For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders Families with school-aged children form the backbone of the neighbourhood, with physiotherapist Carly Bull among the locals. Browse Domain’s property and lifestyle magazines. Bull says the top-notch schools and public transport were a big drawcard when her family of five moved into the suburb eight years ago. There’s also easy access to the M1 and NorthConnex for travelling to the coasts. But the clincher for the Bulls was the wealth of green spaces. “We’re surrounded by stunning national parks so it’s an absolute playground for walking, trail running and cycling,” Bull says. “And the neighbourhood streets are just as close to nature. It’s the epitome of the leafy north shore.” You don’t need to travel far for everyday conveniences, with a cluster of retail offerings in the streets surrounding the station. “It’s got a fabulous community feel, with village shopping hubs in Rohini Street, Princes Street, North Turramurra and South Turramurra,” Bull says. Free-standing homes start at around $1.7 million and palatial new builds range up to about $8 million. 'It's not polished': Why locals love this quirky inner Sydney suburb The waterfront Sydney 'burb with three man-made islands Where locals get private-island perks for staggering prices There’s still a generous smattering of period homes, and some of the Federation houses in Ku-ring-gai Avenue fetch $10 million-plus. Budget buyers can pick up a one-bedroom apartment for under $650,000, although newer apartments aimed at downsizers can sell up to $3 million. Kipling’s Garage Bar is the cool kid when it comes to Turramurra wining and dining, with its lodge-like aesthetic, extensive cellar and tapas menu. Local favourite Holi Crop serves Five Senses coffee and organic tea alongside house-made lamingtons, with plenty of vegan menu items. You’ll find artisanal baked goods at Pottery Green Bakers, and Flour Shop bakes naturally leavened sourdough and crispy croissants. There’s delicious Indian fare at Itihaas and classic souvlaki at Zeus Street Greek. With Lane Cove and Ku-ring-gai Chase national parks on the doorstep, there’s no excuse not to enjoy the great outdoors, whether you’re into running, hiking or cycling. You can launch your runabout or take a dip at Bobbin Head, or play tennis, soccer, rugby or cricket at Turramurra Memorial Park, where there’s also a playground and clubhouse. Have a go at barefoot bowls at the Club Turramurra, which also plays host to the weekly meetings of the Turramurra Rotary Club. Agent: Belle Property Lindfield, Tracey McDonald 0406 671 366 Boasting the perfect summer backyard, with a pool, cubby house and level lawn, this two-storey home also features three separate living zones – two with fireplaces – so the family can come together or spread out as required. The kitchen opens to a shady courtyard. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing Price guide: $1.5 million Agent: Ray White Upper North Shore, David Beveridge 0411 225 167 One of four apartments in the art deco Winchester building, this renovated apartment features separate dining and living rooms (the latter with a fireplace), a modern stone and gas kitchen, a home office and a main bedroom with feature window and built-in wardrobe. 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 the proposed cap-and-trade system would be a costly policy that would penalize Americans with little effect on global warming The proposal to give away most of the permits only makes a bad idea worse” Nicole James Peter Lavac Anglosphere societies are now organised for the benefit of other ethnic groups Frank Salter When Mike Cannon-Brookes isn't flying about the world in his fuel-guzzling Bombardier jet he's filling kids' heads with warmist myths and legends Tony Thomas "I wasn’t prepared for the offensiveness of the artist's malformed opinions I discovered that Lindsay’s ideas were the obscenity" Joe Dolce There was a baker’s cart that delivered bread early in the morning and milk that was delivered even earlier from Apps’s dairy on the road to Bobbin Head But there was nothing bucolic about Ethel Anderson the author of the classic children’s book Seven Little Australians which I’m glad to see still remains in print today despite being so different in character from current “teen lit” With her connections to vice-regal society through her husband who had been Sir Philip Game’s private secretary as well as her personal renown as an author she was also Cossington Smith’s greatest champion And she lived in her elegant house “Ball Green” just down the street from my family home At Ball Green she was ready to welcome a child into her house and to offer me the slightly scary opportunity to converse with her through her ear trumpet—not the silver one on show in the library for my memory is of a splendid tortoiseshell device seemed no less an exotic but welcoming figure He allowed me to handle his military sword and don his shako and though my memory of this latter item is clear I’m puzzled now to find that he was a gunner so that form of headdress seems odd in retrospect Turramurra all those years ago seemed to be populated by a surprising number of interesting adults who were ready to talk to me which I now realise was very much a tribute to my parents a reflection of how few children then lived in the suburb There seemed to be an abundance of spinster ladies who rewarded my retrieving and returning a purse dropped in the gutter with a gift of an omnibus volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels not those with Sherlock Holmes as the hero but the now largely forgotten books set in medieval Europe and in England at the time of the Civil War Sir Nigel and The White Company undoubtedly played their part in cementing history in my mind as a subject to be loved as much as to be studied How could it be otherwise when Conan Doyle’s novels depicted a world that seemed so much more real than the Arthurian stories I had already read Both novels introduced me to such things as obscure collective nouns applied to groups of animals and the furies of the jacquerie attacking a chateau when the White Company fought in France To go many years later to see the memorial to Sir John Hawkwood with whom The White Company has a loose connection was to remember how exciting those novels were when there was only one university in Sydney my father had a particularly wide range of acquaintances who lived directly across the street from our house I have no memory of my parents and the Evatts ever discussing domestic politics this was an example of neighbourly friendship enhanced by the fact that my father and H.V Evatt knew each other through the University of Sydney I was regularly welcomed into the Evatts’ house and even more importantly into their wonderful library with its floor-to-ceiling bookcases and a library ladder to reach the upper shelves To my delight I was allowed to spend hours reading in the library And when the time came to go it would be through Evatt’s misquoting Wordsworth to me by declaiming “Milton thou shoulds’t be leaving at this hour” On one occasion my visit to the library was capped by Uncle Bert giving me a copy of George Bernard Shaw’s Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism as a gift I was grateful but a little uncertain about this gift to a ten-year-old For a child there seemed to be an endless procession of interesting and important people visiting the Evatts was in their house; a group of Test cricketers was one such example And there were other special “treats” as it then seemed to examine three-dimensional photographs of bomb damage in Europe through a stereoscope Evatt was a puzzling as well as a very kind figure who I knew was important as Australia’s Minister for External Affairs as he relaxed by playing hymns on the white upright piano in their drawing room And then there was the time when he tried to have my father join him as a “doctor” at a Rugby League judicial hearing—was it into the infamous Bumper Farrell ear-biting occasion Bert,” I can still hear my father saying at the front door when Evatt came across the street to make the request just as he later would not be moved by Evatt’s lobbying him as President of the Royal Society of New South Wales for the award of a medal from the society two rather overweight figures with different political views; a pair of neighbours both dressed in khaki shorts and white singlets living as I do in Sydney’s eastern suburbs whenever I read conventional press descriptions of Turramurra suggesting it is leafy and dull I mutter to myself Milton Osborne is a visiting fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney His most recent book is Phnom Penh: A Cultural and Literary History (Oxford Subscribe and enjoy unlimited access to Quadrant Editorial and much more Jacques Chirac put it best in hailing Zola as the 'great writer who Tony Macken Better watch your step because an ever-growing legion of bureaucrats and nannies is looking over your shoulder James Hoggett The full force of 'cultural appropriation' came down upon Elizabeth Durack when the story of her Aboriginal alter ego emerged much sooner than she would have wished Elizabeth Beare Sydney’s housing market has come back down to earth as the excitement from February’s interest rate cut abates ushering in a return to “normal” market conditions The initial announcement of lower interest costs had driven a frenzy of buyer activity in the second half of last month driving the biggest monthly gain in Sydney home prices in nearly 10 months Prices appear to still be inching up but the success rate of auctions has largely returned to the long-term average About 64 per cent of auctions delivered a result last week and preliminary figures indicated a similar outcome from this week’s 900 scheduled auctions – in line with the decade-average for auction clearance rates MORE: Aussie landlord’s horror after 12 homes stolen Ray White agent Liana Power following the auction of 28 Vernon St MORE: Aussie couple in 30s turn $60k into $153m Real estate agents told the Sunday Telegraph there were a lot of active buyers relative to the number of listings but most home seekers remained highly selective or “picky” These buyers were often prepared to dig deep into their pockets and battle it out at auctions for the homes they recognised as value while letting other buying opportunities pass by This meant far-ranging results for sellers with some getting prices hundreds of thousands above their reserves while others struggled to attract more than a single bidder A common theme among the most competitive sales was a larger land allotment Other strong sales were for “ugly duckling” type properties offering a chance to get into coveted suburbs for a lower price and add value through a renovation South Turramurra attracted 10 bidders at auction Bidder fireworks were observed at the auction of a three-bedroom house in north shore suburb Turramurra which offered both: a large land allotment at 953sqm coupled with an original condition house Selling agent Liana Power of Ray White Upper North Shore said more than 70 groups of buyers inspected the Vernon St home in the lead up to the auction and 10 registered to bid The home sold under the hammer for $2.67m – about $220,000 above the reserve It was the first time the house had been up for sale since it was built in the 1960s Ms Power said the sellers were “thrilled” with the result “They had been keeping an eye on the market but they hadn’t expected it to sell for as high as it did.” MORE: Hidden public school premium costing parents $3m Ms Power shakes hands with one of the members of the party that bought the home The buyers are allegedly planning to build a new home She added that there had been a lot of excitement when rates were first cut but since then a lot more properties have come on the market to balance out the increase in buyer demand who received bids from seven of the registered parties said sales results was property specific in the current market “It comes down to the right property,” he said “This one offered a good entry point in South Turramurra buyers are prepared to move onto the next one.” It’s understood the buyers are planning a knockdown rebuild and will re-sell the property down the line A home seller in Ashfield pocketed a price six times higher than what they paid for their four-bedroom house in the early 2000s MORE: Scary flaw turning Aussie homes into ‘hotboxes’ The gavel dropped on the Service Ave home at $3.1m The home had last sold in 2001 for $519,000 in line with what comparable sales had suggested the home was worth Ray White selling agent Matt Carvalho said: “Buyers are continuing to be selective If they don’t see value … they’re simply not moving on it.” A four-bedroom Woolooware house has changed hands for the first time since it was built 50 years ago selling under the hammer on Saturday for $2.42m The price was $220,000 above what had been a more optimistic reserve given an online valuation indicated the market value was about $2.1m who called the sale on behalf of agents Gibson Partners said the home offered scope for improvement “There aren’t many like it in that area,” he said A home in Kellyville sold for $115,000 above the 2022 price at a crowded auction About 50 people squeezed into the living area for the auction to escape the sweltering heat Auctioneer Michael Garofolo calls bids on 23 Jupiter Rd The price for the Jupiter Rd home was $1,955,000 which was marginally above the $1.95m reserve who called the auction on behalf of The Studio Estate Agents said competition in the west was generally stiffer “The cheaper prices are probably a factor,” he said adding that it was the highest price paid for a single level home in the area this year A dated house in Punchbowl in need of some repairs sold under the hammer for $1.7m which was about $200,000 above expectations There were eight bidders for the Henry St home The Punchbowl home was held by the same family for 80 years “The home has been in the family for about 80 years,” said lead agent John Yatman “The buyers are a young couple whose parents live across the road I also had a few neighbours interested in it too It was mainly locals looking to renovate the home and live in it but there were one or two thinking about rebuilding “I would say the location was the drawcard since we had the neighbours fighting over it.” 