creamier.”
The inner west local’s family owned an Italian wholesale and import business – Napoli Food and Wine – until last October
and his dad always wanted to open a gelato store
So the new shop is ticking off a family dream – and catering to Pep’s own lactose intolerance
sugar and water blend together in a Carpigiani gelato machine
And they’ve all got a refreshing texture that’s equal parts granita and sorbet
Each panino is named after a different Italian region
nodding to the origin of one of its star ingredients
Napoli brings Italian sausage and Friarielli provolone
and the eggplant-stuffed Sicilia is for the vegetarians
instead of shoving a shit-tonne of sauces and fillings – making it Americanised,” Pep says
Each panino is warmed in a pizza oven for a minute before it’s served
but Pep is considering extending the hours
“I’ve got people coming people wanting a panino at 9.30pm.”
Pep is hopeful the store will receive approval in the next month
ready for Pina Colada and Margarita ices as the weather warms up
You can also get coffee made with Caffe Moreno beans from Italy
@pepsitalianice
The NSW Government has released 11 low yielding properties up for auction as part of a land audit program aimed at addressing the housing crisis
The properties spread around Sydney were deemed as “surplus” by the government departments that owned them and had been sitting vacant
Together they will go to auction at a centralised event in April
with some expected to change hands for up to $3m
Many of the sites had first been offered to Homes NSW and Landcom but were released to the public after these government owned groups rejected the sites
MORE: Warning: Aus bombshell in dirty bank move
The property release includes four blocks in Seaforth
MORE: Sydney’s best bargain apartment blocks revealed
The sites included properties in inner west suburbs Earlwood
Most of the properties are empty blocks of land but some
Price guides have not been published by comparable Rozelle homes have sold for over $2m
The tranche of homes also includes four empty blocks in Seaforth that overlook Middle Harbour
MORE: Blacklisted: Sydney suburbs where homes are risky buys
The release includes four properties on Lilyfied Rd in Rozelle
A 1200 sqm block in Earlwood will be sold off at the group auction
No price guide has been released for these blocks but comparable sales suggest some of the Seaforth blocks could sell for about $3m
The land audit is a part of Minns Government efforts to improve housing supply
The government has promised wide-spread planning reform and established the Housing Delivery Authority
while investing $6.6 billion in housing and homelessness through the Building Homes for NSW program
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the government wanted to stimulate housing supply
said the government will continue to identify sites that could be sold off
affordable and market housing to be readily available,” Mr Kamper said
“These (eleven) low yield sites were deemed as surplus by the Government departments that owned them
so instead of sitting vacant we believe these sites are better served as housing
“The property audit is now an ongoing government process and continues to identify government land no longer needed for service delivery but suitable for housing.”
and Victor Sheu will be marketing properties in Marsfield and Marsden Park
with Mr Assaf revealing there was a lot of interest
“We’re expecting strong interest due to the nature of these sites and their strategic locations,” he said
the flexible zonings allow for various usages and will attract a larger buyer pool.”
All of the properties will be auctioned through a centralised auction to be held on April 2 by AuctionWorks at its in-room auction house on Margaret St in Sydney
Interested parties can attend the auction room in person
Some of the properties going to auction include:
16-18 Bayview Avenue, Earlwood
164 Talavera Road, Marsfield
6-10 Pembroke Road, Minto
9-15 Clavering Road, Seaforth
6 Lilyfield Road, Rozelle
8 Lilyfield Road, Rozelle
10 Lilyfield Road, Rozelle
1-9 Cardigan Street, Stanmore
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The distraught parents of a one-year-old, whose lifeless body was found after being left in a hot car for hours, have described their “unimaginable” grief as they grapple with the tragedy.
The distraught parents of a one-year-old baby girl, who died after being left in a hot car for hours, say they will “always cherish” the time they spent with her.
Baby Olivia Ancelet's body was found inside a car outside the Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre in Earlwood, about 5.35pm on Tuesday.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene after being alerted to "reports of a child being located unresponsive in a vehicle".
Paramedics attended, but the child was declared dead at the scene.
It is understood the child’s father Etienne Ancelet had gone to pick up the baby from the childcare centre only to realise he had not dropped her off in the morning.
Speaking out on the tragedy, he and the child’s mother Kim Visconti said Olivia was a “sweet and beautiful baby”, adding she was the “light of our lives”.
The shocking incident comes just weeks after the couple celebrated Olivia's first birthday in early December.
“We are humbled and grateful for the time we had her. We are devastated by what has unfolded,” the pair told news.com.au on Wednesday.
They said they “do not wish this on any parent”.
“We will always cherish our time with our beautiful girl. She was loved by all that knew her," they said.
“It is an unimaginable time of sorrow for us.”
Upon realising he had not dropped her off at the daycare, Mr Ancelet is believed to have made the horrifying discovery of her lifeless body in the car.
Olivia had spent all day locked inside the car as temperatures in Earlwood soared up to 30C on Tuesday, with the mercury higher inside the vehicle.
Roy Gomes, who rushed to the aid of the infant after hearing desperate screams, told Sky News reporter Crystal Wu he tried CPR on the child for five minutes.
“My neighbour came across and he said, ‘Can you hear that screaming?’, so I turned the lawnmower off,” Mr Gomes said.
“When I got there, I saw the (man) with the baby in (his) arms and he was just panicking.
“We didn’t know what to do, (so) I said, ‘Let's try and give her CPR, do our best.'”
Mr Gomes told NewsWire the man “was screaming, poor guy, he kept screaming saying, ‘I’ve killed my daughter’.”
Mr Gomes helped perform CPR on the child and said he had been distraught ever since and was struggling to sleep.
“All the neighbours were really good, putting water on her (and) trying to cool her down, because she was obviously still very hot,” he said.
“I didn’t sleep much last night, just because I could see the little baby’s face all night, but it’s just something you do."
During a press conference on Tuesday night, Superintendent Christine McDonald spoke on the dangers of leaving a child behind in a car.
“Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous,” she said.
“Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly.
A crime scene was swiftly established and investigations are ongoing, with Supt McDonald saying police believe in their early investigation the child had been “left inside the vehicle for an extended period of time on a very hot day here in Sydney”.
It has not yet been confirmed whether the child was left behind by her father, but according to a police statement, "a male occupant of the vehicle – believed to be related to the child" has been assisting with inquiries at Burwood Police Station.
He was reportedly taken to the hospital after suffering from shock.
The child’s mother, who arrived at the scene 30 minutes after via a taxi cab, is also believed to be cooperating.
“No doubt the parents will be extremely upset,” Supt McDonald said.
“It’s something that affects the wider community as well… This has a rippling effect right throughout our community because so many of us can put ourselves in a similar situation.”
On Wednesday detectives were seen arriving at the childcare centre to continue their investigations.
Mr Gomes said the day care centre had taken down their signs from the front yard following the tragedy.
Police said there is no further information about the investigation at this time.
My heart broke for the family of the tragic one-year-old found unresponsive in a vehicle outside her daycare centre this week.
Not just for the devasting loss of little Olivia for her parents, Etienne Ancelet and Kim Visconti, but also for the lifetime of judgment ahead of them.
How could someone really forget their own baby?
