jolly displays are already spreading joy across Sydney neighbourhoods Credit: Christmas Light SearchIt’s the most wonderful time of the year — which means it’s time to be dazzled by houses lit up with festive cheer But when it comes down to looking for homes decked to the nines in decorations and walk-through displays it can be a bit tiresome if you don’t know where to go Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Co-founders Lachlan Kennedy and his cousin had always enjoyed getting into the festive spirit and visiting Chrissy lights when they were kids so when they decided they wanted to develop a website The duo kicked off the Christmas Light Search directory in Melbourne in 2008 with 40 light displays driving around and adding all the best Chrissy lights to the site manually “Once the website got going after a few years it became apparent that we had created a really useful platform for homeowners to promote their displays on and this has motivated us to keep it going ever since,” Kennedy said The site is user-friendly and allows anyone to add their Christmas display to the map for free “Despite cost of living being the ‘theme’ this year we haven’t noticed a drop in the number or quality of Christmas Light displays around the country,” Kennedy said adding many owners take months to put together their magical displays “We are finding homeowners embrace elements like snow and bubble machines opening up their driveways for kids to dance in (with music giant moving LED characters and inflatables Kennedy said popular trends this year were light arches and garage door projections He added that it was always special when homeowners got involved by dressing up as Santa or other popular characters or hosting community raffles “We find Christmas displays these days have evolved to be much more than just about the lights.” At 7 South Street, Tempe you’ll find a massive Christmas light display “the whole family will enjoy” “With donations supporting Maggie’s Rescue this display offers a Santa chair and photo-ready setups that are perfect for capturing some epic Christmas selfies,” Kennedy said while grown-ups can enjoy strolling through the display spotting beloved characters like Bluey and the Minions illuminated in Christmas lights.” Kennedy said the owners “love putting up the Christmas lights because it brings joy and smiles to people” Kennedy said this display can be enjoyed from the comfort of your car “Tune in to 99.5FM and marvel at 95,000 LED lights dancing across the façade of the house There’s even a lit-up archway to take a photo under.” Supporting the Alannah and Madeline Foundation this light show has been running every Christmas for over 20 years and takes over a month to set up “The owners love putting up their Christmas light display because they get to see the little kids and grown-ups’ smiles,” Kennedy said or walk up the driveway to see the thousands of dazzling light sculptures covering the entire front of this property,” Kennedy said there’s plenty of fun to be had finding the hidden decorations “The owners are also raising donations for Lights for Kids — make sure to place them in the box before the Grinch grabs them!” dazzle with their colourful lights displays and inflatables “From Santas to candy canes to snowmen and Christmas trees these truly are pretty displays,” Kennedy said “Walk up one driveway to inspect the inflatables and hanging lights above — and covering the house — to then walk up the one next door where you must be sure to look up!” Kennedy said the houses have been lighting up the night with their decorations for a couple of years now “The owners love putting up their Christmas lights as they love to see the kids happy.” the Christmas lights are winding and colourful Kennedy said this massive display takes over a month for the owners to set up “Walk through the arches and stars to see the lights sparkling around until you get to the dazzling presents and photo location for some Christmas memories,” he encouraged “Be sure to snap a shot with the festive Santa hat and shimmering 2024 bauble for the perfect holiday moment with family and friends,” the owners said filling the front yard and decorating the garage the owners have clearly made the most of their space — filling it with colourful hanging lights there’s even an English village inside the front windows Kennedy said he loved “the colour co-ordination and creativity” “The space is not over burdened with lights,” Kennedy said He said the owners “love putting up their Christmas lights because it brings joy to the area” setting up Christmas lights is a family tradition running for more than 20 years all donations go to supporting SCHF Lights for Kids “Visitors will enjoy the full Christmas nativity scene lighting up the front fence and house including Santa’s sleigh being pulled by reindeer,” Kennedy said “The drop lights make the house look like magic glittering in the night and there’s even a huge dove to take photos under.” Kennedy said “the best thing about this display for the owners is seeing people is filled with Christmas fun at this house — life-sized animated statues archways to walk under and lots of lights,” Kennedy said “It will definitely give you a Christmas smile,” the owners said The display runs until January 1st for two hours each night until 10pm — the snow-like lights decorating the entire front of the house are definitely photo-worthy “The best thing about this display are the LED Christmas stars levitating from the roof and the mega LED tree,” Kennedy said He said the “owners love putting up their Christmas lights as it brings so much joy to the community” the owners take pride in their show-stopping flying Santa Nothing like it anywhere else,” Kennedy said there’s still plenty to look in awe at—over 25,000 twinkling lights and a towering four-meter white Christmas tree make perfect backdrops for photos and a chance to support the Shirley Cuff Cancer Research Foundation in honour of the owner’s aunt — and you’ve got an evening to remember.” He said the owners love putting their Christmas lights up because it “brings joy to everyone who sees them” “Walk down the drive under the double inflatable archways and check out this mega house up close,” Kennedy said inflatables and cute Christmas characters on display provide heaps of awesome photo ops Kennedy described it at as “one of the best displays in Sydney” “It’s easy to see why it takes the owners over a month to set it all up,” he said Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T Sep 22, 2024 | A hazard reduction burn at Oxford Falls jumped containment lines threatening homes at Cromer and Beacon Hill Shortly before 10.00am yesterday morning (Saturday NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) crews conducted a planned hazard reduction burn of 25 hectares (25ha) between Oxford Falls Road and Meatworks Avenue Initial fire behaviour was as expected with flame heights of around one metre (1m) but early signs of trouble began as wind speeds started to pick up around 11.00am with wind gusts of up to 26 km/h and small spot fires detected outside the planned burn area any spot fires represented a potentially significant risk for the fire escaping containment lines With their visibility obscured by smoke from the burn firefighters on the ground requested the assistance of a Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) drone to scan for any fires outside the expected burn area locating a spot fire burning on the eastern side of the fire trail Firefighters on the ground were dispatched to the location to investigate and extinguish the fire With reports from the FRNSW drone indicating there were actually two large spot fires that were growing in size the hazard reduction was formally declared a bushfire were called for and the drone was recalled and grounded as helicopters were tasked Additional RFS and FRNSW crews were also mobilised. Fortunately, local RFS Stations had been hosting Get Ready Weekend activities at nearby Belrose and Terrey Hills Stations Kids and parents who had come to the stations got to see the excitement of a real response but unfortunately had their day cut short as crews responded including the crews already deployed for the hazard reduction fifteen RFS crews were tasked to the fireground including Northern Beaches Headquarters RFS crews already deployed for the hazard reduction at Red Hill Reserve fought to re-establish containment but found themselves outmatched by the fire as increasing wind speeds fanned the flames and pushed eastwards towards Cromer and Beacon Hill A helicopter arrived overhead just after 1.00pm confirming fears that the fire had pushed 300-400m east of containment lines Difficult terrain put the escaped fire out of the reach of firefighters on the ground and a second firefighting helicopter was requested The area has a number of aged care facilities adjacent to bushland RFS Group Officer and former FRNSW Commissioner Greg Mullins AO AFSM (image above right) used his extensive local knowledge and understanding of fire behaviour to predict the fire path There he established a command point where he was joined by FRNSW Inspector Mark McKay and combined RFS and FRNSW crews who set up a defensive perimeter around Levande Maybrook Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command were asked to close access to Maybrook Avenue as a number of people came to investigate and began to impair access for emergency service vehicles Some family members were seen coming to collect elderly relatives from the retirement facility but just after 2.15pm an emergency order was issued by the NSW RFS declaring it too late to leave and for residents to shelter in place Waterbombing helicopters focused their efforts on