Bronte Archives - Page 2 of 2

Locale: Bronte Cafe Lives Up on Mission to Stick to Local

The dynamic pair of Nick Bardetta and Ash Quigley-Bardetta, who ran Pilgrim at a stunning beachfront spot in Bronte for two years, have transformed their old cafe into Locale, a casual and family-friendly eatery where visitors can enjoy completely locally-sourced food options.

In replacing Pilgrims, the Bardettas decided to overhaul the menu for Locale and go with a simplified list, where every food comes from around the area. For instance, Locale uses meat supplied by Bronte’s Lucas Meats and gets the produce from the Flemington markets. The pastries are prepared by Luxe Woollahra, whilst the specialty coffee and other drinks are also certified local from Pablo and Rusty’s.

Chef Kevin Chung refined the menu to reflect Bronte’s laid-back vibe with options like a filling breakfast burrito (with avocado, bacon, roasted tomatoes, halloumi, mushrooms, hummus and eggs), a light but still flavourful buttermilk pancakes, poke bowls, fried chicken burger topped with Swiss cheese, and prawn linguine.

As a family based in Bronte for many generations, the couple wanted to stick to Locale’s mission to support other Bronte-based businesses and uphold its strong community ties to give what the locals want.

To match the quality and freshness of the food and drinks, Locale’s new sun-drenched interior — with large open windows, clean white tables, wood benches and woven chairs — deliver a chic and comfortable atmosphere. Here, diners can enjoy a hearty meal right after swimming in the beach and getting sand on their feet.

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Follow Locale on Instagram for updates or visit their official site for opening hours, order delivery and pick-up.

The best bacon n egg roll I’ve ever had! And amazingly good coffee. Friendly, warm and fun staff. Could use cushions on their bench seats 🙂
Olivia Miller

“Located just minutes away from the Bronte beach. Staff was kind, place was spacious and inviting. I loved the decor and atmosphere. Menu includes special items that you don’t normally find in other counterparts. We ordered the breakfast burrito and breakfast tacos, they were both wonderful, full of flavours, great portion sizes. Coffee by Pablo and rusty was amazing. One of my favourite sydney cafes The only critic is everything is done via your phone e.g., ordering, making the whole dining experience ‘cold’ and odd. We felt uneasy not getting the chance to saying thanks to the team as we left.”
Joyce Lau

“Best vanilla milkshake in Sydney. Meine Tochter loves it and asks regularly to visit this friendly local cafe in Bronte. The super strong iced latte is a crowd pleaser too with 4 shots! Staff are friendly, fast and efficient.”
Jean-Paul Buhagiar

Published 1-April-2023

Bronte, Tamarama Beach Found to Have Very Low Levels of Microplastics

Did you know that Bronte and Tamarama Beach have some of the lowest levels of microplastics in the sand compared to other beaches in Sydney?

According to a study, Bronte and Tamarama Beach have very low levels of microplastics compared to the other samples gathered across 300 beaches in Australia by the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project.

A total of three million microplastic fragments were collected from the samplings in the beaches, which were then logged into the interactive hot map. It showed that Bronte Beach had just seven microplastic fragments per square metre while Tamarama Beach had three microplastic fragments per square metre. Both are in the green zone for having a very low level of microplastic fragments.

The worst beach has over 4,000 tiny particles of plastic per square metre.

Manly Cove in the Northern Beaches has been marked in the black zone as the researchers sampled 4,051 microplastic fragments per square metre.

AUSMAP Research Director Dr Scott Wilson of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Macquarie University said this project provided the “most substantial data we have on the scope and impact of microplastics in Australia’s waterways.”

“Australia’s massive coastline makes us particularly vulnerable to microplastics,” Mr Wilson said.

“While we know that we have a big problem with plastic pollution entering ocean currents everywhere, one of the major findings we have uncovered through this project is that most of the microplastics on a shoreline will be from that local catchment.”

AUSMAP said that microplastics levels were higher around urban waterways, in cities and towns with a large population.

Microplastic, which never completely breaks down, can come from activewear clothing, synthetic grasses, rubbish, and many other sources that become contaminants when it’s absorbed in the water, harming marine life that eats the bits of these plastics.

“They’re not just eating the plastic – they’re potentially getting a whole cocktail of chemicals as well.

Volunteers for AUSMAP
Photo Credit: Macquarie University

“We don’t know yet, what the long-term effects will be from ingesting microplastics and how much of these harmful chemicals will find their way into humans.