Sadly, I know only too well how it can happen. I've done it myself - but thankfully for my sake, without the tragic consequences Olivia's parents now face.
Not long after my son Jonty was born, I strapped him into the car and headed into the local shopping mall... alone.
It was only after I'd done some window shopping and grabbed a trolley for groceries that I realised I'd forgotten my bags and walked back to the car to grab them.
Then, as I opened the backdoor, my blood ran cold when I caught a glimpse of Jonty's little legs in his newly-installed car capsule, and panic tore through me.
I hadn't been long - 10 minutes, maybe 15 - but it was mid-summer and statistically, it can only take a few minutes in soaring temperatures for tragedy to strike.
Children's bodies can heat up five times faster than an adult and their major organs begin to shut down.
I hadn't been distracted. Nothing unusual had happened. I just forgot him.
Thankfully Jonty was ok, but my experience and others far worse are not uncommon, with an average of 5,000 children being rescued from hot cars a year in Australia.
Forgotten Baby Syndrome (FBS) is the medical explanation for when parents leave a baby or young child in a locked car often ending tragedy.
Fathers are more prone to distractions, with a survey by Safe Kids Worldwide finding they are three times more likely to walk away without thinking about their child in their car's backseat.
FBS often occurs when parents focus on future tasks instead of the moment, studies found, which can plunge a quiet or sleeping baby into potentially fatal danger.
Olivia's father Mr Ancelet made the horrific discovery at 5.30pm when he arrived to collect Olivia from daycare but staff told him she had never been dropped off.
He then found Olivia inside his car where she had been mistakenly left for hours while temperatures exceeded 30C. His piercing screams drowned out the rush hour drone.
In February 2023 Newaz Hasan bundled his two sons into his car for the morning school run, dropping his eldest at primary school and believed he had dropped his youngest to daycare before returning to their Glenfield home.
But three-year-old Arikh Hasan, had been left in the car for six hours on a 35C day in Sydney's south-west.
It wasn't until his loving dad drove back to school and opened the door for his other son that he realised Arikh had been inside the entire day.
CPR was performed until paramedics arrived, but it was too late and the toddler couldn't be saved.
'There was nothing on my mind, I wasn't distracted, nothing...I just forgot,' Mr Hasan admitted at the time.
Fatal Distraction is another common cause of children being left in cars, but rather than just forgetting them, parents experience something out of the ordinary in the lead up to the event.
University of South Florida professor David Diamond, who specialises in the study of memory, has spent two decades looking into how children can be forgotten in this way.
Dr Diamond said interaction between two brain systems - the clear conscious cognitive memory and the subconscious memory - could explain these tragic cases.
He said any interruption to a routine can lead to a person's habit system gaining control, by being in 'autopilot mode'.
'There are brain imaging studies to show that when you do something out of habit, that can actually suppress your conscious cognitive memory system and so you lose awareness of your plan,' he said.
'When you look at the parents, you find that they're incredibly normal, which means they're attentive … These are loving parents, these are not negligent parents,' he said.
In February 2015, Victorian mother Romy Zunde took her older child to school and believed she then dropped 22-month-old Noah at daycare.
It wasn't until later that afternoon when she went to collect him again that she made the devastating discovery that he had died in the back seat of her car.
In a statement to police, sleep-deprived Ms Zunde said the childcare centre was very close to the family home.
A simple wrong turn while she was in 'autopilot-mode' meant she went home directly instead of dropping him off.
'[It was] a left turn directly opposite the right turn to our house. I can only assume I automatically made a right turn instead of a left,' she said.
She also believes Noah must have fallen asleep in the car, meaning he was quiet in the back seat.
'He was probably asleep in the car which is something he hardly ever did,' she said.
The number of children dying in hot in Australia is rising and while newer cars are fitted with Occupant Detection Systems, a majority of cars don't have the technology
Kidsafe NSW Executive Officer Christine Erskine says there are a number of precautions and simple reminders parents can implement to minimise the risk.
'New cars have technology to alert you when a car seat belt hasn't been disconnected,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'However there are lots of older cars people are driving that don't have that.
'But you can put your keys, wallet, handbag or purse in the back seat with the child and will have to open the backdoor to retrieve them.
'Alternately you can put their backpack on the front seat so you see it when exiting the car.
'Mostly the kids doze off in a moving car so unless there is something very significant to jog your memory when you get out, you can easily forget.'
Looking back on that day with Jonty any of those simple tactics would have helped me remember him.
And while I try not to think about how else that day could have ended, each time I hear about another family living their worse nightmare just Olivia's are, I am reminded of how lucky I am.
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NSW Police are investigating whether charges should be laid against the father of a baby girl who died after being left inside his hot car for hours
Olivia was found unresponsive inside the car outside Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre in Earlwood, in Sydney's south-west
had arrived at the daycare to pick up his daughter
The father was taken to hospital in a state of shock before being questioned, and 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham reports police are now considering whether to lay charges
'A senior police source has told us "we need to work through the negligence factor before laying charges"
'Nobody is suggesting that this dad set out to harm his baby
He appears to be a doting dad obsessed with caring for his little girl
and police have to assess all the factors that contributed to the fatality
and they are seeking legal advice on that front.'
There is no suggestion that the father is guilty of any offence
only that an investigation is taking place
And he said he was mystified by the previous statements attributed to him which had been made public
'We haven't made any statements to the media and we're still processing this,' Mr Ancelet told Daily Mail Australia
It is understood that other family members issued a statement to media on Mr Ancelet's behalf without his knowledge
he shared a photo of himself and Olivia napping together
Kidsafe WA chief executive Scott Phillips has previously said children being left alone in hot cars has become more common
with about 5,000 children rescued from locked cars across Australia each year
The Earlwood incident is possibly a case of forgotten baby syndrome
a worldwide phenomenon that leads to the deaths of dozens of children every year
According to researchers at the University of South Florida
more than 25 per cent of parents with children aged under three have forgotten that their child was in the car
If the parent has a change in their routine
they may forget their errand as their brain goes into 'autopilot' while travelling a familiar route
Stress and sleep deprivation may also contribute
'There are brain imaging studies to show that when you do something out of habit
that can actually suppress your conscious cognitive memory system and so you lose awareness of your plan,' explained University of South Florida professor David Diamond
Many new electric vehicles are fitted with detection systems that can sound an alarm if passengers are left locked in the car
even turn on air conditioning to ensure the passenger or pet left behind stays at a safe temperature
only allows the car to be locked if the interior radar system shows it is empty
But some argue the technology has been too slow to roll out
and should have been in place to prevent baby Olivia's death
The latest tragedy comes after the second anniversary of the death of toddler Arikh Hasan, who was left in a car for six hours on a 35C day in Glenfield in Sydney's south-west in February 2023.
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A jilted wife will spend her birthday behind bars on Thursday after allegedly pursuing her husband's new girlfriend in a wild late-night chase which ended with her crashing her Lexus after repeatedly ramming her love rival's luxury car
spotted a black Mercedes SUV that she co-owns with her estranged husband
She later told police she thought the fancy car must have been stolen, and followed it through the streets of Earlwood in Sydney's inner-west, the court was told.
But the $150,000 SUV was actually being driven by her husband's new lover and Liu repeatedly rammed it with her Lexus IS300, police told the court.
