Love letter to Summer Hill and its community spirit

Growing up as a Greek kid in Sydney in the ’80s, I didn’t like feeling different.

I was embarrassed to call out to my grandmother “yiayia” in public. I had no interest in learning the language. I just wanted to be like everyone else.

A few weeks ago, my kids dragged my mum and dad to their Grandparents Day at school. Not only were they proud to speak of their “yiayia” and “bapou”, but they weren’t the only ones. It was a day of nonnas, abuelas, omas, and nai nais.

These kids have grown up in Summer Hill. They’ve sat through drag queen story time, had friends with same-sex parents, and come home demanding to know our family’s plans for Diwali and Chinese New Year.

Kids in Summer Hill aren’t afraid of being different. They embrace it.

My wife and I fell in love with the suburb at first sight. Restaurants spilled into the street, live music playing as children ran around a fountain in the centre of town.

The fountain in the centre of town. Credit: Nick Calacouras

Less than 10 kilometres from the CBD, it’s a small inner west suburb of 1.1 square kilometres and only 7200 people. But it’s filled with restaurants, boutique shops and small bars. The IGA is famous for its cheese room.

It’s where Newtown grows up and starts a family.

My kids have literally grown up in its cafes. We took our daughter to our favourite one – Drugstore – straight from the hospital. On her first day of school, she walked up to the owner because she wanted to show off her new uniform.

My kids have literally grown up in Summer Hill’s cafes.Credit: Nick Calacouras

The word “village” gets thrown around a lot by communities in Sydney. But it hardly does Summer Hill justice.

With a train line, bus routes and light rail stops, we dropped down to one car … which we barely use.

When locked down to a 5km radius, we could easily take a daily walk, visiting the cafe, bakery, fruit shop and post office on the same block.

But it’s not the “what” that makes Summer Hill special. It’s the “who”.

It’s the butcher who used to give my then-toddler kids a frankfurter every time they walked in. It’s the GP clinic that takes after-hours calls, saving patients a wait at an emergency room all night. It’s the toy shop that will drop off a present for the birthday party you forgot was on this weekend. It’s Barry, the crossing guard who is an absolute celebrity to every child in the neighbourhood, giving high-fives to the preschoolers.

It’s an absurd little pocket of Sydney that offers an old-school feeling of safety and community alongside gluten-free dumplings and a fantastic wine list.

Best cafe? This is something Summer Hill doesn’t lack. I’d have to say Envy for the courtyard, Plunge for the food, but hands down, the best coffee is Drugstore.

Summer Hill shopping strip which is full of small businessesCredit: Steven Siewert

Best restaurant? Until recently it was One Penny Red, which was based in an old post office building. But it is shutting down this summer, so it would be 40 Grains – possibly the greatest Thai restaurant in Sydney. It’s fresh and flavoursome and unlike any other Thai restaurant I’ve ever been to.

Best beach, park or pool? There’s plenty of parks in the neighbourhood, but the Bay Walk is close by, so I’d have to give it my vote.

First place you take visitors? The Rio – and old milk bar that has been converted into a tapas bar. Or a small bar called the Temperance Society.

The Temperance Society in Summer Hill.Credit: Sahlan Hayes

Perfect night out in your suburb? One year, my wife and I once skipped our respective work Christmas parties, but we didn’t want to waste the babysitter. So we found a barstool at The Rio and ordered a bottle of wine and some nibbles. The Italian restaurants up the street were putting on an Opera night, where they spilled their tables into the street and had singers serenade the neighbourhood. It was an intimate night without the kids, a chilled bottle of riesling, rain pouring down the window, and Nessun Dorma ringing through the streets. It was as close to a perfect night out as I can imagine.

The Rio in Summer Hill. Credit: Steven Siewert

What would make your suburb better? There’s an empty shopfront on the corner of Lackey and Smith streets. Huge property, but has been closed for a decade. Pretty much anything but a giant empty property would be better.

Best secret spot in your suburb? There are several quiet streets that have the most amazing tree coverage. Perfect for going for a run or a nice walk. It feels like you’re in another world.