The amazing artwork is the handiwork of mural artist Daniel Hend who was tasked to paint the Australian Bush landscape and depict the stunning wildlife, flora and fauna of Avalon.
Mr Hend was contacted by Jasmine Hopcraft, who organised the fundraiser to get this project done. She saw a post from the artist offering his services at one of the community groups.
Ms Hopcraft thought that the Avalon community would be proud to have artwork depicting their amazing surrounding and believed they could raise $3,000 for the project. The Avalon RSL has contributed $1,000 to kickstart Hend’s work.
Ms Hopcraft also tapped local ecologist Jayden Walsh for the painting’s vision, which features some of the wonderful residents of Avalon, such as the owls, possums, bush turkey, kookaburra, and king parrots. The ghosts of koalas, wallabies and echidnas will also feature in the mural. These animals were once inhabitants of the suburb but are no longer missing due to the effects of development and human settlement.
As a child, Mr Hend, originally from Mullumbimby, learned to paint landscapes from his father, Len Hend and he developed his own style and familiarity with many mediums to become a multi-faceted visual artist.
Mr Hend has won heaps of recognition for his creativity and has raised funds by painting. He has murals and paintings in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.
His work on the Avalon RSL mural is expected to be completed by the end of February 2023.
Residents, businesses, and community groups have been requesting to halt works for the Avalon Shared Space trial, as the project has reportedly caused enormous inconvenience in the area.
Avalon Preservation Association (APA), a not-for-profit volunteer community group, stated in its bulletin for December 2022 that they are extremely disappointed with the delays in construction and the fact that the trial has not yet begun.
Artist’s impression of the Avalon Shared Space (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Council)
“The delay has meant construction work has been pushed into the busy Christmas holiday period. Retailers are angry. Drivers are angry. Residents are confused,” APA stated.
The shared space trial was proposed by the Northern Beaches Council, with support from the NSW Government, to enable greater pedestrian opportunities through expanded footpaths, new landscaping and additional seating areas.
Based on the timeline for the shared spaces for Avalon Beach, preparation for the trial will commence in October and is expected to be completed in December 2022, with the trial due to run for at least six months.
Photo credit: Northern Beaches Council
However, the works already came with a few issues, including the large queues of traffic farming on Avalon Parade and the lack of traffic controllers when the northbound lane on Old Barrenjoey Road was first closed.
According to Pittwater Councillor Miranda Korzy, the new project has been marred by multiple problems, including the new laying of bitumen on Old Barrenjoey Rd which has resulted in flooding of the road and inundation of a pedestrian ramp.
“I have just asked the council’s CEO to immediately halt work on the Avalon shared roadway project and to carry out an emergency assessment of it and emergency measures to decrease the flood risk – increased by the road works – to businesses in Old Barrenjoey Road. This should include provision of sandbags until the work is done,” said Cr Korzy in a social media post.
Cr Korzy is requesting to halt work and carry out an assessment of the design, planning process, and compliance with agreed schedules, including start and finish times.
The Councillor is also asking for emergency measures to be taken to prevent flooding occurring in business premises in Old Barrenjoey Rd.
The intersection of Old Barrenjoey Road and Avalon Parade in Avalon Beach will undergo some traffic changes, as part of a trial to make it a safer space for pedestrians.
By December 2022, the northern part of Old Barrenjoey Rd (near Woolworths) will be turned into a one-way southbound and a 10 km/h shared zone in a section of the road will also be implemented.
Other main changes include:
removing nine on-street parking spaces to provide safer pedestrian access
improving pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Old Barrenjoey Road and Avalon Parade
widening footpaths to create more space for pedestrians
The trial, which commenced last October is proposed to be completed this December. The trial will run for at least six months.
As part of the project, council will remove the existing pedestrian crossing located in Old Barrenjoey Road, north of Avalon Parade. This area will be part of the new 10km Shared Zone.
A 10 km Shared Zone is a road or network of roads where the road space is shared safely by vehicles and pedestrians, with a maximum speed limit of 10 km/h.
Meanwhile, authorities will change the existing unrestricted parking in Barrenjoey Road, east side, between Avalon Parade and Old Barrenjoey Road to 4P (four hour parking) 7:00 am – 7:00 pm everyday.
With nine on-street parking spaces set to be removed, locals are advised to park in the Avalon Beach commercial area, Avalon Beach carpark, Woolworths carpark and the Council carpark located in Avalon Parade.
Aside from delivering a safer space for pedestrians, the trial aims to provide a more people-focused experience for locals and visitors to the village, including improving the streetscape with plants and new furniture.