And the dramatic pursuit only ended when Liu lost control of her sedan and she crashed into a roadsign before she was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
Now the jilted wife claims the incident came after the new lovers had taunted her with intimate images of her estranged husband with his new partner.
The Liu's eight-year marriage broke down last year but finalisation of the divorce was delayed by prolonged negotiations over their shared property and business interests.
And the court documents alleged a volatile love triangle had began when Mr Liu became romantically involved with another woman.
His wife told police the new couple have relentlessly harassed her for a year, and taunted her with intimate photos of themselves, the court was told.
Monday's dramatic scenes erupted after her estranged's husband's new lover dropped him at home after the couple had enjoyed dinner together.
The 38-year-old thought she was being followed and pulled over in Campsie to check a text message when she was suddenly confronted by Liu, furiously banging on her window, the court documents allege.
The startled driver, 38, drove off and Liu told police she fell to the ground, banging her head and cutting her arm, the court was told.
Despite her injuries, Liu began the chase through suburban streets where police allege she rammed the back of the Mercedes multiple times, police allege.
CCTV is alleged to have captured the dramatic end as Liu veered off the road and crashed her $50,000 car into a roadsign on Hamilton Ave in Earlwood.
When asked by concerned residents what happened Liu can be heard on CCTV saying she was 'chasing a girl'.
Liu was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to St George Hospital for assessment.
The Mercedes driver was uninjured and attended Kogarah Police Station a short time later to report the alleged incident.
Locals claimed Liu's estranged husband later attended the scene in an Uber and asked onlookers if the Mercedes has been damaged.
Liu has been charged with predatory driving and domestic stalking/intimidating with the intention of fear of physical harm. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
Her mother sobbed when she learned her daughter would be behind bars on her birthday after she was refused bail today in Sutherland Local Court.
The case will next be heard in Bankstown Local Court on December 17.
CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
A woman appears to have given birth beside an inner Sydney river before disappearing
prompting a desperate overnight search for mother and child amid grave fears for their welfare
Emergency services were called to the banks of the Cooks River at Earlwood
near a field where children were at soccer training
after a person walking their dog found what police described as “evidence of a birth” on Monday afternoon
lines of police were seen checking Wills Ground near Wardell Road and street drains
Police confirmed divers would be searching parts of the Cooks River
Burwood Superintendent Christine McDonald said police conducted urgent forensic tests
“I can confirm that a placenta and an umbilical cord of a human has been located,” she told reporters late on Monday night
“Our immediate concern is for the health and safety of the mother and child.”
Officers are urging the mother to attend her nearest hospital to seek care for herself and the baby
“It is of extreme urgency that we find the mother and baby as soon as we can,” McDonald said
Police searching the Cooks River on Tuesday morning.Credit: Janie Barrett / SMH
Police were bringing in lights to “conduct a large-scale search” of the area overnight
A rising tide was causing concern that evidence may be washed away
The search resumed at first light on Tuesday morning after no sign of the woman or baby was found
Police divers are expected to be called in to scour the Cooks River for evidence
Police investigations will confirm whether the mother gave birth at that point on the bank of the river
They believe the material is too far from the road to have been thrown from the Wardell Road bridge
That section of the riverbank is lined with mangroves and is behind a rugby field
so it is more likely she walked a few hundred metres around the river
The Cooks River – which runs from Chullora to the airport – is not deep
but is known as one of the most polluted urban rivers in Australia
It was once the dumping ground for heavy industry
and toxic residue is embedded in its riverbed
Police want anyone who might have seen a pregnant woman
near Lang Road or Wardell Road in Earlwood
or Tennent Parade or Ewen Park in Hurlstone Park
An area near the Cooks River was taped off on Monday night following the discovery of evidence that a mother had given birth on the banks of the river.Credit: Jordan Baker
The pollution left the river almost devoid of wildlife – it was once dubbed the river that died of shame – before remediation efforts in the past few decades drew bird and fish life back to the area
It is a popular route for joggers and cyclists
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after a person walking their dog found what police described as \\u201Cevidence of a birth\\u201D on Monday afternoon
\\u201CI can confirm that a placenta and an umbilical cord of a human has been located,\\u201D she told reporters late on Monday night
\\u201COur immediate concern is for the health and safety of the mother and child.\\u201D
\\u201CIt is of extreme urgency that we find the mother and baby as soon as we can,\\u201D McDonald said
Police were bringing in lights to \\u201Cconduct a large-scale search\\u201D of the area overnight
The Cooks River \\u2013 which runs from Chullora to the airport \\u2013 is not deep
The pollution left the river almost devoid of wildlife \\u2013 it was once dubbed the river that died of shame \\u2013 before remediation efforts in the past few decades drew bird and fish life back to the area
aircraft noise isn’t much of a problem anywhere in Sydney
When air travel eventually returns to normal
residents in affected areas muffle the noise with a combination of heavy-duty glazing
earplugs and whatever other means they can find to dull the roar
Judy Playfair was so worried about the potential for airport curfews to be permanently relaxed after the Sydney Olympics that she relocated from Marrickville to Earlwood
Her worst fears weren’t realised but she has no regrets about the move
“Earlwood is not on any flightpath,” Playfair says
There are beautiful parklands and reserves and plenty of space for me to walk the dog.”
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who won a silver medal in the 4×100 medley relay at the Mexico Olympics in 1968
is occasionally quizzed about her decision to live so far from the coast
She regularly swims at Canterbury Leisure and Aquatic Centre and says the beaches of Sydney’s south and east aren’t too far away
Earlwood sits between the southern bank of the Cooks River and the northern bank of Wolli Creek
meaning there are plenty of waterfront parks and reserves
The suburb’s past lives include a logging camp
a returned soldiers subdivision and an estate for workers at a nearby quarry
the suburb’s Federation and interwar homes attracted a wave of Greek immigrants
Many had come from more crowded inner-west neighbourhoods in search of generous blocks and easy access to their workplaces
Greece is still the most common birthplace after Australia and you don’t have to look too hard to find seriously good Mediterranean fare
says buyers come to Earlwood in search of character homes like those in Ashfield
they’re generally on a larger block of land and more affordable,” Stamatiou-Buda says
“The majority of buyers moving into the area are not of Greek descent
other parts of the inner west and the inner city.”
The main shopping area is centred on Homer Street
Marrickville Metro is less than 10 minutes away by car
The quickest public transport to the Sydney CBD could be by train or light rail from neighbouring suburbs
depending on which part of Earlwood you’re coming from
There are two public primary schools and a Catholic primary here
People pay a premium to get into the catchment,” Stamatiou-Buda says
“As the area has gentrified over the past 15 to 20 years
A few blocks from the paths along the Cooks River
this double-fronted home offers a delightful combination of character-filled kerb appeal and contemporary interiors
There’s room for a pool or granny flat on the 800-square-metre block
Wolf Property Group takes the home to auction on May 1 with a guide of $2.7 million.
freestanding home on a 418-square-metre block is a short walk from Homer Street village shops and Bardwell Park station
Sleek interiors in sophisticated neutral tones flow through to an al fresco area
Cobden & Hayson Marrickville takes the home to auction on May 1 with a guide of $1.8 million – $1.9 million.
