Flashback to 1983 and share a beer with Bob Hawke!

Picture the scene - it's March 1983 and Bob Hawke is now Prime Minister after a landslide victory for the Labour Party. You’re wearing tight Levis with a plaid shirt, and you’re heading to the flicks to watch BMX Bandits with up and coming Australian teen actress, Nicole Kidman.



After the movie you head to Marrickville to grab a beer and a Chinese meal but hang on a minute…. 80’s Marrickville? Well, not exactly, but it might as well be. In Marrickville’s latest eccentric venue, the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, you’ll feel as though you’ve entered a time warp.





Over the last few years, Marrickville has become a destination location for craft breweries – with over a dozen independent brewers within walking distance. The newly opened Bob Hawke Leisure Centre raises the bar with concept, décor and overall coolness. So how did this unorthodox venue come about? Like so many of the best ideas, it came from daydreaming. Homesick Australians Nath and Dave were sitting in New York on a cold day, dreaming about drinking a beer in the sun. Wondering who they would most like to have a beer with, the answer led to the founding of a brewing company with Bob Hawke.



It's the soulfulness of The Bob Hawke Brewery & Leisure Centre that elevates it above the pack. By combining two old school Aussie favourites - a cold beer and a great Chinese restaurant – the venue successfully nails the retro 80’s vibe, creating a quirky destination where you’ll feel instantly at home. Every part of the 1,200sqm establishment pays homage to legendary Prime Minister Bob Hawke and 1980’s Australiana. The décor is imbued with a personal collection of treasures and memorabilia, and lavished with 80s design trends such as golden hues, clashing prints and low level lighting. The lounge area and pool room have even been modelled after Hawke’s own pool room at his Northbridge home.

Chinese restaurant, The Lucky Prawn, is a museum-like time capsule showcasing all that is kitsch. A quintessential reminder of 80’s era Aussie-Chinese joints that could be found all over the country, the space celebrates red and gold, wood veneer walls, smooth curved lines and ornate, thick pile carpets (salvaged from Petersham Town Hall for authenticity). And to add the icing on the cake, this is a venue with a big heart. The boys donate a significant proportion of their brewery profits to Landcare and other environmental charities, so you’ll feel even better knowing that you’re helping save the planet when you frequent this soul-filled venue.

  

 

Close to this, and all the action of TimeOut’s top ten coolest hood in the world, is the Wicks Place village development located on Victoria Road Marrickville.



In this happening hub of creative spaces, cafés, parks, breweries, foodie destinations and so many more places to discover, you won’t find a cooler place to live. Check out Cramer’s phenomenal Wicks Place properties here:

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Call Cramer today to visit the showroom and learn more about Wicks Place, Marrickville today.

The apartment precinct - The future of apartment living

Apartment Living Chronicles Part 3

It is expected that Australia’s population will expand to more than 35 million citizens by 2050, with a large percentage of its inhabitants living in urban centers. The existing infrastructure and public utilities that were set up to accommodate an urban density model of 8 to 15 detached dwellings per hectare are now largely unsustainable. 

However, the advent of the apartment to replace detached houses has tended to bring with it certain setbacks of their own. They have tended to eat into public space, been heavy consumers of energy and offered lonely, characterless corridors as the only common areas.  And this is not to mention their aesthetic value or lack thereof on our urban landscape. So, what does the future of apartment living look like, and will we remedy the errors of the past?

Progressive architects are looking to design spaces that not only provide dwellings, but also create community infrastructure in sustainable, medium density developments that embrace and nurture the social aspect of community. Rather than limiting their design to purely residential, many cutting edge architects are developing vibrant precincts within apartment complexes for both residents and the public to enjoy. This type of urban development has long been seen in Europe, where communities seem to have the social and leisure aspects of life down pat. So, it is almost inevitable that Australia’s largest cities adopt this successful urban design for the future.

Never has the home and its relationship to community been more important than in the current climate. The best upcoming developments not only provide homes, but also contribute positively to our cities in a sustainable way. Private foyers are becoming public spaces and provide infrastructure and services often lacking in the local community. This not only serves the community at large, but also residents. Additionally, it creates a sense of vibrancy and a buzz of activity for the people living in the apartments connected to these precincts. This supports residents’ wellbeing and creates spaces where neighbours can connect with each other. 

