Avalon Beach Archives

Avalon Beach’s Cranzgots Pizza to Close as Development Proposal for Boutique Dan Murphy’s Advances

Cranzgots Pizza Cafe in North Avalon, operating since 1998, will serve its last pizza on Sunday 15 March 2026 as a development proposal to demolish and replace the Careel Shopping Village with a new mixed-use centre, anchored by a boutique Dan Murphy’s, moves through the licensing process.

The team behind Cranzgots announced the closure this week and said the decision had been far from easy. They said Cranzgots Pizza had been much more than a restaurant, serving as a gathering place filled with memories and familiar faces, and a venue for live music where the community shared laughs, danced and enjoyed unique pizzas not found anywhere else. The team said the venue had become an Avalon institution over the years.

The café at 1–3 Careel Head Road, known locally as “Cranny’s”, has drawn generations of Avalon families, surfers, soccer players and live music lovers to the Barrenjoey Road corner for 27 years. In a farewell message, the team thanked local groups, musicians and former staff, and said it will mark the closure with a final weekend of celebrations.

The prominent North Avalon site, a long-time stop for residents heading to Hitchcock Park, Careel Bay Playing Fields and Avalon Beach, has secured redevelopment approval after the NSW Land and Environment Court granted consent following conciliation between Grex Holdings Pty Ltd and Northern Beaches Council. Grex Holdings Pty Ltd lodged a liquor licence application with the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority on 16 December 2025.

What the Development Proposal Involves

The approved development consent covers the demolition of the existing shopping centre and construction of a new purpose-built three-storey mixed-use building. At ground level, the building will house the Dan Murphy’s store along with a small number of specialty retail tenancies. A childcare centre will occupy Level 1, with dedicated lift access from the basement and a separate entry on Careel Head Road that does not share any lobby or entry point with the Dan Murphy’s premises. Off-street basement parking will replace the existing surface car park, with excavation to a depth of approximately 2.3 metres required during construction.

Dan Murphy's development proposal — Photo Credit: APP-0015360276

The proposed Dan Murphy’s is considerably smaller than a typical store in the brand’s network. The trading floor covers approximately 409 square metres, roughly half the size of a standard Dan Murphy’s, and the store will carry around 2,800 product lines compared with approximately 4,000 at a full-format store. The concept is modelled on what Endeavour Group, the parent company behind Dan Murphy’s, describes as a boutique format aligned with “The Cellar by Dan Murphy’s” brand, with a focus on wine education, in-store tastings and on-demand micro-classes hosted by product specialists.

Endeavour has operated a comparable smaller-format store at Elanora Heights, also on the Northern Beaches, with a floor area of around 400 square metres. That store has received strong customer ratings since opening.

A Boutique Format for a Residential Neighbourhood

According to the liquor licence application materials, the proposed store will trade Monday to Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sunday from 10am to 9pm, shorter hours than the standard trading period for packaged liquor licences in NSW. It will employ approximately eight full-time staff supported by around ten permanent part-time and casual employees, with a stated preference for hiring locally.

The application documents note that Avalon Beach already has five licensed bottle shops, including Chambers Cellars, Liquorland Cellars (formerly Vintage Cellars), Mr Liquor North Avalon, Clareville Cellars Fine Wine and Beer, and the recently opened Winona Wine Avalon. The applicant argues the new store will redistribute market share among existing retailers rather than expand overall alcohol consumption in the community, drawing on NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data showing that alcohol-related assaults in Avalon Beach fell from 17 incidents in the year to June 2007 to six incidents in the year to June 2025.

The site sits within 30 metres of Hitchcock Park and approximately 150 metres from the Careel Bay Playing Fields, which includes the Avalon Soccer Club. The Avalon Veterinary Hospital on Barrenjoey Road is roughly 60 metres away. The application documents note there are no schools, nursing homes, places of worship, detoxification facilities or alcohol-free zones within 200 metres of the proposed store. The childcare centre within the same building has been designed with physical separation from the bottle shop, including a dedicated entry and lift that do not intersect with the Dan Murphy’s premises.

Farewell to Cranny’s and How to Follow the Application

The Cranzgots team has called on the community to visit and support the café right up to its final night of trading, inviting everyone to enjoy pizza, music and celebrate the end of an incredible era. Details of the final weekend events will be announced in the coming weeks.

