The best of the Inner West from 16 to 18 October

Good morning, Inner Westies.

From a $15.6 million harbour house and a retro arcade bar to Addi Road’s 50th and the Makers Frontyard Trail, there’s a lot on this weekend.

Grab your morning coffee and let’s explore the Inner West together.

Have a great weekend,
Jess

Note: Please check to confirm details are accurate with venues, event providers, restaurants and pubs by clicking through to their site. Events are occasionally cancelled at the last minute.

Brookfield last sold for $15.6 million in March 2024. Two and a half years on, it’s back on the market. The c1895 Victorian is right on the water, with Harbour Bridge views. Its formal rooms have marble fireplaces and open to a terrace. The marble kitchen pairs Gaggenau appliances with the original cast-iron stove. Outside are a pool, lawn and boathouse with two slipways. There’s even an inclinator. You’d be hosting every New Year’s if you lived there.

📍 4 bed / 6 bath / 2 car / 663sqm approx.
👉 Listed with Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty

Wondercade in St Peters is a retro arcade bar with more than 40 arcade and pinball machines, plus a fully stocked bar. Entry is free and tokens start at $1, with most games taking about two. It’s a hit with kids (welcome with a responsible adult) and just as much fun with a group of mates, and leashed dogs can come along too. No hot food, but Uber Eats orders are welcome. Small local spots like this need our support, so round up some friends and go chase a high score.

📆 Thu – Fri 5pm – 10pm / Sat 12pm – 10pm / Sun 12pm – 6pm
📍 75 Mary Street, St Peters
👉 Find out more

Lollies at the gate? Skeletons on the balcony? A front garden full of ghosts?

We’re building an Inner West Halloween map for Saturday 31 October, so families can find homes handing out treats or going all out on decorations.

Add yours by Wednesday 21 October to make the first map, live on our Halloween page on Friday 23 October. Show your exact house or just your nearest cross street. Every entry is checked before it goes live, and your email stays private.

👉 Add your home to the Halloween map

🐠 Shipwreck Odyssey (ages 4–12)
An interactive digital ocean from Box of Birds, the Space Play team: follow a ghost ship to the Great Barrier Reef to dance with stingrays and whales. Last chance before it closes.
📆 Fri 16 – Sun 18 Oct / Various session times.
📍 Carriageworks, Eveleigh

🤖 Makertime: Halloween Robot Maze (ages 8–12)
Kids learn block coding, then steer Sphero robots through a spooky obstacle course they build as a team; $15.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 10:30am – 12:30pm
📍 Darling Square Library, Haymarket

🤟 Auslan and English Storytime (ages 3–5)
Stories told in Auslan and English for deaf and hearing preschoolers; free, no booking, so arrive early.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 11:30am – 12pm
📍 Glebe Library

🐴 Pony Rides Are Back at Marrickville Market
Kids can hop on a pony while the grown-ups grab a coffee and browse the market stalls.
📆 Sun 18 Oct / Market open 9am – 3pm
📍 Marrickville Food & Farmers Market

🎨 Homeschool Maker Time: Pixel Art (ages 12-16)
Teens design 8-bit pixel art, laser-cut it into a keyring or badge, then animate their character in stop-motion; $15.
📆 Tue 20 Oct / 10:30am – 12:30pm
📍 Darling Square Library, Haymarket

🛠️ Miniature Worlds for Neurodivergent Teens (ages 12–17)
Young people build their own tiny world, from fantasy landscapes to bustling towns, with miniature materials and craft supplies; free.
📆 Wed 21 Oct / 10am – 11:30am
📍 Diverse Art Therapy, Newtown

🎶 Music Together Playgroup (ages 3–5)
Children and adults sing, play percussion instruments, dance and share stories.
📆 Wed 21 Oct – Wed 9 Dec / Wednesdays 10am – 10:45am
📍 Plumtree Children’s Services, Marrickville ♿️

👗 Flip Fashion Forever
A weekly drop-in where high school students from Canada Bay schools upcycle clothes and learn beginner sewing; free.
📆 Wed 21 Oct / 3:30pm – 4:30pm
📍 Five Dock Library

📚 Page-Turners: Rooted in Place (ages 12–16)
Poet Gabi Cadenhead helps young writers bring a favourite local place to life with sensory language and personification; free.
📆 Wed 21 Oct / 5pm – 6pm
📍 Marrickville Library and Pavilion

🎻 Me & My Violin: First Steps (ages 4–5)
Jane Cormack introduces violin skills through stories, games, singing and dancing; equipment provided, bookings essential.
📆 Thu 22 & Fri 23 Oct / 10am – 10:40am each day
📍 The Place, Lewisham

