Whale watching, walking, and enjoying the scenic views just got a whole lot better following the completion of the new Malabar coastal walk that links to Maroubra beach.
The Boora Point Walking Track, along the coastline of the Malabar Headland National Park, has been upgraded with a wheelchair-accessible trail and a 510-metre extension to reach Magic Point, which wraps to the south side of the park along the trail leading to Maroubra Beach.
About 100 metres of this walking track is filled with crushed sandstone that requires extra accessibility assistance. Thus, the NSW Government invested $3.5 million for this project for the benefit and enjoyment of Sydney residents.
The new Malabar coastal walk linking to Maroubra will also protect the native vegetation by preventing ongoing erosion from informal tracks.
Photo Credit: Paul Halasz/Google Maps
“These tracks are part of the NSW Government’s biggest infrastructure investment in national parks’ history, delivering $450 million of priority works to benefit the community and boost nature-based tourism across the State,” Environment Minister James Griffin said.
“Parks along our coastline are great places to get out and enjoy our unique environment while also offering great opportunities for whale watching.
“This investment will support jobs by creating better facilities, such as walking trails and family-friendly amenities, to meet increased demand for our national parks which are a key driver of the visitor economy, generating $18 billion in economic activity each year and supporting over 74,000 jobs.”
Malabar Headland National Park is one of Greater Sydney’s valuable natural and cultural features, reflecting the rich Aboriginal cultural heritage and important World War II heritage items.
It was designated as a heritage park in 2005 and was transferred under the management of the Commonwealth to the National Parks and Wildlife Service in 2016.
The Maroubra property market has continued to rise, with a 22 per cent median house price growth for the period October 2020 to September 2021. That’s almost double the rate of median growth for the previous period.
Highlights
The median house price in Maroubra rose by 22.22 per cent to $2,505,000 from October 2020 to September 2021.
Growth for the unit market was relatively flat, with a modest 2.92 per cent increase, to $932,500.
Maroubra Median House Price Growth
Data from Property Market Updates revealed that houses in Maroubra are now tracking a median price of $2,505,000 for the 12-month period ending September 2021. That’s up from $2,050,000 for the same period in the previous year.
House listings in Maroubra stayed an average of 34 days on market, with 259 sold for the time period. Three and four-bedroom homes were in high demand among young families who are upsizing from apartments or semis to freestanding homes in the suburb.
Compared to other Sydney locations, blocks of homes in Maroubra are bigger and with good value for money. There are still a few well-maintained old properties below the median house price, as well as sprawling old family homes that are ripe for renovation.
Maroubra Unit House Price Growth
In contrast, the unit market in Maroubra has been relatively flat, with minimal growth of 2.92 percent for October 2020 to September 2021. The median unit price is $932,500 for the said period. That’s up from the median of $906,000 in the previous period.
Though stocks are short compared to demand, there were 309 units sold during this period at 44 days on the market, per Property Market Updates. A total of 146 two-bedroom units were sold for this period.
While apartments in Maroubra are found in various parts of the suburb, the highest concentration of units is in Maroubra Junction, close to the dining and shopping precinct.
About Maroubra
Maroubra, which originated from the Indigenous word “Marubrah” for “lightning” or “thunder,” is also a diverse community with European, Asian and Middle Eastern families.
While there is a strong sense of family among the residents, Maroubra is mostly home for young people between the ages of 20 to 39 who are still finding themselves or starting their own families.
Nearly half of the locals are couples with children, which is closely followed by childless couples. More than three-fourths rent their homes in this suburb. On dry land, Maroubra has amenities like outdoor gyms across its numerous parks, and the occasional sports competition at the beach. The locale has a number of golf courses as well.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
This beachside enclave is one of the most sought-after locations in Sydney to work, rest, or play because of its beautiful coastline and well-established shopping districts. A selection of unique shops and dining places cater to both residents and visitors.
As with many of its neighbouring suburbs in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, life in Maroubra revolves around the beach, which has been elevated to a prestigious status by the National Surfing Reserve.
“Maroubra, been here for 18 years after moving from Randwick. Timing was perfect, family was growing up…the beach, parks, coastal walks, 4 golf courses, plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance or a 5 minute drive, close to the airport, the list goes on. If you don’t know much about the area, it’s because the residents want to keep it to themselves.”
Royl8
“We lived in Bondi for many years and moved to the Bra in 2018. Best decision we ever made. Maroubra is friendly, has a gorgeous expansive beach and has a super relaxed beachy vibe. There are a multitude of shops everywhere – and you can easily park at all of them! (This is unlike any other eastern suburb and actually reduces a lot of stress) and there’s space everywhere.”