“What we do know, is that we can’t wait around to find out how bad it is. AUSMAP will help us to track where microplastics are coming from so we can stop it at the source.”

AUSMAP partnered with local governments and state environmental agencies for this project. The next step is educating the public about the best practices to reduce microplastics contamination on the beaches.

The AUSMAP data was cited for the Eureka Prize in 2021 for Innovation in Citizen Science. About 800 volunteers participated in the project that started in 2018.

Enjoy Authentic Pizza at the Newly-Renovated Vacanza Pizzeria in Bronte

In the mood for some authentic, masterfully-made pizzas? Vacanza Pizzeria Bronte has you covered. Recent renovated, it is now an even more perfect place to enjoy hearty pizza dishes and antipasti.

From the mind of Nick Gilbert comes the famous Italian pizza place ‘Vacanza Pizzeria’ which has been in the business for 11 years now, with branches in both Bronte and Surry Hills. The restaurant’s name draws roots from the Italian word ‘vacanza’, which roughly translates to ‘holiday’.

Just recently, the pizzeria has finished undergoing renovations for the first time in ten years. Some additions include the implementation of their all-new takeaway window on the ground floor, as well as the installation of a giant window to allow customers to view the kitchen and watch the magic happen live. The upstairs area, on the other hand, has received new pendant lights and decorative wall paneling along with some fancy marble top tables.

The restaurant offers both takeaway and dine in, and their menu features many classic pizzas such as pizza margherita, pizza gamberi, or pizza diavola with unique twists. Also available at the restaurant are calzones, salads, and both a curated selection of antipasti and a bufala mozzarella bar.

Photo credit: Instagram/Vacanza Pizzeria Sydney

Reviewers raved over the restaurant’s pizza, with numerous accounts lauding it as the “best pizza around”. The atmosphere and the service have also been commended by the restaurant’s customers. One reviewer in particular complimented the staff on their ability to work well under pressure despite the venue being extremely busy. Another had written that the food, the prices, and the staff were all incredible.

Mr Gilbert’s pizzerias first came about after he quit his corporate job to travel all across Europe and learn how to make pizza. His ventures across the continent have led to him mastering the particular style of pizza which he now serves at his restaurants in Sydney. He claims that Vacanza came about not for financial reasons, but because he wished to serve the community.

Vacanza Pizzeria can be found at 261 Bronte Rd, Waverley, open Wednesdays to Sundays from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals, and other special announcements.

Bronte Surf Life Saving Club Set for $9 Million Redevelopment in Mid-2020

Construction of a new state-of-the-art facility for the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club is expected to be underway by mid-2020. Waverley Council has confirmed that it has received $9 million in funding to redevelop the site, which Bronte locals have enjoyed since 1903.

The existing clubhouse will be demolished and replaced with a sustainable building that can fill the demands of a growing community. Currently, Bronte Surf Life Saving Club has over 1,900 members, staff and lifeguards.

Among the proposed new features that will be incorporated in the new clubhouse include lifeguard and first aid facilities, family and accessible public amenities, function rooms, kiosk, gymnasium, and administrative offices. In addition to a new building, the promenade and surrounding areas by the beach will be upgraded to be more accessible and useful to locals enjoying the Bronte Beach.

Council has pledged $4.625 million for the redevelopment whilst Bronte Surf Life Saving Club members have pooled over $2.03 million in donations. The rest of the funds will come from the state and federal governments.

*Photo Credit: Bronte Surf Life Saving Club/Facebook*

“A Council/Club joint project control team will oversee the project to ensure all necessary financial and probity measures are in place. The project will result in significant improvements to amenities, provide better lifeguard facilities, improve workplace health and safety (WHS) requirements and will ensure the service the Club provides to the community will continue into the future,” Mayor John Wakefield said in a press statement.

Consultations have begun for the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment. Club members and residents are enjoined to let their ideas and opinions be heard as feedback will shape the design and features of the new clubhouse.

A development application will be submitted once the community’s inputs have been integrated into the project.

What to Know About the Waverley Cemetery Tour in Bronte

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Nestled in the expansive cliffs of Bronte is Waverley Cemetery, the heritage-listed site. Built in 1877, this isn’t just the resting place of some of the most prominent personalities in New South Wales, it’s also a tourist attraction.

Visitors are often curious about this cemetery’s Edwardian and Victorian burial sites and monuments. It also has the most beautiful view of the beaches in Bronte and the neighboring suburb, Clovelly.