The public submission period for the liquor licence application formally closed on 15 January 2026, but the application remains under assessment by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority. Residents who wish to monitor progress or seek further information can visit the Liquor and Gaming NSW Noticeboard.

Published 17-February-2026.

Toddler Nipped by Offleash Dog at Avalon Beach as Council Dog Attack Reports Hit Record High

Photo Credit: Mike Funnell

A young toddler walking to Avalon Beach children’s pool with his mother and sister was nipped by an offleash dog on 14 January, highlighting growing concerns among Avalon residents about dog control in public spaces.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:20am at south Avalon Beach when a dog, walking at least 10 metres behind its owner, approached the family. The owner’s response was to verbally abuse the mother before walking away with the dog still offleash and continuing towards busy Barrenjoey Road.

Witnesses reported the incident to Northern Beaches Council, and photographs of the dog and owner were forwarded to council as requested.

The incident was one of four dogs observed offleash in the same area within half an hour that morning. The Avalon Beach children’s pool is considered one of the few safe swimming areas for young children in the region.

The incident comes as newly released statistics reveal Northern Beaches Council recorded 247 dog attack reports for the financial year from July 2024 to June 2025, according to NSW Office of Local Government data. This represents the highest number on record for the local government area.

Of these reported incidents, 45 were classified as serious attacks on people requiring hospitalisation or medical treatment, whilst 146 involved attacks on animals.

The figures are particularly concerning when compared to Central Coast Council, which recorded 195 attacks despite having more than twice the number of registered dogs. Central Coast Council has 163,466 registered dogs compared to Northern Beaches Council’s approximately 77,896 microchipped dogs.

Under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998, dogs in public places must be under effective control by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash, except in designated offleash areas.

Local residents have expressed frustration with what they describe as widespread non-compliance with leash laws across Pittwater and the broader Northern Beaches area. Many say they can no longer find public spaces where dogs are consistently kept onleash as required.

Wildlife concerns have also been raised. On 16 January, a visibly distressed swamp wallaby was filmed racing along Collaroy to Narrabeen beach at 6:15am, appearing to flee from something pursuing it. Macropods, which include wallabies and kangaroos, can suffer from capture myopathy, a potentially fatal condition caused by extreme stress or pursuit.

Avalon residents who witness dog attacks or dogs offleash in prohibited areas are encouraged to report incidents immediately by calling 1300 434 434, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Outside council hours, incidents can be reported to the local police station, as police officers are authorised officers under the Companion Animals Act 1998.

Anonymous reports can also be submitted through Northern Beaches Council’s online portal at help.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/s/submit-request?topic=Pets_Animals.

Statistics for the current financial year from July 2025 to December 2025 have not yet been released.

Published 26-January-2026

Landslide Destroys Great Mackerel Beach Home as Storms Devastate Avalon

Photo Credit: gofundme / Fleur Johns

Severe storms battered Avalon on Saturday afternoon, bringing torrential rain that caused widespread flooding and a devastating landslide that destroyed a home at Great Mackerel Beach.

The deluge began around 2.00pm, with Avalon Beach recording 62.5 millimetres of rainfall in just one hour. The intense downpour overwhelmed drainage systems and stormwater infrastructure, flooding hundreds of homes and dozens of roads across the area.

Shopping centres along Barrenjoey Road at both Avalon Beach and Palm Beach were inundated, while emergency services fielded multiple Triple Zero calls from motorists trapped by rising waters. The rainfall continued throughout the afternoon and evening, with approximately 170 millimetres falling across the area.

At Therry Street in Avalon Beach, NSW State Emergency Service crews rushed to assist a family shortly after 9.00pm. Four adults, two children and two pets were trapped on the upper level of their home as floodwaters engulfed the ground floor.

Great Mackerel Beach bore the brunt of the storm system, recording 264 millimetres of rain over 24 hours. The offshore community’s only road access via fire trail became impassable, leaving residents isolated.

The Great Mackerel Beach Rural Fire Brigade began receiving calls for assistance mid-afternoon as significant flooding affected Monash Parade and Diggers Crescent. By 5.00pm, residents were protecting their homes with sandbags whilst a local electricity substation faced the threat of water inundation.

Although flooding appeared to ease by 7.00pm, the respite proved temporary. Around 9.30pm, the waterlogged hillside behind homes at Diggers Crescent gave way, sending mud and rocks cascading down the slope.

