The suburb where we all scream for ice-cream

There’s a challenge for anyone around Leichhardt in summer – get the local lead-footed ice-cream van to stop.

Living in Sydney’s Little Italy you’d expect to be spoilt for choice when it comes to gelato offerings but none of the popular ice cream spots dotted around the inner west have made their way here.

There is local institution, Bar Italia, for those who may still carry cash in 2024, but if you’re after a scoop on a sweaty afternoon you’re bereft of options.

So it was music to my ears to hear Greensleeves echoing around Leichhardt one warm January not long after moving here.

But when I walked outside, my street was empty. Had Sydney’s humidity finally driven me mad?

After a search online, I discovered that another local, only identifying themselves as “Hayzi”, possibly because they too were questioning their own sanity, had fallen victim to the same thing.

“Has anybody ever bought an ice-cream from the Mr Whippy van that goes through Leichhardt? I’ve been living here since January and I constantly hear the music, only to never see the van. Ever,” they posted on Reddit.

Missed by that much. Various sightings of the elusive ice-cream van that torments the residents of Leichhardt. Credit: Leichhardt Community Group

“I finally saw it today, and after attempting to chase it down it disappeared up Balmain Rd. Is it a ghost van?”

In the time since I’ve sighted the van, but getting its driver to stop is another thing again. The van seems intent to hurtle through Leichhardt’s backstreets gaining a cult following as the inner-west summer tormenter on four wheels.

I’ve witnessed grown men break into a sprint in pursuit, and children left in tears, begging for a promised soft serve.

If only… the elusive soft-serve.Credit: Steven Siewert

We are at the stage where like Bigfoot or the Lithgow Panther, locals are sharing sightings online, posting hastily taken phone photos of a pink and white blur to a local Facebook group.

Much like complaining about changes to bin night and a newly acquired love for Halloween, it’s brought this suburb together.

“We just moved into the area, and literally just this week I asked my partner (as the van shot past our house once again) exactly what sort of business model involves driving an ice-cream truck through suburban streets full of families with kids, but doing so at Mach 4,” one person asked.

“Hooning down Hill St. Literally being chased by people yelling for him to stop. He didn’t,” another recently reported.

This summer I’ve got the trainers on standby. Maybe the nightmarish traffic caused by the new Rozelle interchange might finally have some benefit for Leichhardt and force him to put on the brakes.

Best cafe? Wayne’s Place. Top coffee and the best service anywhere from a father and son duo.

Best restaurant? La Botto D’Oro. The good local Italian spot that’s been around since the late ’70s.

Best beach, park or pool? Petersham Park. Sure it is a suburb over but it’s walkable and you get the pool and the park (and the recently opened Splash. cafe).

The Bay Run. Credit: Louise Kennerley

First place you take visitors? The Bay Run or Callan Park followed by the beer garden at the Leichhardt Bowling Club.

Perfect night out in your suburb? Pizza and a beer at the Barrel Room by Akasha then a gig at the Crowbar, a local pub that does a lot of live music.

What would make your suburb better? Reviving Norton Street to its former glory.

Best secret spot in your suburb? High N’Dry. Top-notch burgers served inside a former Italian trattoria.

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