These changes were made possible through a $500,000 funding through the State Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces program, which aims to transform and re-energise streets during the day and as part of the 24-hour economy, to get NSW moving again.
My Place: Avalon – Avalon Beach Place Plan, which identifies improvements and programs for the area, was officially adopted during a Council meeting held in late July 2022.
However, the proposed cycleways within the Avalon Beach village were scrapped, with Council recommending that the proposal be “re-investigated” within 12 months, following unfavourable feedback from the community towards the project.
The public exhibition had received 736 submissions on the draft Place Plan, many of which were critical of the proposed cycleway. The key issues raised include:
The concrete divide between the cycleway and the road would be a trip hazard
Extending the cycleway across Barrenjoey Road would be dangerous for cyclists and motorists
The cycleway will disrupt residents getting in and out of Old Barrenjoey Rd (south)
Intermingling cyclists is a dangerous outcome, for the elderly and young pedestrians
Oppose the bike path due to the loss of trees
The cycleway will result in the loss of 30 parking spaces
A dedicated cycle path on Old Barrenjoey Rd would be a disaster and only cause high anxiety between the community and the Lycra brigade who travel at high speed
Some community support for the Alternate Avalon Bike Path Plan – Avalon Preservation Association that locates the cycleway in the laneways
A Council document stated that the cycleway would have provided the community with a safe cycling route and that it was developed as a response to the community’s expressed desire for active transport options apart from vehicles.
It likewise stated that the design did not incorporate a long concrete divide between the cycle path and car parking spaces as there are other materials and structures that could be used as well as breaks that would allow prams/wheelchairs and walkers access.
“No parking spaces would have been lost as a direct consequence of the proposed cycleway and no disabled car parking spaces will be removed as part of the design concept. In total 11 parking spaces will be removed from Old Barrenjoey Road and Avalon Parade to cater for the intersection redesign and incorporated footpath widening,” the document added.
“We recognise the local community is passionate about the environment and protection of trees and vegetation and the design of the cycleway was undertaken to minimise tree removal. However, as part of the design, six trees in the centre of the Old Barrenjoey Road (south) and three small trees along the western footpath edge need to be removed.”
“As part of the Place Plan extensive additional planting would be undertaken throughout the village,” Council stated as a response to the concerns over the loss of trees as part of the Place Plan.
Considering the concerns raised, the proposed cycleway will not proceed despite the mitigation measures available.
“Our 10-year plan for Avalon Beach sets out both longer-term projects such as redesigning the Old Barrenjoey Road and Avalon Parade intersection and quick win projects that have already been completed such as improving Dunbar Park playground in 2021,” Mayor Regan said..
Council will trial temporary southbound shared along Old Barrenjoey Road between Avalon Parade and Woolworths car park entrance. Before a permanent shared zone is considered, however, the community will be invited to have their say.
Improvements on the Avalon Beach streetscape will also be part of the plan including resurfacing footpaths and roads, landscaping, installing new street furniture, increasing the opportunities for art in public spaces and performance spaces, and improving lighting. Greening of the area will also be a major component of the plan.
In January 2021, the Cassar family, who are well-known in the aviation tourism industry, received approval to demolish their old apartment block and redevelop the site as a mixed-use facility via REV2021/0034.
Initially, the family wanted two eateries on their property. One will be located by Whale Beach Rd and the other will be at the Surf Rd entrance.
However, the planners asked the Cassars to merge both eateries into one site on the ground floor to contain the potential traffic and noise.
Photo Credit: NBC/REV2021/0034
Thus, the family submitted modifications (MOD2021/0983) to the approved proposal a year later but was met with strong objections from the locals due to the size of the cafe. More than 120 submissions were filed with the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel.
Photo Credit: NBC/REV2021/0034
“This type of development will destroy the lifestyle of those who live there. It will not simply be dreading the weekends and yet another function, it will taint their week and how they feel about the place,” one local said, pointing out that Whale Beach’s total population is only 250.
The Whale Beach Property Surf Life Saving Club, which is next door to the property, also submitted its objection, citing the following reasons.
“We have remained neutral on the proposed development until now, as it presented no obvious consequences to our core objectives. However, with this variation, we have concerns that a further substantial restaurant or function centre for 170 patrons at Whale Beach will overwhelm the available infrastructure.
There is almost no public transport to the area, and none during weekends.
There is virtually zero access for full-sized passenger buses, especially in summer weekends
when the proposed venue would have peak usage.
There is very limited street parking.
Parking in the NBC beach parking area is also limited, and often unavailable during summer.
The proposed development caters for minimal additional parking.