A large tree was uprooted and pushed into the rear of a house, shifting the structure approximately 400 millimetres from its foundations. A couple in their 60s were inside at the time, with the woman reportedly struck by debris as the tree slammed into the building.

Local RFS crews arrived quickly and reported that the couple had been evacuated to a nearby property where two doctors were providing care. The home has been deemed uninhabitable.

Poor weather conditions prevented helicopter access, and even the West Pittwater Rural Fire Brigade boat could not be launched. NSW Police Marine Area Command led a multi-agency response from Church Point, with NSW Ambulance deploying intensive care paramedics, special operations paramedics and two inspectors. Specialist Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters from Narrabeen Station joined the mission.

The rescue teams departed for Great Mackerel Beach by water police boat shortly after 10.30pm. Additional FRNSW crews, including rescue specialists from Darlinghurst and an Urban Search and Rescue team from Blacktown, were mobilised to Church Point.

Upon arrival, paramedics assessed the couple whilst firefighters examined the structural damage. Two neighbouring homes were evacuated as a precaution, though they appeared undamaged with no imminent risk identified.

The man was unharmed, whilst the woman suffered minor leg injuries and was assessed for shock but declined hospital transport after recovering.

The rescue teams’ return to Church Point was delayed whilst water police responded to a vessel torn from its mooring near Coasters Retreat. They arrived back shortly before 1.00am.

Police, Fire and Rescue NSW, RFS and NSW SES crews worked into the early hours of Sunday morning responding to downed trees and flooded homes across the Avalon area.

Published 18-January-2026

Local Surfer Escapes Serious Injury After Early Morning Shark Encounter at Little Avalon

Photo Credit: Facebook / Toby Play

Avalon Beach was closed for 24 hours on Saturday following a close encounter between a local surfer and a shark at the Little Avalon surf break.

Paul Stanton, an Avalon resident, was surfing south of the rock pool at approximately 5.40am on 10 January when a shark emerged from beneath him and made contact with his surfboard while he was paddling.

Mr Stanton instinctively pushed the animal away, but sustained a minor laceration to his left thumb when it made contact with the shark’s tooth. The encounter left two distinct tooth marks on the fin of his surfboard, along with drops of blood.

After alerting other surfers in the water, Mr Stanton paddled back to shore. Despite the incident, he was reported to be in good spirits and the injury to his hand was minor enough that it did not require bandaging. According to another local surfer, Mr Stanton later went surfing at Whale Beach after Avalon Beach was closed.

The type of shark involved in the incident could not be determined, as low light conditions at the time prevented Mr Stanton from seeing it clearly in the water.

Following standard protocol for shark incidents, Surf Life Saving NSW closed Avalon Beach and conducted extensive searches of the area using jet skis, inflatable rescue boats and drones. However, drone operations were hampered by high winds on the day. The shark was not located during these patrols.

Despite the beach closure and warnings from surf lifesavers, some swimmers and surfers chose to enter the water throughout the day as temperatures climbed.

The incident occurred approximately four months after a fatal shark attack claimed the life of 57-year-old Mercury Psillakis at nearby Long Reef in September 2025.

Sharks were also reportedly sighted at several other beaches along the Northern Beaches and NSW coast on Saturday.

Published 10-January-2026

Babylon House Claims Prestigious Interior Architecture Award

Photo Credit: Casey Brown Architecture

Babylon House, an Avalon home nestled between Pittwater and Avalon Beach, has received one of Australia’s most prestigious interior architecture awards, recognising a remarkable transformation nearly a decade in the making.

Babylon House was awarded the Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2025 National Architecture Awards ceremony held at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra on Thursday, 6 November.

The property, perched on the ridge between Pittwater and Avalon Beach, represents an extraordinary collaboration between Casey Brown Architecture and its owners, who purchased the home in 2015. What followed was a nine-year journey to restore and reimagine a unique piece of local architectural history.

Originally constructed in 1953 to a design by architect Edwin Kingsbury, the home’s distinctive curved forms, stonework and unconventional character earned it the local nickname “The Castle”. After decades of neglect, the building has been meticulously repaired and thoughtfully transformed while preserving its eccentric spirit.

The jury praised the project’s attention to detail and experiential qualities. “Every space and detail has the heart of the architect and client in it,” the citation noted, highlighting features including integrated rock ledges, bathrooms accessed via a floor hatch, bespoke patterns in floor treatments, crafted handrails, hand-finished timbers, and even a stage in the lounge room.

