Surry Hills Archives - Page 18 of 19

Cycology Club in Surry Hills Announces ‘No Jab, No Ride’ Policy

Cycology Club, a fitness studio in Surry Hills, has become one of the first Sydney establishments to announce a “no jab, no ride” policy. The new rule will take effect once the lockdown restrictions are lifted and the business has reopened.

Whilst there has been no advice from the State or Federal Governments about enforcing vaccination conditions in establishments, Cycology owner David Finnimore said that he’s putting the policy up to encourage more people to get the jab.

Mr Finnimore acknowledged that a venue like Cycology brings a “significant risk of transmission” to its patrons. He said that while the patrons of Cycology could wear a mask and practice social distancing, it won’t provide the same experiences and expectations.

Highlights

Cycology Club in Surry Hills will have a no vaccination, no entry policy once the lockdowns are lifted.
Owner David Finnimore said that he wants to be supportive of the vaccination program so that Sydney can reopen and remain open.
Once a vaccination target has been reached, a vaccination authentication process could be rollout in the country.

The owner said that with COVID still around, they cannot continue with the same operations and “get back to what we used to do,” adding that he cannot risk the lives of the staff and the clients.

He believes that business owners like him should do their part in supporting and encouraging vaccination so that economies can reopen and stay open.

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The move has been met with both positive and negative reactions but Mr Finnimore said that people are entitled to their opinion. However, the spin studio owner believes that vaccination is still the best way for Sydney to get back to the normal way of life.

Meanwhile, reports cited that if Sydney achieves a substantial percentage of its vaccination target, fitness facilities could be allowed to operate without caps on the capacity of customers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also said that the government is already working on a digital vaccination authentication process.

“The post-vaccination phase will be entered once we reach a threshold of vaccination, to be determined by the modelling process we’re currently engaged in. This will be a scientific number. It won’t be a political number, it won’t be an arbitrary number, it will be a number that we can have confidence in,” Mr Morrison said.

Based on the Federal Government’s daily vaccination updates, Australia could be on track to vaccinate 80 percent of the population by January 2022. More shipments of Pfizer vaccines are also arriving in September and October.

Score ‘Made from Gin’ Goodies with Delivery Orders from Four Pillars Gin in Surry Hills

Do away with boredom whilst staying stuck at home by having a virtual boozy party with your friends. Sounds like too much work? Not if you have the drinks delivered from Four Pillars Gin, a gin bar and retail shop in Surry Hills.

To lift the lockdown blues, Four Pillars Gin is throwing in “Made from Gin” goodies with a bottle order from the store’s pick-up option or through their delivery service.

Made from Gin items are food products concocted using the flavour-packed botanicals left after each distillation. The goodies include choices of gin steamed orange marmalade, gin botanical chocolate (70 percent organic dark), and breakfast negroni, to name a few.

The orange marmalade is the first Made for Gin product and it’s a delicious blend of sweet and spicy flavours that goes so well with your brekky toast.

Photo Credit: https://www.fourpillarsgin.com/

Deliveries are good to go from Wednesday to Saturday between 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the following LGAs:

City of Sydney
Inner West
Woollahra
Waverley
Randwick
North Sydney
Mosman
Canada Bay
Lane Cove
Willoughby
Hunters Hill

Same-day delivery service covers orders placed before noontime and all deliveries carry a flat $5 fee. To order from the Lab and receive Made From Gin goods and same-day delivery, please contact the Lab directly at sydlab@fourpillarsgin.com.au or by calling (02) 9062 8430.

Products purchased directly from the Four Pillars website will be shipped from the distillery in Victoria via Aus Post and may take a few days.

Established in 2013, Four Pillars Gin occupied a former timber yard in Yarra Valley to distill and deliver bottles of gin across restaurants, bars and retailers in Australia. The company was recognised more than once as the world’s leading gin producer by the IWSC in London.

The company opened its Sydney home in 2020 at 410 Crown Street. The site features a gin shop and Eileen’s Bar, as well as a gin laboratory, where masterclasses and experimental flavours or products are created.

The bar and laboratory are currently closed due to the lockdown restrictions but delivery and pick-up options are in place. Follow the bar’s Instagram for updates on the store’s re-opening.

Butter Surry Hills Delivers ‘A Hot Messy Breakfast’ for a Limited Time

They say that “everything tastes better with butter” and if you need proof, Butter, the hybrid store known for its sneakers, apparel, champagne, and fried chicken at Hunt Street in Surry Hills, is offering a limited edition Egg Thot Muffin for breakfast…and yes, it’s enriched with hot, messy but flavourful butter!

