Read: Willoughby Rolls Out Return and Earn Bin Baskets Across Parks and Shopping Strips

A Small Dining Room With a Personal Feel

Located along Penshurst Street, Tida Persian Restaurant operates with a notably limited capacity, seating only a small number of diners across a few tables. The layout creates a setting that resembles a private dining space, with a central table encouraging groups to share meals in close quarters.

Originally planned as a takeaway venue, the addition of seating followed demand from diners wanting to stay and eat. The result is a compact room with a home-style atmosphere, where the scale of the space shapes the overall experience.

Tahdig Drives the Menu in Willoughby

At the centre of the Willoughby menu is tahdig, the crisp layer of Persian rice that forms the base of several dishes. It is served in different formats, including bowls and sandwiches, placing the traditional element at the forefront of the offering.

The broader menu includes a mix of grilled meats and slow-cooked dishes. Kebab options feature lamb, beef and chicken, while stews such as khoresh fesenjan combine pomegranate and walnut flavours. Other dishes include mirza ghasemi, a smoked eggplant preparation, alongside sides such as shirazi salad and spiced yoghurt.

Larger platters are designed for sharing, bringing together rice, meats and accompaniments into group-style meals.

A Menu Built on Familiar Persian Dishes

The food offering reflects a range of established Persian dishes prepared with a focus on flavour and simplicity. Grilled skewers are served with tomatoes, herbs and yoghurt, while stews introduce contrasting elements such as sweetness and acidity, particularly in dishes featuring pomegranate.

Desserts extend the menu with items such as saffron panna cotta and Persian pistachio baqlava. Drinks include yoghurt-based options and saffron-infused beverages, reinforcing the broader flavour profile across the menu

A Distinctive Willoughby Dining Option

The limited seating has become a defining feature of the Willoughby venue, with bookings often recommended due to the small capacity. The close layout and shared table format contribute to a more personal dining setting compared to larger restaurants.

Read: Willoughby Squash Club To Be Demolished After Court Approval

With its focus on tahdig, communal dining and a compact space, the restaurant stands out among local options, offering a dining experience shaped as much by its size as its menu.

Published 15-Apr-2026

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Read: Willoughby Squash Club To Be Demolished After Court Approval

The Return and Earn bin baskets, funded by Exchange for Change, are popping up across six local hubs. While you’ll spot them at the Castlecrag shops, the trial also covers key foot-traffic zones in Artarmon, Willoughby, and Naremburn, as well as various local parks and reserves.

The concept is simple but the effect is meaningful. A key challenge for NSW’s container deposit scheme has been capturing containers consumed out of home, which frequently end up in general waste bins simply because there is no convenient dedicated option nearby. Pilot programmes across NSW have shown that placing a clearly visible, separate collection point exactly where containers are discarded can significantly influence public behaviour.

For Willoughby residents who regularly walk through the suburb’s parks and shopping precincts with a takeaway drink in hand, the bin baskets remove the friction that sends recyclable containers into landfill: no detour, no saving containers for later, just a quick drop into the basket on the way past.

How the Baskets Work

The programme provides baskets, signage and promotional materials to support the collection of eligible drink containers and to reduce contamination in general waste bins in public spaces. Once the baskets fill up, community members, including local groups and charities raising funds through the scheme, collect the containers and take them to a Return and Earn point to claim the 10 cent refund for each eligible item. While anyone can take a few containers to redeem, the program team closely monitors the baskets and tracks collection rates throughout the trial to ensure the cradles do not overflow and the surrounding areas remain clean and orderly.

This community fundraising dimension effectively turns the bin basket into a new kind of fundraising tool, allowing schools, sports clubs and community organisations to collect refunds from containers that would otherwise have been lost to landfill. For any Willoughby community group looking for a low-effort way to raise funds while contributing to local recycling, the bin baskets offer a ready-made opportunity.