The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs.
where we are privileged to live and operate
Serious concerns held for welfare of mother and her baby after placenta found at Cooks River
A crime scene has been taken down as police continue to appeal for information about an apparent riverbank birth in Sydney’s south-west this week
Police urged the mother to attend her nearest hospital with her baby after a resident walking his dog found a placenta and umbilical cord next to the Cooks River at Earlwood on Monday afternoon
Police tests revealed the organs to be human and officers searched the area overnight and on Tuesday
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Supt Christine McDonald stressed there was “no judgment” for the mother
as serious concerns were held for her welfare and that of her baby
“They need to know we are concerned for them,” she said
Police divers were brought in on Tuesday to search the mangroves and water’s edge
near where the placenta and umbilical cord were found
A blood detection dog was also deployed as police identified an area needing “further forensic examination”
It turned out to be a false alarm: a freshly buried cat was discovered
Ewen Park and Tennent Parade on Monday who may have seen a woman in distress was urged to come forward
“Any information is critical,” McDonald said
with police also appealing for CCTV footage
“I am deeply concerned for the safety and mental health of the mother and also for the safety of her baby.”
Credit: AAPPolice have made a desperate appeal to a woman who is believed to have given birth near a river in Sydney
Police were called to the banks of the Cooks River in Earlwood at 4.30pm on Monday when a passerby spotted “signs of a birth” near mangroves — later confirmed to be a human placenta and umbilical cord
The search for the mother and baby intensified on Tuesday morning
with police divers and blood detection dogs arriving at the Lang Road scene
Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Burwood Police Area Command Det-Chief Supt. Christine McDonald said officers were “working against the clock” to locate the mother and baby, who they hold “extreme concern” for and have asked to present to health services immediately.
“Childbirth for many people can be a traumatic time and it can be very distressing. I am deeply concerned for the safety and mental health of the mother and also for the safety of her baby,” Det-Chief Supt. McDonald said.
“I ask that she comes forward to health services, to police, to anyone that can offer her any form of support during this very difficult time. I need to know that she is safe and I need to know that she is receiving the support that she needs right now.
Police do not know whether the woman gave birth at the river, but insisted there was “no judgement” for the mother.
“They need to know that we are concerned for them, that we are wanting to know they are safe,” she said.
Det-Chief Supt. Christine McDonald says police are “extremely concerned” for the woman’s welfare. Credit: DEAN LEWINS/AAPIMAGE“As we know childbirth presents a number of health concerns hence why we are requesting the mother goes straight to a hospital and speaks to health professionals.”
Anyone who was in the area of Lang Road, Wardell Road, Tennent Parade and Ewen Park in the Earlwood and Hurlstone Park areas who noticed a “distressed woman or pregnant woman” are urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The placenta and umbilical cord were sent for pathological testing, which police say will determine the gestation and gender of the baby, and how long the discharge was left at the site.
Fears remain for the safety of a mother and her newborn baby nearly seven days after a placenta and umbilical cord were found on a Sydney riverbank
Investigators are yet to track down the woman or the child nearly three days after a dog walker found a placenta and umbilical cord on the banks of the Cooks River at Earlwood
Testing of the material revealed the placenta and cord belonged to a baby boy
Authorities have held fears for the safety of the mother and newborn since it was found on Monday afternoon
The mother is being urged to seek medical attention at a nearby hospital as police insist the health of her and her son remains their top priority
Leading Sydney Obstetrician Dr Stephen Morris told Daily Mail Australia that there is a risk of the mother developing an infection ten days after giving birth due to the unsanitary conditions of the river
Sections of the Cooks River are heavily polluted as a result of traffic congestion
illegal dumping and industrial and domestic activities
and you can give birth in the ocean because of salt water
but a river tends to be the worst place to give birth,' Dr Morris said
'The uterus is a bit of an open wound leaking out the vagina
and so if you get into submerge yourself in that water
'So if she went for a swim or submerged herself in the body in the river
then that would increase the chance of becoming unwell with an infection in the uterus.'
Dr Morris explained that if the mother becomes infected, she may start feeling feverish, and without medical treatment, this could progress to sepsis.
He added that the lack of excessive blood would most likely mean there were no complications during the birth.
'It doesn't sound like she was haemorrhaging as there wasn't excessive blood in the area, and she hasn't turned up to hospital unwell unless she's deceased,' Dr Morris said.
'In terms of the baby, he has the mother's breast milk, which should be fine, assuming he doesn't get too cold,' Dr Morris said.
A full-scale search of the area on Tuesday did not show any evidence the baby had been harmed, nor did it reveal any immediate clues to why the placenta and umbilical cord had been left there.
Police divers and a blood detection dog were called in before the search wrapped up later that afternoon.
Tony Robson, who made the initial discovery, said the placenta and umbilical cord were not hidden but simply placed on top of the riverbank.
'It's a secluded dead-end spot … the (dogs) were off-lead having a bit of a romp around and (one dog) jumped down into the mangroves and spotted something,' he told Seven News.
'(It was) low tide so it was just sitting on top of the mud, the water was quite a distance away … I've seen three births, you know what you're looking at.'
On Tuesday, police identified a potential burial site near the riverbank.
But it turned out to be a false alarm, instead discovering a cat that had been recently buried.
Investigators have suggested the woman might have disposed of the placenta and umbilical cord at the river because she did not want anyone to know about the baby.
'Childbirth, for many people, can be a traumatic time, and it can be very distressing … I am deeply concerned for the safety and the mental health of the mother,' Superintendent Christine McDonald said previously.
'There is no judgment, they need to know we are concerned for them.'
The placenta and umbilical cord were found not far from a sports field and Islamic centre on Lang Rd, close to a busy footbridge frequented by walkers, joggers and cyclists.
The Cooks River flows from Yagoona in Sydney's outer southwest and runs into Botany Bay at Kyeemagh, 23km away.
Worrying update in search for baby delivered on riverbank and mumCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}
A young couple who purchased a three-bedder in Earlwood say they paid an “insane amount,” for their new abode
Julia and her husband Thomas purchased the Earlwood home for $1.822m under the hammer on Saturday morning
“Do we think we just paid an insane amount of money for what this is
The home was hotly contested with 12 registered bidders
The Californian bungalow was recently renovated
sitting on a small parcel of land with three bedrooms and one bathroom
All of the registered parties were either upsizers or first home buyers
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Winning bidders Tom and wife Julia felt they paid an “insane amount” for their new home
Julia and Tom were upgrading from an apartment they had purchased in the Inner West four years earlier and were shocked by prices in the current market
people are paying way more than what things are worth,” Julia said
Tom said they wanted to stay in Dulwich Hill but they had been priced out of the area
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you make a little bit (from selling) but you spend a bit more
unfortunately it’s the current climate we are in
and things are just going to keep going up,” he said
Lead agent Adrian Tsavalas said there was a short supply of smaller entry-level properties in the area
“It (bidding) started a lot higher than we were expecting and ended a lot higher than we were expecting too,” Mr Tsavalas said
Eager bidders turned up to watch the Earlwood home sell under the hammer
The vendors would not reveal the exact reserve
but Mr Tsavalas said from the opening bid of $1.65m they were on the market
with the underbidder asking auctioneer Brad Heffernan to pause multiple times to plan his next bid
The underbidder joked he was “adding suspense.”