the northern edge of the fire as it approached Pinduro Place and Maybrook Avenue and their efforts proved successful at largely keeping the fire to the south of a creek line in the gully The fire was seen to be burning fiercely through bush on the southern side of the gully and waterbombing efforts soon switched to that side to reduce flame intensity By 4.00pm the immediate threat to Maybrook Avenue had passed and the focus switched to forecast fire impact on properties at Little Willandra Road and Willandra Road including the Willandra Bungalows Retirement Village Police closed Willandra Road between Lady Penrhyn Drive and Little Willandra Road the fire intensity began to drop and wind speeds eased reducing the NSW RFS fire warning level to ‘Watch and Act — Be aware of ember attack’ shortly after 4.00pm and then to ‘Advice — Monitor Conditions’ by 5.30pm The fire which had burned through 80ha was still making its way steadily eastwards however and was seen cresting the ridge above Willandra Bungalows just before 5.00pm Police were called to Lady Penrhyn Drive shortly before 5.30pm after an unauthorised drone was reported flying within the fireground potentially endangering aerial firefighting assets Fire reached close to Beacon Hill Fire Station shortly after 6.00pm and was around 50m from properties at Little Willandra Road by 6.15pm although flame height by this time had reduced to 2-3m Properties in the area were warned to prepare for ember attack as winds continued to push fire and smoke eastwards Firefighters were confident however that they would be able to defend properties along Willandra Road and Little Willandra Road Tactical backburning operations were undertaken to starve the oncoming fuel of fire in the area around Lady Penrhyn Drive although at points the fire came close to homes firefighters reported risk to the Willandra Bungalows from ember attack but by 7.30pm firefighters in that area reported that they were having success extinguishing the fire as it reached their defensive lines around properties police were again called just after 9.30pm after firefighters reported a number of youths in the fireground around Little Willandra Road with residents reporting fires approaching homes After careful assessment of fire behaviour another tactical backburn was put in place behind properties at Maybrook Avenue shortly before 11.00pm to prevent the fire crossing the creek line and coming up the hill through previously unburned bush police were requested to investigate sightings of torch lights spotted along a fire trail off Maybrook Avenue where no firefighting activity was underway After overnight RFS relief crews arrived around 9.00pm and progressively took over firefighting activity the RFS crews who had been at work all day were brought out of the fireground and sent home FRNSW crews were all stood down just after midnight with RFS crews continuing to fight the fire through the night With the fire area now estimated to be 107ha in size it is expected the firefighting activity will continue well into today The RFS advise if you have a respiratory condition and may be affected by smoke activate your health management plan and seek medical advice if necessary such as staying indoors and closing windows Monitor weather conditions and weather warnings at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and for information on road closures and traffic conditions, check the Live Traffic NSW website Be careful outdoors after the fire has passed as trees can be unstable and fall so consider what activities you resume and where you park vehicles Stay up to date on fires and floods in your area by downloading the Hazards Near Me NSW app (previously known as Fires Near Me NSW); visiting the NSW Rural Fire Service website; listening to your local radio station; or calling the RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 If you see an unattended fire or your life is at risk For information on how to create a Bush Fire Survival Plan, visit MyFirePlan.com.au Join us as we go 100% electric and be part of the future of green driving Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress A renovated house in Hornsby Heights has sold $362,000 above reserve in a result that “knocked the socks” off the young family selling it The three-bedroom house at 35A Montview Pde attracted a massive 23 registered bidders despite auction turnout in Sydney trending downwards in recent months Six bidders fought for the property before a young family from Gordon won the keys for $1,662,000 MORE: ‘Good news for all homebuyers’ as property listings surge NRL legend’s epic home to smash records Selling agent Domenic Maxwell from Ray White Upper North Shore said they were “on the market” when bidding opened at the $1.3m reserve Auctioneer Jason Keen kicks off the auction at Montview Pde “It was significantly above expectation,” he said “It was only on 437sq m which is a bit smaller than the average block size for the area.” “Ultimately the renovation kicked people into gear and leveraged it up to this price point.” He said most of the interest came from young families and first home buyers looking to crack the market with the quality of the renovation holding the most appeal Vendors Lachlan and Kathy Pappas with kids Louis (left) and Romeo (right) after the sale Winning bidder Jen Ramli happy after bidding finishes Winning bidder Jen Ramli with husband Hendrik Schoenmaker and daughter Hazel Nearly 200 groups inspected the property and 54 contracts had been issued before it was brought to auction by Jason Keen on Saturday Vendors Kathy and Lachlan Pappas purchased the house during the market peak of 2017 for $1,202,000 after spending just 10 minutes walking through it “We saw so much potential to update it – it had such good bones.” A stunning renovation at 35A Montview Pde was its main attraction Ms Pappas said she had managed her expectations around how well the property would do this time around She said they were “beyond thrilled” with the result which “knocked their socks off,” and are now looking to upsize to another renovation project in the local area The house was one of 1,099 properties scheduled to go to auction in the week ending March 13 This was a 10 per cent increase from the number of auctions held the week prior and a 36.4 per cent jump from the previous year The Hornsby Heights auction drew a crowd of 23 registered bidders The auction clearance rate continued to fall last week with 69.2 per cent of properties successfully selling under the hammer there were several standout results across Sydney on Saturday One of these was at 21/43 Lindfield Ave, Lindfield where a three-bedroom apartment sold for $2,790,000 – a massive $390,000 over reserve Ray White Upper North Shore’s Jessica Cao said the vendors were pleased with the result having upsized to a house in the local area A two-bedroom house with original carpets in Cabramatta sold just above reserve for $1,255,000 A crowd watched on as four of the eight registered bidders competed for 24 Eurabbie St The house had barely changed since last selling 65 years ago Selling agent Henry Thai with the vendors following the auction Selling agent Henry Thai from LJ Hooker Cabramatta said it was a good result for a two bedroom house And a “shovel ready” house in Kings Langley with DA approved plans to build two separate dwellings sold for $1,805,000 following a long battle between two bidders The auction at 93 Solander Rd unfolded in short sharp punches of $10,000 after the opening bid of $1.3m kicked off proceedings There were 12 registered bidders with some bidding online and others beat to the chase by the two active participants A crowd of about 50 watched as bidding crept over the $1,725,000 reserve “A lot of the market was indicating around the $1.4m mark and we saw the reserve as very healthy,” said lead agent Darren Starr of Darren Starr Real estate Beaumont Hills Michelle and Michael Potts had purchased the house on 935.8sq m 20 years ago for $348,000 Vendors Michelle and Michael Potts with agent Darren Starr after the auction “It’s good to see the hard work and the planning pay off,” Mr Potts said The house was purchased by a Hunters Hill couple who were going to follow through on the plans to build two Metricon double storey houses MORE: Mansion with rich history has $20m+ guide Power couple list unique party house Most wanted Sydney suburbs right now third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. A community celebrating Black voices Beautycon is a global platform that brings together beauty enthusiasts and industry leaders to explore the latest trends and conversations shaping the future of beauty In the beautiful suburb of Hornsby Heights Friday evenings at Montview Oval turn into a carnival-like atmosphere played by girls who just can’t have enough fun Montview Oval is equipped to run two cricket matches next to each other Stage 1 girl players (8-12 years-old) who have gather in the afternoon sun to play against each other’s teams This is a celebration of girls’ cricket all the way and no one needs to wear white unless they choose to There’s music playing on a boom box and the girls are dancing with their bats inventing cricketing moves and perfecting their legwork all in one A few pink hoodie-wearing fielders are around the field or to stop that opening batter’s boundary attempt during Women & Girls Week on November 20-26 Cricket NSW will celebrate stories of success for seven days bringing forth extraordinary stories of ordinary women and girls who have thrived on and off the cricket field because of their love of the sport The stories will feature a volunteer on the Far North Coast who gathered 250 girls to come in and try cricket an umpire who juggles a legal