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. Information about working in or operating early childhood education services including outside school hours care information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school Skills NSW helps post high school students find courses in vocational training across a wide variety of industries and course providers The NSW Department of Education is committed to employing the best and brightest teachers who can teach and make a difference in NSW public schools NSW Department of Education's information on curriculum taught in NSW schools Aboriginal education and communities & personalised support A former Turramurra High School student has made Australian baseball history after being the No 1 draft pick for the US Major League Baseball Baseball fame and fortune beckon for former Turramurra High School student after he was picked up by the Cleveland Guardians as the number one pick in the USA Major League Baseball (MLB) draft After a couple of stellar seasons playing in the US College Baseball League for Oregon State the 21-year-old second basemen has become the first Australian to be selected as the number one MLB draft pick no Australian had ever been selected in the first-round draft His rising star will be a fillip for Australian baseball in general Travis started playing baseball at age four and spent his junior playing years with the Ku-ring-gai Stealers team Baseball’s gain is cricket’s loss as Travis was also an outstanding young cricketer according to his cricket coach and Turramurra High School Industrial Arts Head Teacher Mr Delves said Travis was a wicketkeeper-batsman who was playing third grade district cricket among adults at Roseville where he became the youngest player to ever score a century he captained the school cricket side to their first ever victory in the prestigious Alan Davidson Shield Mr Delves said Travis was also successful in a variety of the other sports “He held the school high jump and long jump record and also played basketball; whatever he put his mind to “What’s special about Travis is that he was an all-rounder who built a culture of success He had the ability to bring others up to his level Mr Delves said Travis’s achievement today rivals the success of the school’s other famous sporting alumni who both won Olympic Gold medals in swimming “He is unbelievably driven and always had a vision,” Mr Delves said he and his dad mapped out his career using elite Major League baseballers – and their career pathways - as benchmarks for his own career They set out his entire baseball pathway to today.” “He’s a remarkable young man; he’s just so driven and positive but not without a sense of fun,” Mr Arblaster said “It’s no wonder he’s been able to turn that into this great achievement “I’m really proud of the opportunities that Travis was able to have at school The way he made most of those opportunities at school and in the community was a big factor in his development.” Travis will become one of Australia’s highest paid athletes with his signing on fee expected to be up to $15 million We recognise the Ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A Sydney mayor has condemned the “appalling” suspected theft of a two-metre-high bronze honour roll from a north shore memorial park commemorating veterans of the First World War The bronze plaque had been bolted to the gate of the Turramurra Memorial Park since it was erected in 1928 but on Sunday night the honour roll listing the names of 67 local war heroes was taken by thieves the roll has been stolen in the dead of night,” Ku-ring-gai Mayor Sam Ngai said The honour roll listed the names of seven people who died in battle and also included Lieutenant Norman Dougall who received a Military Cross after leading a counter-attack in France Dougall led a platoon of 30 men in the attack He was killed in action three weeks later in Bullecourt was funded through community donations to commemorate the fallen of the First World War,” Ngai said “It provided an ongoing and solemn reminder of the service of local residents fighting for our nation on faraway battlefields.” Ngai is calling for witnesses to come forward The gate includes two honour rolls on each pillar Large holes were left in the stones of the gate where the honour roll was bolted “This act of vandalism disrespects the memory of those who served our country and the community that continues to honour their sacrifice,” RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge said “It highlights the need for education to build awareness of the historical significance of war memorials and the values they represent.” NSW Police confirmed they are investigating “reports of malicious damage” and urged those with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here A Sydney mayor has condemned the \\u201Cappalling\\u201D suspected theft of a two-metre-high bronze honour roll from a north shore memorial park commemorating veterans of the First World War the roll has been stolen in the dead of night,\\u201D Ku-ring-gai Mayor Sam Ngai said \\u201CThe construction of this honour roll was funded through community donations to commemorate the fallen of the First World War,\\u201D Ngai said \\u201CIt provided an ongoing and solemn reminder of the service of local residents fighting for our nation on faraway battlefields.\\u201D \\u201CThis act of vandalism disrespects the memory of those who served our country and the community that continues to honour their sacrifice,\\u201D RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge said \\u201CIt highlights the need for education to build awareness of the historical significance of war memorials and the values they represent.\\u201D NSW Police confirmed they are investigating \\u201Creports of malicious damage\\u201D The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories Five active bidders of the 12 who registered were in the running for the quality double-brick home guided between $3.6 million to $3.9 million at 3 Avalon Street. All were upsizing families wanting to be close to the local private schools. with increments ranging from $100,000 and $50,000 placed initially Three bidders battled it out from $4.1 million with one bidding in $10,000 increments one in $1000 increments and one rounding up to the next biggest number the next bid rounded the figure to $4.6 million and secured the keys for a very emotional winning buyer Belle Property’s Tracey McDonald said the vendor was “ecstatic with the result” “The amount of interest in the property was outstanding,” she said casual family dining area which opens to the level back garden and pool.” McDonald said the renovated double brick property was perfect for a family The buyers are an expectant couple from Newington No hope of affording a home until 2031 – even if you work full time The $1,351,000 Newtown unit that ticked all the boxes for first home buyers Hollywood stars have stayed at this dreamy Aussie estate for sale The home last traded for $1,275,000 in 2010 The property was one of 621 scheduled auctions in Sydney at the weekend Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 66.4 per cent from 390 reported results Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate In Chatswood, a five-bedroom classic, redbrick, two-storey family home at 41 Clanwilliam Street, sold after auction for $5.228 million after first passing in on a vendor bid of $4.8 million. 3 Baths2 ParkingView listing Two buyers registered for the home Both were looking for family houses that didn’t require further development Bidding opened at $4.8 million on one buyer’s bid on the floor It was passed in and the crowd of 80 people dispersed as negotiations were made between the bidder and the vendor it sold $72,000 below its adjusted reserve of $5.3 million Selling agent Dominic Smith from The Marshall Group said there are a lot of buyers looking at the market but the commitment is tough “Buyers aren’t anywhere near as aggressive as perhaps they were before so fairly standoffish at the moment with auctions,” he said The buyers are an upsizing family from Roseville In Ultimo, a large two-bedroom, two-storey unit at 42/267 Bulwara Road, sold under the hammer for $1,295,000. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing Nine registered, and five actively bid on the tidy property guided between $995,000 to $1,045,000. Bidding opened at $900,000 with bids ranging in increments of $20,000, $10,000 and $5000 placed. When the apartment hit the market at $1,050,000, the price soared $245,000 above its $1,050,000 reserve. LJ Hooker’s John Zheng said the purchase was a unique opportunity. “This is a lifetime opportunity for them to secure property in this particular complex,” he said. Zheng said it is a large apartment of 107 square metres, with northeast aspect, low strata levies and a private leafy outlook. The buyers are a young family who love the area. The vendor was a first home buyer with this unit, however, has since relocated overseas. The unit last traded for $612,000 in 2010, records show. AMP’s chief economist Dr Shane Oliver said the clearance rate of 66.4 per cent is a fairly soft reading for Sydney. Oliver said the clearance rate so far for July is averaging 65 per cent. “Which is just below the July norm, which is around 67. So it’s sort of okay, but it’s softer than normal for July,” he said. “We still have a supply shortfall but easing of the demand pressure from high immigration numbers, combined with continuing high-interest rates, weighing on existing homeowners… are acting to cool the market a little bit.” Play Duration: 4 minutes 32 seconds4m 32sBrought to you by 21-year-old Trent Bazanna from Hornsby has been picked up by the CLEVELAND GUARDIANS on a contract worth more than $15 million dollars. He grew up playing baseball for the Kuringai Stealers on the North Shore, but at Turramurra High School he was better known as a cricket player! Will Delves was his coach, and is also the Industrial Arts Head Teacher at Turramurra High. Oregon St. infielder Travis Bazzana (37) makes a throw to first base during a Pac-12 Baseball Tournament game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Oregon State Beavers on May 25th, 2023, at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, AZ.(Getty Images: Zac BonDurant) Download the ABC listen app to text and call your favourite live radio after extensive renovations have finally been completed which started in 1976 by Rob Stevens as a small shop in Sydney’s North Shore selling records and equipment he had minimal business knowledge and even less money But what he had was a lot of passion for music and instinct for what musicians and music fans –  experienced and newcomers – wanted and pro accessories – and gradually expanded to the two stores next door Read up on all the latest interviews here. “We had the vision for the renovations about 10 years ago,” says managing director Mat Stevens “The renovations started about five years ago It was getting close to being ready when COVID hit which created problems with getting building materials The amalgamation of the three stores gives a space of 871.46m² which means space for four times as much stock there are 700 guitars with 327 guitars on the floor to try out and 800 guitar pedals with 450 unique pedals The revamps were driven by key staff in different product divisions – like what gear they would have on display and how they would wire it up Feedback from customers included: “Wouldn’t it be great to have a ton of mics to test or be able to switch between speakers in real time to compare.” The financial and emotional investment in the expansion goes back to what drove the business when it started 46 years ago “Our core vision is to give our customers the very best in-store appearance in Australia,” Mat emphasises “People are obviously shopping online these days and we sell a lot of stuff online ourselves we put a lot of investment in our website and online sales team “But with music gear it’s more special to come into a store and work out what’s the best for them to get Every guitar feels different and responds differently to someone’s playing and it’s hard to buy one based on an online review “The whole renovation was done to give customers a reason to drive all across Sydney to visit our store and make sure they have such a great experience that they can’t wait to come back ‘If you want to get a guitar or a keyboard or microphone you have to go to Turramurra Music because it’s a fantastic place and it’s worth the drive.” A key piece of the puzzle is the Studio Room a dedicated space away from the sales area and set up to look like a recording studio But where a studio would have barely a handful of monitors the Studio Room has a wall of them – ATC SCM25 The microphone collection includes Neumann “I don’t think there’s any other place in Australia where you can try out this amount of the gear we’ve put in that room,” Mat suggests “Customers can try these out with an expert to guide them through with the set up and everything It’s a unique experience you can’t get anywhere else.” The new expanded space means more in-store events for product launches and masterclasses Turramurra Music hosted the launch of the Moog Mavis on its global day with a demonstration from a Moog representative on a product no one had seen in Australia The store most recently hosted a showcase for the DiGiCo Quantum 225 mixing console following it up with one for the Midas Heritage-D HD96 on Wednesday November 30 With the chance to test these hands-on and with extra tech info from brand reps and Turramurra Music staff customers can work out how suitable these are for themselves Many Turramurra Music staff are key experts in their fields as producers and grow relationships with people who walk in through the doors “The wider industry has this caricature of guitar stores with an intimidating sneering scruff on the front counter and we’re trying to blow that stereotype away ‘I use one of these myself’ rather than quote from the brand’s website “It’s always been about giving customers the greatest experience and providing the best support If we look after people so well from the first time we meet “It’s never about being pushy and selling things to customers it’s about looking after them really well and at some time if they want to buy something Long time customers have been The Angels (who played at Turramurra Music’s 30th birthday party) “Some customers from the ‘70s are still coming back We know them personally and they’re regarded as extensions of our broader family.” Head to Turramurra Music for all the latest updates or to make enquiries, head here. You can also find Turramurra Music on Facebook and Instagram This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page It’s hardly headline making news that residential suburb sale records have fallen all over the upper north shore this year Low supply and unprecedented Covid-inspired demand from buyers from all over Sydney for large estates with pools and tennis courts has seen prices go through the roof MORE: $6.2m beach house you can own for $5 Now it’s unit price records being smashed But the latest massive price achieved in North Turramurra this week could well be the greatest margin and one of the sale highlights of the year No. 385 Bobbin Head Rd, North Turramurra was due to come to market in a week or two he and colleague Ada Zhang had been busy showing the luxury seven-bedroom home with pool and tennis court on 1ha to a waiting list of buyers “I have buyers who have been waiting for something just like this to come to market,” Mr Talati says Two buyers were quick to pounce on the property which had a guide of $9m-$9.9m – ambitious considering the highest price ever paid for a house in North Turramurra was $4.52m This record was set in 2017 with the sale of 3 Miowera Rd Mr Talati said negotiations started pretty quickly and it was a North Turramurra family looking to upsize “It’s double the previous record and then some,” Mr Talati says and it’s just going to take North Turramurra to a whole new price point.” The sale also eclipsed his personal sales record of $4m by a long shot seven and eight and go straight to nine,” he says Those real estate punters who might be tempted to put the sale into the realm of a ‘one-off’ will need to think again Within half an hour of the sale, another 1ha trophy estate just five doors down at 395A Bobbin Head Rd Mr Walker says the property was only on the market for about two weeks before it was snapped up by a local family who plan to do some upgrades people are putting a lot more value on space,” he says “True lifestyle properties like this one have a huge premium on them.” He says the immense property is truly unique and it is so rare to find such a big beautiful flat block of land Your own private waterfall – 395a Bobbin Head Rd “You could wait a lifetime for an opportunity such as this,” he says “This extraordinary holding comprises just over 1ha of stunning beauty plus a sprawling mostly single level family home that is completely secured from the road providing an exceptional sanctuary and escape from the world “The property is comprehensive including a floodlit tennis court alfresco spaces with a pizza oven and cabana “There is a gate at the rear which opens directly to the National Park It’s cleverly designed and wrapped in covered terraces the residence is orientated to the north welcoming an abundance of natural light.” Owners Tony and Marjon Mulry say their family of six have enjoyed more than nine years living in the home which is full of natural light surrounded by an expansive garden of flowering plants which attracts an abundance of native birds “The living environment is full of bird songs emanating from resident parrots blue wrens and superb lyrebirds which inhabit the gardens,” Mr Mulry says “The location is second to none being close to everything a growing family requires while living in a tranquil and peaceful environment.” SIGN UP HERE FOR THE NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER These changes are necessary to carry out slope remediation work and maintenance of drainage systems along Bobbin Head Road Work will also involve minor vegetation removal.  