Every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 am, the Waverley Council and the Friends of Waverley Cemetery Volunteers hold a tour of the cemetery. There are four types of tours highlighting different facets of the Waverley Cemetery, so visitors may come back for at least three more times after their first visit.

Tickets to the Waverley Cemetery Tour have to be purchased online for $24.18 per person. The fee goes to the maintenance and restoration costs of the memorials.

A Brief History of Waverley Cemetery

The Waverley Council developed the burial ground in Bronte as the old cemetery on Brickfield Hill, now the Central Railway Station in Sydney, was nearing capacity. The Council invested in buying hectares of lands and planned the cemetery’s design, roads, fences, and drainage system from 1863 to 1875 when the actual development took place under R. Watkin and P. Beddie.

By 1877, the Waverley Cemetery had its first interment in 85-year-old Ruth Allen. To date, this burial ground has over 50,000 gravesites in its 17-hectare land. Sometimes, actual burials may be going on during the tour.

Famous Names Buried in Waverley Cemetery

Some of the most prominent personalities who have made the Waverley Cemetery their final resting place include:

Sir Arthur Roden Cutler V.C., the former Governor of NSW
Sir James Martin, NSW Premier
Sir Frances Forbes, first Chief Justice of NSW
Jules Francois Archibald, founder and editor of The Bulletin newspaper
The Albert Family, music publishers and builders of the Boomerang mansion
Eliza Winstanley, Australia’s first leading lady of the stage
Sarah Fanny Durack, Olympic gold medal swimmer
John Fingleton OBE, cricketer and “Bodyline” veteran
Lawrence Hargrave, aviator and inventor
Arthur Tauchert, silent movie star (“The Sentimental Bloke”)
John Sands, greeting card manufacturer & stationer
Henry Lawson, writer & poet
Louise Becke, writer
William E. Sheridan, American actor

There are also around 200 World War I and World War II heroes buried in this cemetery. A number of gravesites have creative and interesting memorials with vampires, angels and other figures chosen by the family or the deceased as their monuments.

What to Prepare For The Tour

The Waverley Cemetery doesn’t have an even ground since it’s on a ridge. The tour may not be ideal for children and people with mobility issues. Expectedly, there’s a lot of walking involved, so visitors must be dressed in their comfortable shoes and clothes, as well as bring appropriate drinking water.

Upon arrival to the site, visitors must first converge at the Cemetery Office Entry Porch coming from Trafalgar Street. Brochures and packets will be provided.

Weekday tours may also be possible, as per arrangement with Council.

Bronte 378 Bus Direct to be Reinstated

Photo Credit: Pixabay/Free-Photos

The 378 bus that directly links Bronte to Sydney’s CBD may soon be back in operation. Officials from both Labor and Liberal parties confirmed their intention to reinstate the service if their March 2019 election bid is successful.

According to the cause-oriented group Bring Back the 378 Bus, Labor Shadow Minister for Transport Jodi McKay MP has committed to restoring the service as part of her party’s bid to make public transport more accessible. Ms McKay has met with the group in the past to discuss their concerns about the 378 Bus Direct.

*Photo Credit:* *Jodi McKay MP/Facebook*

Bring Back the 378 Bus was organized to initially prevent the cancellation of the direct bus service. Made up of concerned locals from Bronte and nearby suburbs, the group has since launched fund-raisers and various campaigns to let the government know they will continue to oppose the cancellation.

*Photo Credit:* *Bring Back the 378 Bus/Facebook*

In response, the Liberal Government through MP Bruce Notley-Smith also announced the introduction of a direct bus service from Bronte to the city. However, Mr Notley-Smith didn’t specifically mention if this would be bus 378 in his statement.

*Photo Credit:* *Bruce Notley-Smith MP/Facebook*

The NSW Transport Department cut off Bronte’s 378 bus in late 2017. Residents lodged a petition to oppose the decision, citing that removing 378 would inconvenience commuters, especially the children and the elderly, but the plan was still carried out despite the protest.

Without 378, Bronte residents have been forced to take North Bondi buses bound for Sydney CBD. Doing so, however, entailed changing buses or trains during their commute, which added an hour or so to their travel time.

On Thursday, the 14th of March, Bring Back the 378 Bus will hold a forum with the officials to discuss the public transport situation in the Eastern Suburbs. Residents may join in the Q&A forum to know the candidates’ stand on the reinstatement of the 378 bus direct, as well as the services for buses 361, 389, 327, and the Eastern Suburbs Light Rail.