Precincts allow residents a village way of life that reduces carbon emissions and means they are able to live small and shop local. The on-hand convenience of having a trendy restaurant, café or boutique shop a lift ride away, means residents have more time up their sleeve. And the best apartment precincts are close to transport corridors, shops and services. Ideally, precincts have their own green space that not only beautifies the immediate area, but also offers a readily accessible space for leisure and recreation. 

Cramer have an exciting collection of apartments for sale by developers TOGA, who have really embraced the precinct concept for living and incorporated it into their outstanding apartments, retail and green spaces. Here is a selection of our fantastic listings in Surry Hills Village and Wicks Place on the Park in Marrickville, two of Sydney’s most creative, cool and cosmopolitan suburbs.

Post Lockdown Must See – One of the world’s top ten coolest neighbourhoods, Marrickville

The locals know it, and now it’s gone international with Marrickville having been voted by Time Out magazine as one of the world’s top ten coolest neighbourhoods. While we are all stuck in lockdown, use the internet to go sightseeing while your feet cannot, and get to know why Marrickville is fast becoming the most popular Sydney suburb. I’ve popped a few links below for your armchair travels until happy, post lockdown days will allow you to visit the real thing!

The best cuisines of the world are showcased here in Marrickville’s restaurants - try Peruvian at Pepito’s, Mediterranean at Barzaari, Kurumac for Japanese, Pizza Madre for Vegetarian Italian. Some of Australia’s most authentic Vietnamese and Filipino cuisine is there to enjoy and eating out doesn’t cost have to cost an arm and a leg. 

The pub culture in Marrickville is becoming world-renowned and its craft beer halls arguably the best in the country. And for those who love their coffee, the café culture and quality of brew is exceptional in this thriving suburb. Meet with a mate (once the lockdown ends – and it will end thank God) and take your pick from Ona, Matinee or Stix and while you’re there, try the food as it is as good as it gets. And Two Chaps has a vegetarian based menu and is also open at night for pasta and Italian style desserts.

Then for a mean breakfast and bargains galore, explore the Marrickville Organic Markets at the Addison Road Community Centre. These markets are dog-friendly in Marrickville’s typical inclusive style and offer everything from bespoke artisan wares to organic produce and vintage clothing. 

It’s easy to get out and about in this fantastic suburb’s many great parks – take a book and a picnic to your choice of Marrickville, Henson or Enmore Parks. Or to get a great cardio and enjoy water views, try the Cooks River Foreshore walking and bike track. Also check out the brand new, award-winning, architecturally superior Marrickville Library and Pavillion. If you have little ones, the library has a great Rhyme Time, then after take the tiny tots for an excellent adventure at the playground in Marrickville Park. 

A huge factor that contributes to Marrickville’s liveability and lovability is its multi-cultural population that creates a melting pot of all that is great about the individual cultures and shows Australia functioning socially at its best with everyone getting on with everyone. 

Marrickville’s Inner West centrality is greatly assisted by the neighbourhood’s two train stations – Marrickville and Sydnenham – taking you direct to the CBD and the buses connect easily to other popular Inner West suburbs such as Newtown and Enmore. And just before I sign off, let’s look forward to the Marrickville Annual Street Festival - once things open up again and we can all happily return to live as we somewhat know it. 

For more on Marrickville, check out Concrete Playground’s neighbourhood guide.

If you're considering a move to Marrickville, then look no further than Wick's Place. 
View Cramer Property's available residences, including this beautiful two bedroom apartment.

Discover Marrickville : Part 2

The Tour-worthy Craft Beer Scene of one of the World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods

Not only one of the world’s top 10 coolest neighbourhoods as voted by TimeOut, Marrickville is also home to one of the Southern Hemisphere’s best craft beer scenes. So whether you’re a major fan of the golden ale or just enjoy the odd pint, you will be positively spoiled for choice in Marrickville. Home to a number NSW’s best craft breweries, Marrickville attracts locals and visitors alike, and if you are really keen, you can even make a day of it on The Legendary Marrickville Brewery Tour. So here’s the lowdown:

Willie the Boatman – Intriguingly named after the legend of a convict boatman, this is open Thursday to Sunday for a behind-the-scenes look at how beer is made. The proud owners of this Sydney institution name all of their beer after mates – Try Crazy Ivan IPA, Black Bunny, Albo American and Rachel for starters.

Batch Brewing Company – As their name suggests, this brewery makes their beers in the old-fashioned way, batch by batch. Most famous for their big, bold flavours, here they believe variety is the spice of life, changing their offer every two weeks. Go for gold with the 6 sample beer paddle or for the less daring try the India Pale Ale or current equivalent.