Night works will be carried out between Monday 18 March and Friday 01 November for up to 186 shifts weather and worksite conditions permitting.  A full road closure along Bobbin Head Road will be in place between the hours of 8pm and 5am during the nights work is carried out.  The detours may add up to 20-40 minutes to your journey Access to Apple Tree Bay and the Marina will still be available from the north side Please see map below for details of the road closure and detours Advance Warning Variable Message Signs (VMS) will advise exact road closure dates in advance and the detour will be clearly sign-posted Motorists are advised to drive the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic controllers.  Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time.  For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701 ImageCollapse the ImageChanged traffic conditions on Bobbin Head Road Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present DG Institute property spruiker Dominique Grubisa has copped a $6 million fine for misleading conduct DG Institute property spruiker Dominique Grubisa who has sold her Turramurra abode for $5.28 million has copped a $6 million fine for misleading conduct “Her conduct was deliberate and dishonest,” Federal Court Justice Ian Jackman said in ruling the fine in the ACCC civil case The Bobbin Head Rd address is still on the ASIC records of Grubisa who gave 52 seminars between 2018 and 2022 MORE: Dire warning for unit owners as hidden fees push couple out of home DG Institute property spruiker Dominique Grubisa recently sold her Turramurra abode for $5.28m Grubisa listed her North Shore pile in July last year “Wedgewood Lodge promises a life of convenience and an oasis of peace and privacy,” the listing reads this landmark property is the perfect blend of elegance and modern sophistication MORE: Good time to buy: Sydney’s most undervalued suburbs “With an estate-like entry onto 1,960 sqm of grounds there is ample room for multiple vehicles or boats Formal dining and lounge room with chandeliers a gorgeous fire place and French doors lead onto the rear patio “The options are endless with fully equipped home cinema family room with conservatory and numerous entertaining areas both indoor and out.” According to PropTrack the median house price in Turramurra is $3.325m MORE: Covid ‘masterpiece’ sold for $40m Helicopters bomb the north shore with brightly coloured retardant as fire comes to city on day of catastrophic danger Douglas Greening was chatting with a neighbour outside his Turramurra home when he heard the bushes crackling A glance up at the thick scrub that surrounds the affluent Sydney suburb told him all he needed to know. Read moreThe bushfires had come to Sydney, on the worst possible day – a day of catastrophic fire danger “We looked up and rang triple-0 straight away,” Greening told Guardian Australia They would soon confirm multiple fires in the area were being treated as suspicious Greening has been through three fires in his 28 years in Turramurra He says he could feel the heat from the towering flames hot against his face Douglas Greening stands outside his neighbour’s house covered in fire retardant dropped from aircraft on Canoon Road Photograph: Helen Davidson/The Guardian“I had nerves because if you go up the road you’ll see it’s gone up 100ft in the air,” Greening said Not long after the firies got here the wind got up The fire was quickly raised to emergency level Pumpers worked from the ground to prevent it reaching homes as helicopters bombed the area with a pink-coloured retardant hitting burning scrubland and multimillion-dollar homes in equal measure a cross between Willy Wonka and War of the Worlds Bright pink houses and utes sat next to blackened bushland as the lowering sun gave a golden glow to thick smoke haze overhead Greening spoke to the Guardian outside his home one of the closest to the fire of any in the neighbourhood He joked he should be charging rent to the waiting media pack camped out the front of his house The pink-coloured retardant was dropped from helicopters Photograph: Helen Davidson/The GuardianMid-conversation to laughter from a couple of nearby neighbours is frustrated at the lack of hazard reduction work in the bushland now reduced to blackened scrub Locals say it’s been years since anyone has reduced fuel in the spot where the fire took hold His children’s school had been closed in anticipation of fires like this When Bird saw the fire closest to his house An emergency alert which came through to South Turrumurra residents on Tuesday after a bushfire broke out. Photograph: Helen Davidson/The Guardian“I was in my backyard and saw the first plume of smoke and all the firies coming down the road. So I knew something had happened,” he told the Guardian. “Within half an hour of that I was inside watching the news, keeping an eye on things, and then could smell the smoke and came out to see where it is. “From there it was a matter of packing up valuable things, we activated our fire plan, so we were ready to go, evacuated my wife and children, and then I stayed and kept a close eye on things.” Residents of South Turramurra were in some ways happy the bushfire broke out on their street when it did. Primed for the catastrophic day in Sydney and already responding to small fires nearby, it took what felt like just moments for firetrucks to arrive on the scene, and waterbombing aircraft to appear overhead. Cynthia Lush was home alone in her house across the street. “We got a phone call about half an hour [after it started] on the home phones ... I could hear the sirens, that’s what alerted me, then I popped my head out and they said, ‘No, get inside.’” The fire took off into an emergency-level blaze extraordinarily quickly, witnesses said. About 4pm residents started receiving messages that it was too late to leave and they had to take shelter. An aircraft assigned elsewhere was diverted to the leafy suburb, dropping bright pink fire retardant on the houses. “Clearly it’s not only hit the mark of the fire, but extended into the road and we’ve got crews, we’ve got vehicles, we’ve got homes, we’ve got property that is now coloured pink,” said the Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons. “There are guidelines available about hosing it down.” One firefighter was apparently injured with a fractured arm and suspected fractured rib, Fitzsimmons said. He said the firefighters had been working on two fires simultaneously at one stage. Read moreBrian Wilson wasn’t remotely worried Guardian Australia found him sitting in an outdoor chair in front of his garage looking across the road where his neighbours’ houses were drenched in the retardant I’m quite happy to just sit here and watch them do it,” he said Four fires in the same area of bush were detected within minutes of each other Police said a crime scene had been established and the cause of the blaze was under investigation but it was too soon to speculate Halfway through a council meeting on the night of March 25 it became clear Ku-ring-gai’s elected representatives were not against Premier Chris Minns’ housing reforms purely to guard their own wicket “I don’t want the state government’s plans implemented anywhere not simply Ku-ring-gai,” said councillor Simon Lennon “I don’t want them implemented in Newcastle I don’t want them implemented on the Central Coast I don’t want them implemented in Wollongong A banner outside Ku-ring-gai Council chambers in Gordon protesting against the NSW government’s housing and planning reforms.Credit: SMH This is not a matter of YIMBY or NIMBYism – because this is bad for the whole of NSW.” For anyone even loosely familiar with Sydney planning and development history Ku-ring-gai’s evangelistic crusade would not come as a surprise the north shore is seen as hostile to new development and a stronghold of Not In My Backyard – or NIMBY – sentiment Its response to the housing crisis will do little to change that The council has very publicly positioned itself as the bulwark against Minns’ housing agenda Its main target is the transport-oriented development (TOD) program which amends planning rules within 400 metres of certain train stations to allow apartment buildings up to six storeys landowners can now sell their properties to developers who will take advantage of the rezoning to replace old shops or freestanding homes with higher-density housing Several Sydney councils raised concerns about the program and successfully deferred its arrival in their suburbs by promising to deliver significant housing uplift in their own way But Ku-ring-gai demanded more time to plan than the government would allow Having failed to stop the scheme, the council is now suing the state government in the Land and Environment Court claiming it overlooked the policy’s impact on critical habitat and endangered species such as the powerful owl Ku-ring-gai Mayor Sam Ngai says of the lawsuit: “I’m not super keen about it The council’s position is supported by an influential community group But the politics behind this evergreen debate are more complex than first meets the eye it is clear councillors are now divided on the best way to respond to the government’s interventions and the broader Sydney housing crisis Some have started advocating for greater density in locations the council can control plenty of shrewd north shore property owners are keen to take advantage of the reforms their council is trying to kill “I’m actually of the view that we can support a lot more housing in Ku-ring-gai,” says Ku-ring-gai Mayor Sam Ngai.Credit: Jessica Hromas The local government area of Ku-ring-gai is the heart of Sydney’s proverbially leafy north shore It takes in some of the city’s wealthiest suburbs from Roseville in the south to Turramurra and St Ives further north It is home to schools such as Pymble Ladies College Knox Grammar and Ravenswood School for Girls the median house price has topped $3.5 million When it comes to meeting its housing targets and probably better than most people think a little short of the 4000 target agreed by the council and the previous Coalition state government It seized on a concession from then-Liberal planning minister Rob Stokes that housing targets were not really binding has been earmarked for more development within 400 metres of the train station.Credit: Steven Siewert Then-mayor Jennifer Anderson said it was clear the community did not want any more development than what was permissible under current zoning. Stokes accused Ku-ring-gai of “throwing its toys out of the cot”, and threatened to intervene very few new homes were built in Ku-ring-gai after that Now Minns has handed the municipality a much bigger task: 7600 new homes by mid-2029 making him the youngest ever Ku-ring-gai mayor “I’m actually of the view that we can support a lot more housing in Ku-ring-gai,” he told a recent council meeting “I’ve got three children and one day I hope that they can live close by I need someone to look after me when I get old.” Ngai tells the Herald his council is planning alternative scenarios to match or exceed the state government’s housing targets and it’s really about whether the development and construction industry can ramp up.” “Ku-ring-gai’s stance was uncompromising opposition,” says Roseville economist and YIMBY housing activist Peter Tulip.Credit: James Brickwood bad state government and grandstand in court ahead of local elections in September gets a punching bag it can highlight as a cautionary tale the Liberal Party does not endorse candidates for many councils who wanted to save the entire state from Minns’ planning reforms has been president of the party’s Killara branch for 23 years chief economist at the Centre for Independent Studies think tank and a Roseville resident for more than a decade says the council’s position has been extremely disappointing “Every other council negotiated with the state government Ku-ring-gai’s stance was uncompromising opposition,” he says who is an ALP member and involved in housing advocacy group Sydney YIMBY also recognises the political opportunism at play on both sides The housing reforms proposed by NSW Premier Chris Minns have been opposed by Ku-ring-gai Council.Credit: James Brickwood “[The councillors] want to be seen as fighting for their community and taking the strongest stance against the proposals as they can,” Tulip says “Ku-ring-gai has conveniently provided them with an extreme position to fight against.” Development scepticism on the north shore is by no means new one need look no further than the long-running debacle of Turramurra town centre the council has entertained grand plans to revitalise the heart of Turramurra with a new library which has wanted to renew and expand its ageing store An artist’s impression of a proposed redevelopment in Turramurra which Ku-ring-gai Council rejected in 2023 When Coles put forward a redevelopment proposal in 2013 But it didn’t have $120 million to make it a reality the council accepted Coles may have to be part of the solution sought analysis as to how much residential development would be needed to finance the public utilities it wanted It found the answers – 14 to 19 storeys – unpalatable “Neither council nor the community have an appetite for taller and denser buildings on the site,” a 2022 “project update” stated despite discussions about undertaking the project in stages ‘This YIMBY movement is now weaponising the world ‘NIMBY’ to … admonish individuals who advocate for the preservation of heritage.’ the centre of Turramurra remains poorly lit and a temple to the motor vehicle containing an above-ground council carpark another ageing shopping complex features an IGA That site was the subject of a planning proposal by Turra Developments Pty Ltd in April 2022 that included redeveloping the commercial centre creating a new public park and building 248 apartments in towers of 15 storeys vetoing the proposal on the recommendation of staff without a word of debate a campaign backed by Wahroonga Liberal MP Alister Henskens defeated plans for an Aldi supermarket although the upmarket Harris Farm now has approval for a project on that site The council also unsuccessfully fought Bunnings in the courts over its Pymble store for years One ground on which it appealed was that the development would lead to the removal of a “tree of high significance” Kathy Cowley from Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment says the area has to manage increased development with ecological and heritage challenges.Credit: Janie Barrett she has been part of Save our Sydney Suburbs Inc Residents Against Inappropriate Development (RAID) and the “Not So High” Group Today her main hat is president of Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment she helped overturn an earlier state government plan for more housing on the north shore through a successful Land and Environment Court challenge While the NIMBY label has long been applied to places like Ku-ring-gai and people like Cowley she believes it has been imbued with extra venom by the growing presence of YIMBYs or people calling for higher density in their own neighbourhoods and across Sydney “This YIMBY movement is now weaponising the word NIMBY to denigrate intimidate and admonish individuals and groups who appreciate and advocate for the preservation of heritage and environment of their neighbourhood or those who simply value the qualities of where they have chosen to live and raise a family,” Cowley says by email was among the “Friends of Turramurra” group that won a case against the state government in 2011.Credit: Photographic “The consequence of this disrespectful and misleading ‘YIMBY vs NIMBY’ binary is polarising debate It is vexatious and resulting in personal threats Cowley says she supports rezoning based on strategic local government planning and community consultation She doubts the new housing targets are achievable she does not accept that increasing housing supply will improve affordability who frequently point to the experiences of cities such as Auckland and Minneapolis which have upzoned vast swaths of land and seen rents decrease (relative to inflation or other cities) as a result The NSW Productivity Commission and Minns cite Auckland as an example and there is also a growing catalogue of academic literature supporting that finding Tulip says opponents misunderstand the affordability chain They see new units being built and selling for high prices – especially on the north shore “But the effect of the new supply is not the price of the new units it’s the effect on all the other properties,” he says “[It] reduces the price of everything else.” a proposal came before Ku-ring-gai Council which provides an insight into elected representatives’ current thinking on housing A developer wants to rezone a key site in central Lindfield near the train station and opposite a new Coles supermarket it would be the tallest building in Ku-ring-gai An artist’s impression of a potential development in Lindfield Council staff recommended a reduction to 12 storeys which analysts advised was the minimum to make development feasible That is still much higher than the six- to seven-storey developments envisaged by the government’s TOD program Tulip spoke in favour of the full 15 storeys “There is no way of meeting the housing target without increasing density The alternative is bulldozing more old buildings with big gardens councillor Simon Lennon moved to reject the proposal in its entirety But Mayor Sam Ngai backed the staff recommendation he would have agreed the proposal should be stopped Commuters at Lindfield station in the Ku-ring-gai LGA Council is taking the state government to court over its plans to build more housing near transport hubs.Credit: Jessica Hromas “If we’re unwilling to explore height even here one of the three most sensible locations within Lindfield then where else are we going to potentially deliver the heights required to save heritage conservation areas elsewhere?” Ngai’s position of 12 storeys was initially supported five votes to two having lost his bid to reject the proposal outright “We really just want to shave off every floor we can,” he said “Every floor that we can save here means the benchmark of the heights of buildings in Ku-ring-gai will be [lower] who switched to support the nine-storey option said: “We need to regain control of our planning and to do that we need to signal to the government NSW and our community that we are willing to compromise.” the developer has sought a rezoning review from the state government which will be assessed by an independent planning panel While councillors insist Ku-ring-gai voters are against the state government’s housing reforms there are some on the north shore who disagree: the home owners who stand to make a killing has lived in her Roseville home for 18 years and calls it as the classic renovator’s dream She and two neighbours are now looking at selling to a developer James and Santhi King.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone director of residential site sales at Savills agrees “there has been a huge amount of interest” That includes seniors’ living and aged care providers “They’ve never had the opportunity to attain scale in this location,” Cox says analysis commissioned by the Urban Development Institute of Australia found the north shore of Sydney was one of the few precincts where the government’s TOD program would likely bear fruit mostly because buyers there were willing to pay a premium for a new apartment and thus make the developments feasible in current market conditions An advertisement for a Ku-ring-gai residents meeting to discuss the government’s plan earlier this year.Credit: Michael Koziol Her property has been zoned for high-density for ages and she has had plenty of approaches from developers that have not panned out She is ambivalent about the Liberals’ attempts to block the government’s TOD reforms or Ku-ring-gai Council’s activities in the Land and Environment Court “It’s something that’s completely out of our control,” King says “The only thing you can do is make your decisions based on the information you have at hand today … And be careful about the life choices you make in the meantime.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter it became clear Ku-ring-gai\\u2019s elected representatives were not against Premier Chris Minns\\u2019 housing reforms purely to guard their own wicket \\u201CI don\\u2019t want the state government\\u2019s plans implemented anywhere not simply Ku-ring-gai,\\u201D said councillor Simon Lennon \\u201CI don\\u2019t want them implemented in Newcastle I don\\u2019t want them implemented on the Central Coast I don\\u2019t want them implemented in Wollongong This is not a matter of YIMBY or NIMBYism \\u2013 because this is bad for the whole of NSW.\\u201D Ku-ring-gai\\u2019s evangelistic crusade would not come as a surprise the north shore is seen as hostile to new development and a stronghold of Not In My Backyard \\u2013 or NIMBY \\u2013 sentiment The council has very publicly positioned itself as the bulwark against Minns\\u2019 housing agenda claiming it overlooked the policy\\u2019s impact on critical habitat and endangered species such as the powerful owl Ku-ring-gai Mayor Sam Ngai says of the lawsuit: \\u201CI\\u2019m not super keen about it but we\\u2019ve got absolutely no choice.\\u201D The council\\u2019s position is supported by an influential community group it is clear councillors are now divided on the best way to respond to the government\\u2019s interventions and the broader Sydney housing crisis The local government area of Ku-ring-gai is the heart of Sydney\\u2019s proverbially leafy north shore It takes in some of the city\\u2019s wealthiest suburbs Ku-ring-gai\\u2019s recent record is mixed Then-mayor Jennifer Anderson said it was clear the community did not want any more development than what was permissible under current zoning Stokes accused Ku-ring-gai of \\u201Cthrowing its toys out of the cot\\u201D \\u201CI\\u2019m actually of the view that we can support a lot more housing in Ku-ring-gai,\\u201D he told a recent council meeting \\u201CI\\u2019ve got three children and one day I hope that they can live close by I need someone to look after me when I get old.\\u201D Ngai tells the Herald his council is planning alternative scenarios to match or exceed the state government\\u2019s housing targets and it\\u2019s really about whether the development and construction industry can ramp up.\\u201D who wanted to save the entire state from Minns\\u2019 planning reforms has been president of the party\\u2019s Killara branch for 23 years says the council\\u2019s position has been extremely disappointing \\u201CEvery other council negotiated with the state government Ku-ring-gai\\u2019s stance was uncompromising opposition,\\u201D he says \\u201C[The councillors] want to be seen as fighting for their community and taking the strongest stance against the proposals as they can,\\u201D Tulip says \\u201CKu-ring-gai has conveniently provided them with an extreme position to fight against.\\u201D it\\u2019s their way or the (Pacific) highway But it didn\\u2019t have $120 million to make it a reality It found the answers \\u2013 14 to 19 storeys \\u2013 unpalatable \\u201CNeither council nor the community have an appetite for taller and denser buildings on the site,\\u201D a 2022 \\u201Cproject update\\u201D stated One ground on which it appealed was that the development would lead to the removal of a \\u201Ctree of high significance\\u201D Residents Against Inappropriate Development (RAID) and the \\u201CNot So High\\u201D Group as part of \\u201CFriends of Turramurra\\u201D \\u201CThis YIMBY movement is now weaponising the word NIMBY to denigrate or those who simply value the qualities of where they have chosen to live and raise a family,\\u201D Cowley says by email \\u201CThe consequence of this disrespectful and misleading \\u2018YIMBY vs NIMBY\\u2019 binary is polarising debate which I have reported to the NSW Police.\\u201D They see new units being built and selling for high prices \\u2013 especially on the north shore \\u201CBut the effect of the new supply is not the price of the new units it\\u2019s the effect on all the other properties,\\u201D he says \\u201C[It] reduces the price of everything else.\\u201D a proposal came before Ku-ring-gai Council which provides an insight into elected representatives\\u2019 current thinking on housing That is still much higher than the six- to seven-storey developments envisaged by the government\\u2019s TOD program \\u201CThere is no way of meeting the housing target without increasing density which the community doesn\\u2019t want.\\u201D \\u201CCircumstances are different,\\u201D Ngai said \\u201CIf we\\u2019re unwilling to explore height even here then where else are we going to potentially deliver the heights required to save heritage conservation areas elsewhere?\\u201D Ngai\\u2019s position of 12 storeys was initially supported five votes to two \\u201CWe really just want to shave off every floor we can,\\u201D he said \\u201CEvery floor that we can save here means the benchmark of the heights of buildings in Ku-ring-gai will be [lower] I don\\u2019t think we should signal weakness said: \\u201CWe need to regain control of our planning NSW and our community that we are willing to compromise.\\u201D While councillors insist Ku-ring-gai voters are against the state government\\u2019s housing reforms and calls it as the classic renovator\\u2019s dream it\\u2019s the hot topic on the north shore \\u201CEveryone\\u2019s talking about it,\\u201D King says agrees \\u201Cthere has been a huge amount of interest\\u201D That includes seniors\\u2019 living and aged care providers \\u201CThey\\u2019ve never had the opportunity to attain scale in this location,\\u201D Cox says analysis commissioned by the Urban Development Institute of Australia found the north shore of Sydney was one of the few precincts where the government\\u2019s TOD program would likely bear fruit She is ambivalent about the Liberals\\u2019 attempts to block the government\\u2019s TOD reforms or Ku-ring-gai Council\\u2019s activities in the Land and Environment Court \\u201CIt\\u2019s something that\\u2019s completely out of our control,\\u201D King says \\u201CThe only thing you can do is make your decisions based on the information you have at hand today \\u2026 And be careful about the life choices you make in the meantime.\\u201D Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories \\u2018This YIMBY movement is now weaponising the world \\u2018NIMBY\\u2019 to \\u2026 admonish individuals who advocate for the preservation of heritage.\\u2019 On an quiet strip mall in Turramurra is a bakery cranking out some of the most delicious pastries and breads in Sydney In a very short space of time Flour Shop has amassed a huge following of people scrambling for buttery pastries caramel croissants and "sour" sourdough bread It's day 7 of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and so far Mr NQN and I have stayed indoors and retreated from socialising in a bid to help flatten the curve only venturing out to get food once But then we needed bread and the place that happened to have bread and pastry galore was Flour Shop in Turramurra Flour Shop owners Anu Haran and Laura Gonzalez first met in London 7 years ago on a train. It was there that they discovered a mutual love of food and they started to run supper clubs. You may recognise Anu's name because she and her husband Parag started the One Table supper club in Sydney which I wrote about in 2018 But that has now given way to Flour Shop with Laura I think why we work well together is because we are the same level of obsessive She is Argentinean-Spanish and I am Indian There is definitely a huge influence from our cultures that we bring to everything - whether it’s the pie filling or the bread specials or the Danishes," says Anu "Laura had since left her corporate job to open her own café in Reading She later sold the business to start specialising in bread She started working at the Snapery in London They have one of the best sourdough breads in London She too knew that her next step would be a venture with me We weren’t sure which country...we explored England Eventually stars aligned and Flour Shop was born here in Sydney." I messaged Anu with my get in and get out plan idea and that wasn't a problem I pre-ordered one of everything (yes really go big or stay in) and we turn up to collect our goodies Anu and their staff are busy shaping sourdough loaves and pulling out caramel croissants from the molds Their space is also a location for people who have an interest in baking or want to pull up a spot and knead away One woman is helping them today as her oven is out of commission and she is using their oven Flour Shop is the unofficial village oven with a loyal patronage from Turramurra locals who bring produce from their gardens to be used in their baked goods For their breads and pastries they use a few different flours we use organic spelt and rye and sustainable white bakers flour sustainable white bakers and some spelt," says Anu We leave carrying a bag full of $102 worth of pastries and breads and a latte using coffee by Single O for Mr NQN At home I heat them up in a 180C/350F oven for 5 minutes and then the sampling commences We start with the Jerusalem bagels ($6) of which there is a sobrassada and a sobrassada and egg version They