The final twenty bids were down to $1,000 increments
Auctioneer Brad Heffernan pictured trying to encourage the under bidder to pick up the pace
Mr Tsavalas said the success of the auction was also the timing
as many vendors were putting off listing properties until after the Anzac Day weekend
“I think they nailed the timing and the stars aligned for them today and that meant they got a lot more than what they were expecting.”
purchased the property in 2018 and spent time renovating the home
“We didn’t really know what to expect,” the vendor said
“When we first purchased the house we poured all our energy into renovations and creating what we did so we were unsure,” he said
The vendors were happy with the result but sad to say goodbye to their beloved home
The vendors had completed tasteful modern renovations on the home
we are very happy and its made sure that all that effort was worth it.”
renovated and sold other properties in the Inner West and South West areas
They were feeling “mixed emotions” about selling the home
“We welcomed our second child and raised both our kids here to the age they are now
The median house price in Earlwood is currently $1.946m
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Once again the time has rolled around for design junkies to set their sights on the latest architectural eye candy with the announcement of the 2024 House Awards
sustainable and inspirational list of dream homes
the national honours showcase the best of Australian residential design
The NSW shortlist celebrated a sleek shed-turned-residence in Earlwood
a classic Redfern terrace with integrated gardens
a modernised 1920s makeover in inner Sydney and a transformed 1970s project home in the Blue Mountains
One of the most coveted accolades in Australian architecture
the awards this year highlighted the importance of good design achieved amidst environmental
The gong for New House over 200sq m went to Shed House by Breakspear Architects
said the awards underscore the ingenuity and creativity of local architects and designers
client briefs were met with well-crafted and sophisticated architectural thinking and the jury recognised the high level of adaptability inherent in this year’s houses
A home’s longevity and flexibility were paramount,” she said
“Many homes demonstrated sustainable and responsible design
“The jury was delighted with alterations that celebrated an existing house and carefully maintained a relationship between old and new
as well as homes that generously engaged in a conversation with the street and community.”
this year’s prized homes shared a common thread; in the pursuit of more cost-effective and durable building materials
the archetypal Australian shed was a repeated source of inspiration and several projects centred around courtyards
the Earlwood house blends home and workspaces using inexpensive materials
“Evocative of the Australian shed in a suburban context
Shed House achieves a lot with limited means
The jury applauded this readily customisable and replicable model for living and working,” the jury cited
was awarded House Alteration and Addition over 200sq m thanks to the restoration of an original century-old home reshaped around a courtyard pool
“Within a dense urban environment and busy
this house quietly raises appreciation of heritage
nature and broader surrounds,” the jury noted
Blue Mountains House by Anthony Gill Architects
is a renovation and restoration of an existing house on a challenging site classified as a flame zone
by Anthony Gill Architects with Sacha Coles
was gifted the Garden or Landscape title due to its textural rooftop garden and a patchwork of green spaces throughout the home
a young architecture studio based in Surry Hills
was crowned Emerging Architecture Practice of the year alongside Victorian firm SSdH
Architect George has built a profile of delightfully playful residential work worthy of acclaim
The built work demonstrates a capacity to deal with complex existing conditions with skill and enthusiasm,” the jury added
“From a tight-knit heritage terrace in Surry Hills and a nostalgic 1970s apartment refit to an unpretentious and economical ‘shack’ in Tasmania
dealing with scale and context with a characteristic approach.”
Officers urge woman to go to hospital to receive care after placenta and umbilical cord found next to Cooks River at Earlwood
Police have deployed divers and a blood detection dog in the search for a mother and her newborn baby after finding evidence she may have given birth by a Sydney riverbank
A resident walking his dog found what police believe to be a placenta and umbilical cord next to the Cooks River at Earlwood in the city’s south-west on Monday afternoon
Police said tests on the organs had revealed them to be human
Serious concerns were held for the welfare of the mother and baby
with detectives establishing a crime scene
Officers urged the mother to attend her nearest hospital to receive urgent care
Supt Christine McDonald said lights had been brought in to allow the launch of a large-scale search on Monday night
The search resumed on Tuesday morning with police divers “searching the mangroves and the water’s edge”
McDonald said it would “take some time to work through the scene” as the placenta and umbilical cord were found amid mangroves and “it is muddy down there”
View image in fullscreenPolice tape at the scene near the Cooks River on Tuesday morning
Photograph: Mike Ticher/The GuardianA blood detection dog also arrived on the scene on Tuesday morning after police identified an area needing “further forensic examination”
A site near the riverbank was surrounded in a blue tarpaulin as investigators looked at the possibility material had been buried there
But a false alarm was declared when police instead discovered a freshly buried cat at the location
“Obviously our search will hopefully identify what has taken place; whether the delivery of that child occurred at this location or another location is yet to be determined,” McDonald said
“I ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers
“It’s very important and it’s extreme urgency we find the mother and the child as soon as we can
The search was expected to wrap up for the day at sunset
The Cooks River flows from Yagoona in Sydney’s outer south-west and runs into Botany Bay at Kyeemagh
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“I am deeply concerned for the safety and mental health of the mother and also for the safety of her baby
They need to know we are concerned for them
Police said at this stage there was no evidence the baby had been harmed
The placenta and umbilical cord were sent for testing on Tuesday morning to establish the gestation period
the gender of the child and how long the placenta and umbilical cord were at the river
said his “heart absolutely goes out” to the mother and child
and repeated the advice from police – that she should attend a hospital
The only thing I ask that you do is make your way to one of our hospitals so that we can care for you and your baby as quickly as possible,” he said
“I don’t think anyone could even begin to imagine what this mother is going through
The five-bedroom, three-bathroom property at 35 Bayview Avenue in Earlwood, has an unusual shape that makes it stand out from the rest.
Agent Alexandra Stamatiou-Buda of McGrath Leichhardt, who holds the listing, reveals the property is known as the “UFO house or spaceship house” by locals due to its elevated and circular design.
The property is being offered for the first time in more than 40 years and is scheduled to go to auction on Tuesday, June 25.
The property’s elevated design and sleek white palette not only commands attention but allows for city skyline views from the various terraces.
A circular floorplan resembles a spaceship with curved archways around the foyer.
Interiors are light-filled and glamorous with marble detail, not only on the floors but also on the staircase and in the bathrooms.
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What hangs above the door is the talking point of the home
Crisp whitewashed walls, an expansive use of glass and chandeliers feature throughout.
A retro-style kitchen with timber cabinetry has a breakfast bar with city skyline views.
Those that want to kick back and relax or work on their fitness, can make use of the lower level with its rumpus room and workshop/gymnasium.
Earlwood is 10km southwest of Sydney’s CBD in the Canterbury-Bankstown area. The median house price is $1,941,000.
The property is scheduled to go to auction at 6pm on Tuesday, June 25, unless sold prior.