COMING UP

🧙 Kids Halloween Costume Swap
Swap up to six clean, wearable kids’ costumes and accessories for different ones; free for Inner West residents.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 10am – 2pm
📍 Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill

🎃 Nicho Halloween Festival
Live music, games, a haunted house and food at the school’s long-running Halloween festival.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 3pm – 7pm
📍 Nicholson Street Public School, Balmain East

🎃 Inner West Halloween Festival
A haunted house, games, spooky crafts and treats, with proceeds going to the school’s P&C; cashless only.
📆 Sat 31 Oct / 3pm – 7pm
📍 Summer Hill Public School

👉 View the Kids Eat Free Guide

ALL WEEKEND

🖼️ Glebe Art Show
The Glebe Art Society’s annual community show, with works for sale and the $3,000 Robin Lawrence Open Art Prize.
📆 Thu 15 – Sun 25 Oct / Daily from 10am
📍 Tramsheds, Forest Lodge

FRIDAY

🎬 Inside Sydney Fish Market Screening
Watch the latest episode of the SBS documentary narrated by Rick Stein.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / 1pm
📍 Auction Hall, Glebe

🎤 Voice Gym (ages 65+)
A singer and speech pathologist leads voice-strengthening exercises, calling activities and shared sound.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / 2pm – 3pm
📍 Little BIG House, Summer Hill

🍷 Glebe Art Show: Sip and Seek
Gallery treasure-hunt challenges, wine and nibbles, with prizes redeemable against artworks.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / 6pm – 8pm
📍 Tramsheds, Forest Lodge

🎵 2SER Radiothon: Video Killed the Radio Star
The community station opens its annual fundraising Radiothon with live sets from its DJs and beatmakers and a screening of local music videos.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / 6pm – 11pm
📍 Mixtape Brewing & Bar, Marrickville

📖 Matt Lloyd-Cape: Our Place
A conversation with Jack Toohey about Australia’s housing crisis and how to fix it.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / 6pm – 8pm
📍 Upstairs at Gleebooks, Glebe

🎨 Paint and Sip with Kyle Wilkinsun
A guided portrait-painting session; materials, snacks and drinks included.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / 6pm – 8pm
📍 Black Canoe Gallery, Waterloo

🍻 The Shakesbeer Sessions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Pub Shakespeare Company plays the comedy with singalongs and a drink in hand; $32.
📆 Fri 16 Oct (Annandale) & Sat 24 Oct (Leichhardt) / 7:30pm – 9:30pm
📍 The Annandale Hotel; The Barrel Room, Leichhardt

SATURDAY

🛍️ Rack Sale at Rozelle Collectors Market
Rail after rail of pre-loved vintage and designer clothing, priced to clear; it only happens four times a year, and entry is free.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 9am – 3pm
📍 Rozelle Public School

♻️ The Bower’s Greenest Day of the Year
20% off at the Summer Hill boutique and Australian art pieces fresh from auction at the Marrickville store, plus free repairs at Project Planet in Wolli Creek.
📆 Sat 17 Oct
📍 The Bower, Summer Hill and Marrickville

💬 Inner West Writers Group
Bring up to 1,500 words of a work in progress for feedback, or sit in and listen on a first visit; RSVP on Meetup.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 10am
📍 Marrickville Library and Pavilion

🧘 Soul Universe Wellness Open Day
Sample massages, teas and bodycare, meet practitioners and explore treatment rooms.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 10am – 1pm
📍 Soul Universe, Annandale

🎂 Addi Road Fiesta
Addi Road turns 50 with a smoking ceremony, two stages of music and dance, medieval fight re-enactments, yoga, site tours, food stalls, kids’ activities and 2SER broadcasting live; free.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 10:30am – 2pm
📍 Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville

🎨 Casual Watercolour and Drawing Class
An open studio for all ages and levels: work on any subject or style with tips from artist Pamela Horsnell; morning tea provided.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 11am – 1:30pm
📍 Juno Creative Studio, Marrickville

🏉 International Quadruple Header
Four internationals on one ticket: the Wallaroos v Scotland, both Australian Sevens sides, then the Wallabies v All Blacks for the Bledisloe Cup.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / From 12pm; Bledisloe Cup 3:45pm
📍 Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

🧘 Breakthrough Breathwork
Facilitators lead a group breathing session with headphones, layered sound and music.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 1:30pm – 4pm
📍 Redfern Community Centre

🎵 PALETA
Latin music party for Latinx and diasporic queer women and femmes; friends and allies welcome. Free entry.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 5pm – late
📍 The Abercrombie Hotel rooftop, Chippendale