Sietzn
“Coastal suburb on the move. With vibrant new cafes, restaurants and boutique outlets…Maroubra is a changing cosmopolitan precinct. Wonder along the coast and have a nice walk, jump in for a swim and have lunch at the FeedBag its a perfect day out for families, couples and singles alike.”
For the last three years, hydrofoil surfing in the beaches of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, including Maroubra, has gained quite a following but plans to ban hydrofoil boards, whether partially or completely, could soon be imposed. Some Maroubra surfers aren’t jumping at the idea.
A group of hydrofoil surfers based in Maroubra have invited members of Randwick City Council to visit Maroubra beach and see their activities in action. They said that they are willing to discuss the sport and prove that this is not a danger to the public, especially as most of them are seasoned surfers.
Randwick City Council said that the plan to ban hydrofoil surfing was due to safety concerns on a busy beach. In 2019, Waverley Councils outlawed the specialised surfboards in Bondi Beach because its “high speed and metal-like keel” is a safety risk.
“Discussion with the key stakeholders on the Coastal Advisory Committee would be valued prior to finalising this report. Proposed recommendations are that Randwick City Council (RCC) considers the following options:
a. hydrofoils be allowed on all RCC beaches during the times when the beach is not patrolled by the RCC beach lifeguards
b. signage be erected that clearly states the following:
Hydrofoils are prohibited during the times when the beach is patrolled by lifeguards &/or lifeguards are on duty;
Hydrofoils need to keep a minimum of 60 metres from all other persons and non-powered vessels; and
persons engaged in recreational activities undertaken outside of the designated patrol hours do so at their own risk”
But Jeremy Wilmottes, who has been “foiling up” every morning at the beaches in Maroubra along with a dozen other surfers, said he is not aware of any reported incidents of injuries linked to hydrofoil surfing. The Councils said that they do not have enough data since the volume of foil boarders is still low.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Wilmottes also said that he doesn’t think that the planned ban makes sense. He said that hydrofoil surfing is quite expensive and non-mainstream so whoever is into it will not be reckless. Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club president Danny Donohoe acknowledged that the boards are dangerous but he believes that the ban could be over the top.
Hydrofoil surfboards are the latest in extreme watersports. It earned worldwide attention in 2020 after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was seen gliding on the water on an elevated board as he waved the U.S. flag during Fourth of July.
On Sunday, 2 January 2022, two fishermen were rescued in Maroubra after their boat capsized in the early morning. Marine Area Commander Superintendent Murray Reynolds said it was not the only accident that happened in the last few days.
That same Sunday at noon, the police and the NSW Surf Lifesavers were called to Windang Island after a 21-year-old man, who was fishing on the rocks, was swept in the water. He easn’t wearing a life jacket. His body was located at 1:20 p.m.
Prior to these accidents, three people also drowned in the waters of NSW, including a 15-year-old boy who was swimming at Shoalhaven River.
“The most difficult part of our work is when someone dies or is seriously injured and we know it could have been prevented,” said Mr Reynolds.
“These deaths are incredibly tragic. Our heart goes out to the loved ones of the people who recently lost their lives in the water.
“We’re asking the community to help us keep you safe, always assess the environment and take simple precautions to prevent tragedy.”
Swim only in areas where there are patrols or between the lifeguards’ red and yellow flags
Wear a lifejacket if you’re out fishing or riding a boat.
Don’t swim at night.
Be mindful of the rips.
The authorities also said to check the water conditions and the weather before heading out. Remember that these conditions are unpredictable so when in doubt, it’s better to cancel plans than to proceed.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Steve Pearce, the CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, said it’s extra challenging to rescue people during the busiest time of the year at the beaches. NSW locals, however, are fortunate to have “fantastically skilled and resourced lifesavers and lifeguard services up and down our coastline.”
Did you know that the family of the late Dr Lynn Joseph, a prominent Maroubra GP and alumnus of the University of Sydney, has been funding the Baby1000 Program since its inception in 2015?
Led by Professor Adrienne Gordon and her team at The University of Sydney, the groundbreaking projectincorporates early intervention for the mother during conception and for the baby’s first 1,000 days of life to ensure the healthiest outcome.
The estate of the late Dr Lynn Joseph, a Maroubra GP and an alumnus of The University of Sydney, has been funding the Baby1000 Program along with the doctor’s three brothers, Maurice, Neil and Douglas.
Dr Joseph practiced in Maroubra for 60 years. He was also a World War II Veteran of the Kokoda Track, who loved cricket and was regarded as a compassionate physician. His brothers were also graduates of medicine from The University of Sydney.
Prior to his retirement and death in 2013, Dr Joseph delivered generations of babies during a period when this was a common practice for GPs.
