Antonio Muollo, the 27-year-old founder of the Get Sashimi chain, has bought a five-bedroom mansion in Vaucluse for $12.5 million. The home at 36 Derby Street sold on August 5 through Raine and Horne Double Bay. The agents had not named the buyer, but the settlement revealed his identity. Muollo started an online fish delivery business, GetFish, in 2018 at the age of 19. The home has views of the harbour, Harbour Bridge, Opera House and city skyline from both levels.
Two busy Sydney beaches, Coogee and Maroubra, have been closed until further notice after a decomposing whale carcass washed up at nearby Lurline Bay. Randwick Council said the closure protects swimmers and surfers, as whale carcasses can attract sharks. Council has no plans to remove the animal. Staff are working with the Gamay Rangers on a culturally sensitive approach, and the carcass is believed to be a juvenile humpback. Residents are asked to avoid the area and follow directions from lifeguards and authorities.
Randwick City Council has closed Maroubra and Coogee beaches after a whale carcass washed up on rocks between them. The carcass lies at Lurline Bay, just over two kilometres from either beach. Council is working with the Gamay Rangers and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The carcass will stay in place for now, as discussions continue about a culturally and environmentally sensitive approach. Council is also considering closing the surrounding rock shelf walkway. Council urges people to avoid swimming at both beaches, as carcasses can attract sharks.
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A baby whale carcass has washed ashore at Lurline Bay in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, and Randwick City Council has shut nearby beaches as a precaution. The council is consulting the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Gamay Rangers on a culturally and environmentally sensitive approach. The carcass is not being removed for now. Its rocky, cliff-lined location makes access difficult, and the council is considering closing the surrounding area and rock shelf walkway. Mayor Clare Willington said the whale is an important totem animal to the local Bidjigal people.
A baby whale carcass has washed ashore at Lurline Bay in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, and Randwick City Council has shut nearby beaches as a precaution. The council is consulting the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Gamay Rangers on a culturally and environmentally sensitive approach. The carcass is not being removed for now. Its rocky, cliff-lined location makes access difficult, and the council is considering closing the surrounding area and rock shelf walkway. Mayor Clare Willington said the whale is an important totem animal to the local Bidjigal people.
Beaches at Coogee and Maroubra in Sydney's east have been closed to swimmers after a whale carcass was spotted floating against the coastline. The dead whale, suspected to be a young humpback, was seen at Lurline Bay on Thursday morning. Randwick Council says the beaches will stay closed until further notice while the whale is removed. Whale scientist Vanessa Pirotta says the animal is likely a young adult or teenaged humpback and has advised against swimming in the area.
Former prime minister John Howard has criticised the federal government over its plan to sell Sydney's Victoria Barracks, saying it shows indifference to Australia's military history. Mr Howard has accepted an invitation to speak at a rally opposing the sale, to be held opposite the barracks on Sunday. The government plans to sell 67 defence sites nationally, worth about $3 billion, as part of a cost-cutting exercise. Defence Minister Richard Marles has argued the barracks should be opened to the public, while NSW Premier Chris Minns has backed the Army's claim to the site.
The federal government will go ahead with the planned sale of Sydney's Victoria Barracks, a convict-era army site, despite a high-profile campaign against it. Some 67 military properties are being sold to raise funds. Personnel and their families based at the barracks will be moved to other defence sites by the end of the year. A rally outside the barracks on Sunday is expected to draw thousands. Former prime minister John Howard plans to speak at it, while NSW Premier Chris Minns has backed listing the site on the state's Heritage Council register.
Coogee shark attack survivor Leah Stewart says she has learnt to plait her own hair with one hand, four months after losing her arm. In a video posted to Instagram, the 34-year-old said she had tried hundreds of times before succeeding. Ms Stewart is also an ambassador for an eight-week campaign raising $100,000 for new lifesaving equipment in the intensive care unit at St Vincent's Hospital, where she was treated.
A second teenager has been charged over a fight at Glenelg Jetty in Adelaide. A large group of teens gathered just before 4pm on Sunday to watch an amateur fight club, with a makeshift ring and referee. A woman tried to end the bout and disperse the crowd before a plastic bottle was thrown at her. According to police, two teens fighting each other were arrested at the scene. A 15-year-old from Marino was charged with disorderly behaviour and granted bail to appear in Adelaide Youth Court on December 2.
The shark barrier at Cottesloe Beach has been installed after stormy weather delayed the work. Installation began on Monday and was completed on Wednesday. The barrier is 170 metres long, extends 140 metres out from the shoreline along the groyne, and will stay in place until the end of April. The Town of Cottesloe spends $120,000 a year on the barrier. Mayor Melissa Harkins said it is part of the town's commitment to community safety. The work comes amid increased shark activity around Perth beaches and a recent fatal attack at Sorrento Beach.
Mid-century apartments built in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s are attracting home owners and investors who once overlooked them. Developers built many of these modest blocks for renters, offering good light, breezes and balconies. Property experts say buyers value their solid construction and lower strata fees, since they lack extras such as pools and gyms. One Randwick owner plans to sell his three-bedroom apartment, which is guided at $1.35 million, and an agent says these homes are more popular than ever.