The home’s design respects its modernist roots while adding contemporary elements. The living areas sit beneath a 320-square-metre kidney-shaped roof with no right angles, all featuring soaring ceilings over four metres high. Mysterious corridors and passageways wind through the property, leading to an expansive 80-square-metre free-span dining room that opens onto a substantial patio with sweeping Pacific Ocean and Pittwater views.

The renovation extended the original design language using materials including black timber, terrazzo, pickled timber panelling and dichroic glass louvres. Salvaged materials were reused throughout, and asymmetrical skylights now cast shafts of light across restored stone walls.

Practical improvements were carefully integrated without compromising the home’s character. A new driveway and cable car now provide step-free access to the property, while a new kitchen and laundry have been discreetly tucked beneath the existing roof. The new master suite wraps around the southern edge of the main living space, threading carefully between sandstone boulders and mature angophoras.

The jury described Babylon House as feeling “ancient and contemporary all at once” and commended it as “a truly beautiful example of working with the essence of an existing building and bringing it back from the brink.”

The project team included Casey Brown Architecture principals Rob Brown, project architect Thomas Monahan, and project lead Ryan Western, with construction by David Campbell Building and stonework by John Wittey.

Earlier this year, Babylon House also won two awards at the NSW Architecture Awards: the John Verge Award for Interior Architecture and the award for Alterations and Additions.

The Emil Sodersten Award is one of the highest honours for interior architecture in Australia, recognising projects that demonstrate excellence in the design and execution of interior spaces.

Published 6-November-2025

Avalon Beach Among Sydney’s Cleanest in 2025 Beachwatch Report

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Avalon Beach ranks second overall among Sydney’s cleanest beaches, according to the 2025 Beachwatch report, confirming its excellent water quality, consistently low levels of enterococci bacteria, and minimal stormwater runoff.

Clean Waters for Avalon

The 2025 Beachwatch report assessed 249 swimming sites across New South Wales. The report found that 95 per cent of ocean beaches across the state had “very good” or “good” water quality. Avalon Beach ranked second overall in Sydney, following Whale Beach, based on consistently low levels of enterococci bacteria.

Avalon’s strong result was supported by its natural conditions and limited stormwater inflow. Local residents noted that the beach’s lack of stormwater drainage contributed to its cleanliness compared to other coastal areas.

Avalon Beach cleanliness — Photo Credit: Google Maps

Report Findings and Statewide Overview

The Beachwatch report graded beaches from “very good” to “very poor” based on microbial water quality. Among Sydney’s top-performing beaches were Whale Beach, Avalon Beach, Greenhills Beach, Palm Beach, The Basin, Wanda Beach, Shelly Beach (Sutherland), Elvina Bay, Bungan Beach, and Bilgola Beach.

The 2025 findings by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water attributed improved beach conditions to below-average rainfall, which reduced runoff and pollution in urban waterways. Statewide, 23 swimming locations recorded improved water quality over the previous year.

Sydney beaches — Photo Credit: Google Maps

How Avalon Compares

Avalon’s ranking placed it ahead of many of Sydney’s well-known beaches such as Bondi, Bronte, and Coogee. Bondi and Bronte received “good” gradings, while Coogee was rated “poor”. Beaches in the Northern Beaches and Sutherland Shire dominated the top ten for water quality, reflecting lower population density and minimal urban runoff in these coastal areas.

In contrast, enclosed sites such as Foreshores Beach and Gymea Bay Baths received “very poor” gradings due to restricted water flow and higher contamination risk.

Beachwatch report — Photo Credit: Google Maps

Community Response

Social media users celebrated Avalon’s high ranking, attributing its success to its natural drainage and community care for the coastal environment. Comments from locals highlighted the absence of major stormwater outlets and the protection of dune systems as key reasons for the beach’s pristine condition.

Residents also praised neighbouring Bilgola Beach, which placed within Sydney’s top ten cleanest beaches, reinforcing the Northern Beaches’ reputation for maintaining strong environmental standards.

Ongoing Monitoring and Public Access

The Beachwatch program continues to provide public access to real-time water quality data through its website. Environment Department officials advised swimmers to check Beachwatch updates before entering the water, particularly after rainfall, as urban runoff can temporarily affect water quality.

