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.
WA police will use a new drone program to gather real-time intelligence before officers reach emergencies. Drones will launch from docking stations in Kwinana, Rockingham and Baldivis and can operate beyond line of sight. They will be dispatched from a command centre in Perth. Police Minister Reece Whitby says the program is an Australian first. Targeted uses include family and domestic violence matters, missing persons, crimes in progress and stolen vehicles.
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The City of Melville council has condemned online bullying, harassment, threats and violence against council members, candidates and staff. It did so after independent federal MP Helen Haines was struck by a car in an alleged road-rage incident on October 19. However, councillors voted 6-7 against asking the WA Local Government Association to push for a coordinated response and review gaps in protections. Councillor Karen Wheatland, who proposed the motion without notice, said nobody should have to accept threats as the price of serving their community. Other councillors questioned whether the proposal was appropriate and sensitive.
WA Police is expanding its automated drone fleet, which launches from Perth to emergency scenes within seconds. Police say the drones respond to emergency calls rather than patrol. Civil liberties advocates warn the rollout could outpace laws protecting individual privacy. Similar trials are underway in regional New South Wales, where advocates question the lack of published results. Critics say there are no clear legal protections governing how police use drone footage, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulates only aviation safety.
The 18th Castaways Sculpture Awards opened on the Rockingham Foreshore and run until Sunday, 1 November 2026. Artworks made from recycled and repurposed materials are displayed along Mangles Bay. The exhibition includes the main display, a maquette and small sculpture exhibition, and a schools exhibition, all showcasing Western Australian artists. Fremantle Ports supports the event, which has a prize pool of $27,250. The free family event includes Tactile Tours and Artist Talks. The information tent is open from 9am to 5pm daily.
Police have charged a second man over an alleged arson at a two-storey home on Ullapool Road in Mount Pleasant. The 43-year-old was arrested in Willetton on Saturday, October 24, and charged with criminal damage by fire. Police also laid drug and unlawful weapon possession charges after a search of the residence. He is the second person charged over the alleged blaze, after Matthew Manfredi-Tarpey was arrested hours after the fire on Wednesday. Red graffiti on the driveway read: pay your debt dog.
Another Perth beach has closed after authorities removed the tail of a whale carcass found off the shore at Sorrento. It is the second whale carcass to wash up on the city's beaches this week and the third in a month. Sorrento Beach has been closed since a fatal shark attack about five weeks ago, when Greg O'Neill was killed while swimming close to shore. On Thursday, a partial whale carcass led to the closure of all beaches at South Cottesloe. The state government is expanding its shark-tagging program and may use AI-powered drones to keep beachgoers safe.
The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge will be officially named Walyalup Bridge, the Western Australian Government has announced. The name reflects the traditional Whadjuk Noongar name for Fremantle, which derives from walyo, the Noongar word for the woylie, a small native marsupial. The bridge opens to the public on Sunday 1 November, ahead of schedule, with a free community celebration from 9am to 1pm. Visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport, as no parking will be available at the site.
A cake competition called Cakemantle, held during Fremantle Design Week, invited people to bake dessert creations inspired by the port city. Sixteen entrants took part, ranging from professional designers to locals. Erin Coates won first place with a cake based on the former limestone rock bar at the river mouth, which judges praised for its taste. Scolaro Terrazzo came second for its design, and the Fremantle Doctor took third. Organisers hope to hold the event again next year after tickets sold out quickly.
Bron and Phil Genoni have spent 27 years building a thriving garden at their Banjup property. The shady, mostly tropical space features an estimated 400-year-old paperbark, ponds that host turtles, ducks and frogs, and accessible concrete pathways. The couple run the garden on solar power and use chicken manure to feed the soil. The garden at 23 Muir Place will open on October 31 and November 1, with solar consultations, tea and scones, and a Jaguar Car Club display on the Sunday.
Families flocked to Fremantle Esplanade Park on Saturday for the annual Farmer on Your Plate festival. Children enjoyed pony rides, barrel tossing, cow milking and sheep shearing, while line dancing drew crowds of all ages. Pernille Loughton brought her granddaughters, who live nearby, and said she valued that the event was free. Kale Wells, who came across the festival while out with his three-year-old daughter, Pia, said cow milking was her favourite activity.