Eligible containers include most aluminium, glass, plastic and liquid paperboard drink containers between 150ml and three litres. Wine bottles and milk cartons are not currently included in the scheme, though NSW has announced plans to extend Return and Earn to wine and spirit bottles by mid-2027.

Return and Earn’s Track Record in NSW

Return and Earn launched in December 2017 as NSW’s largest litter reduction initiative and has grown into one of the state’s most successful and trusted recycling programmes. Since its introduction, the total beverage container return rate in NSW rose from 32 per cent in 2017 to 65 per cent within two years, redirecting containers from landfill and litter to recycling. Drink container litter has since reduced by 52 per cent, and over 755,000 tonnes of material have been recycled through the scheme.

Every week, over 40 million drink containers are returned through the network to be recycled into new bottles, cans, cartons and other products. Despite that success, one in three eligible containers still does not make it back to a return point, largely because people consume drinks outside the home and have no convenient way to return the container on the spot. The bin basket programme directly targets that gap.

During the Willoughby trial, the volume of containers collected and the impact on local litter rates will be monitored to assess whether a permanent, wider rollout across the area is viable.

Why This Matters to the Willoughby Community

For Willoughby residents, the bin baskets offer something genuinely useful: a way to do the right thing without going out of your way to do it. The nearest Return and Earn machines in the area are at Chatswood Chase, Willoughby Road and a handful of other fixed points, which are convenient when you are already heading that way but easy to skip when you are simply passing a bin on a park walk.

Instead of your empty Carlton or Coke bottle ending up in the tip, these baskets give it a second life. It’s a dead-easy way to keep 10 cents in the community’s pocket rather than letting it go to waste in a general bin.

The baskets also connect to a broader question about what a community does with the recyclable value embedded in its everyday rubbish. Every container that goes into a general waste bin is a 10-cent refund lost, a small piece of glass or aluminium heading to landfill instead of back into the supply chain. Across a suburb the size of Willoughby, those individual decisions add up to a significant volume of material either recovered or wasted.

Residents who spot the baskets at Castlecrag shops, local parks and reserves are encouraged to use them. Community groups interested in collecting containers from the baskets for fundraising can find more information at returnandearn.org.au or by contacting Exchange for Change directly (1800 813 887).

Read: Squash Faces Uncertain Future in Willoughby as Club Site Redeveloped

Published 24-March-2026.

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Read: Squash Faces Uncertain Future in Willoughby as Club Site Redeveloped

A Longstanding Community Sports Hub

The NSW Land and Environment Court approved the demolition of the Willoughby Squash Club site in December. The ruling clears the way for the privately owned Willoughby Road property to be redeveloped into a multi-storey childcare centre.

It followed a two-year campaign by local players, families and supporters. They urged council and developers to keep the courts or secure an alternative venue. Established in the late 1970s, the club served generations across Sydney’s North Shore.

It had 10 squash courts, including Sydney’s only dedicated doubles courts. The venue also hosted table tennis, racquetball and junior coaching. Supporters say it helped develop athletes who later competed at national and international levels.

Court Decision and Redevelopment Plan

The redevelopment plan moved ahead after the property owner decided to sell the site as part of retirement planning. Willoughby City Council raised concerns about flooding, traffic, parking and building scale, and the developer appealed after the application stalled. 

After changes to the original proposal, the court approved a three-storey childcare centre with 130 places. Planning material said drainage upgrades would manage local overland water flow and the proposal met planning rules, clearing the way for demolition.

Locals Rally Against Demolition

Local advocates shifted from trying to stop demolition to pushing for a replacement indoor racquet sports facility. Keep Squash in Willoughby has been urging councils across the North Shore to provide land for a new, permanent centre. 

Supporters say the club’s loss reflects a wider decline in squash venues across Sydney as sites are redeveloped. A public petition has drawn thousands of signatures, showing concern about the long-term future of indoor racquet sports in the area.