career and motherhood and loves being on the cricket field too how the Central Coast became a female cricket hub in the last five years and a female coaches’ collective in Newcastle that has infused fresh blood into cricket in the region Also in the offing are workshops to upskill women who would like to be involved in cricket 100 girl cricketers from clubs funded by the Growing Cricket for Girls Fund will walk a lap of honour around the field who is responsible for the competition being played in the first place Among New South Wales’s cricketing community Crowned Cricket Australia’s and Cricket NSW’s Volunteer of the Year a few months ago Fraser has made an impact on grassroots cricket in a short span of time like few have to be one of outer Sydney suburbs’ most successful clubs with a 50% female committee uniting the local community with her leadership Doubling as the girls’ cricket coordinator for the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai & Hills District Cricket Association (HK&HDCA) she has inspired the entire district to focus on girls’ cricket increasing the number of girls playing cricket in the district by over 30 percent SIGN UP TO PLAY GIRLS-ONLY CRICKET HERE  It was only natural progression, with Fraser at the helm, that the Association would this year begin its first girls’ Stage 1 competition in the association’s history. The Stage 1 HK&HDCA girls competition took off in their own region this season, with seven of the 13 clubs putting together girls-only teams, and two clubs putting forward a merged team. This year, four clubs in the association have Stage 2 and 3 teams as well.   Last season, the number of females playing cricket in the association increased from 508 to 660 in one season. There were four girls’ only Stage 1 teams, formed after Fraser met multiple times with club volunteers to make sure all their questions were answered to keep a focus on growing female participation.   Whilst the association didn't manage to get their own Stage 1 competition off the ground last year, the four teams that were generated played cricket in different neighbouring competitions around the North Shore or Central Coast. This year, the HKHDCA girls are playing cricket on their own turf, with teams from their own communities.   There are specific strategies that clubs have employed to have more girls register to play. Some, like Hornsby District Cricket Club, have made registrations free for girls. Others, such as West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook CC, have found equipment and kit sponsors for their teams.  Some of the girls play in mixed teams on Saturdays, so HK&HDCA decided to hold the girls’ only matches on Friday evenings at grounds such as Hornsby and Montview Ovals, under lights, with music and dance thrown in. The idea went down so well that some of the girls are just happy with Friday night girls’ cricket now. Liesl, Fraser’s daughter, for example, loves her all girls’ cricket, and the fact that she can wear green pants to play.   Jacob O’Sullivan, Cricket Manager, Sydney North West, said:  “Cricket NSW and HK&HDCA have been able to start the girls’ Stage 1 competition after two seasons, primarily due to Amanda’s efforts. She is a powerhouse and has been able to build those club connections in the district for clubs to buy into the idea. We were also bolstered by the Hornsby Council’s support of growing female cricket participation in the area.  “It is a clear strategy for Cricket NSW to have more girls, especially in the 5-12-year-old age group, play and love cricket. The mission has been transformed into reality with the Stage 1 girls’ competition, made possible by our strong female volunteers in the district. We are grateful for their efforts and are excited to provide more opportunities for girls to play cricket in the Hornsby and Hills area.”  CNSW acknowledges and pays respect to the land and waters across New South Wales, on which we are privileged to live, work, and play our great game of cricket. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have walked upon and cared for this land for thousands of years. We acknowledge their ongoing connection to this country as the Traditional Owners and we commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation, so that together we may bring about equity and equality, built on strong and trusting relationships. We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. A pedestrian has been struck by a car and killed in Sydney's north, police say. Police and paramedics were called to Galston Road in Hornsby Heights just before 7am on Thursday to reports that a car had lost control, left the road and crashed into a man. A pedestrian has been killed in a crash on Galston Road in Hornsby Heights.Credit: Nine News Paramedics attempted to treat the pedestrian, who was understood to be trapped beneath the red hatchback. A NSW Police spokesman said the man suffered fatal injuries, and died at the scene of the crash. The male driver of the car was taken to Hornsby Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing, the police spokesman said. Police taped off the car, which had come to rest on the grass verge beside Galston Road. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit are at the scene. The man is the 207th person to die on NSW roads this year - 44 more than at the same time last year. NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione launched a new road campaign last week featuring interviews with preschool children about responsible driving to target the rise in the road toll. He said he felt "frustration tinged with sadness" at the figures. A pedestrian has been struck by a car and killed in Sydney's north, police say. He said he felt \\\"frustration tinged with sadness\\\" at the figures. ABC News News HomeHornsby Heights Rural Fire Brigade turns 50 service still well loved after humble beginningsShare Hornsby Heights Rural Fire Brigade turns 50 service still well loved after humble beginningsBy Brendan King The restored Puff the Tragic Wagon is now used as a marketing tool to encourage RFS membership (Supplied: Hornsby Heights Rural Fire Brigade) Link copiedShareShare articleHornsby Heights Rural Fire Brigade turns 50 this year, and they have come a long way. Back in 1965 the brigade used an old Hillman sedan as a makeshift fire truck until they were able to secure something more appropriate. In the 1960s Hornsby Heights was a predominantly rural area, but all these years later the Hornsby Rural Fire Service is still just as important as it was back then. The greater Hornsby community's close proximity to bushland makes it especially susceptible to fires — something that local Malcolm Bruce is very aware of. "I joined primarily because I felt a bit guilty having other people do something I could do, especially considering I live in a very fire-prone location," he told 702 ABC Sydney Breakfast presenter Robbie Buck. The former captain of the service now serves as the senior deputy captain. "I'm in my 60s now so I'm slowly stepping back to let the young guys come in and take control of the brigade," he said. "One of the problems with a lot of these voluntary organisations is you get older blokes like myself hanging onto the senior positions, not realising that if the brigade is going to progress you've got to let the young blokes come in and take control and run things because they're the future." The fire brigade is known to have a great family atmosphere and is well loved by locals. "I've watched my kids grow up around the brigade and I've watched other kids grow up around the brigade," Mr Bruce said. But while the brigade has had intergenerational membership, getting members to stick around is a problem. "Some of the children do join the brigade but one of the problems is retaining membership," Mr Bruce said. "The changes in the way people work and the cost of housing, all these sorts of things have affected the way people can now spend their time on fire trucks." The brigade was formed in 1965 as a result of public pressure on the Hornsby Council. Mr Bruce said one of the brigade's original members, Kevin Williams, worked tirelessly to get it up and running. Malcolm Bruce, senior deputy captain of Hornsby Heights Rural Fire Service (702 ABC Sydney: Christine Gallagher) "He took it upon himself to door knock all the residents in Hornsby Heights to gauge public opinion," he said. The brigade was originally known as The Gorge, after the Galston Gorge nearby. From 1965 to 1966 the Hornsby Heights Rural Fire Brigade used a converted Hillman sedan as its fire truck. Twelve months later a 1942 Chevrolet Blitz became the brigade's first tanker. After doing its time with the brigade, the truck was abandoned but found again on a farm in Mudgee in 2000. Veteran members of the brigade spent a number of years restoring the truck, and it is now used as a marketing tool to encourage new members to the Rural Fire Service. During the Christmas fires of 2001 and 2002 Hornsby Heights Rural Fire Brigade played an important part protecting homes in the Hawkesbury area. Hornsby Heights Rural Fire Service members hard at work (Supplied: Hornsby Heights RFS) Mr Bruce remembers an incident concerning the brigade's fire truck. "There was a slight accident where the truck actually ended up in Berowra Creek," he said. "So we had a partially submerged truck. "I was on the end of a hose line trying to suppress a fire that was attacking a house." Mr Bruce and his team had lost the truck which was the water source and pump. In the end the home was saved but the truck was off the road for a while before it was repaired. 