are light and puffy with plenty of seeds on all sides elongated slightly sweet breads that you find on the streets of Jerusalem - at least that is where I first ate them!" I prefer the plain sobrassada bagel because the egg is a bit rubbery although I'd like a tad more filling in the centre One of my favourite savoury items is the chorizo cheddar and jalapeno croissant ($6) which is really three of my favourite ingredients in one buttery The butter they use is Melbourne's Saint David Dairy cultured butter If you're looking for something more traditional you'll swoon over the smoked ham aged cheddar and sharp mustard croissant ($6) Both these croissants use meat from a small local butcher truck sticky and buttery confection that is a close cousin of the kouign amann so much so that I almost start speaking in tongues I'm not the only one in raptures with this (Mr NQN is too and the man doesn't even like pastry) It's their best selling item and they went from producing 60 of these a week to over 1,300 If you're lucky you'll hit them when they slide a fresh batch of these out of the oven The hot cross bun ($4) is nice with a good amount of orange peel flavour. I must admit though, as much as I like a bakery hot cross buns I'm partial to supermarket ones because I like the buns baked together because of the soft sides but that's just me personally Also there is a hot cross bun loaf available "We got sick of shaping hot cross buns!" says Anu I'm not usually a pain au chocolat ($5) lover because I feel like the chocolate usually tastes burnt but I was persuaded to try this after seeing a comment from them on their Instagram about getting around the burnt chocolate flavour Usually croissants are baked at 180C/350F which can burn the chocolate but they use Zokoko chocolate that is local and seems to stand up to the baking better and you know what The almond croissant ($6) is their version of a traditional almond croissant Traditionally these are made with day old croissants dipped in a sugar syrup and filled with frangipane and baked again Anu explains that their ethos to avoid wastage means that there is never leftover croissants Their version is croissant scroll filled with plenty of citrusy frangipane and baked with flaked almonds and icing sugar I do still prefer the double baked almond croissant because of the caramelisation from the sugar syrup and butter but if you don't like them these are definitely worth a go they bake either cardamom sticky buns or Biscoff sticky buns using a brioche dough Both are delicious but the cardamom cinnamon pips the Biscoff one slightly for its perfect usage of cardamom and cinnamon and how it transports you to Scandinavia with just one bite If you're looking for something more substantial there are pies on offer These are made using a rough puff and this week's pies are made using some rye flour for a bit of wholemeal goodness It's easy to almost forget the bread with all the eye-catching pastries on offer but the bread is Laura's baby and the backbone of the bakery according to Anu It is made using sustainable chemical free and organic flours The starter is from England at the Snapery and Anu says "We started feeding it local flours the day she got here and it built up the same strength that it had in England Starters get used to flours and a certain kind of feed So it took 3-4 feeds before it got used to the flour and now its back to its former days of glory!" best topped with something or toasted with plenty of butter You'll have to wait until tomorrow to get your hands on one of these pastries as it's only open from Thursday to Sunday That’s a conscious decision as we need rest during the week I honestly feel that the reason a lot of bakers are in a bad mood and irritable is because they’re severely lacking in sleep," says Anu Do you have a pastry that you love the best The food in this post was independently paid for The sale continues a bull run of sales for the district and smashes the Turramurra suburb record by more than $4 million There were six registered bidders competing for the home of fund manager Martin Ritchie and his wife and half of those were still raising their paddles once the offer passed the $10 million level The auction result dispels a long-held notion that high-end property on the upper north shore doesn’t sell well at auction who listed the property in conjunction with Chadwick Real Estate’s Lynette Malcolm Neither agent would reveal the buyer’s identity Records show the 1899-built residence on dress-circle Ku-Ring-Gai Avenue last traded for $5.825 million in 2016 but has scored a sympathetic renovation since then by Harris The 2400-square-metre estate comes with the newly renovated six-bedroom residence with four living areas as well as a tennis court and swimming pool The previous high was set by a neighbouring residence on a battle-axe block in 2016 at $6 million and that was matched in 2018 by another house on the same Ku-Ring-Gai Avenue address The upper north shore’s prestige market has scored a run of suburb records this year despite the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic The Pymble record was reset at $9.875 million yesterday when Danielle Scott, wife of Martin Scott, who is the local head of Swiss investment manager Partners Group, settled on a seven-bedroom residence on Lonsdale Avenue. The Roseville high was reset at $8.85 million when Catherine Knox, chief executive of the Gidget Foundation, and her gynaecologist/obstetrician husband Vijay Roach sold their Roseville Avenue home, and last month a Federation residence redesigned by Luigi Rosselli sold for a Lindfield record of $12 million. SaveLog in, register or subscribe to save recipes for later.You have reached your maximum number of saved items Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime ShareThis is part of the "Sydney hit list October 2022: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now" collection See all stories.Himi Makhija, chef and owner of Holi Crop at his Turramurra venue.Jessica HromasIndian Visiting Holi Crop, a tiny cafe-bakery down a suburban alleyway, is like sitting inside a hand-rendered cloud decorated with glowing glass lights, hand-hewn wood-grained tables and trays of house-made lamingtons, oven-warm croissants and glistening pecan pie within easy reach.  There is a soft, matte undulation across the white walls, ledges and banquette edges that makes you want to run a hand over them. Staff, smiling, calm to a fault and entirely dressed in soft, off-white clothing compound the feeling we have all entered a soothing retreat in the heart of Turramurra luckily serving extremely good and strong coffee. Owned and run by Himi Makhija, who is from northern India, Holi Crop is named after the ancient Hindu festival Holi, also known as the festival of colours, held in March to celebrate spring, positivity, new beginnings and the coming harvest or crops. House-made vegan banana bread with coconut yoghurt, poached fruit and macadamia crumb.Jessica HromasMakhija's aim for the cafe is to merge sustainability, local produce, an environmental focus, a sense of living and eating consciously and welcoming the local community. It's also something of a secret nook, tucked in behind a TAB in a narrow passageway. "I always wanted something that was almost hidden," Makhija says. "It's quiet, people can talk to each other and it's away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. It's also got that feeling of Melbourne, in Turramurra." Most takeaway coffee customers are known by name and, even in the fever-pitch of mid-morning breakfasters, school-run customers and flitting commuters pausing before the train station, Makhija and staff are unruffled and swift. Chai pastries, including a chai lamington (right).Jessica HromasAdvertisementIf you have more time, start things off with house-baked bread, served with with macadamia turmeric butter as an option, forest mushroom and egg rolls, Ras Malai porridge or a sought-after "chainola", or chai-spiced granola. The latter, created by Makhija using a secret blend of 14 spices, is sweet, sparky orbs of crunch served with fruit and vanilla whipped Coyo. It's also for sale in packets and jars, and chainola-lovers can return their jar for an environmentally conscious re-fill. The porridge, inspired by classic Indian dessert Ras Malai, is a petal-speckled bowl of creamy spiced joy. Makhija's recipe includes steel-cut oats, pistachio and toasted fennel, saffron and cardamon served with poached fruit and organic maple syrup. Seasonal fruits and chainola.Jessica HromasCoffee comes from sustainable roaster Five Senses, tea from the Organic Tea Project and cold pressed juices from Hrvst St. A fragrant house-made chai, its spice-mix whipped up by Makhija, is served in beautiful tea-pots made by potter David Collins in Woodhill near Berry. Lunch ranges from eggplant shakshuka, topped with a soft-cooked egg, to mango tacos served with kraut, sweet potato chipotle and jalapeno, the Holi Bowl's blend of marinated tofu, sweet potato, masala and house pickles, and a pungent kimchi and cheese toast.  The tiny open kitchen means we can observe how fresh and carefully built everything is, including, if you're early enough, clock face-sized dark chocolate sea-salt biscuits topped with pretzels, macadamia nut and Mac root biscuits and mind-blowing cake inset with fat orange slices.  Malai porridge, chainola and fruit.Jessica HromasThe queue for Holi Crop starts building at 5.55am, a line of faces who began coming for food and coffee in June 2021 and remained, even as the cafe dealt with lockdown and a pivot to takeaway for six months. Today the tables are packed and the line outside for coffee via a takeaway window chatting convivially. They leave with jars of house-made chilli paste, hot sauce, kimchi, kraut and zucchini. "The last three are so good for the gut," Makhija says. Chai latte.Jessica HromasHe attributes much of Holi Crop's popularity to collaboration including his staff, sister, Sunaina Makhija, who helped with its design, his mother Mamta Makhija, who influenced the recipes, and his wife, Monika Stan. "We all work together," he says. "Our staff are always quite humble, our bakers and cooks help to create every idea and we love all the people who come in. "It is hard work. But it is really all that I have always dreamed of." Vibe Tiny Indian-influenced cafe-bakery filled with spices and positivity Go-to dish Ras Malai porridge with poached fruit, toasted fennel, saffron and cardamon   Degustation destination COYA moves to St LeonardsCOYA's owner-chef Ashraf Saleh pushes a cuisine focus of modern Australian with a Middle Eastern twist and French technique. Sky's the limit as the Woolly Bay Hotel and The Strand open rooftop venuesThe 120-seat Arturo's Rooftop was built as part of Laundy Hotels' $14 million redesign of the Woolly Bay Hotel. Join the Spanish party at Bar Louise in EnmoreIt's an instant tapas party, upstairs and down, at this reborn Enmore Road venue. news and the hottest openings served to your inbox ShareLicense this articleMore: their long-held North Turramurra retreat for an October 8 auction with $10m price hopes through Ray White agent David Walker The 2ha holding, which comes with a vast Federation home last traded in 1987 at $1.8m from the Halstead family The 1901 Bobbin Head Rd house was built for Francis Kirkpatrick later to be the undersecretary for Finance and Trade Earlier this year, the Inoue family’s Point Piper apartment fetched $8.7m It too was a time capsule given the family visited annually from Japan MORE: Ex-NRL star offloads classic Byron home $10m beach pad to be given away for $5 “A holding of unparalleled proportions comprising of two titles of 9815 sqm & 10190 sqm surround ‘Lynesta’,” the listing reads “A C1901 sprawling Federation that stands testament to the area’s history backing directly onto National Park and providing an exciting context to pursue options in the future “Whilst future opportunity grabs attention ‘Lynesta’ holds an abundance of charisma on its own the home rests well back from the road with a generous land holding allowing for proportions of a vast scale it retains all the charm and beauty of its past with period appeal and an immense family focused floorplan MORE: Sydney’s most popular streets revealed Quirky home perks luring shy buyers Buyers call shots as listings jump to 3-year high realcommercial.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. The 2ha holding, which comes with a vast Federation home Earlier this year, the Inoue family’s Point Piper apartment fetched $8.7m MORE: Ex-NRL star offloads classic Byron home $10m beach pad to be given away for $5 “A holding of unparalleled proportions comprising of two titles of 9815 sqm & 10190 sqm surround ‘Lynesta’,” the listing reads MORE: Sydney’s most popular streets revealed Quirky home perks luring shy buyers Buyers call shots as listings jump to 3-year high 16 Princes Street, Turramurra flourshop.com.au you'll find yourself asking lots of questions Is this the best cinnamon scroll I've ever had What's a Jerusalem bagel and why is it so delicious Should I get the banana bread pudding or cauliflower cheese pie or almond croissant or all of the above (correct answer: all of the above) And is this one of Sydney's greatest bakeries Flour Shop's owners and bakers Anu Haran (left) and Laura Gonzalez.Credit: Renee Nowytarger but it's hard not to draw very positive conclusions (and walk away with bags heavily loaded with pies tarts and loaves) after stepping into this small shop on Sydney's upper north shore I've dreamt about its all-star line-up of pastries as it was one of the last places I visited before following official advice to stay at home I still remember the fruity apricot-marmalade glaze of its hot cross buns and how the cardamom and cinnamon crackled and popped in my mouth So when restrictions started to lift recently The bakery opened in summer and the venture was a long-held dream of its owners The friends met by accident seven years ago when they were sitting on a London train that stalled for two hours and ended up talking about Haran's macaron-baking failures After running several pop-up dining events together they reunited in Sydney to launch Flour Shop after mastering pastry and dough-making at London bakery the Snapery and Pizza Madre in Sydney you'll find a menu that reflects their family histories: Gonzalez has Argentinean-Spanish heritage So that aforementioned cauliflower cheese pie is less like something you'd find in an English-style pub and more like the well-spiced wonder of aloo gobi made with the fresh bite of ginger and chilli while Gonzalez creates empanada-esque flavours (such as ham The cinnamon scrolls at Flour Shop are so good you should order more than one but some of their best creations have come from screw-ups we messed up the croissant dough," says Haran so they transformed it into cinnamon scrolls and dusted on citrus sugar "They evaporated from the counter within minutes." It's easy to understand why – the scrolls are incredible and it's almost upsetting to finish one No wonder they outsell the plain croissants A zero-waste approach also led to the banana bread pudding A "reject pile" of pastries – burnt caramel croissants leftover bread loaves and cinnamon scrolls that are too dark or small to sell – is chopped soaked in a fruity custard and baked with a glorious layer of caramelised bananas Then there are the incredibly nutty and fragrant almond croissants Not only are they flavoured with a strong dose of almond cream and slivered almonds they're a hiding place for the various jams that Haran and Gonzalez make from the surplus fruit in the neighbourhood A recent glut of citrus will soon be sneaking its way into the almond croissants And don't forget the Jerusalem bagels which are like bagels with focaccia aspirations The toppings change constantly: from chorizo cheese and egg to eggplant with "spunky" chilli jam and a walnut and onion chutney filling oozing with goat's cheese You'll only be left with one question as you leave Flour Shop: how can I live closer to this bakery Main attraction: Inspired pastries from one of the city's best bakeries The clever use of excess ingredients is just a (sustainable) bonus Must-try dish: The cinnamon scrolls and any Jerusalem bagel that happens to be in rotation Insta worthy dish: The chocolate tarts (or what's left after Haran joyfully consumes half of the production line) Drinks: From $4 for Single O coffee to $5.70 for hot chocolate Prices: From $4.50 for a plain croissant to $10 for a Jerusalem bagel FLOUR SHOP \\u2605\\u2605\\u2605\\u2605\\u00BD you'll find yourself asking lots of questions Is this the best cinnamon scroll I've ever had What's a Jerusalem bagel and why is it so delicious And is this one of Sydney's greatest bakeries but it's hard not to draw very positive conclusions (and walk away with bags heavily loaded with pies tarts and loaves) after stepping into this small shop on Sydney's upper north shore I've dreamt about its all-star line-up of pastries as it was one of the last places I visited before following official advice to stay at home The friends met by accident seven years ago when they were sitting on a London train that stalled for two hours and ended up talking about Haran's macaron-baking failures you'll find a menu that reflects their family histories: Gonzalez has Argentinean-Spanish heritage So that aforementioned cauliflower cheese pie is less like something you'd find in an English-style pub and more like the well-spiced wonder of aloo gobi we messed up the croissant dough,\\\" says Haran \\\"They evaporated from the counter within minutes.