New South Wales Police have said they are concerned for the safety of a mother and her newborn after a placenta and umbilical cord were found on the water's edge of a Sydney river
New South Wales Police have continued their search for a mother and a newborn following the discovery of an umbilical cord and placenta on the banks of Sydney's Cooks River on Monday
The search was launched after officers found evidence of a birth near Wardell Road in Earlwood
Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald appealed for help in locating the mother on Tuesday and added there would be “no judgement”
“They need to know we are concerned for them
We are wanting to know they are safe,” Ms McDonald said at a press conference
the detective reiterated the police’s immediate concern was the mother’s health and safety
“The mother would be in some form of discomfort I would imagine
her mental health and general health is really important to us… We want to make sure she is safe,” she said
The Chief Superintendent acknowledged there are “a lot of unknowns at the moment” while urging anyone with information to come forward and assist police
The location of the birth was right by the river’s edge and police divers were examining the site on Tuesday morning
Blood detection dogs have also been deployed to search through mangroves and nearby areas
“The actual site of where the placenta and umbilical cord was located was amidst mangroves… It is muddy down there
It will take some time to work through the scene,” Chief Superintendent McDonald said
While the placenta and umbilical cord had “blood attached to it” there was no “pool of blood” located at the site
“The placenta and umbilical cord (have) been sent for priority testing with a pathologist and I hope to have the results of that today,” she said
Appeals for public information have come after a dog walker called police to Wardell Road at 4.30pm on Monday after spotting evidence of the birth
Tests have been conducted on the organs which confirmed the remains belonged to a human
Detectives have established a crime scene at Cooks River
Ms McDonald has urged anyone “in the area of Lang Road
Tennent Parade and Ewen Park in the Earlwood and Hurlstone Park areas” with information to come forward
The superintendent specified anyone who may have noticed a “distressed woman or a pregnant woman” would be able to help police with their enquiries
As the sun sets on a Saturday night, families gather in the car park of a small, Earlwood restaurant to drink, dance and dine on home-style Hellenic food. There is a live band (with a lute player!), a procession of smiling, black-clad waitresses carrying plates of fresh, chargrilled seafood and a colossal sign that stretches into the brilliant orange sky reading: Little Kalymnos Taverna.
At first glance, the lively Aegean escape looks somewhat out of place. It’s on the dark, quiet end of the main strip, on the same block as an empty, chain-linked lot. But take a closer look, and you’ll notice the Olympic Gym next door and the street named after Homer (the eighth-century Greek poet credited with writing the Odyssey).
This is Earlwood, after all, where 22 per cent of the population reported Greek ancestry in the last census (the most concentrated community in the country!). Little wonder, then, that Friday and Saturday nights at the taverna are fully booked two weeks in advance (consider this your warning).
Inside, diners chat loudly over bottles of salty island wine (from $8 a glass), sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at white tables piled high with colourful share plates.
Tammy and her husband, Michael Tsapios, opened the restaurant in December, realising a dream 20 years in the making. While the pair have no former hospitality experience (Tammy has a background in aged care, while Michael is a panelbeater), they’re helped by Michael’s cousin and head chef, Alexi Kotis. The menu is deliberately simple and nostalgic, with a focus on family recipes and fresh produce.
The trio of dips with warm, soft pita bread ($28) is a non-negotiable starter, with options like pink tarama, skordalia and tirokafteri made in-house by Kotis.
When we arrive, Tammy’s homemade pastitsio ($22) and the moussaka ($26) are sold out (a devastating development, but a convenient excuse to return). Instead, we go for the lamb souvlakia ($24), the cheesy zucchini fritters ($17), a side of fasolakia, green beans cooked in a punchy tomato sauce ($15).
The highlight is the chargrilled octopus ($29), with crispy, charcoaled edges and tender flesh served simply with olive oil and lemon juice.
Must-order dish: Chargrilled octopus.Dion GeorgopoulosThe food is delicious, the portions generous, and every plate that passes us − fried eggplant, king prawns, squeaky saganaki − looks more appetising than the last.
Our stomachs are full (so full!) but I’ve been eyeing off the kataifi ($12) and persuade my dining partner to share a serve. It’s a golden nest of syrupy almond and walnut pastry served with sweet, vanilla ice-cream. As we devour it, the band kicks off again and people around us begin tapping their feet. The meal may be over, but the party has only just begun.
Cost: About $40 a head (less if sharing with a bigger group)
Must-order dish: Chargrilled octopus ($29)
Go-to drink: Start by sipping some ouzo ($13) before moving on to the Greek wine list. Or bring your own – corkage is just $5 a glass.
Good for: When you feel like partying with your friends and neighbours
40 under $40: Sydney’s top restaurants for getting bang for your buckContinue this series
Nobu Sydney is a rite of passage – but is its star power still shining?It’s the celebrity Japanese fine-diner every food lover should visit at least once – if you know what to order.
A top chef is slinging special rice-wrapped burgers for less than $20 as Senpai Burger opens in Chatswood and BurwoodThe “nori-roll-hamburger” comes in fried chicken, salmon, tuna and vegan options, all for less than $20.
Searching for a midnight snack in the city? Hey Chu’s chicken wings are pretty much perfectHot tip: you can book this CBD Vietnamese venue until 1am on weekends, and there’s live music or a DJ at every service (to varying success).
As we await the data from last years census to be released in the coming months
a look back at the 2016 census shows that the most Greek of suburbs in Australia is Earlwood in Sydney’s south west
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
The ABS last year published a map highlighting the suburbs with the largest populations of people with Greek ancestry in each state based: “on place of usual residence
excludes overseas visitors” which were taken from ABS Census of Population and Housing
Reservoir hosts 3,700 Greek Australians with 2,618 living in Oakleigh of whom 1,172 live in Oakleigh proper
1,038 in Oakleigh and Huntingdale and 408 in Oakleigh South
A total of 12,800 Greek Australians live in the City of Monash of which Oakleigh is a part
In the Darebin municipality which incorporates Reservoir
the most populous Greek suburbs in Australia’s states are:
A dog walker has revealed the shocking moment he discovered an umbilical cord and a placenta on a muddy riverbank, as the search for a mother and her newborn baby continues
Local resident Tony Robson found the body parts hidden in shrubs on the Cooks River in Earlwood, Sydney's inner south-west
Mr Robson and his wife alerted police to the discovery before emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later
'It was just sitting on top of the mud, the water was quite a distance away,' he told 7 News
said he immediately recognised the placenta and the umbilical cord
[I've] seen three births so you kind of know what you're looking at,' he said
It looked about the right size for a human
NSW Police continue to investigate the incident and hold grave fears for the safety of the mother and her child
Police have urged the woman to go to the nearest hospital to seek medical attention for herself and her baby
A crime scene was set up yesterday as a major search for the mother got underway with the help of rescuers including divers
A blood detection dog is also assisting in the large-scale search and rescue effort
after the woman and child could not be located on Tuesday
Police were seen scouring another area of interest near the riverbank and sealed off the area with a blue tarpaulin
Investigators initially identified the area as a place where something appeared to have been buried
but the search was discontinued after it was deemed to be a false alarm
NSW Police Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald did not rule out the likelihood the baby may have been placed in the water
Police have not found any evidence to indicate the child was harmed
Superintendent McDonald said on Monday night the priority of police is to ensure the mother and her child are located
'At this stage our main concern is for the whereabouts for the mother and the child
we see that as a real urgent matter for us to find her and her child
Superintendent McDonald said police are not judging the woman and they are only looking out for her welfare
'They need to know we are concerned for them
that we are wanting to know that they are safe,' she said
Anyone who lives in the areas of Wardell Road and Lang Road areas of Earlwood
Hurlstone Park and Ewen Park who may have seen a pregnant woman in distress
has been urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
but the hottest competition isn’t where you’d expect
buyers are flocking to relatively affordable areas that neighbour more popular regions
picked up 1.7 per cent in the three months ending February to a median of $1,133,270
That was followed by the Central Coast (up 1.6 per cent)
the outer south-west (1.2 per cent) and North Sydney and Hornsby (up 1.1 per cent)
CoreLogic head of residential research Eliza Owen said neighbouring regions to popular areas
were strong performers because they were relatively more affordable
”We’re at a point now where more opportunistic markets
up-and-coming markets are driving growth and attracting the most demand,” Owen said
“High interest rates and affordability constraints are leading buyers to take a bet on up-and-coming suburbs rather than traditionally desirable markets.”
