ABC’S Wendy Harmer names Brookvale most boring suburb in Sydney
Brookvale locals have jumped to the defence of the suburb after being named the most boring in Sydney by ABC radio host Wendy Harmer. What do you think?
Manly
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Sacre bleu! Brookvale’s hipster residents, including the owners of a cool, new French bistro have responded to a radio host who named it the most boring suburb in Sydney.
ABC Sydney breakfast host Wendy Harmer made the comment on her show last week, but has already apologised to the people of Brookvale, saying it was just a bit of fun, and that “being an idiot” is part of her job description.
Harmer, a long-term Collaroy resident, said she called Brookvale boring because to many it’s just a thoroughfare to Dee Why.
“It does look a bit desolate, it would be great to see some landscaping,” she said.
However, since making the comments, she said she has heard from a few people who think otherwise, including some of the micro breweries that have made their home there.
And, she has vowed “to get out a bit more” and see some of Brookvale’s better bits.
“I think Brookvale is a bit of a secret, and you need to be in the know,” she told the Manly Daily.
Those in the know have come out to defend their suburb, which they say is more than just home to the Manly Sea Eagles and Warringah Mall, but is packed with cool coffee shops, hip microbreweries, a gin distillery, boutique gyms, and even a French bistro.
Sarah Arrass, co-owner of Le Sud on Pittwater Rd, said she swapped Montpellier in the South of France for Manly, before choosing Brookvale as her home and for the location for her new business because she loves it.
“We moved here from Manly because we love this suburb,” Ms Arrass said.
“It’s good for kids, we have everything here, you can get beautiful coffee and there’s lots of shops.”
Ms Arrass, whose husband is the chef at their restaurant which hosts events including a live artist painting scenes from her home city while diners eat, has been fully booked for the past three weekends.
“People in Brookvale and Dee Why don’t always want to go into the city or to Manly,” she said.
“I think if you do something good people will come – and they are.
“We hope we can show other businesses it’s worth coming here.”
7th Day Brewery, in Powells Rd, has just celebrated its first year in the suburb, joining 4 Pines Brewery, in Winbourne Rd, Nomad Brewing Co, in Sydenham Rd, and Dad and Dave’s Brewing in Chard Rd.
Manly Spirits, a gin distillery, is also in Winbourne Rd.
Lauren Paterson, head of marketing at 7th Day Brewery, said Brookvale was fast becoming a destination.
“You’ll find craft breweries and boutique cafes scattered across what was once just an industrial area and now becoming a relatively underground and exciting hub for northern beaches locals, outside of the Manly bubble,” she said.
“Brookvale is the easy to get to hidden gem of the northern beaches’ social and dining scene.”
Meanwhile, those looking for the latest fitness trends are heading to Brookvale, which has a number of boutique studios.
Sammy Gibson, pilates instructor and marketing director at Luxe Yoga and Fitness in Harbord Rd, said they offered classes not available anywhere else including, aerial yoga, which involves doing yoga poses while hanging from fabric attached to the ceiling, as well as a new type of spinning class and meditation.
“We offer a little bit of heaven here with our wellness sanctuary,” she said.
But it’s not just businesses who want to be in Brookvale, it’s tempting the Inner West set who want still want that urban feel, with the benefit of being close to the beaches.
Tim Cullen, from McGrath, said Brookvale has that “new and up and coming vibe”, with a great price tag. A two bed unit with large pet-friendly garden can be bought for under $1m.
Mr Cullen said he couldn’t fathom why Harmer would say Brookvale was boring.
“I don’t think she knows the area,” he said. “I don’t think she’s in tune with the reality of it.”
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