\\\" It's easy to understand why \\u2013 the scrolls are incredible and it's almost upsetting to finish one A \\\"reject pile\\\" of pastries \\u2013 burnt caramel croissants leftover bread loaves and cinnamon scrolls that are too dark or small to sell \\u2013 is chopped they're a hiding place for the various jams that Haran and Gonzalez make from the surplus fruit in the neighbourhood cheese and egg to eggplant with \\\"spunky\\\" chilli jam and a walnut and onion chutney filling oozing with goat's cheese You'll only be left with one question as you leave Flour Shop: how can I live closer to this bakery the upper north shore has a magnetism beyond its leafy streetscapes and heritage homes Turramurra and its near neighbours have so many high-performing schools – Warrawee Public School to name a few – that it’s almost impossible to find anything middle-of-the-road academically while downsizers love the area so much they’re often reluctant to leave tightly-held pocket known for its leafy outlook and village feel,” Talati says Twenty-two kilometres north-west of the Sydney CBD Turramurra straddles the Pacific Highway between Pymble and Warrawee its heritage homes hail from very different eras The earliest residences were built in the late 1800s an early-1900s five-bedroom home on a 1612-square-metre block on Bannockburn Road Increased housing supply is dependent on profitability of developments: AHURI Bondi Beach: the world famous hotspot that’s continued to enchant locals and tourists alike NSW Government has power to lock down entire unit blocks with one positive case The hilly neighbourhood also boasts an impressive crop of mid-century residences Some are unrenovated; others have been extended and transformed into lavish family homes showcasing leafy views Buyers with more contemporary aspirations have replaced retro pads with new builds Roughly three-quarters of all dwellings in Turramurra are free-standing Many of the apartments went up in the 1980s though there are examples from other decades There’s been a strong recent push to redevelop sites near the highway Talati says the slick new developments tend to appeal to younger buyers tend to favour older blocks that have stood the test of time “They’ve seen that the building’s been there for 60 years and they know it will be there for another 60 years.” Lockdown has reminded locals how lucky they are to live so close to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park a 150-square-kilometre swathe of greenery taking in the coastline “There are several different trails at Bobbin Head The Sphinx Memorial trail is really popular.” The main commercial area is concentrated around the train station from which it takes about 40 minutes to reach Wynyard There are also shops at Eastern Road and Princes Street The area has shaken off its stuffy reputation to welcome cool restaurants and wine bars such as Kipling’s Garage Bar and Tapas Tapas Bodega Anu Haran recently moved to Turramurra to be closer to her business a bakery on Princes Street that’s built a devoted following since it opened early last year Flour Shop uses honey from a local supplier stocks flowers from nearby florists who can’t open during lockdown and marks festivals celebrated by residents from different cultural backgrounds “We try to do something special for all festivals whether it’s Lunar New Year or Eid or Ramadan or Diwali or Jewish New Year or Christmas,” Haran says Set on a hectare of land backing onto a national park this sprawling property is secluded from the road The park-like grounds include a tennis court Ray White Upper North Shore’s David Walker takes the home to auction on September 23 with a guide of $8 million. A recent renovation has retained this spacious single-storey home’s mid-century soul while adding tasteful contemporary updates Spotted gum floors and reclaimed hardwood features echo the majestic trees outside Chadwick Upper North Shore’s Ray Talati takes the home to auction on September 25 with a guide of $2.5 million-$2.75 million. The NSW government will review a $3.6 million grant for a suburban sports ground amid a bitter row over plans for a new grandstand The Northern Suburbs Football Association’s (NSFA) plan for a grandstand at the North Turramurra Recreation Area (NTRA) has been backed by landowner Ku-ring-gai Council but has attracted strong opposition from some residents and sports groups An artist’s impression of a new grandstand at the North Turramurra Recreational Area which has provoked strong opposition from some residents A majority of Ku-ring-gai councillors in July voted for the council to sign a contract with the Association for the project which includes undercover seating for 300 people Ku-ring-gai councillor Cedric Spencer has brought forward another vote on the project at this week’s council meeting had to seek assurance that funding for the project was not at risk because of a failure to follow grant guidelines “Council needs to be assured that grant funding for this project is not at risk because of the absence of prior owners’ consent from council for the lodgement of the application,” Spencer’s notice of motion said Spectators watch soccer training at North Turramurra Recreation Area from the proposed site of a controversial new grandstand.Credit: Janie Barrett Spencer said there were community concerns the grant application did not appear to provide a 50 per cent financial co-contribution by the Northern Suburbs Football Association and lacked broad community support He also said the application did not show evidence of the association’s capacity to fund and manage ongoing operations including routine and lifecycle maintenance costs Spencer said he did not believe the new grandstand was in the best interests of residents and that it exposed the council to “considerable risks of cost overruns and ongoing maintenance and operational costs” He also expressed concern about the cost of the project which a council consultant had priced at $7.7 million compared to the Association’s 2022 estimate of $5.5 million Northern Suburbs Football Association chief executive Kevin Johnson said spectators at the North Turramurra Recreation Area were forced to stand or sit on a hill exposed to bad weather.Credit: Janie Barrett Ku-ring-gai Mayor Jeff Pettett declined to comment before the upcoming council meeting but the Northern Suburbs Football Association’s chief executive Kevin Johnson said a small number of residents were attacking the funding of the project in an attempt to stop it Johnson said the association had been transparent in applying for funding and the decision by the Office of Sport to award the grant reflected their assessment of the grant application “We have been completely transparent [and] are confident that the funding will be in place for a modest and much-needed project that will benefit multiple sports and the broader community,” he said A spokesman for Sports Minister Stephen Kamper said the Office of Sport had commissioned an independent review of the assessment and approval process for grants awarded to the Northern Suburbs Football Association for the new grandstand “The concerns raised in relation to the information provided by the Northern Suburbs Football Association in their grant applications will be considered during the review,” he said The Office of Sport has already rescinded funding worth $500,000 given to the association for new change rooms because it was for the same project as the larger $3.6 million grant The North Turramurra sports fields are the home ground for the association but Johnson said spectators were currently forced to stand or sit on a hill exposed to bad weather “Poor match day experience and facilities are major reasons why young footballers in particular do not continue in the sport,” he said “This is particularly the case for our growing number of female players for whom change room and bathroom facilities are still catching up with high recent growth in the number of female players.” Johnson said a development application approved last year for the new grandstand addressed concerns about traffic parking and noise: “The project will be built on a small hill between the existing car park and field number one at NTRA and will not require any trees to be removed.” Johnson said the NSFA intended to fully pay for the construction and ongoing costs of the project It has also agreed not to use a PA system during matches to avoid inconveniencing nearby residents Other sporting groups use the North Turramurra Recreation Area but Spencer said the new grandstand would cement the NSFA “as the primary users of this site at the expense of all other users for decades to come” Ku-ring-gai Netball Association president Rod Jackson said the council had prioritised car parking for soccer over netball facilities “Local ratepayers paid for the development of the [North Turramurra Recreation Area] and it should support all sports,” he said “We remain deeply concerned about a lease to one male-dominated sporting code and the further degradation of female sports facilities.” Residents have raised concerns about the loss of green space North Turramurra Residents Action Group president Chris Drake said residents were also worried about the cost of the project Other sporting groups would not benefit from the new facilities “No benefit for any other sport including our local football club which has the largest registered female sporting group and were promised four netball courts on the site.” The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. The NSW government will review a $3.6 million grant for a suburban sports ground, amid a bitter row over plans for a new grandstand. The Northern Suburbs Football Association\\u2019s (NSFA) plan for a grandstand at the North Turramurra Recreation Area (NTRA) has been backed by landowner Ku-ring-gai Council, but has attracted strong opposition from some residents and sports groups. A majority of Ku-ring-gai councillors in July voted for the council to sign a contract with the Association for the project which includes undercover seating for 300 people, unisex change rooms, as well as a cafe, offices, treatment rooms, corporate and media facilities. However, Ku-ring-gai councillor Cedric Spencer has brought forward another vote on the project at this week\\u2019s council meeting. He said the council, which owns the sports fields, had to seek assurance that funding for the project was not at risk because of a failure to follow grant guidelines. \\u201CCouncil needs to be assured that grant funding for this project is not at risk because of the absence of prior owners\\u2019 consent from council for the lodgement of the application,\\u201D Spencer\\u2019s notice of motion said. Spencer said there were community concerns the grant application did not appear to provide a 50 per cent financial co-contribution by the Northern Suburbs Football Association and lacked broad community support. He also said the application did not show evidence of the association\\u2019s capacity to fund and manage ongoing operations including routine and lifecycle maintenance costs. Spencer said he did not believe the new grandstand was in the best interests of residents and that it exposed the council to \\u201Cconsiderable risks of cost overruns and ongoing maintenance and operational costs\\u201D. He also expressed concern about the cost of the project, which a council consultant had priced at $7.7 million, compared to the Association\\u2019s 2022 estimate of $5.5 million. Ku-ring-gai Mayor Jeff Pettett declined to comment before the upcoming council meeting, but the Northern Suburbs Football Association\\u2019s chief executive Kevin Johnson said a small number of residents were attacking the funding of the project in an attempt to stop it. Johnson said the association had been transparent in applying for funding and the decision by the Office of Sport to award the grant reflected their assessment of the grant application. \\u201CWe have been completely transparent [and] are confident that the funding will be in place for a modest and much-needed project that will benefit multiple sports and the broader community,\\u201D he said. A spokesman for Sports Minister Stephen Kamper said the Office of Sport had commissioned an independent review of the assessment and approval process for grants awarded to the Northern Suburbs Football Association for the new grandstand. \\u201CThe concerns raised in relation to the information provided by the Northern Suburbs Football Association in their grant applications will be considered during the review,\\u201D he said. The Office of Sport has already rescinded funding worth $500,000 given to the association for new change rooms because it was for the same project as the larger $3.6 million grant. The North Turramurra sports fields are the home ground for the association, but Johnson said spectators were currently forced to stand or sit on a hill exposed to bad weather. \\u201CPoor match day experience and facilities are major reasons why young footballers in particular do not continue in the sport,\\u201D he said. \\u201CThis is particularly the case for our growing number of female players, for whom change room and bathroom facilities are still catching up with high recent growth in the number of female players.