Wildflower Brewing and Blending – Made using wild NSW yeasts and bacteria with barrel ageing techniques, Wildflower creates one-of-a-kind Belgian-style sour ales, famous for their tart characteristics

Stockade Brew Co – Don’t despair if you are not a beer lover, as Stockade also serve cocktails. Serving their core five beers, they also serve up out-there seasonal releases. At this point, you are going to need some food to soak up all the alcohol, and to do just that, nothing beats a burger! Local food truck Baby Rey’s Burgers offers delectable burgers to choose from.

Sauce Brewing Co – Featuring the best beer garden in Sydney, and offering the best craft beers on the planet from twelve taps, you can’t go past Sauce. Add to this food trucks from Friday to Sunday and Thursday Night Pizzas, you’ll keep coming back for more at this comfy, laid-back watering hole.

The Grifter – One of the Inner West’s busiest breweries, The Grifter has achieved a cult-like status for its seasonable and limited release beers. It does nostalgically retain the first commercial beer the three owners ever made, the Edward Pale Ale. The pool room and rotating pop-up food stalls are great attractions, as is the fact that The Grifter is kid and pet friendly.

Whether you are a beer lover or teetotaller, at Wicks Place on the Park, you are ideally placed to enjoy the best Marrickville has to offer. With a great selection of architecturally designed, fantastically finished apartments to choose from, you’re sure to find the home that’s right for you in one of the world’s Top Ten Coolest Locations!

Discover Marrickville : Part 1

Sydney’s next leading creative arts and cultural hub

Centrally located in the heart of the Inner West, the Victoria Road Precinct is transforming Marrickville into a totally unique and excitingly vibrant high street and night time economy. Covering approximately 18 hectares in area, the precinct will create increased employment and diversity, new creative industries, new parklands and new community uses benefitting local residents and attracting visitors to the area.

The breadth of unique, small scale cultural and arts experiences already existing across Marrickville will be enhanced by the new development underway and have the potential to add a unique new face to the tourist economy. The $48million Rich Street Creative Arts Hub (Timberyards) is being built to accommodate 460 artists, creatives, designers and start-ups. It will include markets, a central courtyard, cafe outlets and an outdoor events space. It will provide 460 jobs in arts, cultural industries and various other start-ups. There will be 7,200m² of new public open space and an improved tree canopy with 50 new trees.

Cafés, restaurants, small bars and craft breweries, pop-ups, galleries and exhibition spaces will line the streets and activate open spaces, making the Victoria Road Precinct an incredibly desirable place for work and fun. Existing open spaces and parks within the precinct will be updated as green, active and attractive public places. New parks and public spaces will be developed, including an open air cinema and an extensive landscaped rooftop area with bar to enhance the public domain. There will be a rotating program of community events for all to enjoy.

At Wicks Place on the Park, you are ideally placed to enjoy the best Marrickville has to offer. Featuring a great selection of architecturally designed, fantastically finished apartments to choose from, you’re sure to find the home that’s right for you. And with all the new job opportunities that will come with Timber yards, you could just find the job of your dreams in this coolest of neighbourhoods.

THE INNER WEST’S NEW URBAN VILLAGE

At front and centre of Marrickville’s revival is the extraordinary new lifestyle/residential development, Wicks Place on the Park. These brilliantly crafted, house-like apartments are surrounded by an imaginative retail and dining precinct that echoes the character and variety of Marrickville. The project has been designed by a team of multi award-winning architects, revitalising the way we live. Within buildings created around green spaces, walkable neighbourhoods and re-imagined warehouse spaces, each apartment feels intimately connected to this outstanding urban village yet offers a home base that will fast become your oasis.

Generous living spaces integrate wonderfully with nature creating seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, serene environments and gorgeous outlooks. Interior designers extraordinaire, Richards Stanisich, have imbued the house-like interiors with an organic quality consisting of soft colouration and beautifully detailed and layered finishes that create luxurious texture and warmth. Exquisite leathered finish granite island benches and splash-backs create a bespoke feel in the heart of the home, while you can rest assured everything else down to the smallest detail that maximises storage has been intelligently and diligently approached.

While only a few short kilometres from Sydney’s CBD, you’ll be world’s away enjoying the fantastic local cafes, restaurants, craft beer halls, bars and boutiques of thriving Marrickville. And if exercise is on your mind, Wicks Park is on your doorstep and Enmore Park’s close at hand, or try out the local tennis courts, sporting fields or new Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre.