Matraville Archives - Maroubra News

Matraville Streets to Get Major Makeover Starting July

Did you know that Matraville and Maroubra town centres are set for major facelifts this year, as part of a roll out of streetscape upgrades aimed at improving walkability, shade and comfort across both suburbs?

Construction to Begin in Late July

Works along the western side of Bunnerong Road, from Perry Street to Daunt Avenue, will begin in late July 2025 and finish by December, weather permitting. old concrete footpaths will be replaced with new asphalt and paver edging. New seating, bins, trees and native plants will be added to improve comfort and shade.

Minor repairs to public infrastructure are also planned. These upgrades follow earlier improvements and form part of the Matraville Public Domain Masterplan to make the area safer and more accessible. Some parking and bus stops will be temporarily relocated, with traffic management in place during construction.

What It Means for the Community

The upgrades aim to make Matraville more walkable, family-friendly and comfortable for everyday visits. Improved footpaths, more seating and extra shade will support activities like shopping and school runs. Community feedback from earlier consultations called for better lighting, wider paths and greener spaces.

This second stage builds on upgrades completed in 2024 to meet those requests. Local businesses will stay open during construction, with staff on-site to assist with pedestrian access. Residents were informed earlier this year through letterbox drops and public notices.

A Broader Push Across the Area

Matraville’s streetscape upgrade is part of a broader set of projects across Randwick. Similar works will begin in Maroubra Junction around the same time, focusing on paving, landscaping, lighting and street furniture along Anzac Parade.

At its June meeting, Council also advanced plans for a new BMX pump park in Malabar and early design work for Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club. These projects reflect a wider effort to improve public spaces across the area. The focus remains on boosting access, safety and comfort for residents of all ages.

What’s Next for Residents

Construction will run during the day and at night, with louder works limited after hours to reduce disruption. Most activity will happen during standard hours, though some low-impact tasks may occur overnight.

Residents are encouraged to stay updated through Randwick Council’s website and social media. Major traffic or access changes will be announced in advance. While there may be short-term inconvenience, the goal is a safer and more connected Matraville town centre.

Published 20-June-2025

Safety Concerns Prompt Parking Restrictions Along Anzac Parade

In response to mounting complaints and concerns about safety, a 4.5-kilometre stretch of Anzac Parade between Matraville and La Perouse is now off-limits for parking boats, trailers, and caravans.

Parking Restrictions Take Effect

“No parking” signs would be installed along the grassed median strip of Anzac Parade, from Kain Avenue to Bunnerong Road, within 10 days following the announcement. Vehicles currently parked in the area have been issued warning notices, and owners are given a grace period to adjust to the changes before fines of $129 are enforced. Variable message boards are also in place to notify residents of the new restrictions.

According to Council, the area has become increasingly used as a storage site for larger vehicles, which creates safety risks for pedestrians and obstructs traffic visibility. Complaints from residents and local precinct committees about the congestion and hazards prompted the council to act.

Mixed Reactions from the Community

Residents have expressed divided opinions about the move. While some welcome the decision to address safety concerns and clear the medians, others worry the change will push vehicles into residential streets where parking is already limited.

A Randwick City Council spokesperson stated that the aim is to make the green spaces safer for pedestrians and improve traffic conditions. However, some residents argue that parking recreational vehicles on the median strip is a practical solution to reduce street congestion and are calling for long-term storage options to be provided.

Long-Term Plans and Costs

To support residents, Council is considering the construction of formalised parking bays for cars along Anzac Parade but clarified that these would not accommodate boats or caravans. Additionally, plans are underway to improve the green space by planting more native and indigenous plants. This is expected to provide screening, shade, and noise reduction for the surrounding area.

As a potential long-term measure, the council is consulting with Transport for NSW to explore the installation of low-level railings to prevent vehicles from parking on the median strip. The estimated cost for fencing, parking areas, and landscaping is $550,000, which will be considered in the 2025–26 budget.