What Happens Next for Indoor Racquet Sports

Willoughby Council has acknowledged the club’s importance and previously resolved to support indoor racquet sports in principle. The council says it remains committed to working with the community to explore future options, but no replacement site or timeline has been confirmed. 

Read: Together With Katie Lolas to Be Held in Willoughby

For players and families, attention has shifted to long-term planning rather than further legal action. Advocates are still seeking support from councils and landholders to keep indoor racquet sports accessible on the North Shore as the site moves toward redevelopment.

Published 22-December-2025

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Read: Together With Katie Lolas to Be Held in Willoughby

Long-standing Sports Hub Faces Redevelopment

Willoughby Squash Club, a fixture on Sydney’s North Shore for nearly 50 years, is set to be replaced by a $2.9 million, three-storey childcare centre expected to serve almost 200 people. The family-owned site, located beside Hallstrom Park, has been sold for redevelopment, leaving hundreds of players concerned about the future of squash in the area.

The club, known for housing Sydney’s only doubles court, has served generations of players across multiple racquet sports, including table tennis, badminton, and racquetball. Over the decades, the facility has also trained athletes who went on to compete at national and international levels.

Sharp Decline of Squash Facilities

Players and advocates warn that the Willoughby club’s closure would accelerate a long-term decline in the sport. About 85 per cent of Sydney’s squash clubs have closed over the past 30 years, with fewer than 15 facilities now remaining across the city.

Rising property values have driven many closures, as courts give way to more profitable developments. The Willoughby venue has been one of the last remaining centres on the North Shore following closures in North Sydney, Lane Cove, and Mosman.

Push for Community Support

Club owner Peter Aitken and local supporters are urging Willoughby Council and the state to assist in securing land for a new facility. They argue that squash has not received the same level of support as other sports that benefit from subsidised leases and public land allocations.

A campaign titled “Keep Squash in Willoughby” has gathered 2,616 verified signatures through an online petition led by local resident Jack Goodman. The petition calls for councils on the North Shore—including those in North Sydney, Lane Cove, Willoughby, and Ku-ring-gai—to provide a permanent home for indoor racquet sports.

Community Voices and Local Action

Community members, including veteran players and local families, have voiced concern over the loss of one of the few inclusive and accessible indoor sports venues in the region. The facility also supports school programs and a large table tennis club run by former Olympian Vivian Tan.

The petition campaign has been supported by local events such as the “Keep Squash in Willoughby Open Day,” which invited residents to demonstrate their support through participation in racquet sports and community activities.

Council’s Position and Future Outlook

Willoughby Council confirmed it was not involved in the property sale or redevelopment but acknowledged the community’s concerns. The council has unanimously agreed to explore opportunities for a new squash facility as part of its broader sport and recreation strategy.

Read: Willoughby Farewells Renowned Jazz Pianist Judy Bailey OAM

With redevelopment plans proceeding, the Willoughby Squash community continues to press for immediate solutions to ensure the sport’s survival on the North Shore.

Published 12-Oct-2025

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Read: Willoughby Farewells Renowned Jazz Pianist Judy Bailey OAM

Wellness Event in Willoughby

A wellness gathering led by Sydney teacher and influencer Katie Lolas is scheduled to take place at Vita Health Club, 83 Penshurst Street, Willoughby, on Sunday, 19 October 2025. The event, called Together With Katie Lolas, is part of a series that began in 2024.

The program will run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and is open to participants of all fitness levels. Tickets are priced at $50 and include access to the full program as well as breakfast and refreshments.

Activities and Schedule

The morning will begin with a talk by Katie Lolas, who will share personal strategies for self-care and wellbeing. She will be joined by guest facilitators Chaldee Gammo and Damien Giardina.

Mr Giardina, a personal trainer and owner of Vita Health Club, will lead a bodyweight workout designed for all levels. Ms Gammo, a cancer survivor and wellness coach, will guide participants through stretching and meditation exercises.