\\u201D Johnson said a development application approved last year for the new grandstand addressed concerns about traffic, parking and noise: \\u201CThe project will be built on a small hill between the existing car park and field number one at NTRA and will not require any trees to be removed.\\u201D Johnson said the NSFA intended to fully pay for the construction and ongoing costs of the project. It has also agreed not to use a PA system during matches to avoid inconveniencing nearby residents. The stoush over the grandstand follows controversy over the council\\u2019s as part of a $3.3 million upgrade to Norman Griffiths Oval in West Pymble. Upgrades to sporting facilities have also in other north shore councils. Other sporting groups use the North Turramurra Recreation Area, but Spencer said the new grandstand would cement the NSFA \\u201Cas the primary users of this site at the expense of all other users for decades to come\\u201D. Ku-ring-gai Netball Association president Rod Jackson said the council had prioritised car parking for soccer over netball facilities. \\u201CLocal ratepayers paid for the development of the [North Turramurra Recreation Area] and it should support all sports,\\u201D he said. \\u201CWe remain deeply concerned about a lease to one male-dominated sporting code and the further degradation of female sports facilities.\\u201D Residents have raised concerns about the loss of green space, increase in traffic and bushfire risks. North Turramurra Residents Action Group president Chris Drake said residents were also worried about the cost of the project. Other sporting groups would not benefit from the new facilities, she said. \\u201CNo benefit for any other sport including our local football club, local netball association, which has the largest registered female sporting group and were promised four netball courts on the site.\\u201D The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. . 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) With the ink barely dry on their wedding certificate newlyweds Bronnie and Mark Husband now have a date with the auctioneer Mrs Husband is selling the home she bought from her groom Her purchase of the pretty six-bedroom cottage at 41 Ellalong Rd, North Turramurra that turned into a romance and was followed by an intimate wedding with family in a park on the banks of Sydney Harbour on September 11 the couple have wasted no time getting their new life together started Mrs Husband’s home will go to auction with a price guide of $2.55 million Photo of Mark Husband and Bronnie Roberts at their wedding ceremony in Hickson Road Reserve on September 11 North Turramurra – the home Mrs Husband fell in love with said he had plenty of interest in the property “Everyone loves the size and the space – it’s a very well thought out home,” he said The couple had what could only be described as a fairytale meeting and romance was looking for a home for herself and her children where she planned to do a knockdown/rebuild but when the opportunity to sell it came up North Turramurra on the internet and it was going to auction that weekend but I had looked at the floorplan and the pictures,” she said showed Ms Roberts through the home and introduced her to vendor Mark Husband the builder owns Classic Cottages and built the home himself The pair exchanged email addresses in case Ms Roberts had any questions about the house “For about the next year I emailed Mark at odd times about the house and then out of the blue I received an email from him to say he had accidentally ordered a bulk dog food delivery to my house,” she said he seemed like a really good person but he really didn’t seem interested in me.” pictured at her North Turramurra home in the weeks before they were married Mr Husband’s mail redirection service to his new home stopped and emailed him to let him know she would leave it our for him to collect “He came around to get it but I didn’t realise the housekeeper had brought all the mail in By this time they had exchanged phone numbers Mr Husband returned to pick up his mail and have a promised cup of tea By then there was a spark between the pair “I liked him and we had another cup of tea and a bit of chit chat,” she said “I had to come out and ask him if we were going to go out – so we set a date and we went out He’s so lovely and I was flat out so in love with him straight away.” who owns local beauty business Face Studio by Bronnie said they dated for about eight months before deciding to move in together “It’s like the universe was really yelling very loudly at both of us to really get it together “We have fun and we’re happy and we have so much joy and laughter in our lives I’m glad I took that leap and bought the house three years ago.” The couple are keen to start married life in a new house of their own Mr Husband has already sold his upper north shore home and selling Mrs Husband’s home will start a new chapter in their lives who coincidentally sold the home to Mrs Husband is pleased with the role he played as inadvertent matchmaker He said this was the first property sale he had ever managed that had led to a love affair and a wedding I think that it’s a once in a lifetime thing,” he said He revealed he did sense sparks between the couple when he introduced them the day after the auction “I definitely thought I saw chemistry when they first met,” he said Is it the hilly landscape and regular place on the Bureau of Meteorology’s wettest suburb list? No takers there. Instead, Chadwicks agent Scott Chadwick points to an inconsistency of prestigious addresses. ”There’s a greater diversity of properties in Turramurra,” he says. ”You get the $3 million houses alongside the $700,000 ones, and that creates a different feel. It’s a lot more egalitarian.” The retail options have something to do with it, too, Noel Zammit, of McDonagh Blake, says. ”The shopping strip by the train station is less, shall we say, cosmopolitan than it is in other suburbs nearby. There are plenty of locals who’d like to leave it that way, though.” It’s also more affordable than many of its neighbours, which has been to Turramurra’s advantage in the past year, with the median house price rising 8.1 per cent and the apartment median up 8.4 per cent. The large average land size of 961 square metres on streets lined with towering gumtrees; Karuah Oval; the shopping strip on Eastern Road; train access; and the handful of well-regarded schools nearby. Ku-ring-gai Avenue and Warrangi Street, followed by Karuah Road. ”Turramurra’s good performance of the past 12 months is, in a sense, playing catch-up from the period 2004 to 2009, when the median price actually declined,” APM research analyst Clinton McNabb says. ”Despite the positive growth, there was also a sharp increase in discounting in the recent quarter to 10.3 per cent, the highest level for three years. The average time on market also increased in the latest three months, indicating lower prospects for growth in the coming months.” The median house price fell 10.3 per cent to $1,175,000, and apartment prices dropped a more modest 3.3 per cent to $610,000. A fall in the median house price of 4.1 per cent to $925,000 ran counter to the growth of 6 per cent in the median apartment price to $705,000. This is probably not the page you’re looking for NSW Police have halted two further neo-Nazi gatherings in Sydney in less than 24 hours with Premier Chris Minns vowing to crack down on right-wing extremists After police stopped a group of men wearing black clothing and balaclavas associated with the National Socialist Network on a train at North Sydney Station on Australia Day police again broke up meetings of the far-right group at North Turramurra on Saturday evening and Artarmon on Sunday morning At North Turramurra on Sydney's upper north shore on Saturday evening the group's leader Thomas Sewell was given a public safety order extension banning him from several parts of Sydney until midnight on Sunday 'Police have served a 31-year-old man with a Public Safety Order extension prohibiting him from entering a number of local government areas in Sydney until midnight (on Sunday),' NSW Police said in a statement 'The order extension was served (on Saturday) evening at North Turramurra.' Police descended on North Turramurra on Saturday night where dozens of members of the neo-Nazi group were meeting said the group began assembling around the local scout hall in the afternoon 'There were a large number of young men in attendance and the scout hall was definitely open and ostensibly being used by the group,' the resident told NCA Newswire A large police presence was seen around the hall there was a heavy police presence at Artarmon Reserve as the members group once again gathered in public Pictures from the scene showed police watching on as a group of black-clad men congregated at the suburban park NSW Police said on Sunday morning that a police operation had concluded with no arrests after the group moved on without incident including officers from the Raptor Squad and Public Order and Riot Squad were called out to the reserve after the group of approximately 30 men began to gather around 8.30am was verbally served an updated Public Safety Order prohibiting them from entering further Sydney local government areas,' NSW Police said 'The group dispersed and there were no arrests.' It came a day after police stormed North Sydney train station on Australia Day following reports a group of about 60 men were boarding a train into the city wearing balaclavas and all-black outfits The men are affiliated with the National Socialist Network which is led by convicted criminal Thomas Sewell The 30-year-old leader and his followers boarded a train at Artarmon station, further up the northern line in Sydney The group of men were seen wearing sunglasses balaclavas and masks while chanting and waving Australian flags All passengers were evacuated and no one is understood to have been injured Police arrested six members of the group on Friday morning and issued 61 infringement notices for offensive behaviour Two members have since been released without charge NSW Premier Chris Minns strongly denounced the act and said he would be open to strengthening laws against 'White Power salutes' He said officers were able to slow down the trains between Artarmon - where the group boarded - and North Sydney in order to allow officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad and the North Sydney Command to intercept the group More than 20 officers boarded the train and dozens more stood on the platform On arrival of the train in North Sydney station members of the public were directed to leave the train while police removed the men 'This menace was stopped before a very ugly confrontation on Sydney's streets There is no place for this kind of fascism vast majority of people that live in (this) state would completely reject any notion or idea that this group of far right extremist and neo-Nazis are needed on our national day.' the group had been issued a public safety order by NSW Police to stay away from Australia Day events Mr Minns said that the behaviour was not welcome in NSW and anyone who was 'attempting to reconvene and do this again,' would be met with 'overwhelming force from the NSW Police' let alone on Australia Day on the public transport system,' he said It follows the NSW government's recent announcement that it will be conducting a review into section 93Z of the Crimes Act which legislates laws against publicly threatening or inciting violence against someone based on the grounds of race Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday joined in the condemnation of the group's behaviour who are engaged in neo-Nazi activity in this country,' he said 'It has no place and it has rightly been condemned by all decent people' Following the public incidents involving the National Socialist Network Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said he was 'heartbroken and alarmed by the return of genocidal antisemitism' He said recent public displays of antisemitism should be a 'source of shame' for society and were a 'deep collective reflection on how little we have learned' 'We are reminded that the desire to destroy the Jews has not diminished only the means to carry this out has been temporarily suppressed,' Mr Ryvchin said 'The audacity of anti-Semites in Australia the freedom of mainstream online influencers Neo-Nazi cells and supporters of jihadist terror to incite against our community with virtually no consequences Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:.. 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A HERITAGE-LISTED property in Turramurra sold for $3.65 million after only eight days on the market No. 5-7 Womerah St was snapped up prior to auction by a north shore family after two open-homes The vendors are selling as they are moving to Kuala Lumpur for work Savills Cordeau Marshall selling agent Jill Smith “The owners purchased the property from me nearly seven years ago and have enjoyed the fabulous lifestyle this great home afforded,” Ms Smith said “Having made minimal improvements to the home substantial alterations and additions were carried out by renowned architect Leslie Wilkinson in the 1940s The house’s blend of Georgian architecture and Mediterranean influences can be seen in the metalwork grills and the balcony The property occupies more than 2300sq m of land across two separate titles Records from CoreLogic RP Data show that the property last sold for $2.305 million in 2010 Turramurra where the home sold for $5.525m A popular Upper North Shore home has sold under the hammer to a young local family for a whopping $1.325m over reserve and said it more than exceeded their expectations MORE: Home sells $7m above price guide Ms Reid said they were looking for a sea change and to downsize in their retirement She liked the idea of moving to the inner west to enjoy walking to local eateries or the Northern beaches to enjoy the beach lifestyle and ferry rides but we are absolutely amazed with the price so we’ve got a big adventure ahead of us,” she said The huge crowd gathered in the backyard of the home for the auction Ms Reid said it was her “happy place” that a family with two young children would now get to enjoy the home that they had loved for the last 15 years The Reid family had renovated the four bedroom Californian bungalow MORE: Troubled OnlyFans star’s $12m family mansion for sale Lead agent Bronwen Lipscombe from McGrath Wahroonga said it was a very popular property but was still surprised at the price the hammer dropped at “It certainly well exceeded our expectations the vendors expectations and what my secret goal was,” The Reid family renovated the previously sloping backyard Ms Lipscombe said she had interest from people that would move in to the home as is those that would build a second story or buyers interested purely for the land There were 8 registered bidders and four of them were active Auctioneer Troy Malcolm from McGrath said it was a phenomenal result Auctioneer Troy Malcolm calls the bids at 8 The Chase Rd which Mr Malcolm said was well in-line with recent properties that had sold in the area “It was really a battle of two parties that wanted it desperately for their families,” he said Mr Malcolm said he had noticed buyers were more strategic in the current market “The buyers should be confident they got such competitive bidding which means when it comes to sell in two there will be as much competition again,” MORE: Media baron and Underbelly producer selling mansion IT was a happy ending for a long-held Turramurra home The original circa 1930s property had