Beer O'Clock🍺
Pubs and bars are open. Well, one is!
Hey Neighbour, Simon here. How are you today? I’m very thirsty for an East Sydney Hotel ale. Sadly, despite the new rules, I have a few more weeks to go yet: scroll down to find out what our local watering holes are up to. And to read about the passing of the union activist who saved Woolloomooloo from redevelopment in the 1970s.
Real ale at the East Sydney Hotel.
Quick reminder: this is a free, weekly newsletter serving Woolloomooloo. It’s designed to fill an information gap, so please do email me if there’s something you want to know. Today’s edition is 820 words, a 3-minute read.
Where We’re At With COVID-19 😷
NSW has 3071 cases and 46 deaths, with only 24 new cases this last week. Australia has 7019 cases and 98 deaths, with only one fatality this week.
Our postcode NSW 2011 has recorded 28 cases from 1527 tests: all recovered.
In comparison, Belgium has 54,644 cases and 8,959 deaths. Horrific. If Australia’s epidemic was as bad, we’d have 19,850 deaths. The Luckiest Country.
What’s Open? What’s Closed? 🚫
As of yesterday, pubs and bars are allowed to open, provided they have no more than ten patrons at a time, all socially distanced.
Excitingly, 1933 Boozehouse on William Street is OPEN! “We’re very happy to be open once again” said licensee Mark Lovett, who’s trying to figure out a sustainable model while adhering to the restrictions. “I don’t understand the 10 person rule really. I could easily socially distance thirty people. With 10 people it’s really hard to cover all our costs.”
Keeping the virus in check at 1933 Boozehouse ;-)
Boozehouse is open for three sittings, 6-8pm, 8-10pm and 10pm to midnight, fully booked out this weekend. They’re charging $100 a sitting for a bottomless booze package with food: “We are focused on delivering a high quality experience” Mark told me. “Please come and check out our fire breathing!” 🔥
The Old Fitzroy, East Sydney, Frisco, Tilbury, Bells and Woolloomooloo Bay Hotels remain closed. “Unfortunately it’s pretty pointless to open at the moment if we’re only allowed 10 people in the pub,” said Mark Murphy at the Old Fitzroy. “We’re just going to wait and see. We are selling online at the moment and will be pushing that.” As shared last week, the Fitz are doing takeaways.
"We have actually been pretty busy” said Sam Marsden at the East Sydney Hotel. “We have taken the chance to do some much needed renovations and upgrades, overhauling our beer system, cool room and refrigeration, and retiling our kitchen – which will lead to a much better offering. We are not quite finished but will be in two more weeks if all goes to plan! The restrictions being lifted took us a little by surprise but the upgrades will be well worth the extra time we think."
Today’s Weekend Australian ($) features a group of socially distanced working lunchers at Manta on the Wharf yesterday. “I’m just loving being outdoors again and at a restaurant,” one diner said, “even if we do have to sit slightly apart.”
Also down on the Wharf, Ovolo Hotel have unveiled an innovative Restaurant in Room package with 5 courses for 2 guests at $130, or $220 with matching wines (lofts from $269). Worth it to have this spunk deliver your meal?!
What’s happening on the streets?
I’ve been trying to find out how the pandemic is affecting Woolloomooloo’s homeless. According to the NSW Government, more than 1000 rough sleepers in metropolitan Sydney have taken up offers of 30-days temporary accommodation. I’ll keep looking into this, as without an extension to this program many of these people will be back on the streets as we move into winter.
Assistance: If you or someone you know needs help with anything, you can call the Woolloomooloo Support Line run by Vinnies and Weave on 8642 0423.
What I’m Reading This Week 🗞️
Three things I enjoyed this week…
Learning how union leader and environmental activist Jack Mundey saved Woolloomooloo from a “forest of high rise executive suites” with the green bans on development in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Thanks Jack!
The Science Behind School Re-openings in the Times Educational Supplement, which explores different models around the world in detail.
Silent Skies: How A Pandemic Grounded The Aviation Industry in the SMH, which brilliantly visualises how empty the skies are now vs pre-corona.
Woolloomooloo mural featuring Jack Mundey via Alice Mulheron on Twitter
Last But Not Least 🐟
Sydney Water are digging up my block again this weekend, tidying up the pipes after the never-ending adventures of Refresh Woolloomooloo. Still, the water issues were definitely worse in May 1895, according to this letter in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Until next time, stay safe, and happy dining if you make it out this weekend. Email simon@j-project.org if you have anything to share. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this thorough, comprehensive, informative and good hearted update - I feel very lucky to have you doing all the work for us!