The program will conclude with a light breakfast featuring mint tea, za’atar manoush prepared by Lolas and her mother, and mini açaí bowls. Each guest will also receive a curated goodie bag.

Background on Katie Lolas

Katie Lolas, known online as Lady Lolas, has built a strong following as a food, wellness and lifestyle blogger. Based in Sydney, she balances her work as a high school teacher with her online platform. Her content focuses on practical, balanced approaches to health and wellbeing.

She has openly shared personal experiences with grief and depression following the loss of her sister and the birth of her daughter, shaping her outlook on wellness as inclusive of both physical and mental health.

Community Focus

The Willoughby event emphasises community connection, encouraging attendees to take part either individually or with friends. Free parking will be available at the venue. The organisers note that only basic items such as a water bottle and towel are required to participate.

Looking Ahead

Read: Invasive Spanish Moss Threatens Willoughby’s Native Trees

Together With Katie Lolas continues the series of wellness events designed to promote balance, connection and self-care. With activities combining exercise, meditation and shared food, the Willoughby event offers participants a structured opportunity to engage in practical wellbeing strategies within a community setting.

Published 28-Sep-2025

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Read: Invasive Spanish Moss Threatens Willoughby’s Native Trees

Judy Bailey’s Passing in Willoughby

Judy Bailey died on Friday, 8 August 2025, at Estia Health Willoughby, where she had lived since 2021. Her children, Lisette and Chris De Gray, were present at the time of her passing.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Born Judith Mary Bailey in Auckland on 3 October 1935, she grew up in Whangārei. She began ballet lessons at seven, but shifted to piano at the age of ten. At 16, she completed the performer’s diploma at Trinity College, London.

Her early influences included jazz recordings by Fats Waller, George Shearing, and Horace Silver. By her teenage years, she was already arranging and composing for the Auckland Radio Band.

Move to Australia and Career in Sydney

Bailey relocated to Sydney in 1960, originally planning to continue to the United Kingdom. Recommended to conductor Tommy Tycho by fellow pianist Julian Lee, she became the resident pianist in the Channel 7 television orchestra.

Her first album, You and the Night and the Music, was released in 1964. She later worked with orchestras at Channel 9 and Channel 10, and collaborated with musicians such as Don Burrows, John Sangster, and Graeme Lyall.

Contributions to Music and Education

Bailey’s career extended beyond performance. She became a founding member of the jazz faculty at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the 1970s, teaching jazz piano and composition.

She also created children’s music for ABC Radio and in 1973 began contributing to the program Kindergarten. In the early 1990s, she helped establish Jazz Connection, later serving as its musical director, mentoring young Australian musicians for more than two decades.

Her compositions were recorded across multiple labels, with her 1976 track Colour of My Dreams later sampled by US rapper Rick Ross in Santorini Greece (2017).

Recognition and Honours

Bailey received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004 for her services to music and education. In 2018, she was awarded the Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award, and in 2022, she received the Don Banks Music Award for sustained contribution to Australian music.

Family Life

In 1967, she married American bassist Richard De Gray. The couple had two children, Lisette in 1968 and Chris in 1971, before separating in the early 1970s.

Legacy

Read: Local Parents Secure $1 Million Property for Daughter in Willoughby

Judy Bailey is remembered as a trailblazer for women in Australian jazz, a dedicated educator, and a composer whose influence extended across generations. Her life’s work in performance, education, and mentorship left a lasting mark on the national music scene.

Published 18-Aug-2025

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Read: Willoughby Mayor Demands Stronger Powers to Combat Tree Vandalism

The call for public involvement comes after a noticeable increase in infestations of the plant, which is also commonly known as Old Man’s Beard. This month, local officials passed a resolution to take proactive steps to contain the weed, with a public education campaign scheduled to launch in the coming months to support the effort.

An Escalating Environmental Threat

Though it is not currently listed as a prohibited plant under New South Wales biosecurity laws, Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is officially recognised as a weed by the Department of Primary Industries. The plant poses a serious problem by smothering the branches of its host, blocking essential sunlight and preventing photosynthesis. The sheer weight of a heavy infestation can also stress limbs, causing them to break and damage the tree.