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) “We have some of the best schools in the state in and around Hornsby, whether it’s Hornsby North, Waitara Public, and some of the private schools including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Loreto, Barker College, and Normanhurst Boys and Normanhurst Girls selective schools,” says McGrath Hornsby agent Adam Gillbanks. The suburb boasts a hospital, a huge Westfield shopping centre, plus strip shopping, and farmers’ markets every Thursday. Nature lovers are spoilt for choice, too. “Hornsby is the bushland shire,” says Gillbanks. “We’ve got some fantastic parks, bushwalks and bike tracks that attract mountain bikers from all over Sydney.” Gillbanks says many locals make regular trips to Crosslands Reserve in Hornsby Heights, to the Hawkesbury River for fishing jaunts and to the Central Coast beaches. “We’ve got a really diverse range of cultures too, so we’ve got some fantastic restaurants and cafes that have opened up in recent years,” he says. Gillbanks says a new wave of young families has moved in over the past 10 years and is contributing to the suburb’s gentrification with renovations and knockdown-rebuilds. “We’re getting a lot of buyers from the inner west and more and more from the lower north shore,” he says. “Your money goes a lot further in Hornsby and the way the market has come back in 2022 you can now get exceptional value for the block size.” The aptly named town that’s a hipster haven The best homes for sale in Sydney right now ‘As a buyer, now is a great time’: Housing experts weigh in on property prices 2 Baths2 ParkingView listing More like a house than a townhouse, this light-filled property is close to the hospital and James Park. The split-level design includes three living spaces and a gas and stone kitchen, and there’s plenty of room to play and entertain outdoors.  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 Significant repairs have been completed to damaged roads in New South Wales as flood recovery efforts ramp up three months after the devastating weather events New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads said Transport for NSW crews have been working around the clock to reconnect communities since the first wave of extreme weather triggered the February-March floods which is why the New South Wales Government has prioritised restoring access to get people’s lives back to normal as quickly as possible,” Mr Farraway said “Across regional New South Wales 70 per cent of repairs to more than 2,100km of flood-damaged roads are now complete and we’ve also repaired 59 of 100 damaged bridges and two-thirds of the 167 landslips that impacted roads across the state more than 50,000 potholes were fixed and 24,000 of those were completed just in the month of April local and regional roads and rail is more than $1.4 billion so we know the rebuild won’t happen overnight – but we’re well on our way “Councils hardest hit by the North Coast floods were advanced $46 million in emergency funding to kick start urgent road repairs councils can rebuild roads better than the original structure through the $312 million Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package.” around three months worth of work was achieved in five weeks with additional resources poured into the project to restore the major link between the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands New South Wales Minister for Metropolitan Roads said across Greater Sydney the cost of repairs to state roads is nearly $140 million “It’s pleasing that so much work has been completed on Greater Sydney roads and the Government is continuing to work every day to complete the recovery effort and help get life back to normal for the communities affected,” Ms Ward said Galston Gorge at Hornsby Heights has just reopened with restrictions ahead of remediation work there later this year more than 8,400 potholes have been repaired since late February and all but one of 96 flood damaged roads are now open “We’ve repaired more than 330,000 square metres of asphalt on state roads across Sydney since the flood event the equivalent of nearly 50 full sized soccer fields three months on from the first flood event it’s satisfying to look back and see just how much we’ve achieved to reconnect the people of this state and get New South Wales moving again.” New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery said rebuilding roads is a key part of the recovery process “The destruction across our road network is one of the most visible scars left behind by the unprecedented flooding and restoring these access routes is a critical part of helping our flood-affected communities get back on their feet and return to some sense of normality,” Ms Cooke said “This is why the New South Wales and Federal Governments are working together with a $312 million Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package which forms part of the $3.5 billion of financial support committed to clean up Australia’s biggest airports are maintaining a high quality of service The latest Australian Competition and Consumer.. Australia’s transport sector is urging the next federal government to confront declining construction productivity Roads Australia Chief Executive Ehssan Veiszadeh.. The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has reported on its impact across the country’s north All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media The Hornsby Heights suburb record has been broken by 4A Summerhaze Place A striking architecturally-designed house has become the first property in Hornsby Heights to sell for more than $2m Selling for smack bang on $2m, the price for 4A Summerhaze Place was achieved the day before it was supposed to go to auction on December 12 The result eclipses the previous Hornsby Heights record of $1.92m struck during the 2017 property boom Laing+Simmons Hornsby principal Karen Hardy said the record sale is a result of intense demand and a shortage of options for buyers “More buyers from across Sydney are broadening their search to new areas and prioritising more space for the family as working from home becomes the norm for many people,” she said Spanning two levels and nestled in an elevated position with leafy outlook The kitchen has gas cooking and an island bench Outside has a large entertaining area overlooking the saltwater pool as well as a vegetable garden with grey water tank Ms Hardy expects the local market to remain competitive going into 2021 due to a lack of quality properties on the market they are invariably drawing significant interest and generating positive results for vendors,” Ms Hardy said “Based on the shortage of options and intense demand we see further upward pressure on prices characterising the local market in the new year.” lockup garage with workshop and solar hot water Domain Liveable Sydney 2016 is a new study that ranks 555 Sydney suburbs based on liveability The study’s authors – Tract Consultants and Deloitte Access Economics – used 16 indicators to determine a suburb’s liveability, including transport, education, traffic, views and proximity to employment hubs. For the full list of indicators click here Here’s how the upper north shore performed Waitara wins the prize for most liveable suburb on the upper north shore and is sandwiched between Clovelly and Crows Nest on the overall liveability league table It is a star performer in terms of train links and shops and performs well above average for telecommunications coverage cafes and restaurants and proximity to schools All the other results are around the Sydney average The onetime home of famed architect Harry Seidler is the second most liveable suburb on the upper north shore. Killara is very well rated for its telecommunications coverage It receives average scores for just about everything else except buses with the stops quite spaced out Lindfield is the bronze medallist for liveability on the upper north shore receiving its highest mark for telecommunications coverage It’s also well ahead of the pack for proximity to employment hubs The only really low scores are for buses and main roads Just west of the M1 and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Asquith straddles the upper north shore and Hills District It achieves its highest results for its relatively low main road congestion topographic variation and low crime it gets big ticks In the top five for liveability on the upper north shore, Roseville scores brilliantly for mobile and internet coverage It is rated very well for proximity to employment hubs The only really low numbers are for main road congestion and lack of open space Head 25 kilometres north of the city and you’ll find Hornsby which receives very good scores for telecommunications coverage Its lowest ratings are for crime and buses and the suburb outperforms Hornsby Heights on everything except leafiness Tree cover, open spaces and a low crime rate are South Turramurra’s liveability highlights It also has plenty to write home about on the telecommunications and topography fronts not to mention slightly less road congestion than neighbouring suburbs South Turramurra’s lowest ratings are for shops Its scores are about average in the other categories Significantly higher than neighbouring Pymble on the overall liveability table, West Pymble has good tree cover open spaces and telecommunications coverage It is topographically varied and being just that bit closer to Macquarie Park means it scores higher than Pymble in terms of proximity to employment hubs pipped its neighbour in the train category Normanhurst is well inside the top half of suburbs on the upper north shore for liveability proximity to employment hubs and there’s room for improvement on open space and buses St Ives receives ratings equal to or higher than St Ives Chase in most