Transplanted to Greystanes, the suburb with a heart

Transplant. It is an interesting word. To most, it means a new heart, liver or kidney. In terms of Sydney, it means to move “out west”. I am originally a South Sydney boy but moved all over the place pre WV (wedding vows).

Long-term stays in glamorous locales such as Tamarama, Manly, Willoughby and Hunters Hill mean that I would make a pretty handy cabbie (we still have cabbies don’t we?).

This all changed when I met my wife, rich with Lebanese heritage and living in the New Beirut enclave – Greystanes. My first impressions were not good. Thoughts of “it is so, so far from the beach” and “how many fast food franchises does one suburb need?” were very common.

This all changed once I got to know my new family and how warm and friendly the locals are. Greystanes really is a village. They love their footy (and not just the Eels), barbeque (charcoal only) and talking about the latest “mansion” being built on their street. I also realised that the fast food chains had mainly set up shop outside of the Greystanes city limits (looking at you Wentworthville and Merrylands...)!

Hot days could include a dip at Wenty (Wentworthville) pools or a few cheap beers at the leagues club. Did I mention that there is a waterslide park just five minutes down the freeway? SOLD!

At night the over-18s drive off to Parramatta somewhere but the married-with-kids types usually knock on someone’s door, offload the children and ... head off to Parramatta, too. Just a 10-minute drive, it has plenty of great restaurants and a lazy stroll along the river is a must to walk off the carbs.

Summer fun at Raging Waters which kind of has a beach.Credit: Brook Mitchell

Best cafe? Atlas Cafe. On Ettalong Road. Easy menu, actual parking and room for the kids to run about.

Best restaurant? Does Smithfield count? If so, Candelori’s. A staple. You haven’t really lived the west life without dinner there.

Best beach, park or pool? Did I mention a lack of beaches? Raging Waters kind of has one? The wave machine does its best ...

Best park? Central Gardens (has wallabies and emus).

The 225-metre-long Boothtown aqueduct is heritage listed. The now defunct aqueduct turned cycleway is hidden in plain sight in suburban Greystanes.Credit: Dean Sewell

First place you take visitors? To the Zoo (technically Blacktown). Hopefully the Tigers are awake.

Perfect night: a beer and a snitty at the local club.Credit: Natalie Grono

Perfect night out in your suburb? A few lazy drinks with a schnitty in the outdoor bistro at the leagues club on a warm night. An honourable mention must also go to the Greystanes Hotel!

What would make your suburb better? Tough one. Let me get back to you...

Best secret spot in your suburb? The bike path along the aqueduct. Yes, Greystanes has its own aqueduct borrowing the knowhow from the ancient Romans. It is still pretty cool though.

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