This invasion alters the natural habitat, affecting native species and the delicate balance between predators and their prey. Officials have noted that warmer and wetter climate conditions are helping the weed to spread even faster, making containment a difficult and costly challenge, especially when it reaches high into the tree canopy.

Mayor Tanya Taylor stated that Spanish moss is becoming a significant environmental threat in the area’s urban forest. She emphasised that early action and strong community cooperation are essential to protect the health of the local tree canopy and biodiversity.

Council Outlines Proactive Strategy

To manage the problem, Willoughby’s city council is implementing a multi-faceted plan. The strategy includes the removal of infestations from trees on public land and reserves. Management and monitoring of the weed will also be integrated into existing bushland and reserve action plans.

Additionally, training will be provided to bushcare volunteers and staff to help with early detection and rapid response. To support the community, updated fact sheets and communication materials will be distributed. Local authorities are also advocating for the state to review the official classification of Spanish moss to give communities more power to control it.

Read: Willoughby Council Backs Shared Use of Bicentennial Reserve

How Residents Can Protect Local Trees

The success of the campaign relies heavily on residents taking action on their own properties. The weed particularly affects important native canopy trees like turpentines, brush box, lilly pilly, and cheese trees, along with popular ornamental species such as maples and bottlebrush. Spreading easily by wind, birds, and even human activity, it can quickly colonise new areas, including private backyards and apartment balconies.

Residents are being asked to check their trees and gardens for any signs of Spanish moss and to remove it wherever it is safe to do so. Officials strongly advise against using the plant for garden decoration or landscaping, as this practice directly contributes to its spread throughout the community. Information to help residents identify and responsibly manage the plant will be shared through social media, newsletters, and the local government website.

Published Date 24-July-2025

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Read: New Recycling Services Introduced in Willoughby

Mark and Alana Kensley decided against waiting until their daughter reached adulthood to help her enter the property market, instead choosing to secure her financial future now. Their daughter, aptly named Willoughby after the suburb where she was conceived, is now the owner of a one-bedroom unit in the new Willoughby Grounds development on Willoughby Street.

Mark Kensley described the decision as refusing to kick the can down the road. The Willoughby Grounds development on Walter Street is completing in August 2025, and the family saw the location as particularly meaningful given their personal connection to the area.

Young Willoughby has already begun telling people about her property ownership, though at four and a half years old, the concept remains somewhat abstract. Her parents plan to remind her annually about the investment as she grows up.

The property won’t legally transfer to Willoughby’s name until she turns 18, at which point she’ll have complete control over the asset. She could choose to live in it during university, sell it to fund other ventures, or continue using it as an investment property.

In the meantime, the Kensleys plan to rent out the apartment, banking on Willoughby’s strong rental market and convenient transport links. They’re even planning to make the unit pet-friendly to attract tenants, accommodating their own cavoodle in the process.

This approach reflects a growing trend across Australia, where parents are increasingly stepping in to help their children navigate an increasingly challenging property market. Recent research indicates that 82 per cent of parents are open to helping their children enter the property market, driven by a desire to provide the same financial security they experienced.

The move comes as Australia grapples with a well-publicised housing crisis, with families increasingly exploring various strategies to support their children’s property ownership aspirations.

Tim Abbott from Ray White’s projects and developments division noted that such purchases are becoming commonplace, with parents looking to get ahead of market conditions rather than simply react to them. The Willoughby Grounds development has particularly attracted buyers with personal connections to the area, including those returning after years away.

The Kensleys’ investment strategy demonstrates how some Australian families are adapting to current market conditions by taking a long-term view of property ownership, effectively gifting their children a head start that many of their peers may never receive.