categories It is rated highly in terms of tree cover and also scores impressively for telecommunications coverage It isn’t rated particularly well for buses Granted, it’s not the sexiest liveability measure, but Gordon knocks it out of the park for telecommunications coverage water views and proximity to employment hubs For most categories created by Mother Nature, East Killara nails it with great open space It’s head and shoulders above most of Sydney for its low crime rate and telecommunications coverage retail and cafes are rated below average and it gets average scores for everything else from education to main road congestion and public transport North Wahroonga scores highly for its lack of main road congestion (compared to nearby suburbs) as well as its topographic variation and low crime rates its public transport results are average for Sydney Between Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Berowra Valley National Park, it’s no wonder Mount Kuring-Gai scores brilliantly for tree cover and topographic variation The study also awards high marks for train links and open space Its proximity to employment hubs and local cafe/restaurant scene isn’t as strong as other nearby suburbs It’s not the best but Wahroonga is still far from the least liveable suburb on the north shore The strongest performances are for relatively low main road congestion tree cover and telecommunications coverage and there’s room for improvement in retail One of Sydney’s most northern suburbs, Mount Colah is also one of the highest by elevation The liveability study rates it as having little main road congestion and high tree cover shops and proximity to employment hubs are on the lower end of the scale Rated average or above average on most liveability measures, Warrawee gets its highest results for telecommunications coverage It rates as average compared with the rest of Sydney for culture and falls below average for bus links and open space Great telecommunications coverage and a low crime rate are the best bits about East Lindfield’s performance in the liveability study It also scores well for tree cover and topographic variation Despite falling in the bottom half of the upper north shore suburbs for liveability, Roseville Chase is a star performer for its topographic variation and telecommunications coverage Its results for tree cover and open spaces are well above average but there is plenty of room for improvement in terms of shops and restaurants Close to the middle of the pack for overall liveability in Sydney, Pymble is highly rated for telecommunications coverage The only real downsides identified by the study are main road congestion For open space, easy traffic, tree cover and topographic variation, Hornsby Heights is a winner The study doesn’t give it high marks for cafes and restaurants or proximity to employment hubs and the suburb achieves average scores for culture telecommunications coverage and bus services Tree cover, topographic variation and low crime are the strongest results for St Ives Chase in the study It also turns in a fine performance for main road congestion open space and telecommunications coverage but its scores are below average for proximity to schools and employment Just east of Berowra Waters, Berowra Heights is one of Sydney’s northernmost suburbs it scores well below average for its dining scene Neck-and-neck with neighbouring Berowra Heights on most scores, Berowra has great tree cover topographic variation and a low crime rate The main roads are relatively free-flowing especially if you’re heading north on the M1 but the suburb doesn’t rate highly for buses proximity to employment hubs or telecommunications coverage North Turramurra’s low scores for cafes and restaurants proximity to employment hubs and public transport drag down its overall liveability score It is one of the highest achievers on open space It also outshines most of Sydney in terms of open space and telecommunications coverage It’s a testament to the upper north shore’s relatively high standards of liveability that Turramurra is at the bottom of the table for its region despite receiving decent scores in most categories. Its strongest results are in telecommunications coverage, tree cover, topographic variation and low crime. The lowest scores are for main road congestion and a lack of cafes and restaurants. Extensive search under way for Adrian Banciu who was last seen at his Macquarie Park home on 12 November Authorities hold serious concerns for a man missing for more than 10 days in bushland in Sydney’s north was last seen at his home at Macquarie Park on 12 November Banciu contacted his family and emergency services saying he was lost in bushland close to Berowra Valley national park on Sydney’s northern outskirts Multiple police rescue units as well as the SES and Rural Fire Service began scouring bushland near Mount Kuring-gai to try to find him Missing man Adrian Banciu contacted family and emergency services to say he was lost in bushland close to Berowra Valley national park Photograph: NSW Police/SuppliedPolice believe Banciu was near an aquatic centre on Peats Ferry Road at Hornsby on Monday 13 November and he then entered some bush off Galston Road at Hornsby Heights “Extensive land searches have taken place since he made contact but he has not been located,” police said in a statement on Thursday “Police and family hold serious concerns for Adrian’s welfare.” Banciu is described as being of Caucasian appearance about 175cm tall with a thin build and a black beard He was last seen wearing a maroon flannelette shirt Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Free daily newsletterOur Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters Police have called for anyone with information about his location to contact authorities dry weather and high fuel loads to form the worst fire conditions since the catastrophic 2019-20 black summer dry summer as firefighters warn over bushfire risksThis article is more than 1 year oldNSW residents are preparing for warm But “you’re always a bit wary” when you live in a place like hers In the 10 years she has been living next to Berowra Valley national park the Rural Fire Service is warning that could change Benhar and her neighbours are preparing to face the worst fire conditions in three years and the RFS is expecting fire to reach Sydney’s urban fringe “These are areas that haven’t burnt in quite some time. There is a bit of a sleeping giant when it comes to their bushfire risk for the coming year,” Ben Shepherd, an RFS inspector, says. the RFS will be knocking on doors in at-risk suburbs in the Northern Beaches Hornsby Shire and the Hills as it tries to ensure residents have a fire plan and are prepared to take their safety into their own hands The fire service’s first stop is Benhar’s suburb of Hornsby Heights in the city’s north As the president of the Friends of Berowra Valley conservation group she spends a lot of time in the national park “One of the reasons we moved here was because I wanted to live next to the bush It’s worth that occasional sort of fear that a bushfire might come through,” she says ‘We were saved by the Hawkesbury River … you were definitely on edge,’ says Benhar Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The GuardianBenhar remembers the bush feeling “like a tinderbox” by the time the immense Gospers mountain bushfire tore through the Hawkesbury region to the north-west during the black summer fires three years ago “We were saved apparently by the Hawkesbury River But if it had we would have been in a firing line,” she says Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Benhar hopes the national park will stay damp enough this summer to avoid being burnt Benhar has a sprinkler system on her roof their plan is primarily to pack up and leave Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian“I guess the thing is though you’ve got lots of new people in the area and people who suddenly find themselves next to bush who might have no idea what they’re dealing with,” she says People still need to understand that they’re near bushland and how to value it and protect it.” Benhar’s plan would include putting sprinklers on the roof placing combustable items such as wooden chairs inside the house packing up the important documents and leaving “We’re not going to fight because we don’t feel like we’re capable of fighting a fire,” she says Emergency services are preparing for warmer and drier weather to combine with high fuel loads – resulting from three relatively wet and cool years – to create the most potentially dangerous fire conditions since the catastrophic 2019-2020 summer Free daily newsletterOur Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day Earlier this week, the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, said he didn’t want to make people anxious but it was important they turned their minds to the possibility of a bad fire season. “It may mean having a bushfire preparation plan for your personal home, and start switching on to the prospect of a fire season affecting your community,” he said. Firefighting agencies are also grappling with a backlog of hazard reductions because wet conditions have hindered their ability to carry out prescribed burns, to the point where the RFS only achieved 20% of its target in the 12 months to July. Read moreAt a press conference earlier this week said the agency was doing everything it possibly could to catch up with hazard reduction burning targets but conceded “we certainly won’t catch up before summer” Rogers said bushfires “will absolutely occur” this year but firefighters were working in better conditions than they were in the 2019-20 fire season which came “on the back of a four-year