A 27-year-old man has appeared in Perth Magistrate's Court after an alleged high-speed chase through Perth's southern suburbs. Police allege Edward Kelly Hume stole a grey SUV and led officers on a pursuit that ended in several collisions. An 80-year-old driver was critically injured when his white sedan was hit by an unmarked police car in Leeming. Mr Hume faces eight charges, including driving without a licence and reckless driving to escape police. WA Police Minister Reece Whitby said a full review of the crash would take place.
Departing Greater Western Sydney player Toby Greene and his wife Georgia Stirton have listed their Coogee home for rent. The couple are moving to Victoria after Greene decided to play for Geelong next season. The 33-year-old bought the four-bedroom semi in late 2023 for $3.3m. Agents are asking $2600 a week, above the area's record median of $2300 for four-bedroom rentals. The home features ocean views and a landscaped backyard.
An 88-year-old woman has died in hospital after she was struck by a car in Pyree, in the NSW Shoalhaven region. Police were called to Pyree Lane at about 1:45 pm on Saturday, 24 October, after reports of a pedestrian being hit. Paramedics treated the woman at the scene before she was flown to St George Hospital in a critical condition. Police were told on Sunday, 25 October, that she had died. The 43-year-old driver returned a negative result on a roadside breath test and was taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital for mandatory testing.
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The NSW Government has committed $6.8 billion to electrify the South Coast rail line between Kiama and Bomaderry and to double tracks at key bottlenecks. Construction is expected to be complete by the mid-to-late 2030s, with detailed planning starting in 2027. The announcement follows the government scrapping timetable changes that were due to take effect in November after community concerns. Premier Chris Minns said the upgrade would deliver faster, more reliable trains. An immediate $621 million will fund upgrades to power, signalling and flood protection ahead of the main works.
Police are searching for a man in a balaclava after a suspected arson attack on a house in Abbotsford, in Sydney's inner west. Four people were taken to hospital. An 88-year-old woman was rescued by a 49-year-old man who climbed a ladder. A neighbour confronted the man while he was allegedly setting the house alight. Police believe he fled in a red Holden Astra and had suffered burns. About 40 firefighters attended the blaze, which spread to an adjoining house.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has been hired as a professor of practice at the University of Sydney. The 46-year-old joins the faculty of medicine and health, where the role will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Ardern will explore ways to address global health challenges, inclusion and wellbeing, and will lead guest lectures and masterclasses. The university says the position is not a full-time teaching role. Ardern and her family moved to Australia in February, reportedly buying a $5.3 million home on Sydney's northern beaches.
Will Lee has served 56 years with the NSW Rural Fire Service, which he began after helping fight a major fire in the northern Illawarra in 1968. He joined the Austinmer Bushfire Brigade in 1970 and went on to hold several leadership roles, including Group Captain. He was recognised with a National Medal with a fourth clasp at a recent ceremony, where his daughter Belinda Lee also received a 40-year Long Service Medal. Will now focuses on training young firefighters. He says the job of an old firefighter is to teach young firefighters to become old firefighters.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will lecture and mentor at the University of Sydney, beginning this month. Her work will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Based in the school of public health, she will host guest lectures and masterclasses, although the university says it is not a full-time teaching role. Vice-chancellor Mark Scott praised Ardern's leadership, saying empathy and resolve can strengthen each other. Ardern moved to Australia earlier this year.
Local Government NSW is calling for a $5 billion interest-free loan scheme to help councils build roads, drainage and other infrastructure needed for housing. Councils would repay the loans through developer contributions as development progresses. The peak body says thousands of homes are being delayed by inadequate infrastructure, particularly in outer metropolitan Sydney and regional areas. LGNSW president Darcy Byrne urged all political parties to back the proposal ahead of the state election. The plan also includes $3 billion in upfront state and regional infrastructure funding and allows developer contributions to fund community facilities.
The Rotary Club of West Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook is running its Trees of Joy campaign again this year, aiming to deliver more than 1,000 Christmas gifts. Shoppers choose a gift from a bauble bearing a person's story and wish, then return it to a drop-off point. The club works with more than 10 local charities to reach children and adults who may otherwise go without. Trees are at four shopping centres in Cherrybrook, Westleigh, Pennant Hills and Thornleigh from 2 November until 10 December. Rotary asks people to return gifts early to ease distribution.
A man in a balaclava may have set himself on fire while torching a home in Sydney’s inner west, leaving four people hospitalised. Police believe the offender, who fled in a red Holden Astra, acted alone. A 49-year-old resident and police officers rescued an 88-year-old woman from the flames. The house on Weddle Ave was destroyed, and the hunt for the offender continues.
Sydney researchers at Royal North Shore Hospital say they have developed a screening process that could detect coronary plaque before symptoms appear. The process uses blood samples and CT scans from more than 5,000 heart disease patients, and identifies five biomarkers. The team is seeking $8 million to speed up clinical trials and put screening kits into the hands of GPs across the country. Indigenous adults experience heart attacks at almost three times the rate of non-Indigenous adults, and people in regional and remote areas stand to benefit most.