She also said as more time passes from COVID lockdowns
the more buyer demand reverts back to once popular areas like the inner west and surrounds
But she warned Sydney was not guaranteed a sustainable upswing in values as home values were losing steam
“We’re at the hardest part of the rate hiking cycle
but economic conditions are slowing down as a result,” Owen said
“There are also people still transitioning out of their fixed terms that they secured during the pandemic
so more households will be tested and that could add a little to supply.”
Domain data shows these same pockets maintained healthy clearance rates at about 70 per cent or higher
The inner south-west hit 73.9 per cent in February
But it was the even more affordable pockets that had made the biggest improvement in February compared to the same time last year
The clearance rate in Sydney’s south-west jumped 24 percentage points in February
the outer west and Blue Mountains went up by 20.3 percentage points and the outer south-west increased by 13.5 percentage points
These increases pull most of these markets out of last year’s downturn territory
Domain chief of economics and research Dr Nicola Powell said while higher clearance rates in auction-centric markets were expected
it was the improvement in more affordable markets that was a standout
“What it showcases and supports the flight to affordability is the increase in clearance rates,” Powell said
noting that buyers were still mindful of mortgage repayments and taking on too much debt
What was more important was improved auction activity at a time buyers had more homes to choose from
“There is clearly demand that is able to cope with higher auction volumes
“You’ve got a pool of buyers saying ‘if rate cuts are going to come
should I get in now before prices rise further?’
Earlwood sellers Monica and George Triantafyllou have listed their renovated house after more than a decade of living in the home
“The area is doing really well and there is high demand so why not sell now,” said George
went up and back a little and renovated the existing house.”
Monica and George Triantafyllou outside their Earlwood home that is currently on the market with a guide of $2.3 million.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
The home is within walking distance to shops
public transport and highly coveted schools
which were all drawcards for the Triantafyllous and now interested buyers in their home
Their selling agent at Adrian William Norman Tran said there were above average inspections in areas like the inner south-west which takes in suburbs like Earlwood
“Earlwood’s biggest driver for buyer activity are people coming from the inner west
priced homes in the inner west either don’t have parking or are much smaller,” Tran said
had attracted strong interest from young upsizing families
“It’s been very popular with upsizing families
It’s got a generous internal layout… and proximity to the schools,” Train said
He said while unit activity was driven by first home buyers
upgrading families were heating up competition for houses
“Talks of rate cuts are driving higher activity because they want to buy now before it gets more competitive,” Tran said
noting the tight unit market was also pushing renters into the mix of buyers
sellers are motivated to sell in this market before more homes are added to the market later this year when rates are expected to be cut
but the hottest competition isn\\u2019t where you\\u2019d expect
Home values in Sydney\\u2019s inner south-west
\\u201DWe\\u2019re at a point now where more opportunistic markets
up-and-coming markets are driving growth and attracting the most demand,\\u201D Owen said
\\u201CHigh interest rates and affordability constraints are leading buyers to take a bet on up-and-coming suburbs rather than traditionally desirable markets.\\u201D
\\u201CWe\\u2019re at the hardest part of the rate hiking cycle
but economic conditions are slowing down as a result,\\u201D Owen said
\\u201CThere are also people still transitioning out of their fixed terms that they secured during the pandemic
so more households will be tested and that could add a little to supply.\\u201D
The clearance rate in Sydney\\u2019s south-west jumped 24 percentage points in February
These increases pull most of these markets out of last year\\u2019s downturn territory
\\u201CWhat it showcases and supports the flight to affordability is the increase in clearance rates,\\u201D Powell said
\\u201CThere is clearly demand that is able to cope with higher auction volumes
\\u201CYou\\u2019ve got a pool of buyers saying \\u2018if rate cuts are going to come
should I get in now before prices rise further?\\u2019
What that does is bring forward demand.\\u201D
\\u201CThe area is doing really well and there is high demand so why not sell now,\\u201D said George
\\u201CWe\\u2019ve been here for about 11 years
went up and back a little and renovated the existing house.\\u201D
\\u201CEarlwood\\u2019s biggest driver for buyer activity are people coming from the inner west
priced homes in the inner west either don\\u2019t have parking or are much smaller,\\u201D Tran said
\\u201CIt\\u2019s been very popular with upsizing families
It\\u2019s got a generous internal layout\\u2026 and proximity to the schools,\\u201D Train said
\\u201CTalks of rate cuts are driving higher activity because they want to buy now before it gets more competitive,\\u201D Tran said
SaveLog in, register or subscribe to save recipes for later.You have reached your maximum number of saved items
ShareThis is part of the "Sydney hit list August 2022: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now" collection See all stories.This neighbourhood chippie offers a fresh take on some old favourites.Janie BarrettSeafood$$$$
If you've ever wanted to stand in the middle of a road and shout, "Chicken or fish?", Earlwood's main thoroughfare offers that opportunity. Mister Fish, the suburb's newest restaurant, sits at the top end of Homer Street's busy shopping strip, opposite a pair of El Jannah and Oporto chicken restaurants.
It also faces the former site of much-loved fish and burgers stalwart, Mr Chips, which tempted passersby decades ago with the banner, "Seafood with a secret".
Earlwood local Evan Kritikos opened Mister Fish in December, with every second customer asking if he was connected to the famous chip shop. "We're not," he says. "But, to be across the road from the old Mr Chips, it's very fitting."
Barra with salad and chips. Janie BarrettKritikos created Mister Fish to be a mix of seaside chippie, local milk bar and seafood restaurant. Earlwood might not have a pretty harbour view, but stepping inside is a quick journey from Homer Street traffic to bright, calming pastel hued-wood panelled walls inspired by the colours of Brighton Beach sand boxes in Victoria.
There are hanging seagrass baskets, white wicker lampshades, wooden fish-shaped serving boards and black-and-white portraits of people clutching close and personal fish friends. Tonight, the long, cushioned banquette lining two-and-up-seater tables, each featuring sunken condiment hubs of Kalas Greek salt, Fermentalists hot sauce and vinegar-filled spray bottles, is filled with couples and families.
The room's main talking piece is a large glass cabinet displaying huge whole fish, the day's best catch, hanging like iridescent sculptures spot-lit by a true fish-lover.
Fresh bowl with salmon sashimi. Janie BarrettAdvertisementDiners stop in their tracks to ogle this spectacle. Kids and adults pepper Kritikos and staff with questions about the gleaming kingfish and snapper's type and origins.