drought” then of course we’re potentially going to get fires,” Rogers said But they’re not to the dryness they were back then.” says anywhere on the edge of Sydney could experience bushfires this summer regardless of whether they burnt three years ago Benhar says living by the bush is worth the occasional fear of fire – but she still has a fire plan ready Photograph: The Guardian“Any area near the national parks any of the rural urban fringe which is exposed to vegetation or bushland any of that area could potentially be at risk,” he says Donahoe, who fought on the frontline during the black summer fires, says ensuring the state’s various firefighting and emergency services agencies could work well together in a crisis was “vital” “That’s something that stays with me … in these catastrophic fire events coordinating the response can be difficult because there are so many moving parts,” he says Some parts of Sydney’s urban fringe fall under the firefighting jurisdiction of both the RFS and FRNSW Raine & Horne Hornsby will be led by experienced local agent Chris Hopkins and his wife Susie and will deliver the 133-year-old family owned and operated firm’s unique sales and property management services to residents from Hornsby and Hornsby Heights Berowra and Berowra Heights on Sydney’s northern perimeter investors and tenants in prestigious Wahroonga and Waitara “We have a strong network of offices on the North Shore and with the addition of Raine & Horne Hornsby we have the ability to provide sales and property management services from Kirribilli to Berowra,” said Angus Raine “The Hornsby market doesn’t get a lot of headlines however with a median apartment price of $630,000[1] it gives first home owners the chance to own property on Sydney’s popular and well-located Upper North Shore “Overseas investors have also recognised that Hornsby offers plenty of attractions such as a major retail precinct railway access to the city and north-western Sydney as well as being the gateway to the coastal delights of the state’s magnificent Central Coast which enables investors with a property in Hornsby to enjoy consistent cash flow.” Mr Raine added that he is delighted Mr and Mrs Hopkins have joined Raine & Horne “Susie and Chris are Hornsby locals to the core and Chris’s real estate experience includes seven years in the region with another leading network as well as a stint as an independent,” said Mr Raine “Chris knows the Upper North Shore property market like the back of his hand and his skills as a sales and leadership trainer will come in very handy as Raine & Horne Hornsby executes its business plans.” Chris said linking with Raine & Horne was a no-brainer after weighing up the service offerings from a number of competing real estate groups “We decided early that the support of a company that was focused on meeting the needs of our clients was paramount We also needed the backing of cutting edge technology and IT systems which would help us to deliver great outcomes for our clients Raine & Horne stood out in this regard,” said Mr Hopkins “We wanted a strong cultural match for our business and after meeting with Angus Raine and CEO Brian Reid we were convinced the family culture offered by Raine & Horne ticked this box.” Looking ahead to the traditional spring selling market Mr Hopkins is urging vendors to get in now as the number of Hornsby properties for sale is near historic lows “A number of economic factors seem to have played a role in discouraging owners from listing their homes for sale yet we still have plenty of buying interest from upgraders looking to snap up well-priced homes in suburbs such as Berowra and from overseas investors seeking apartments in Hornsby,” said Mr Hopkins there’s been a massive increase in new multi-level unit developments but many of them sell well before they’re built.” [1] http://www.raineandhorne.com.au/search/properties?offer_type_code=sale&q=HORNSBY%2C+NSW+2077 News Sitemap cut asking prices just to find a buyerAidan Devine Matt and Natasha Badby took advantage of the market to buy a home Sydney’s housing slump has delivered a feast of bargains for home seekers with sellers offering to sponsor buyer stamp duty bills and cut up to $265,000 off their prices The deals have come as data released this week showed Sydney’s median home price dropped another 0.9 per cent over March to hit $782,000 — nearly 14 per cent below what it was in July 2017 when the market peaked Some of the biggest bargains are being offered in suburbs spread across Sydney’s north and south where buyers are nabbing homes at an average of more than 10 per cent below listed prices This house in Hornsby Heights has had its price slashed and now has a guide $1.1 million to $1.2 million Many of the discounted homes hit the market months ago but have yet to capture the interest of buyers who have 28 per cent more homes to choose from than they did at this time two years ago House hunters also have about 30 per cent fewer rival buyers competing with them for properties This Hornsby Heights home has had its price cut by $200,000 This has forced homeowners who need to sell quickly to get creative and many are making enticing offers in the hope of exciting buyers A vendor in St George suburb Kingsgrove pledged “stamp duty is on us” in their real estate listing Typical stamp duty costs in NSW range from about $20,000 to $40,000 Realestate.com.au economist Nerida Conisbee said the generous offers showed just how far Sydney had shifted into a buyer’s market after being favourable for sellers for years “These offers tend to only happen when there is a severe downturn You can now get this Mount Colah home for under $1 million Developers tried similar incentives in Perth after the market went into a tailspin following the mining boom “Developers look at what might attract buyers It’s about creating momentum for their sales … it gives buyers an opportunity because they can get a much better deal.” SQM Research analyst Louis Christopher said developers were making these offers because they were “desperate” “We will see more of this going forward,” he said anything so that they can sell their properties at their listed prices and not have to offer a discount on the price “Discounts are a problem for them because if valuations (of the properties) go down it can jeopardise the entire project.” This Caringbah home was listed at $1.8 million but the price has now dropped to $1.6 million to $1.7 million Listings data showed sellers are under increased pressure to drop their prices after long waits to find buyers A house on Dukic Rd in Bonnyrigg Heights first listed for $1.325 million is now up for grabs at $1.06 million a home on College St is available for $499,000-$525,000 more than $225,000 below the original price while in Camden a house on Hill St is available at an $83,000 discount Natasha and Matt Badby recently bought their first home in the Camden region and said they were surprised how easy it was The couple had put in offers for other homes in the past but were knocked back when the market was stronger “It was a different feeling this time,” Mrs Badby said “Initially we thought it was going to be tough The pair recently bought in the Camden region “I think the sellers had been on the market for a while and were tired of mucking about They were in a position where they just wanted to end it all … we were very happy with the price.” Stone Real Estate-Camden principal Peter Salisbury said poorly styled and presented homes were the most likely to be discounted And if the owners were investors there were often more open to negotiating prices “If you’ve selling a rental property that’s vacant it could be costing you $400 or $500 a week It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and one of the most magical aspects of Christmastime is the celebration of light the annual decoration of their homes is a tradition that brings communities together with people travelling from far and wide to see the vibrant light displays themed tableaus and activities for the kids Many of these houses and neighbourhoods become hubs during the holidays and even partner with charities to maximise the Christmas spirit If you’re keen to check out some of this spirited cheer these Sydney spots are a great place to start Complete with a Winter Wonderland Christmas Village and a backyard lights display, Cambage Court is a heavy-hitter in the game and well worth the drive the owners partnered with Cure Brain Cancer Foundation with a total of $12,000 raised and split between the three charities December 14-27; and then 8pm-10pm until December 31 Sydney Road in the northern suburb of Hornsby Heights becomes a beacon come Christmas with more than 50 houses taking part in a mammoth street-wide display It’s open every day over the holiday period The proactive Lane Cove council runs an annual ‘Light Up Lane Cove’ initiative to encourage residents to get involved with Christmas displays Check out their 2018 map for where to find the follow the light Mosman decorate their home with 45,000 lights and 12 inflatable figures that stretch metres high The process takes two weeks to set up and is well worth a peek 7 Mallee Street is a beautiful showcase of all things cheerful There’s also interactive displays for the kids (and big kids) and donations go towards the Children’s Hospital at Westmead The display is on 7.30pm to 1am over the Christmas period https://www.instagram.com/p/BqzXyL0gVrz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link For a comprehensive search of Christmas lights near you, check out this local guide Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A 38-year-old man charged with the murder of his father in Sydney’s north is “extremely unsettled” and