Already all Whale Beach local roads are reduced to one lane of traffic most of the time.
Occasionally surf safety incidents require quick access for emergency vehicles, which would be seriously compromised by traffic congestion caused by the proposed venue.”
Despite recommended consolidation of the eateries, which the Cassar family complied with, the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel decided, in early August 2022, to reject the modifications as failed to demonstrate how they will “not create unacceptable traffic and safety impacts in the area.”
Anthony Cassar said that, whether the eateries were in one large ground floor area or two separate smaller areas in the building, it was always going to be a 170-seater. He insisted that they are not asking to increase the numbers of patrons but their plans for the redevelopment will make a big improvement into an eyesore.
Northern Beaches residents, concerned about the protected birds in Careel Bay, are calling for increased enforcement in the area following a dog attack that killed a juvenile pelican.
Careel Bay is a bird sanctuary for over a hundred local and migratory bird species, including the endangered Bush Stone-Curlew, the Mangrove Gerygone, Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, and Bar-tailed Godwit. In Careel Bay, there is also an off-leash facility where dogs can run around, play and get their needed exercise.
So that both birds and dogs can co-exist, the Northern Beaches Council has placed signs all over Careel Bay directing owners to keep their pets on leads if they are not on Etival St, the unleashed dog exercise area. Violators could be fined $330 or more.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
However, in early June 2022, a local who was walking his dogs spotted an injured young pelican near the off-leash site. It was determined that the bird was the victim of a dog attack due to some telltale paw prints on the ground.
Advocate and Northern Beaches WIRES Area Coordinator Lyn Millett OAM said that whilst most dog owners are responsible, some people still forget to contain their dogs, especially around the sand flat. Ms Millett has witnessed instances where they needed to tell off the owners to control their pets.
Ms Millett believes that more policing of the area should be in place, especially during the weekends when pet owners bring their furry pals to the sand flat. Council, however, has assured the public that the rangers are “proactively monitoring” Careel Bay for unrestrained dog activity.
To learn more about responsible pet ownership, including dog registrations and microchipping, visit the Council’s official site. Call Council at 1300 434 434 to report a dog attack.
Alfonso’s Cafe along Elvina Avenue may have closed for good after nearly seven years but did you know that Alfonso and Marcela Rinaldi are still serving delicious wood-fired pizza at the Avalon Bowling Club?
After Sunday, 8th May 2022, the site of Alfonso’s Cafe has been officially up for lease whilst the Rinaldis have brought their mobile wood-fired pizza oven, as well as their famous paella, to the bowlo every Friday evening.
Alfonso is also regular at the Avalon Surf Club every Sunday. On the other hand, he and his wife have amped up their catering services for private events every Saturday. Locals who are interested in having them for parties may phone 0431 202 422 for bookings.
The Rinaldis decided to give up their shop on Elvina Avenue due to the rise in the rental costs. Still reeling from the impact of COVID-19, Alfonso admitted that they can no longer afford the rent thus they have to surrender the site.
Alfonso is originally from Italy. He moved to the Northern Beaches more than 30 years ago and then met his wife more than a decade later. They have lived in Warriewood and Newport but decided to open the cafe in Avalon.
In 2018, the community rallied behind Alfonso and Marcela following a noise complaint about their “Pizza and Music” nights. The Council moved to shut down the street music and foodie event, which drew outrage from the community.
The locals asked the Council to reconsider since the family-friendly festivities ran until 8:30 p.m. only.
“By shutting this night down you are removing more and more of the fabric of what makes Avalon a great place to live,” the locals said in a petition. Fortunately, Council has reconsidered and reinstated Pizza and Music nights.
A few years later, the Rinaldis have been forced to shift its business. Nonetheless, the food and the service remain the same, especially for its loyal customers.
A pedestrian shared space trial in Avalon has recently received $500,000 in funding. The trial will provide expanded footpaths, more seating, and landscape, as well as a chance for the locals to connect.
The trial covers a shared pedestrian and vehicle zone between Avalon Parade and the car park at Woolworths.
This pedestrian shared space has been in the plans for decades but had previously met with funding issues. With the announced allocation, however, the concept can finally be launched as the Northern Beaches also recover from the lockdowns.
As a result of this plan, northbound vehicles between Avalon Parade and the Woolworth car park will only be limited to one lane during the trial. The travel speed for this section is 10 km/h.
“This area of the village can be particularly busy with people moving between the shops, Dunbar Park, community facilities and the beach,” Mr Rob Stokes, Member for Pittwater and Minister for Active Transport said.
“The opportunity to create additional open space for people to relax, dine and move around the village is really exciting.