been marketed as a potential knock down opportunity and was in need of some serious love But it would seem the double red brick charmer at 18 Kissing Point Rd has won a reprieve and will be revived The three bedroom home sold to an upper north shore couple for $80,000 above reserve for $1.48 million at auction Popular for its 1438sqm private block just 450m to Turramurra station and village shops that it was considered it was priced at land value TO SIGN UP TO THE NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER HERE But the new owners have decided to make a full renovation building on the existing charm of high ceilings and ornate windows The home currently belongs to Dr Alan Williams who lived there his entire life until recently moving into a retirement village His family owned the property for over 85 years Bronwen Lipscombe of Di Jones North Shore Wahroonga said the result exceed Dr Williams’ expectations as the reserve was $1.4 million She said it was a happy result considering most prospective buyers were looking to knockdown the home “It’s rare to find an opportunity like this so close to rail “It was a great opportunity for buyers who could see past the work required most dismissed it on the amount of work the house and land needed Josh Larson had seven registered bidders during the swift auction already exceeding the reserve and took small bids throughout House hunters can save hundreds of thousands of dollars by spending a few extra minutes on their commute as riding one train stop further can slash sizeable sums off home values Median property prices drop by up to $1.19 million between neighbouring stations on the north shore line while price gaps upwards of $500,000 can be found between stations on the northern north-west and Illawarra train and metro lines reduced borrowing power and a drop in homes for sale force buyers to broaden their property search While compromising on location is often key significant price drops can lie just one station away house hunters can save six-figure sums for each extra stop they remain on the train between Lindfield with a $3.8 million median house price on March quarter figures Gordon ($3.56 million) and Pymble ($3.4 million) They can save $715,000 if they commute a further three minutes to Turramurra ($2.69 million) In Turramurra, a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house on more than 1000 square metres recently sold for $2.7 million, while a five-bedroom three-bathroom house on a smaller block in Pymble sold for $3,392,000 chief executive of Propertybuyer.com.au said Pymble had more premium homes “There are some really large prestigious blocks and an inferior stock and style of properties,” he said adding that even within north shore suburbs there could be a sizeable price gap between homes on the east or west side of the railway line It was a similar story on the northern line where median house price drop almost $600,000 between Beecroft ($2,312,500) and Pennant Hills ($1,717,500) median prices drop $380,000 between St Leonards ($1.3 million) and Artarmon ($920,000) and by almost $1.2 million between the harbourside suburbs of Milsons Point ($2.25 million) and North Sydney ($1.06 million) which has some of the most iconic views in Australia .. going one stop further from Stanmore ($2 million) to Petersham ($1,805,000) can save $195,000 for which they could expect to purchase a three-bedroom one-bathroom Federation home in both suburbs said Stanmore real estate was typically considered more blue chip due to the homes on offer and a desirable school catchment zone She urged buyers though to consider how much further their budget could stretch a few stops along the train line but warned median price gaps also reflected the types of homes on offer and their access to amenities “If it allows you to have a study nook or second bedroom or buy in a nicer street or whatever it is I would definitely look into it,” she said adding buyers could have more enjoyment and capital growth from a better home further away there were instances where a longer commute could cost buyers Median prices lift by $900,000 between Chatswood ($2.7 million) and Roseville ($3.6 million) and higher still between Burwood ($2,317,500) and Strathfield ($3.3 million) with the latter in both cases offering larger block sizes and more prestige homes buyers can save big if they pass Hurstville ($1.79 million) and hop off the train at Penshurst ($1.5 million) or Mortdale ($1,333,500) but prices then jump up at the riverside suburb of Oatley ($1,890,250) Ray White Georges River principal Fraser Glenn said the region was drawing more buyers from the inner west and eastern suburbs noting prices had soared earlier in the pandemic with the rise of remote working Buyers priced out of Oatley tended to look to the McRaes Estate region in Penshurst a pocket of streets offering quality homes on sizeable blocks a five to 10-minute walk from the station Good houses in Mortdale were further from the station but were still proving popular with families “[Access to public transport] is still a pretty high priority but it’s definitely dropped off from where it was before [the pandemic],” he said “If you’re only going to the city one or two days a week more space at home [by purchasing further along the train line] that may take priority.” may want to consider hopping off at the line’s second last stop as the median unit prices in Woolooware ($764,250) are well below those in neighbouring Cronulla ($1,025,000) median prices drop more than $500,000 between Bella Vista ($2,197,555) and Kellyville ($1.65 million) on the metro north west and also record sizeable drops between Canley Vale ($1,069,000) and Cabramatta ($880,000) on the Cumberland line and Belmore ($1,312,500) and Lakemba ($1 million) on the Bankstown line on more than 1000 square metres recently sold for $2.7 million \\u201CThere are some really large prestigious blocks and an inferior stock and style of properties,\\u201D he said \\u201CNorth Sydney is very built up and dense and very limited stock,\\u201D Harvey said \\u201CIf it allows you to have a study nook or second bedroom I would definitely look into it,\\u201D she said \\u201C[Access to public transport] is still a pretty high priority but it\\u2019s definitely dropped off from where it was before [the pandemic],\\u201D he said \\u201CIf you\\u2019re only going to the city one or two days a week more space at home [by purchasing further along the train line] that may take priority.\\u201D may want to consider hopping off at the line\\u2019s second last stop About 40 minutes into the train ride from the city to Hornsby is the sleepy suburb of Turramurra you'll spy the bright lights (and just as bright crowds) of Kipling's Garage Bar you're looking at one of the best bars on the North Shore and the busiest spot between Gordon and Hornsby The name speaks to the vision of the owners (who are locals of 20 years) but also the history of the site The 'Kipling' is a tribute to well-known author Rudyard Kipling "A man can never have too much red wine or too many books" The 'garage' refers to the fact that the site was once a mechanic garage which also inspired the industrial-chic aesthetic of the interior with interchanging lunch and dinner menus to suit all tastes and portion preferences Lunch goers can enjoy hearty meals like classic fish and chips ($30) or a decadent mushroom spaghettini ($30) dinner guests can enjoy a tapas-style menu of share plates featuring baked gnocchi ($15) salt-and-pepper calamari ($15) and three-cheese zucchini flowers ($16) mocktails and non-alcoholic picks to suit the dish in front of you You'll find Kipling's Garage Bar at 2 Eastern Road about a 60-second walk from the train station but reservations are recommended – though unavailable for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays From the outside, this well-maintained family home at 7 Ravenhill Rd, Turramurra Like the indoor squash court featuring a basketball hoop and the in-ground swimming pool in the backyard with its impressive natural rock waterfall The current owners bought the home from Dr Bronte Douglass of Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology some 30 years ago Dr Douglass had built the home for himself but when the local council declined his request to install a helipad where he built a larger home with a helipad 1979 the architect-designed house featured in Home Beautiful magazine with the headline “The house that’s a work of art” but the time has come for the owners to downsize with 57 groups through at the first open for inspection Featuring an abundance of space and endless natural light the architecturally designed family home has multiple living zones The property is located close to walking tracks quality schools and is within the catchment for Turramurra Public School and Turramurra High School Other features include high vaulted ceilings and exposed beams kitchen with stone benchtops and Smeg induction cooktop The home is open this Saturday and Wednesday from 2-2.30pm and is due to go to auction on September 7 4a Boomerang St Turramurra was one of the North Shore’s most viewed properties a five-bedroom two-bathroom home set on 1300 sqm in Turramurra was one of the most viewed North Shore properties this week according to realestate.com.au Architect designed and built by Felton, 4a Boomerang St is a European styled two level home Formal lounge with elegant gas flame fireplace A superbly crafted and appointed chef’s kitchen It features over-height ceilings and doors Listing agent Carole McCrea of McConnell Bourn Lindfield said she has received interest from far and wide but also received interest from locals looking to buy up “It is very rare to find a Felton home on the market so this has increased interest in the property,” said Mrs McCrea “It’s a brand new home with quality amenities.” Locals are familiar with Boomerang St and appreciate its proximity to transport and schools such as Knox The auction is scheduled for Saturday 2nd December two-storey granny flatAmanda Sheppeard Here is something you definitely don’t see every day has been in the game for 30 years and even he was surprised when he saw the property for the first time “I don’t believe I’ve seen anything like this before Tucked at the back of the 954sqm property is a stylish two-storey granny flat that is more like a little house a large living area with patio and undercover deck plus a private back yard with studio/workshop The three-level main house is also a standout formal living and dining areas and space for five cars on the property Mr Lloyd said it was a very unique property that would suit a range of buyers The property has a price guide of $1.85 million to $2 million and is due to go to auction on August 31 It is open for inspection on Saturday and Wednesday from 10.30-11am Watch 1m 24sAerial footage of a bushfire in the Sydney suburb of South Turramurra on Tuesday afternoon. EVOLVE is an innovative discipleship community that has breathed new life into a traditional setting replacing the evening worship service with a refreshing approach to spirituality The journey of EVOLVE began with a group of dedicated young adults who recognised the need for a different type of worship experience in the Turramurra community The group worked with Church Council and ministers Rev “EVOLVE is a project that is owned and driven by young adults that looks to provide opportunities for people to worship God in different ways,” says Will Giacometti we felt the spirit calling us to be bold; to move away from a traditional church service to a gathering that met the current community where they were at.” At the core of EVOLVE is a commitment to inclusivity Traditional church services can sometimes feel exclusive or intimidating to newcomers EVOLVE seeks to create an open and welcoming environment where everyone The EVOLVE community has replaced the conventional evening worship service with a series of events and gatherings that encourage open dialogue from discussions on contemporary social issues to deep dives into biblical texts and creative ways of expressing worship The aim is to provide individuals with an intentional discipleship community Pictured: Worship in the round at the first EVOLVE gathering with Rev Phil Swain leading communion to begin the journey Rather than continuing to resource the dwindling evening service at Turramurra Uniting Church the young adults charged forward with a proposal to end the existing evening service and begin something new We hope to open the Church building as a home rather than a symbol of religious institution,” says Clare One of the standout features of EVOLVE is its commitment to community outreach The members of this faith community have recognised the importance of practicing what they preach They plan to actively engage with the broader Turramurra community through various initiatives This approach aligns with their belief that faith should lead to action and positive change in the world and foster a sense of community and interconnectedness beyond the physical boundaries of Turramurra The journey of EVOLVE has not been without its challenges It required a willingness to adapt and break from convention which can be daunting in the context of a traditional church the Turramurra Uniting Church community has embraced the change recognising the need to evolve to meet the spiritual and social needs of a changing world and the young people who worship at Turramurra “EVOLVE is specifically designed to meet the needs of young adults hungry for meaningful discipleship but is open to any and all people looking to experience their faith in a new and exciting ways We look forward to seeing how this faith community continues to evolve!,” notes Clare of the future of EVOLVE The emergence of EVOLVE at Turramurra Uniting Church is a testament to the power of evolution and adaptation within faith communities By replacing the traditional evening worship service with a more inclusive EVOLVE has breathed new life into the church and drawn in a diverse range of individuals seeking spiritual growth and connection “This is an exciting new community set up by young people for young people,” says Joanna Drayton Team Leader for Pulse (which is the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT youth and young people’s resourcing unit) “What started as a home group of passionate young people has become a new community that is embracing discipleship and new and creative ways of worshipping God.” Will hopes that EVOLVE will make space for discipleship: “We believe this gathering will provide a fresh space for growth in relationships all of which are crucial in developing more disciples who can bear the fruits of the spirit in their own lives.” In a world where spirituality is constantly evolving the story of EVOLVE serves as an inspiring example of how faith communities can adapt and remain relevant EVOLVE has revitalised the Turramurra Uniting Church’s evening service and has also created a welcoming and transformative space for all those seeking to evolve in their faith journey Too often we are driven by a Western colonial process that ‘takes’ the message to others rather than meeting respectfully in the marketplace all our mission strategies become nothing more than turning stones into bread and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Insights is the magazine of the Uniting Church in Australia With daily news and views on culture and theology Copyright All rights reserved | Site by Intelligent Developments About Insights