has been referred for mental health treatment in custody Police were called to a home on Kita Road in Berowra Heights about 4.20pm on Thursday after reports of a domestic violence incident and found 69-year-old Kenneth Fitzpatrick with serious injuries He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene was taken to Hornsby police station and charged with murder Jaiken Richard Fitzpatrick has been charged with the murder of his father Kenneth Fitzpatrick Neighbour Amin Biglari told Nine News on Friday morning that Kenneth Fitzpatrick had been a “very kind and quiet man” but would see the older man and his partner taking their dogs out “[I am] very sad because he was a good man,” Biglari said attached to the Little Green Truck pick-up and delivery franchise business was towed from the property on Friday morning Jaiken Fitzpatrick regularly advertised the service online A vehicle is removed from the home on Kita Road Berowra Heights on Friday.Credit: Nine News who have lived in the area for more than four decades told The Herald they arrived home at a street behind the property at about 4.20pm on Thursday and heard sirens followed by “some quite deep yelling” We weren’t sure what that was all about,” Robyn said Kenneth was killed between 4pm and 4.30pm on Thursday The accused killer’s address is listed as a beachfront unit in Avoca Beach on the Central Coast about an hour away from the Berowra Heights home Jaiken Fitzpatrick remained in the police station cells next door as his case was mentioned at Hornsby Local Court on Friday morning Family members of the man killed in the alleged domestic violence incident.Credit: Nick Moir Defence lawyer Andrew Scali said there was no application for release and asked for his client to be referred for psychiatric assessment by Justice Health He said the accused was “extremely unsettled” and had reported a history of mental conditions and being on various medications “It was not easy to get instructions from him Magistrate Alex Mijovich said he would instead have Fitzpatrick endorsed for treatment of mental health issues Justice Health and police to “sort it out” Police remained at the Berowra Heights home on Friday morning.Credit: Nick Moir Asked by the magistrate whether the accused was at risk of self-harm The lawyer made no comment as he left court sat in the public gallery for the brief mention Asked outside court how the family was doing after the tragedy the younger of the two women replied: “We’re very sad.” The woman shook her head when asked if she knew what had happened The magistrate adjourned the case to Downing Centre Local Court on October 31 was convicted at Gosford Local Court of breaching an apprehended violence order and stalking He was ordered to undertake treatments at the direction of community corrections and would be supervised for 12 months The conviction included orders he undertake “rehabilitation for mental health issues and DV prevention” Apprehended violence orders were made the same day to protect a person who The Herald has chosen not to name but is not Fitzpatrick’s father This masthead spoke to a number of other neighbours and residents of the quiet street on Friday but they either said they did not know the family had not seen or heard anything the previous day or did not wish to comment A forensics van remained parked outside the house which neighbours other two-storey brick townhouses The shared driveway was blocked by a paddy wagon and a group of detectives arrived at about 2pm which officers said remained a crime scene The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here A 38-year-old man charged with the murder of his father in Sydney\\u2019s north is \\u201Cextremely unsettled\\u201D and has been referred for mental health treatment in custody Neighbour Amin Biglari told Nine News on Friday morning that Kenneth Fitzpatrick had been a \\u201Cvery kind and quiet man\\u201D \\u201C[I am] very sad because he was a good man,\\u201D Biglari said told The Herald they arrived home at a street behind the property at about 4.20pm on Thursday and heard sirens followed by \\u201Csome quite deep yelling\\u201D We weren\\u2019t sure what that was all about,\\u201D Robyn said so it is terribly sad to hear about.\\u201D The accused killer\\u2019s address is listed as a beachfront unit in Avoca Beach on the Central Coast He said the accused was \\u201Cextremely unsettled\\u201D and had reported a history of mental conditions and being on various medications \\u201CIt was not easy to get instructions from him Justice Health and police to \\u201Csort it out\\u201D Scali said he \\u201Ccouldn\\u2019t say definitively\\u201D the younger of the two women replied: \\u201CWe\\u2019re very sad.\\u201D The conviction included orders he undertake \\u201Crehabilitation for mental health issues and DV prevention\\u201D who The Herald has chosen not to name but is not Fitzpatrick\\u2019s father The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories Avoca St, Bondi – Check out more than 50 houses decorated with magical lights and decorations. First, Second, Third and Fourth Avenues, Willoughby – Four neighbouring avenues come together to create a huge block of lights, music and fun. Sydney Road, Hornsby Heights – Walk or drive along this street and check out the 50 colourful homes. Second Street, Ashbury – Pay a visit to this inner west street where almost every house is lit up. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin - Sydney Wedding Photographer (@imagesbykevinweddings) Holt Road, Taren Point – As well as plenty of colourful homes, this street also has bubbles, music and a roaming Santa. Oakleigh Avenue, Thornleigh – The decorations continue to get better each year here as the neighbours enjoy a bit of friendly competition. The Boulevard, Ivanhoe – Melbourne’s most famous Christmas light street has been running for over 50 years, and just keeps getting better and better. Clydesdale Street, Box Hill – Over 25 houses deck their houses with lights and inflatables. Nimary Court and Cherelle Court, Eltham North – Many of the houses in these neighbouring courts go all out, so it’s worth parking your car and wandering through. Chestnut Avenue, Ferntree Gully – Another colourful street with photo opportunities with Santa. View this post on Instagram A post shared by jessica_chickpea?? (@jessica_chickpea) Zander Avenue, Nunawading – Number 18 is the main attraction, but plenty of others get into the festive spirit too. Leave a donation for Make-A-Wish if you enjoy the show. Empress Road, Surrey Hills – More than 40 houses get in on the action here. Cherrington Square, Wantirna – As well as Christmas decorations, this street even has a coffee van. Vialls Avenue, Parkdale – Almost every house on this street creates significant light displays. Cedric Street is nearby and worth a visit too. Glenpark Drive, Wonga Park – Over 80% of the houses in this street get into the festive spirit. Annie Street, Bracken Ridge – More than half of the residents in this North Brisbane street participate in the festivities. Stockport Court, Burpengary East – A whole street of festivities to drive down, running right through to New Year’s Eve. Rachael Street, Moorooka – Go for a drive along this street to check out the stunning decorations. Greenfield Road, Capalaba – The Greenfield lights are much loved by families and are a must-visit for Redlands locals. Kosmina Cres, Hillbank - Most of the street gets involved in this suburb in north Adelaide. Lights of Lobethal - Visit the home of Christmas spirit in South Australia, Lothebel. This small town has been proudly hosting Christmas events for over 60 years. It’s an absolute must-do, with lights, events, and the famous Christmas pageant and procession on opening night. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lights of Lobethal Christmas Festival 2024 (@thelightsoflobethal) St Peters – This is a great one to park up and wander down with almost every house getting involved with the festivities Pelham Street - Ethelton – Over 15 houses are lit up on this street in this north-western suburb of Adelaide Mandurah Canals – You’ll have to swap the car for a boat to see the homes all lit up along the canals. If you don’t have a boat of your own, you can book a 2-hour canal tour and pass the 200+ homes. Consulate Court, Thornlie - For over 20 years, this court has been getting together to bring Christmas cheer to the neighbourhood and raise funds for charity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by City of Perth (@cityofperth) Duncraig – It’s paying a visit to this street where almost all of the houses join in the fun The Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail – This trail will take you past 47 Christmas installations and brightly lit displays through the city and Northbridge New 'Over Dimension Measurement' camera technology was switched on yesterday following ongoing attempts to improve heavy vehicle safety at Galston Gorge The infamous Galston Gorge has seen countless heavy vehicles become trapped over the past decade with almost 100 over-length trucks becoming stuck in the past year alone Traffic bottlenecks resulting from the trapped heavy vehicles have caused signficant delays for motorists over the years as it acts as a link for vehicles travelling on the paciific highway north of Sydney to the Western suburbs The length monitoring cameras are the latest in a series of solutions following a number of attempts in the past to improve the issue with signage which use infared and rader-based technology to measure the length of heavy vehicles have been installed near Montview Parade at Hornsby Heights and Calderwood Road at Galston  READ: Authorities Fume As Trucks Continue To Ignore Galston Gorge