SUNDAY

🛍️ Flour Mill Markets
A mix of market stalls featuring fresh flowers, produce, baked goods, food, homewares, clothing and it's dog-friendly.
📆 Sun 18 Oct / 9am – 1pm
📍 Harvest Park and Mungo Scott Plaza, Summer Hill

👗 Radically Soft: VOL.008
Sydney’s first plus-size market, with pre-loved and handmade plus-size fashion, plus Grumpy Donuts and Wattle Street Bakery; $5 entry, or by donation.
📆 Sun 18 Oct / 10am – 3pm
📍 Sydney Portugal Community Club, Marrickville

🌏 BBQ for Multiculturalism
Benjamin Law and Sally Sitou MP speak, with choirs, Chinese opera, cultural performances, kids’ entertainment and a free barbecue.
📆 Sun 18 Oct / 12pm – 2pm
📍 Ashfield Park ♿️

🏊 Sunday Sessions: Abigail Wighton
Local musician Abigail Wighton plays indie folk poolside while swimmers do their laps, part of a free summer live music series.
📆 Sun 18 Oct / 12pm – 2pm
📍 Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre, Petersham

🎞️ Snip & Snap: Stop Motion With Collage
Cut collage pieces, then animate them frame by frame on a phone with sound effects; materials provided.
📆 Sun 18 Oct / 12:30pm – 3pm
📍 Monster Mouse Studios, Marrickville

COMING UP

💇 Pints & Plaits
Parents and carers practise ponytails, plaits and braids on mannequins, with a take-home hair kit and beer included.
📆 Wed 21 & Thu 22 Oct / Various times
📍 The Annandale Hotel

🏠 Who Deserves a Home?
Alana Hunt, Alan Morris, Jessie Hohmann and Famey Williams discuss housing, ownership and belonging.
📆 Thu 22 Oct / 5:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 UTS Central foyer, Ultimo

💬 Electrify Inner West Expo
Solar, batteries, hot water and electric-appliance advice, with Peter Garrett’s opening address followed by a panel Q&A.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 10am – 1pm
📍 Leichhardt Town Hall

🇮🇹 Norton Street Italian Festa
Italian food, stalls, music, cooking demonstrations, cars and children’s activities. Free entry.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 10am – 5pm
📍 Norton Street, Leichhardt

It’s the final weekend of Sydney Craft Week, with open studios, markets and workshops all over the Inner West until Sunday 18 October.

ALL WEEKEND

A red imported fire ant nest has been treated at Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre. The NSW Government says detection dogs found no other nests at the centre, and genetic testing points to an overseas arrival rather than the Queensland outbreak. Inspections will focus first on a 500-metre radius, with surveillance and treatment where needed extending to two kilometres.

👉 Find out more

Inner West Council is opposing a proposed 16-storey, 77-metre tower at 104–108 Victoria Road, Rozelle. It says the height and bulk would overshadow neighbouring homes and provide inadequate setbacks and open space. Traders in Purple has lodged the project as a State Significant Development, so the NSW Government will assess it outside Council’s usual approval process.

👉 Find out more

The NSW Government, Inner West Council and NSW SES will investigate a new SES base at Callan Park following changes to parklands legislation. The aim is to bring operations currently split across two locations together, with vehicle bays, training rooms and volunteer facilities. A suitable site is still being identified; the announcement does not give a construction date.

👉 Find out more

Inner West Council is seeking feedback on a proposed bike route linking Parramatta Road at West Street with Marrickville Park. The concept includes safer crossings, intersection changes, kerb ramps and traffic calming. Comments close Wednesday 4 November, with a pop-up at Marrickville Park Playground on Saturday 24 October, 10am – 2pm. Feedback will go to the Local Transport Forum later this year.

👉 Find out more

Canada Bay Council is updating the policy governing community gardens on Council land, with a stronger focus on inclusion, environmental sustainability and how garden groups are run. The area currently has four approved gardens. Feedback closes Sunday 25 October; Council will consider submissions before taking the proposed policy to a meeting for adoption.

👉 Find out more

Burwood Council is reviewing how it notifies the community about pesticide use in public places. Its revised plan sets out notification and accountability arrangements, with notice methods varying according to the proposed use. It does not replace other safety laws or product instructions. Submissions close Friday 23 October and can be sent by email or post.

👉 Find out more

Strathfield Council’s 2027 Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year nominations are open until 5pm on Friday 20 November. Nominees must be Australian citizens living in the Council area; the young citizen category covers ages 16–21 on Australia Day 2027. The awards recognise contributions to the community and will be presented at Council’s Australia Day celebrations.