Helping to Ensure the Best Outcomes
“A healthy pregnancy is the best gift that we can give to an unborn baby,” Prof Gordon said. “We are all working to ensure the best lifelong health outcomes for the next generation. The earlier we can make these preventative interventions, the better,” Prof. Gordon said.
“The funding from the Joseph family has been amazing. We simply wouldn’t have been able to do our work without it,” she added.
Prof Gordon and her team are currently trialling how affordable, custom-designed pillows will help pregnant women sleep better on their side than on their backs since the latter has been associated with stillbirths.
The team has recruited 400 pregnant women to wear a device for monitoring for this trial.
The Baby1000 Program has also been conducting ongoing research on the links of maternal weight in the health of a newborn by acquiring the “BodPod” for mums and the “PeaPod” for babies.
Photo Credit: The University of Sydney
The program has also been working with the NSW Health Statewide Biobank for storing samples of human tissue, blood, DNA and cells in temperature-controlled systems, which can be used and shared for other future researches.
Data from these samples are used for analysing maternal stress or maternal dietary and gut microbiome that helps the team draw significant findings in the gut health of the mothers and their babies.
Efforts to open a sustainable Maroubra Community Garden bore fruit after more than two years of planning and preparation when volunteers finally received approval to open the site in 2022.
In a statement on Facebook, stewards of The Garden at Maroubra confirmed that the local Council has signed off on plans to build a working garden for everyone, the third community garden in the Eastern Sydney suburbs after Coogee and Randwick.
“[We] began this journey to build not only a community garden for Maroubra, but a sustainability resource within our community to enable ALL of our community to learn to garden if they wished, but also to learn how to take care of the green areas within our homes and our community. Maroubra, this garden is for YOU,” the statement read.
Photo Credit: Mimi Curan/Go Fund Me
In early 2021, Randwick City Council received the proposal for the design of the community garden. The group also opened a fundraiser and a “Friend of the Garden” distinction for regular donors and contributors to enable the gardeners to buy supplies and pay for expenses like water and utilities.
Following the approval, the project has started offering memberships to residents who live within the five-kilometre radius who can tend to the site. In the near future, a Working Member training will be underway before the garden officially opens to the community.
“The Garden at Maroubra project was borne out of the desire to create a beautiful, accessible community-destination around gardening that connects, educates and invigorates our community around organic gardening and related sustainable practices including seed saving, organic pest control and composting,” Mimi Curran, one of the supporters stated.
Kobie Dee, a Gomeroi rapper based in Maroubra, just launched his debut EP, “Gratitude Over Pity,” after years of hard work and he’s aiming to take his music up on a larger scale to help more people in the community.
The 24-year-old talent started dabbling in music and music writing at 10 years old, drawing inspiration from Tupac, Kendrick, J. Cole, and Easy-E. The musician comes from a Bidjigal community in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, which is popular not only for its white-sand beaches and surf culture but also for its rap scene.
With his background, Kobie Dee grew up hearing stories of heartbreak and empowerment that reflected in his own music. In an interview with GQ, the rapper said that he’s using his music to bring awareness and tell stories of people dealing and overcoming struggles.
After his rehabilitation from drugs and drinking, Kobie Dee worked on his debut album ” to self reflect on what I do have in my life.” Taking charge of his life, the rapper has also been active at various detention centre and cultural programs, where he speaks to young people about making a better future for themselves.
In April 2021, Kobie Dee staged the South East Block Party in Maroubra, along with Randwick City Council, to showcase young talents and promote mental health awareness. The drug and alcohol-free event was live-streamed at juvenile facilities.
Because of his work and influence in the youth sector, this Maroubra native was named an ambassador for NSW programs like Weave Youth and Just Reinvest NSW. Apart from his music, Kobie Dee also launched a “Know Role Models” podcast to highlight the work of First Nations people in Sydney who can inspire the next generation.
Kobie Dee said that he is driven to take his music to a “larger scale” one day and it seems he’s off to a great start based on his recent recognition in the #YouTubeBlack Voices Music Class 2022, with his profile featured in New York and Los Angeles.
Public consultation is open for Stage 1 of the Maroubra Road Corridor Study, which aims to identify transport connectivity problems and improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
Council is encouraging locals to contribute their ideas on how to improve the area and from these inputs, concept plans will be developed to prioritise the following goals:
Improve safety at intersections for all road users
Improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists
Create stronger links for active transport, including pedestrian and cycle connections
Create spaces for people, such as new street furniture
Consider changes to parking whilst minimising parking loss
Whilst the consultation is ongoing, development of design options, site investigations, traffic surveys, and modelling will also be underway so Council can present the Draft Corridor Study Report at the Randwick Traffic Committee meeting in April 2022.