Warnings Minister for Roads Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey says the technology will reduce the number of vehicles stuck in the Gorge improving safety and reducing traffic delays “Over-length trucks trapped in Galston Gorge cause detours of more than 30 minutes for other motorists,” Pavey said “With almost 100 over length heavy vehicles trapped in Galston Gorge over the past year the impact on the road network has been significant.” Member for Hornsby Matt Kean highlights that it isn’t just motorists affected by trucks that become stuck it’s local police and emergency services as well “It is crucial that this technology is used to deter drivers who attempt to use over-length vehicles and improve journey reliability for all motorists,” Mr Kean said The maximum length allowed through the Gorge is 7.5 metres and any truck that exceeds that length will incur an on-the-spot fine of $2,270 with licence and vehicle registration suspensions of up to three months and a mixumum fine of $3,740 and loss of six demerit points OwnerDriver was established in 1992 as a national newspaper “Dedicated to the Success of the Person Behind the Wheel” and it continues to pursue this mission today A massive snake has been found inside a shocked man's laundry after it slithered inside and took up refuge on a wooden door Robin Ford was shocked to find a three metre long diamond python curled up along his basement door in Hornsby Heights in Sydney's north shore The terrifying reptile was curled up on the top of the door as its tail slinked around the front of the frame The harmless python was safely removed and later relocated into nearby bushland The image that emerged on Facebook on Wednesday received a mixed reaction But happy he or she has been re-homed,' one woman said 'Omg I would have a heart attack,' another said They can grow between two to three metres in length and are usually black with cream and yellow patterns The species are also mostly black with a spots or bright yellow with black edges The Diamond Python is found in large bushland areas and national parks of Sydney but often goes undetected because of its nocturnal The species is found in coastal areas of New South Wales Pythons are non-venomous but can inflict a painful bite Teeth can break off and remain embedded in the victim Credit: Australian Museum  Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... 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Man shocked to find huge 3m snake right next to his laundryCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Homes continue to be destroyed by bushfires in New South Wales despite conditions remaining below the extreme fire danger level Hornsby Heights crew back burning for Gospers Mountain Fire around Leets Vale evening of 15NOV2019 #NSWRFS #NSWfires pic.twitter.com/L0ajDqBgze The NSW Rural Fire Service has warned against complacency as it confirmed another 44 homes had been destroyed by bushfire since November 8 This gives you an idea of the size of the Gospers Mountain bush fire, burning in the Hawkesbury, north-west of Sydney. This is the fire which is sending lots of smoke over the Central Coast and northern Sydney. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/4xq8mQtb8f Fire danger ratings on Sunday are severe in four northern NSW regions and very high in the Greater Sydney We NEED to bring more awareness to the crisis happening in Australia. As we speak over 1 MILLION hectares of land has been destroyed and over 350 koalas have been burnt to death🥺🐨 over 150 fires from QLD to NSW and it will only get worse. Please share #prayforaustralia 🇦🇺💔 pic.twitter.com/UGcO8qMwzC NSW RFS Inspector Ben Shepherd says they need to recognise that those are still bad days adding they don't need it to be at the catastrophic range for it to be considered a bad day Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations Copyright © 2025 Communications Fiji Limited FM96 Legend FM Viti FM Navtarang Radio Sargam PNG Haus Bung Yumi FM Nau FM Legend FM Facebook TikTok Instagram X YouTube Threads Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardFormer Camden wide receiver Jaylan Hornsby commits to Texas A&MHornsby picked the Aggies over Penn State a four-star wide receiver from Winslow Township He announced his decision live on Instagram Hornsby held offers from several schools, including Georgia, Michigan, Temple, and Penn State and had narrowed his choice down to the Aggies and Nittany Lions The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Hornsby is the No. 57 receiver nationally and the fifth-best player in New Jersey, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings He’s the third receiver to commit to the Aggies’ class of 2024 Hornsby caught 23 passes for 441 yards and two touchdowns to help the Panthers to a 10-3 record and highlight his portrayal of Charles Flenory on BMF Russell Hornsby honed his acting skills through a range of film and television roles He appeared in films like After The Sunset and Big Fat Liar it was his television work that truly garnered attention and laid the foundation for his future success Read More: BMF: A History Of The Black Mafia Family Hornsby's breakthrough came with his portrayal of Eddie Sutton on ABC's critically acclaimed drama series The show explored the challenges faced by a Black American family living in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood Hornsby's powerful performance resonated with audiences earning him widespread recognition and praise Read More: Lil Meech Says They’ve Completed Filming Season 3 Of “BMF” Hornsby continued to impress audiences with his acting prowess He delivered a captivating performance as Luke The complexity and depth he brought to the character further solidified his reputation as a talented actor Hornsby's talent shone once again in Showtime's hit drama series His commanding presence on screen and ability to convey a wide range of emotions made him a standout in the show's ensemble cast Read More: Lil Meech Net Worth 2023: What is The Actor Worth? Russell Hornsby took on the character of Charles Flenory on the crime drama series BMF Based on the true story of the Black Mafia Family the show delves into the rise and fall of the Flenory brothers' drug empire showcases his ability to embody complex and layered characters Hornsby brings a commanding presence to the screen His performance adds depth to the character and contributes to the overall authenticity of the series Read More: La La Anthony Net Worth 2023: What Is The Actress Worth? Given his successful career and numerous notable roles Russell Hornsby has achieved a substantial net worth his estimated net worth is around $4 million and the recognition he has received throughout his career Read More: Anthony Mackie Net Worth 2023: What Is The Star Worth? Russell Hornsby's journey in the entertainment industry is marked by his exceptional talent and compelling performances. From his breakout role on Lincoln Heights to his captivating portrayals on In Treatment, The Affair, and his current role on BMF, Hornsby has consistently impressed audiences with his acting range and ability to bring complex characters to life. With his estimated net worth of $4 million in 2023, Hornsby's success is a testament to his dedication and passion for his craft. Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb “Lincoln Heights,” created by Seth Freeman followed police officer and Sutton family patriarch Eddie Sutton (Russell Hornsby) after he The show’s series finale aired exactly 10 years ago and Hornsby recently reminisced with International Business Times about his experience working on the show in honor of the major milestone The drama ran for four seasons on ABC Family (now Freeform) from 2007 to 2009 while following the everyday lives of the Sutton family and their friends and romantic partners While speaking with IBT at New York Comic Con last month about his upcoming NBC series “Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector,” Hornsby who has since gone on to star in projects like “Grimm” and “The Hate U Give,” shared what he remembers most from his time working on the family drama “But watching them grow up and having just some impact on their maturation and they’ve always referenced just how good of a time they had over the four years and it was a very impactful time in their lives working with the kids [was the best part of the show].” Hornsby’s, of course, referring to the three actors that played his and his character’s wife’s, Jenn Sutton (Nicki Micheaux, “Good Trouble,” “In the Dark”) Erica Hubbard (“Let's Stay Together,” “Falling in Love Again”) played his eldest daughter Cassie; Actress-singer Rhyon Nicole Brown (“Empire,” “Throwback Holiday”) played the youngest daughter and middle child Lizzie; and actor-singer Mishon Ratliff (“Last Call,” “Frat Brothers”) played the youngest child and only son The “Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector” actor might also be including Robert Adamson (“The Young and the Restless,” “Hollywood Heights”) who played Cassie’s on-again-off-again boyfriend-turned-fiancé in that roundup of “kids” on the show Other cast members over the seasons included Michael Reilly Burke (Kevin Lund), Alice Greczyn ( Sage Lund), pre-“Black Panther” Chadwick Boseman (Nate Ray), Cory Hardrict (Luc Bisgaier) and Tyler Posey (Andrew Ortega) Jennette McCurdy also recurred early on as Becky, Aimee Carrero did as Sylvia Torres and Tyler Hoechlin recurred as Tad. Trey Songz guest-starred as himself, in his acting debut and performed “I Need a Girl” with Ratliff’s Tay in the broadcast Fans can celebrate the big anniversary with a rewatch (or first watch!) of “Lincoln Heights,” which is currently streaming on Freeform