“Throughout COVID-19 we’ve seen a resurgence of people wanting to shop local, sit outdoors and explore the community. This project supports all of these elements and will provide a great case study for how the concept could be expanded elsewhere,” he added.
Bus routes impacting this area will be adjusted to accommodate the changes. Traffic arrangements will also be coordinated and simplified as the Council works on a seamless integration of the project with the community.
Avalon, an endangered Hawksbill sea turtle that washed up on Avalon Beach in November 2020, has been nursed back to health and was recently released in Port Stephens.
Now weighing more than 13 kilograms, Avalon was extremely malnourished at 3.8 kilograms when it was discovered struggling to forage for food nearly two years ago. She had barnacles and algae growth on her, which suggested that she was on adrift for quite some time.
The turtle was placed under an intensive care program with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Curatorial Supervisor Ben Wynand and his team. She became healthy, strong and fit for release.
As soon as Avalon was in the water, she swam with all her strength at Zenith Beach, a natural turtle habitat around the Shoal Bay headland.
Also rescued and released at Port Stephens were Cutler and Warnie, a pair of Loggerhead Sea Turtles found in Victoria. The experts said that Cutler and Warnie suffered from Floater Syndrome, which prevented them from going underwater due to their buoyancy.
Sea Life Aquarium curator Laura Simmons said that they decided to bring the turtles to Zenith Beach as it had the perfect condition for Avalon, Cutler and Warnie to thrive.
Ms Simmons believes that the turtles could remain in Port Stephens for some time if there is great food and the water temperature is ideal. But turtles tend to travel a lot thus Avalon and the other turtles could be in Queensland’s water up north in no time.
Turtles wash up on the beach for many reasons but some have been unable to swim because they’ve gotten sick from ingesting plastic.
Robert Johnson painting under an umbrella, watched by Enid Rigby and Heather Johnson c. 1938 (Photo credit: Alan Rigby/Northern Beaches Council)
Well-known landscape artist Robert Johnson and his wife Olive bought land at Hilltop Rd in the late 1920s. They lived in a stone cottage they fondly called the ‘Ashlar.’
Ashlar, located at 32 Hilltop Rd, Avalon Beach is listed on NSW heritage list as an example of an early artists’ home in a bush setting.
As an artist, Robert was drawn to the landscape around the Northern Beaches. The couple’s daughter Heather recalled his father would pack up on weekends and paint. Some of Robert’s favourite subjects were the Pittwater, gum trees and the headlands of Avalon Beach.
At the time, many houses in Hilltop Rd were considered as a weekend home or a holiday home because the area was isolated. Two of the main factors were the lack of good roads and public transport.
Robert Johnson working on Hilltop Road (Photo credit: Alan Rigby/Northern Beaches Council)
In the 1930s, the Warringah Council received many complaints from residents but eventually, they had to take matters into their own hands.
Residents helped maintain the roads to keep the roads passable. They needed to be resourceful particularly when it comes to road maintenance as the services during that time were very limited.
Because refrigeration was unusual in the street until the early 1950s, bread and ice were being delivered down at the bottom of the hill. Those who had ice chests would need large blocks of ice to be delivered every second or third day.
The Rigby’s
Alan and Enid Rigby (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Council)
In 1935, the Johnsons introduced Avalon to their friends, artists and avid bushwalkers Alan and Enid Rigby. The couple purchased the block of land next door to the Johnsons.
Alan, who was also into photography, captured the photographic record of some early residents of Avalon Beach.
The Rigby house photographed in late 1950s (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Council)
The Rigby family lived in their stone cottage home along Hilltop Rd from 1935 to 1972.
The Rigby’s and Johnson’s stone cottages were both built by local stonemason Charlie Erikson. He constructed the stone cottage for the Johnsons in 1935 and another one for the Rigby’s nearly a year later.
Charlie Erikson splitting shingles for roof of Ashlar (Photo credit: Alan Rigby/Northern Beaches Council)
Robert Johnson’s children Heather and Brian Johnson helped Charlie by splitting the shingles and received 1 penny per dozen for their work.
Another family who became close friends with the Johnson’s and Rigby’s were the Sibley family. The Sibley family lived in a log cabin at 53 Hudson Pde Clareville, which is in close proximity to Hilltop.
The Sibley’s are American residents living in Sydney, who considered their cabin as a weekender.
What’s unique about the Sibleys’ home was they made the logs part of the cabin instead of removing them.
Today, the house has retained its rustic feature, though the new owners have incorporated modern touches to the historic home. Based on property records, it was last sold in May 2020 for $3.6 million.