"'Is it real? Can I touch it? Can I smell it? How big is it?', they ask," he says. "You go into a fish and chip shop and usually it's fillets of fish or pre-cooked fish on display. The whole fish, sometimes octopus, and shellfish below, it's a bit of an education point. And it shows how fresh things are here."
It also shows what will be on the menu next. The fish is taken down and filleted for fish of the day, served with salad, brown rice or chips.
Prawn and snapper pie. Janie BarrettIn keeping with the classic and modern mix, Mister Fish has a broad menu, including wine and beer. Small bites swing from calamari rings and house-made potato scallops to dim sims, prawn cutlets, crab claws and Chiko rolls. Fresh grilled fish includes barramundi, salmon, John Dory and ocean perch, with spicing from fermented chilli salt to lime pepper.
There are fish or calamari burgers, barramundi tacos with cabbage and spicy aioli and four poke bowls featuring bbq calamari and salmon sashimi. In line with his feed-everyone ethos, Kritikos includes fish alternatives, such as a cheeseburger and today's special, an old-school beef burger with fried egg and beetroot.
Kritikos also kept the wood-fire oven from the site's former tenant, an Italian restaurant, and uses it to cook whole snapper and a shellfish bake of scallops, pipis, mussels and prawns. Other menu specialities include a fish pie and, if you're lucky, a seafood chowder.
Crab claws. Janie BarrettServed in a warm crusty bread cob, with golden bread hat, the chowder is spot on for winter. Scoop out its luscious, spiced prawn, scallop and ocean perch pieces in creamy sauce with a spoon before mopping the plate with still-warm torn bread.
Equally excellent is the fish pie, awarded the silver medal at the 2021 Great Aussie Pie Competition. Turnover-style, this pastry wonder oozes chunky prawn and snapper pieces in a spice-sparky cream sauce.
Calamari rings are excellently crunchy and tender, and no one at our table leaves a speck of chip behind. Kritikos's chips are shining examples of deep-fried spud, crispy and soft where it matters and scattered with tiny nuggets of crunchy potato crumbs.
Pineapple fritters. Janie BarrettA plate of pineapple rings, juicy, deep-fried and sprinkled in icing sugar are a winning finish.
So, stand in the street, point emphatically at Mister Fish and answer the question. "Fish!"
Vibe Modern fish restaurant crossed with classic milk bar chippie
Go-to dish Seafood chowder served in crusty bread cob or shellfish bake
Insta-worthy dish Pineapple rings sprinkled in icing sugar
Swaggering spirit at Fontana in RedfernThe team from Don Peppino's open Club Fontana at the Ron's Upstairs site.
Enoteca Ponti brings lasagne spring rolls to Potts PointThe sparkling new restaurant is the latest venture from the team behind Bistro Rex.
Bar-restaurant Kings Cross Pavilion opens at former World Bar siteThe restaurateur behind Bayswater Road's Eros has turned the former World Bar into bar-restaurant and nightclub Kings Cross Pavilion.
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retreat for sale provides portal to Fijian paradiseSam Murden
When Rachael and Anthony Brown purchased their Earlwood property in 2003 for $530,000
they had one goal in mind: transform the south west suburb into a tropical oasis
Over their 19 years at 1a Carboona Ave in Earlwood
the Browns have utilised 110 plants and various exotic types of timber to shield their property from passers-by and use their personal tropical rainforest to escape from busy Sydney surrounds
Listed via Ray White Earlwood agents Kieran Gianoudis and Dean Vasil
the two bedroom and two bathroom tropical home is steps away from the Cooks River and a five minute walk to Tempe Station
This tropical paradise is expected to sell in the mid $1m range
“We’ve had 35 groups come and look at the property
many of whom are from the inner city and inner west areas of Sydney,” Mr Gianoudis said
weren’t even looking for a property but stumbled upon it and had to register their interest.”
Interested parties have come from the inner city and the inner west
but has years of experience building and working with timber and loves woodworking as a hobby
The backyard had been transformed using a range of timber that are hard to come by
coconut poles and bamboo for the front fence
There were 110 plants that were brought to the property when the couple purchased it
“This was a long term plan from my husband
he had drawn a picture of what he wanted the property to look like
We recently dug up the picture when we were packing our things and it looks exactly like the finished product,” Mrs Brown said
“We started planting the tropical trees straightaway so it’s taken us 19 years for it to grow into the forest that you see today
you’d get cooked from the lack of shade from the Sun
and provides a lot of privacy from people who walk past.”
The single level family home has been tightly held for 19 years
The couple have purchased a new acreage near Port Macquarie
and are planning to use the extra space to transform that property into a self-sustainable farm
The vendors plan to create a new self-sustainable acreage near Port Macquarie
“We plan to section out our new property to include separate zones – one part will be another tropic-themed section
another includes a cottage where we plan to grow cherry blossoms nearby
so we’ve got an orchard and some nut groves ready to use.”
“We’ve loved having our neighbours come over for beers in the summer and feel like they are on holiday
Having an area outside the hustle and bustle of Sydney will be perfect for us.”
Inspiration for the tropical backyard came from the couple’s trips to Fiji
Features of the home include a full-sized bar and laundry
an alfresco zone with a built-in barbecue and a cedar hot tub
House prices have remained stable in Earlwood
with the median house price currently sitting at $1.8m
MORE: Block twist as Lambo guy makes shock buy
Finally, an affordable family home in Sydney’s east?
Epic, polarising search for Australia’s best homes
The urgent search for a mother and a newborn continues after 'signs of birth' were discovered on a riverbank as police respond to fears the baby could be in the water
Emergency services were called to the banks of the Cooks River in Earlwood, southwest Sydney, at about 4.30pm on Monday after a passerby walking a dog spotted a placenta and an umbilical cord.
Search teams, boats and divers returned to the river at first light on Tuesday after a large-scale search of the river and surrounding areas was conducted overnight.
When asked whether police were concerned the day-old baby could be in the water, Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald said the whereabouts of the mother and child was her main priority.
'At this stage our main concern is for the whereabouts for the mother and the child, we see that as a real urgent matter for us to find her and her child, hopefully safe and healthy,' she said on Monday night.
Superintendent McDonald said it remained unclear whether the baby was born on the banks of the Cooks River or elsewhere.
'All we know is that a placenta and an umbilical cord were located. Obviously, our search will identify what has taken place,' she said.
'Whether that birth or delivery of that child occurred at this location, or another location, is yet to be determined.'
Police have urged the mother and child to present at a hospital and said she doesn't need to speak to police if she doesn't want to.
'It is very important, and it is extreme urgency that we find the mother and child as soon as we can. Obviously, we will be contacting hospitals, we ask that she goes to a hospital,' Superintendent McDonald said.
'If any family and friends have any information, our request is that she gets to a hospital as soon as possible.'
Detectives are hopeful a busy walking track near the riverbank will mean there are witnesses who may have seen a pregnant woman or a 'woman in distress'.
Police are also seeking CCTV footage from Lang Road, Wardell Road, Ewen Park or Tennent Parade in Earlwood, about 10km southwest of Sydney's CBD.
As inquiries continue police are urging anyone with CCTV vision or information about the incident to contact Burwood Police or Crime Stoppers.
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