👉 Find out more

City of Sydney Council is consulting on planning changes for 41–49 Mountain Street, Ultimo, to allow a 15-storey building with build-to-rent homes, permanent affordable housing and ground-floor retail. The proposal includes a pedestrian link and reuse of a heritage-listed substation. Comments close at 5pm on Friday 6 November, before further consideration by Council and the Central Sydney Planning Committee.

👉 Find out more

🍰 Miss Sina’s New Seating Opens Saturday
Miss Sina has taken over the shop next door to its Dulwich Hill bakery, adding air-conditioned indoor seating and reading nooks. The first 50 customers on Saturday get a free mini donut with any purchase, and book clubs, craft nights, dinner pop-ups and event hire are on the way. See store for terms and conditions.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / From 8am
📍 Miss Sina, Dulwich Hill

🥪 Weekend Subs at MMC Slice
MMC Slice Shoppe in Marrickville now serves submarine sandwiches at weekend lunch. Choose five-meat or spicy chicken cutlet on house-made bread, available as a whole or half.

☕ Nata Cold-Foam Coffee at Sweet Belem
Sweet Belem has introduced pastel de nata cold-foam coffee at its Petersham bakery. The drinks are available every Friday to Sunday.

🔥 Polly’s First Souvla Saturday
Polly Put the Kettle On adds its first Saturday souvla lunch, with chicken and lamb cooked over charcoal.
📆 Sat 17 Oct / 11am – 3pm
📍 Polly Put the Kettle On, Marrickville

🫒 Ahgora Moves to Leichhardt
After years in Glebe, Mediterranean restaurant Ahgora has reopened on Norton Street in Leichhardt. Lunch, with mezze and house-made wraps, runs Wednesday to Sunday; dinner is shared plates from 5pm, Wednesday to Monday.

COMING UP

🍞 Another Whisk Is Coming to Marrickville
After popping up at markets around Sydney, Another Whisk is opening its own bakery in Marrickville. No opening date yet.

🏃 DAWN Run Club Launch
A 5km social run from the bakery; runners get a free coffee with any pastry on launch day.
📆 Fri 23 Oct / 6am
📍 Dawn Baked Goods, Rozelle

🍝 Gnocchi Cooking Class at Favola
Make gnocchi, then eat it with a choice of sauce; prosecco, focaccia, olives and crema di caffè included. $99; book by message or call 02 8021 0002.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 11am
📍 Favola, Newtown

🍻 Sydney Beer Week Opens at the Union
The Union Hotel is Sydney Beer Week’s Queensland base, with two beers each from Queensland breweries including Range, Balter and Sea Legs; free entry.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / From 5pm; pouring through the week
📍 The Union Hotel, Newtown

🎂 Hopsters Turns 10
Australia’s first co-operative brewery launches Milestone, a 10% West Coast IPA brewed with Common People, plus a Common People tap takeover, live music and pizza.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / From 6pm
📍 Hopsters, Enmore

🍋 Pucker Up at Mixtape
Mixtape’s sour beer day is back for Sydney Beer Week, with sours pouring from midday.
📆 Fri 16 Oct / 12pm – 10pm
📍 Mixtape Brewing & Bar, Marrickville

🌊 Coast of Origin at the HP Bowlo
Eight coastal breweries, including Earth Beer Company, Seven Mile and Jervis Bay Brewing Co., go north versus south; vote for a favourite to win merch.
📆 Fri 16 – Sun 25 Oct
📍 HP Bowlo, Hurlstone Park

🍺 State of Brews: NSW
Pumphouse Sydney pours 12 beers from 12 NSW breweries for Sydney Beer Week, including Lord Nelson, Yulli’s Brews and Earth Beer Co. Entry is free.
📆 Fri 16 – Sun 18 Oct / From 12pm daily
📍 Pumphouse Sydney, Haymarket

🥃 Mixtape x Morris Boilermaker Night
A guided tasting of four Morris whiskies, each matched with a Mixtape beer, with light snacks; $70.
📆 Tue 20 Oct / 6:30pm – 8:30pm
📍 Mixtape Brewing & Bar, Marrickville

HAPPY HOUR HEROES

🍷 Regatta Club, Haberfield | Wednesday to Friday | 4pm – 6pm | $8 tap beer schooners, $9 selected wines by the glass and $16 selected cocktails. Not valid with other offers - see venue for terms and conditions.

🥃 The Bowlo, Lilyfield | Friday | 8pm – 10pm | $7 house spirits - see venue for terms and conditions.

🍺 Corridor, Newtown | Every night | 5pm – 7pm | $10 pints, $15 jugs and $14 cocktails, with different specials available each day - see venue for terms and conditions.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our deadline is the close of business on Wednesday for each Friday edition.