The latest concoction from Chef Julian Cincotta is only available from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for all Saturdays and Sundays of July 2021. Butter’s three Sydney locations — Surry Hills, Parramatta, or Chatswood — will be serving up Egg Thot Muffin via takeway or through UberEats delivery during the lockdown.

This breakfast dish has silky scrambled egg, kombu glazed caramelised onions, salted chilli mayo, Japanese bbq sauce, fried egg, cheese, and fine herbs packed in between sourdough English muffins.

For an added price, customers may ramp up their sinfully delicious Egg Thot Muffin with add ons like bacon, Golden hash browns, fried field mushroom, fried Aphrodite Haloumi or Butter’s famous fried chicken.

However, if you’re craving for a heavier meal to get through the day (or night!), the store has also introduced its Burnt Ends Chicken Hot Ballz Ramen, it’s third offering for the Butter Ramen Club.

Filled with crispy fried chicken tender, a burnt-end glaze, tasty butter, black fungi, thick noodles, chilli, and marinated 1/2 egg, this dish is also offered for delivery or takeway.

Photo Credit: wolfgang.s.a/Butter Sydney/Facebook

If you’re ordering through UberEats, don’t forget to use the code BUTTERLOVE for a 15 percent discount.

Follow Butter on Facebook for updates on offers and deals, especially during the lockdown. Visit their official site and online store for shoes and clothes.

Surry Hills Popular with First Home Buyers in Sydney

Despite the rising house prices in Surry Hills, with residential properties averaging $1.8 million for houses and $921,000 for units, the suburb has emerged as one of the top choices for first home buyers in Australia.

The latest figures from the National Australia Bank (NAB) showed that lending activities for first home buyers rose to a new record in April 2021 and surged to 67 percent compared to last year’s first four months.

Andy Kerr, NAB’s executive of home ownership, said that this increase has been “nothing like they’ve seen in a generation.”

Whilst first home buyers flocked to Sydney’s outer ring suburbs like Parramatta, Rhodes and St Mary, inner-city locations like Surry Hills and Maroubra reflected a significant uptick in lending activity by 166 percent and 238 percent, respectively.

SUBURB	INCREASE in LENDING
Rhodes	291%
Maroubra	238%
Surry Hills	166%
Parramatta	87%
Acacia Gardens	80%
Rockdale	61%
Lane Cove	55%
Dapto	54%
Caringbah Saint Mary’s	45%

In December 2020, Parramatta was the lone Sydney postcode to be considered as a hotspot for first home buyers. Mr Kerr said that Surry Hills’s growth has been standing out since the surrounding suburbs have had modest demands.

About 90 percent of the first home buyers have been looking for one to three-bedroom houses close to where they work since there are now options to return to the office. However, industry experts said that there are still heaps of opportunities for new homeowners to invest in inner-city apartments as the values are not increasing as much as houses.

Commercial Development Planned for the Old Substation and Switch House in Surry Hills

The old substation and switch house at the back of the Royal Institute Building, in between the Prince Alfred Park and the railway yards in Surry Hills, could be turned into a $5.8 million office space following its decommissioning and vacancy since 2019.

The move is part of the plan for the NSW government to redevelop Sydney’s Central Station into a world-class technology hub. The development application (DA D/2021/585) was lodged in May 2021 and is still awaiting a decision.

The application calls for the creation of a commercial space connecting the three-storey and two-storey buildings that will be fitted with modern fixtures, including improved accessibility for the stairs, lifts and the pedestrian areas near Prince Alfred Park.

The tenants of the proposed development are expected to operate their businesses between 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. They will consist of start-up and scale-up companies. However, no tenants have been listed for the building as of press time. Further renovation plans will be revealed by Transport for NSW in the coming months.

However, the project aims to protect much of the site’s heritage elements listed under the Sydney Terminal and Central Railway Stations Group.

Photo Credit: AGE Archive/Development Application

“The former substation is no longer needed for transport services and TfNSW is proposing to conserve and restore this unique heritage building prior to enable sensitive reuse in line with the adaptive reuse strategy commissioned,” the development application stated.

“The proposal is an adaptive reuse to enable a minimalist refurbishment to bring the buildings up to safe and suitable standard for use as modern commercial office space.”

Conservationists at the National Trust NSW said that reusing the old substation and switch house would help preserve its historical importance, especially if the project puts focus on the building’s heritage elements.

The old substation and the switch house were built in 1925 following the expansion of the railways, which switched to electric power by then.