Published 3-Nov-2025

Careel Bay Takes Centre Stage in National Bird Count

Photo Credit: JJ Harrison/CC BY-SA 4.0

Avalon’s coastal bushland and tidal flats are more than a backdrop for weekend walks. They are a living stage for some of Australia’s rarest and most recognisable birds. This month, the suburb will once again find itself at the centre of a nationwide effort as locals join the Aussie Bird Count, recording the feathered life of backyards, headlands, and the sheltered waters of Careel Bay.

Bird Week Brings Community Together

The Aussie Bird Count, run by BirdLife Australia, is one of the largest citizen science events in the country. From 20 to 26 October 2025, Australians are encouraged to stop for just 20 minutes, anywhere they choose, and count the birds they see. Using the free app or website, participants contribute sightings that form part of an ongoing database used by scientists to track trends in bird populations.

For Avalon, participation is more than symbolic. The suburb’s wetlands and nearby bushland provide food and shelter for species of local and international importance.

At Careel Bay, shorebirds such as the critically endangered Eastern Curlew and migratory Bar-tailed Godwit can be seen during spring as they travel from breeding grounds in the Northern Hemisphere. Each recorded sighting adds vital data to help monitor whether these long-distance travellers are surviving their journeys and holding onto their habitats.

Everyday Birds, Critical Information

While Avalon is home to threatened species, the Bird Count does not just focus on the rare. Familiar locals such as the Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, and Willie Wagtail are just as important to log. Shifts in their numbers can reveal much about the pressures of urbanisation, land clearing, and climate change.

BirdLife Australia notes that even a single observation contributes to science. When thousands of Australians join in, the collective data helps map population shifts across suburbs, towns, and entire states. This information informs conservation planning and guides councils on how to protect the natural spaces that communities rely on.

Avalon’s Link to Bird History

Avalon’s role in Australia’s birdwatching culture stretches back more than a century. Neville William Cayley, remembered as Australia’s first popular field guide author, made his home here. His 1931 book, What Bird is That?, offered full-colour illustrations and descriptions that opened the world of birdwatching to ordinary people.

Neville Cayley — Photo Credit: Public Domain

Cayley lived at “Ideal View,” a house on Marine Parade in Avalon, where he painted and wrote about the very species still common in the suburb today. His work bridged science and art, and laid the groundwork for a culture of everyday Australians participating in bird observation. The 2025 Aussie Bird Count continues that legacy, translating Cayley’s passion into a digital age where sightings from Avalon can be logged instantly via smartphone.

Why Avalon Matters in 2025

Conservation groups highlight Careel Bay as a key site on the Northern Beaches where community involvement has direct value. Tidal wetlands here provide feeding grounds for shorebirds that face global declines. Recording their presence, even in small numbers, helps track whether conservation measures are effective.

In recent years, residents and council initiatives have worked to maintain these habitats. Nesting platforms have been installed for Ospreys, while bushcare groups restore vegetation along foreshore areas. The Bird Count provides everyday residents with an opportunity to participate in this ongoing effort, whether by walking along the bay at low tide or observing the calls of lorikeets in street trees.

Getting Involved from Avalon

Joining the Aussie Bird Count is straightforward. Locals can register online at the official site or download the app via Apple or Google Play. Participants select a spot — whether in a backyard, at the beach, or along the Careel Bay foreshore — and spend 20 minutes observing. The app provides identification tools, making it easier for beginners to recognise common birds.

For Avalon residents, the Bird Count is not just about numbers. It’s a way to connect with local heritage, contribute to conservation, and deepen awareness of the living environment that defines the community. Every lorikeet, curlew, or magpie recorded becomes part of a much larger picture of Australia’s birdlife.

Published 2-Oct-2025

Search Continues For Avalon Beach Woman After Devastating House Fire

Emergency services are conducting an extensive search for a woman in her 70s who remains unaccounted for after a catastrophic house fire destroyed her Hilltop Road home in Avalon Beach during the early hours of Friday morning.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to the scene around 1am after neighbours heard concerning sounds and discovered the two-storey timber property ablaze. In an act of remarkable courage, one neighbour attempted to kick down the front door to reach the resident but was forced back as flames rapidly consumed the structure.

The intensity of the fire, combined with an unusually large amount of possessions stored throughout the property, created extreme conditions that prevented firefighters from entering the building. Parts of the structure were already collapsing when emergency services arrived, with flames erupting through the roof and engulfing the entire home.

More than 20 Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters responded from stations across the Northern Beaches, including Avalon, Mona Vale, Narrabeen, Dee Why, Forestville and Lane Cove. The challenging terrain posed additional difficulties for crews, as the home was built on stilts on a steep hillside.

NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry explained the complexities faced by emergency responders. The elevated position of the home and significant structural collapse created substantial risks for firefighters, with concerns about personnel falling through damaged floors into the gully below.

Despite the challenging water supply in the narrow street, crews successfully brought the fire under control just before 2am. However, firefighters continued battling spot fires well into the morning as flames kept reigniting within stored materials throughout the property. Ausgrid was required to disconnect power to the street after crews encountered difficulties accessing the home’s electrical supply.

Northern Beaches Police Area Command officers, including Inspector Vanessa Robinson, established a crime scene and closed Hilltop Road to assist emergency services. Four NSW Ambulance crews attended the scene, treating the neighbour who had attempted the rescue for possible smoke inhalation.

The woman’s vehicle was found parked in the driveway, intensifying concerns that she may have been inside when the blaze erupted. Neighbours described the resident as someone who had lived at the property for several years and was known for being quiet but kind to those around her.

By Saturday morning, Fire and Rescue NSW’s Urban Search and Rescue teams had taken over operations, working to stabilise the severely damaged structure. Drones were deployed to conduct aerial assessments and searches of the scene, while an aerial ladder platform from Manly assisted with stabilisation efforts.

The Fire Investigation and Research Unit has been called in to determine the cause of the blaze, though their work has been hampered by the extensive structural damage and ongoing safety concerns.

Police investigations into the incident remain ongoing.

Published 20-September-2025

Avalon Tree Battle Ends With Compromise As One Gum Tree Removed, Another Saved

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Poyt448 Peter Woodard

A contentious dispute over native trees in Avalon Beach has finally reached a resolution, with one 80-year-old Flooded Gum removed and another saved through pruning after a year-long community battle.

The saga began in June 2024 when local supporters formed a human blockade to prevent the removal of four large Eucalyptus grandis trees on public land at Ruskin Rowe.

The trees had been deemed hazardous following multiple incidents between October 2023 and May 2024, including reports of falling branches that damaged a vehicle, brought down power lines, and required after-hours emergency services to restore street access. Two trees were successfully removed before the protest action prevented work on the remaining pair.

The decision was based on assessments from multiple qualified arborists, including internal and external experts at Australian Qualifications Framework levels 5 and 8, all concluding the trees posed safety risks and required removal.

However, Cr Miranda Korzy (Greens) challenged these findings, commissioning her own expert assessment from a level 8 arborist with an environmental law degree, who disputed the original risk evaluation methodology.

A challenge was raised to these findings through an independent expert assessment, commissioned from a level 8 arborist with an environmental law degree. This arborist disputed the original risk evaluation methodology.

The dispute proved costly for ratepayers, with questions on notice revealing the council spent approximately $20,000 to reschedule contractors and a further $14,000 in additional arborist consulting fees.

After obtaining further independent expert advice, council determined that while both remaining trees posed risks of dropping significant branches, only one required complete removal. The tree located on public land in the turning circle at the end of Ruskin Rowe could be preserved through strategic pruning.

Contractors returned on 30 July 2025 to complete the work. The arborists also removed an estimated an 80-year-old specimen that could have lived another 15 years.

Community members reflected on the outcome. They voiced ongoing concerns about the conflicting conclusions reached by different arborists throughout the process, and called for state regulation of the arboricultural industry.

The resolution coincides with Northern Beaches Council’s adoption of a comprehensive new Tree Management Policy in July 2025, which replaces five existing tree-related policies from the former councils and aims to increase tree cover by enhancing protection measures, promoting new or replacement planting, and improving the retention and long-term survival of healthy trees.

The importance of the region’s urban forest was highlighted, with the Northern Beaches home to an estimated 12 million trees – the greatest tree canopy coverage in metropolitan Sydney. Since 2019, tree coverage has increased by 485 hectares, with more than 5,000 trees planted annually.

“Trees play a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of our community, and this policy ensures we continue to protect and grow our tree canopy, benefiting both current and future generations,” the statement read.

The new policy recognises the multiple benefits trees provide, including air quality improvement, soil protection, water quality enhancement, carbon sequestration, energy conservation, noise reduction, urban cooling, and wildlife habitat provision.

Further details about the Tree Management Policy, including guidelines for tree removal and pruning on private land, are available on Northern Beaches Council’s website.

Published 12-August-2025

Babylon House Wins Top Architecture Awards After Stunning Renovation

Photo Credit: Casey Brown Architecture

Babylon House, an Avalon castle that has captured imaginations for more than seven decades, has claimed two prestigious awards at the recent NSW Architecture Awards, cementing its status as one of Sydney’s most extraordinary homes.

It won two awards: The John Verge Award for Interior Architecture and the award for Alterations and Additions, recognising the masterful restoration and expansion that has brought this iconic structure into the modern era.

The property, which locals have long dubbed ‘The Castle’ due to its fortress-like appearance, sits dramatically on Bilgola Plateau between Pittwater and Avalon Beach. Built in the early 1950s by architect Edwin Kingsberry, the house was originally christened Götterdämmerung – a reference to Wagner’s Ring Cycle that reflected the opera-loving architect’s theatrical sensibilities.

The property’s colourful past reads like something from a novel. It was the opera devotee architect Edwin Kingsberry’s idea, who sold the land on the condition he could build exactly the house he envisioned. The arrangement became more complicated when Kingsberry began a relationship with the buyer’s wife, adding an element of scandal to the home’s early years.

During the 1960s and 70s, the house gained notoriety as a bohemian gathering place, with the owners’ son – a member of the Bilgola Bop Band – hosting legendary parties that attracted Sydney’s creative crowd. Among those who climbed the property’s distinctive stone steps during this era was interior designer Fiona Spence, who would decades later become the home’s current owner.

Spence and her husband, former concert production manager Morris Lyda, purchased the deteriorating property in 2015. Despite its neglected state, they recognised the potential to restore its unique character while adapting it for contemporary living.

The couple engaged Casey Brown Architecture’s Rob Brown to lead the restoration, which proved to be an exercise in balancing respect for the original architecture with practical modern needs. The project required sensitive handling of the building’s eclectic mix of styles – combining modernist elements with what architectural circles term the ‘Sydney School’ approach.

The restoration began with essential infrastructure improvements, including the installation of a cable car system to ease access from a new solar-powered carport and the careful restoration of the property’s dramatic stone steps with handcrafted wrought-iron handrails.

The existing three-storey structure, complete with its unusual trapdoor entrance to a basement bathroom, underwent comprehensive renovation. Workers repointed the sandstone walls, restored the central fireplace, and replaced the extensive roof system that spans multiple wings and outdoor areas.

Among the most striking new elements is a four-metre pivoting wall in the east wing and a guillotine-style steel shutter that dramatically separates the bar area from the terrace. However, the project’s most significant addition was an entirely new southern wing housing bedroom, ensuite, walk-in robe, study and powder room.

This new section showcases perhaps the most innovative aspect of the renovation – its integration with the natural landscape. Rather than removing the site’s massive boulders and established trees, the architects built around them, allowing living rock to extend into the interior spaces.

The flooring throughout the new areas represents a particularly personal touch from Spence, who designed intricate terrazzo surfaces embedded with recycled marble and granite pieces. Drawing inspiration from Canberra’s Monster Kitchen and Bar and the original bathroom, she arranged the stone elements like an abstract artwork before the terrazzo was poured around them.

The material palette throughout celebrates both old and new, featuring black-painted ceilings and Tasmanian blackwood walls that Spence treated with a custom vinegar-and-steel-wool solution to achieve a distinctive ‘pickled’ finish.

Now called Babylon is a residential property built over four levels on a sheltered promontory west of Avalon Beach, and the completed renovation has attracted significant attention from the architecture community. Beyond its recent NSW Architecture Awards success, the project has also been shortlisted for this year’s Houses Awards in the alteration and addition under 200 square metres category.

The recognition reflects not only the technical achievement of the restoration but also the way it has preserved and enhanced a building that has long held a special place in the Northern Beaches community’s imagination.

For residents of Avalon and the broader peninsula, Babylon House represents both a connection to the area’s creative past and an inspiring example of how thoughtful renovation can breathe new life into architecturally significant buildings while respecting their essential character.

The property’s journey from Kingsberry’s operatic vision through its bohemian heyday to its current incarnation as an award-winning family home demonstrates the enduring appeal of bold architectural choices and the importance of owners who understand the responsibility that comes with stewarding such unique properties.

Published 11-July-2025