Following the technical endorsement, Stage 2 of the consultations will be underway to finalise the concept plans by the middle of 2022.
Photo Credit: Randwick CC
“I have lived in Maroubra for 20years cycling to work and to the shops every day, but I never cycle on Maroubra Road because I feel very unsafe,” a resident contributed. “I always have to find back routes to avoid it. My children do music classes at the school on Maroubra Road in North Maroubra, but I can’t let them ride their bikes to class because it isn’t safe. It would be a great help if there was a bike path all the way down to the Eastgardens end of the road.”
“The wide empty stretch between Bunnerong Road and Anzac Parade is crying out for medium to tall trees particularly given the oversized new development near Eastgardens, the area desperately needs more greenery to look inviting to humans and birds alike and to cool down the hard surfaces,” another resident said. “It would be good if all traffic lights, not just those at central intersections would automatically switch to green for pedestrians in line with cars going the same way. Some improvement was made at the beginning of COVID but this should be rolled out widely.”
“I use Maroubra Road regularly as both a motorist and cyclist. Firstly as a motorist, if you come from Hinkler Street and want to turn right onto Maroubra Road then this is quite a dangerous maneuver. It is very hard to see cars coming from the right as parked cars obscure your view and if you nose the car out so you can see you almost get swiped. Given there are effectively 4 lanes of traffic and depending on the time of day, it can take some time to get a clear gap to turn (or even go straight ahead across Maroubra Road).
“As a cyclist, there is no cycle lane between Bunnerong Road and Anzac Parade. It is not safe to ride down the side of the parked cars and risk getting a door opened on you, so you have no choice but to take a lane and then get honked at by cars who are angry. So anything that can be done to make it safer would be appreciated! Thank you!”
Did you know that you can find FREE books, magazines, and even games at a street library in Maroubra? It’s one of a handful of street libraries installed by Maroubra tutor and business owner, Harry Mavrolefteros, to help make learning materials more accessible to those who need them.
Mr Mavrolefteros is the owner of First Education, a tutoring facility for K to Year 12 students, and he decided to put up these street libraries at various sites in Eastern Sydney because of the pandemic lockdowns.
The passionate tutor stocks up the street libraries with free textbooks on Maths, English, and Science, which he has either bought out of pocket or received through donations. Mr Mavrolefteros said this is his way of letting the students and their parents know that support is available, as they cope with a unique learning experience amidst a public health crisis.
Some of the donations have also included “hardcore” Greek books that still appealed to readers. Mr Mavrolefteros, who is of Greek heritage, realised that no matter what books he adds to the library, it would be grabbed by a bookwork in a matter of days.
Photo Credit: First Education/Facebook
The locations of his street libraries are:
SUBURB
STREET
Maroubra
below the First Education tutoring site at the corner of Anzac Parade and Boyce Road
Earlwood
next to the Earlwood Post Office on Homer Street
Bondi
on the corner of Bondi Road and Penkivil Street
Mascot
on Botany Road near the corner with King Street
Mr Mavrolefteros established First Education in October 2010, above the Maroubra optometry shop of his parents. Aside from Maths, English, and Science, there are also debating classes and study sessions to prepare Year 12 kids for their final year in high school. The tutor believes that learning is a privilege, especially if the students find the right mentor.
Meanwhile, Street Library is a worldwide movement to encourage literacy and foster positive community engagement. In Australia, the Street Library movement aims to establish 5,000 street libraries by December 2021. As of November, the group has over 3,000 sites across the country.
A 10-year-old surfing prodigy from Maroubra has received a sponsorship from Billabong, one of Australia’s longest-running apparel brands for surf and beach lovers. Jaggar Phillips impressed the Billabong team after they saw his videos during the brand’s “Surfing 30 Days in September” challenge.
Jagger was able to complete the challenge with much success as he raised $2,200 for remote surf communities, where access to sanitation and medical care, including child and women’s health care, is challenging.
As friends of the family reposted Jagger’s videos to gather support, Billabong apparently had their eye on the young talent.
The company’s representatives got in touch with the boy and his father, Mark Phillips, and asked if they would like a sponsorship. Whilst Jagger has had experience joining surfing competitions, he has mostly ridden the water for fun and enjoyment.
Jagger is off to complete the 2021 Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps National Series for the first time as a Billabong endorser. The event will run from September to December 2021 across New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland.
Jagger has been surfing since he was two years old and a link to Billabong has always been part of his dreams.
He was able to join Billabong’s 30-day surfing challenge last month as NSW schools shifted to Zoom sessions, allowing him to take his surfboard on the waters of Maroubra in between his online classes every single day.
“Thanks heaps, Billabong, for the sponsor! I’m so stoked!” Jagger said in another video.