This proposal comes as Atlassian, a major tech company, has a development for a 40-storey commercial building beside the Central station. Developer giants Dexus and Frasers are also redeveloping a site near the train station for $2.5 billion.

The Standard Store in Surry Hills Resets in a New Location

After months of dealing with a dreadful dispute, The Standard Store in Surry Hills is bouncing back, resetting and recovering in a new location not far from its former home for the last nine years.

The shopping sanctuary, known for curating understated clothes from international brands, has re-opened at its own building on 431 Crown Street and owners, Nicola and Orlando Reindorf, feel that this has been a such fantastic do-over.

Prior to opening their new store, the Reindorf had a difficult ordeal with their former landlord, who terminated their lease and locked them out of their shop when they only managed to pay 70 percent of their rent. Admittedly, The Standard Store struggled because of the pandemic and could not renegotiate their lease since their shops, including an outlet in Melbourne, had been shut down for months.

But the Reindorfs are a resilient pair, managing a thriving clothing business since 2011. As luck would have it, they were able to secure a new Surry Hills space after meeting with the owners of Sark Studio, who were giving up their shop on Crown Street.

Recognising a worthy investment, the couple ended up buying Sark Studio’s former site and refurbished the building. Today, The Standard Store stands as a shopping oasis with an elevated space, offering Scandanavian, American and European fashion staples.

Photo Credit: The Standard Store/Facebook

The upgrade doesn’t stop with the store’s new home as the Reindorfs have also brought in more international brands to add to their growing inventory. They now offer ready-to-wear labels from Ulla Johnson (New York), Brandblack (Los Angeles) and Reception (France), as well as the collection of British designer Faye Toogood’s collaboration with Birkenstock.

The couple has always loved being in a Surry Hills shopping strip because of its community spirit as opposed to having a store inside a retail mall and they are also very appreciative of the public’s support for local businesses.

Follow The Standard Store’s Facebook Page for updates on their new collections and store hours or shop at their online store at your own convenience.

Native Drops Opens Second Artisan Cellar in Surry Hills

Before “natural wine” emerged as one of the latest trends, only a handful of local retail stores offered such choices in Sydney, including Native Drops in Bondi. Despite the challenges of running a niche business amidst the pandemic, this artisan wine store has thrived, enough to open a second shop in Surry Hills.

Native Drops owner Daniel Berman found a spacious two-storey site on Crown Street in Surry Hills where the bottle shop will operate its second store with Ella Stening as the manager. According to Stening, they intend to make the Surry Hills shop more of a space for “experiencing” great wine after learning that many of their customers want to enjoy the most out of what they consume, as triggered by the pandemic restrictions.

Above the Surry Hills location is a wine tasting room that will also be used as a venue for other events, such as product showcases, special dinners with wine, exhibits and documentary screenings. It will be a community space cum creative and educational hub that will also host Native Drops’ regular workshops and wine education, which they’ve been regularly conducting at the Bondi outlet for the last three years.

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With these events, the crew hopes to break down the misconceptions about natural wines. Sterling is also planning to host her regular Women in Wine fundraising events at the venue.

Meanwhile, Native Drops Surry Hills will be stocked with a variety of drinks and snacky treats that will perfectly pair with the customer’s booze of choice, including non-alcoholic pet-nat wine.

As with the first store, the shop’s inventory will come from small producers who embrace sustainable farming and harvesting. Their selection will range from traditional flavours to more experimental flavours, giving every consumer heaps of choices to find the drink they will truly enjoy.

Native Drops in Surry Hills is at 479 Crown Street and opens daily. Follow their Instagram page for products and events updates.

Canva Owners Offload Surry Hills Loft Apartment Investment

Successful Surry Hills residents, Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins, the co-founders of the billion-dollar graphic design platform, Canva, have decided to offload a loft apartment they’ve bought as an investment.

The pair has reportedly asked for more than $800,000 for the one-bedroom dwelling, which they originally bought for $667,500 in 2015. The property’s exact value and address have not been publicly divulged.

Obrecht and Perkins, who serve as the chief operating officer and chief executive officer of Canva, respectively, are currently living in a $1.5 million Surry Hills home. Since moving into this terrace, the couple has renovated the property by adding a third floor with a rooftop garden.

The Canva couple, who have been together since their days at the University of Western Australia, has quite the success story which started with Perkins, who launched the concept of her graphic design platform more than a decade ago in Perth. It was her third shot at establishing her own business after two major failures.