Read: New EV Chargers to Make Life Easier for Willoughby Apartment Residents

For now, the property serves as both a sentimental gesture and a practical investment, with the family confident that Willoughby’s desirable location and quality development will ensure steady rental returns until their daughter is old enough to make her own decisions about the property.

Published 21-July-2025

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Read: New EV Chargers to Make Life Easier for Willoughby Apartment Residents

Strategic Direction and Background

Willoughby’s latest waste service changes align with the long-term environmental objectives outlined in Our Future Willoughby 2036, the city’s strategic plan. The plan prioritises sustainability, increased resource recovery, and reduced landfill use over the next decade.

Mattress Collection Begins in August

From 1 August 2025, residents must book a separate kerbside collection for used mattresses and bed ensemble bases, excluding frames. The program introduces a new partnership with Soft Landing, a not-for-profit recycling organisation that processes up to 75% of mattress components. Recovered materials such as steel, foam, and timber are reused for items like carpet underlay and mulch or converted to energy.

This change aims to divert mattresses from landfill and improve material recovery across Willoughby.

HomeCycle Launches in September

Starting 1 September 2025, Willoughby households will also have access to HomeCycle, a free home collection service for hard-to-recycle materials including soft plastics, textiles, and blister packs. The program is particularly beneficial for apartment residents and others without easy access to drop-off points.

Residents can book pick-ups for up to 20 bags per collection. The service includes clear tracking of collected materials, providing assurance that items are being processed responsibly.

Supporting Broader Sustainability Goals

These additions directly support Willoughby’s environmental targets, including increasing the waste recovery rate to 80% by 2030 and achieving net zero community carbon emissions by the 2040s. Both services improve recycling access for materials not handled through regular programs.

Community Feedback

Consultation conducted as part of the strategic planning process showed strong support from residents for waste reduction and sustainability measures. These new services reflect that demand.

Next Steps

Read: Willoughby Locals Invited to Help Guide Arts and Culture Board

Residents are encouraged to schedule bookings for mattress or HomeCycle collections through the official waste services portal. The rollout marks another step in Willoughby’s efforts to support responsible waste management and environmental progress.

Published 21-July-2025

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Read: Willoughby Locals Invited to Help Guide Arts and Culture Board

Making Charging Easier for Local Drivers

The rollout will bring 549 kerbside EV chargers to 130 suburbs, backed by $5 million in combined public and private funding. Installations will take place over the next 12 months. Willoughby is set to receive 18 new chargers, placed on local streets or in council-managed parking spots. 

The goal is to support residents who can’t charge at home, especially in denser housing areas. For many locals, particularly renters and unit dwellers, this makes owning an electric vehicle more achievable.

Simple Setups Backed by Industry Support

Five companies, including ChargePost and Connected Kerb, will work with councils and energy providers to install the new chargers. Each unit will provide between 7kW and 22kW of power, enough to top up an EV while it’s parked during the day or overnight. The chargers will be either pole-mounted or pedestal-style, designed to blend into local streets and car parks. 

Their visibility and ease of use are intended to make charging part of everyday life. The Electric Vehicle Council says convenient public access like this helps more people feel ready to make the switch to electric.

EV Popularity Growing Across the State

Electric vehicles are gaining traction across Australia, with more than 12% of new car sales in the first half of 2025 being EVs. As interest rises, so does the need for more charging access, especially in urban centres like Willoughby.

While this rollout focuses on kerbside infrastructure, it works alongside other programs building fast-charging sites and regional support. Together, they aim to give more people the tools they need to transition to lower-emission transport, without the pressure of home installations.

Supporting a Practical Shift in Transport

For Willoughby residents, 18 new chargers will bring more convenient access to EV charging in public spaces. This helps remove a key barrier for locals without off-street parking. 

Read: Willoughby Mayor Demands Stronger Powers to Combat Tree Vandalism

Installations will roll out over the next year, with councils overseeing placement alongside delivery partners. The aim is to make charging a simple part of daily life across the suburb.

Published 16-July-2025

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