Then in her mid-20s, Perkins wanted a professional-quality design system for web users, regardless of their artistic expertise after experiencing frustrations herself on using design software. With Obrecht’s help, they tested Perkins’ idea with Fusion Books, which high school students use for their online yearbooks.

Fusion Books took off not only in Australia but also in France and New Zealand, which emboldened Perkins to pitch Canva to Silicon Valley investors. It took her three years to get a break until Cameron Adams, a former executive at Google, got on board.

By 2013, Canva was ready. A few years later, Canva’s financial assets climbed from $6.8 million to $23.5 million. By 2018, the company’s value was estimated at over $1 billion with 10 million registered Canva users across 190 countries.

The impact triggered moving Canva’s headquarters to Kippax Street in Surry Hills as the company expanded to 1,500 workers around the world.

Connection Studios in Surry Hills Launches New Membership Program

Take pleasure in the benefits of dance by signing up for a class at Connection Studios, a dance space in Surry Hills that will be launching a new membership program for all genres and levels of dancing. However, there’s more to being a part of this creative facility on Foveaux Street.

Classes for new members will start on 24 May 2021, where every student may enjoy free dance lessons for the first week (until 28 May), as taught by qualified and talented teachers who are well-known for their styles. During this period, participating dance enthusiasts may join different sessions to get an idea of the different styles offered at Connection Studios.

Among the classes are:

Afro House
Hip Hop
Street Jazz
Heels
Commercial
Contemporary
Salsa
Mambo
Open Choreography

After the free classes, members who stick with the dance studio can then sign-up for 10 lessons with six months validity.

“Whilst some of these classes on timetable are designed for those who will have some previous dance experience it’s a fantastic time for those who are curious and really want to branch out from their comfort zone to give it a go,” per Kristy Pinna, the owner.

Incidentally, the studio provides Queer-friendly courses as well. These are designed to “encourage our queer community to have a safe place to come learn both partnered and non-partnered dance styles with no gender assigned dance role,” Ms Pinna said.

“These classes are so important to us and our community to break down barriers and spread the love of dancing far and wide. Our current program starts every 4 weeks and for anyone who is keen to join they can try our classes next Mon 24th May for FREE,” she added. “Our classes are suitable to ALL, the dancing queens, kings, diva’s, two left feeters and those still not sure, no prerequisite to join just a willingness to have fun, learn and shake that groove thang.”

But Connection Studios is also the “Airbnb of dance spaces,” where eight rooms with complete facilities may be rented out for dance rehearsals and workshops by other artists. If you’re a dance teacher, a yoga instructor, or a self-defense instructor and you’re looking for a space, the building is ideally suited for your needs. The spaces are also open for non-artists for workshops, meetings, private parties, and other gatherings.

“Connection Studios has now been completely transformed into 8 bright and clean studio spaces and I am absolutely delighted that the pursuit of my own personal vision and dreams has allowed all artists (both professional or amateur) to be part of our community, have a place that they can call home and pursue their dreams on their own terms,” Ms Pinna said.

Check the corresponding fees and the terms for these classes on the official site. For enquiries, email info@connectionstudios.com.au or phone 0416 052 742.

Hotel Hollywood in Surry Hills On the Market After 42 Years

Hotel Hollywood, the popular Sydney watering hole and events venue, has hit the Surry Hills market after 42 years.

Located on Foster and Hunt Streets, this four-storey golden brick building was once owned by noted actress, vaudeville performer, and hotelier Doris Goddard. Named for its proximity to Sydney’s cinema industry, Ms Goddard used to perform at this hotel amidst fancy spinning mirror balls.

Following her death in 2019, Goddard’s estate tapped HTL Property’s Andrew Jolliffe, Sam Handy, and Blake Edwards to handle the sale of Hotel Hollywood.

Constructed between 1938 to 1942, Hotel Hollywood’s structure remains intact and unaltered, becoming a heritage-listed site in 2012. Even Ms Goddard’s mirror balls are still there.

The hotel currently carries a liquor license, gaming machines, and a rooftop space that has the potential for a beer garden. The first floor houses the hotel manager’s residence whilst there are nine rooms on the upper levels.

The agents said that the hotel has plenty of redevelopment opportunities, should the incoming owners decide to start fresh. HTL Property foresees the hotel’s temporary closure as the sale is still ongoing and waiting for a new owner to step in.

The company estimates that the deal could fetch more than $10 million and there have been expressions of interest from developers, investors, hoteliers, and restaurateurs given the history, location and the “iconic nature” of the building.