Council has committed to informing residents about these changes and future developments. Letters have been sent to vehicle owners where possible, and the community will be consulted further as plans for formalised parking and green space improvements progress.

Published 7-Dec-2024

Matraville Truck Depot Plan Modified After Community Concerns

Residents and a local business in Matraville have reached a compromise over a proposed truck depot, with a planning panel amending the original application to address noise pollution worries.

The Local Planning Panel made its decision on 11 July 2024, following community feedback on the development application (DA/250/2024) submitted by Price and Speed Containers (PAS) Pty Ltd.

Background of the Proposal

In April, PAS, an Australian family-owned business, applied to Randwick City Council to establish a truck depot at 8-14 McCauley St in Matraville. The site, previously used for vehicle storage without council consent, would serve as a storage area for trucks and empty trailers when not in use at nearby Port Botany.

Key Features of the Original Plan

The initial proposal included:

– 24/7 operational hours
– Parking for 17 trucks and 10 personal vehicles
– An igloo dome for on-site repairs
– Trailer servicing between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily

8-14 McCauley St in Matraville — *Photo Credit: DA/250/2024*

Community Concerns

Residents living opposite the proposed truck depot site expressed significant worries about the potential impact on their daily lives. Their main concerns centred around the issue of noise pollution, particularly given the planned 24/7 operational hours. Many feared that the constant movement of trucks and trailers would disrupt their peace and quiet, especially during night-time hours.

Additionally, locals raised concerns about air quality, worried that increased truck traffic and on-site repairs might lead to higher levels of pollution in the neighbourhood. These apprehensions reflected a broader unease about how the new development might alter the character and liveability of their Matraville community.

Independent councillor Noel D’Souza stressed the need for strict conditions to protect residents’ quality of life. He noted that residents were in the area before zoning changes allowed for such developments.

Amended Conditions

The planning panel made several changes to address community concerns:

– No on-street queuing or parking outside the site
– Limit of eight trucks and 10 vehicles on-site at once
– Trucks must be turned off when stationary
– Approved traffic routes must be followed

The panel stated that the truck parking facility could operate satisfactorily with proper acoustic wall construction and operational guidelines while considering community concerns.

Published 23-July-2024

Sacred Heart Primary School Choir in Matraville Shines in Sydney Eisteddfod Finals

Matraville’s own Sacred Heart Primary School Choir will take centre stage as they compete in the finals of the prestigious 2024 Sydney Eisteddfod Australasian Choral Championship.

The event, set to begin at 7:00 p.m. on 22 June at The Concourse Concert Hall in Chatswood, promises a night of exceptional musical performances.

Sacred Heart Primary School’s choir has earned its place among the top contenders in the junior category of the John Lamble Foundation Australasian Championship for Youth Choirs. They will join other elite groups, including St Luke’s Grammar School Infant Choir from Dee Why, Meriden Year 5-6 Choir from Strathfield, Cheltenham Girls’ High School Vocal Ensemble from Cheltenham, and Roseville College Junior School Years 5 & 6 Nightingales Choir from Roseville.

*Photo Credit:* *Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Matraville*

The senior category, competing for the Sydney Eisteddfod Australasian Open Choral Championship and the Blake, Blanchard & Pillington Award, features a similarly impressive lineup. Finalists include Evolution Vocal Ensemble from Blacktown, Newcastle Chamber Choir, St Mary’s Parents & Friends Choir from Lane Cove, Northern Beaches Chorus from Belrose, and Meriden Senior Singers from Strathfield.

This year’s competition has showcased a diverse array of choirs, ranging from infant and primary groups to community and show choirs, each performing a mix of Australian and traditional songs. The heats were an engaging lead-up to the finals because vibrant choreography enhanced many of these performances.

The Choral Championships highlight the harmonious blend of voices across different age groups, captivating audiences with the sheer power and beauty of mass singing. The John Lamble Foundation Australasian Championship for Youth Choirs, encompassing performers from Kindergarten through Year 12, is particularly significant as it nurtures young talent and encourages a lifelong love of music.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Eisteddfod Australasian Open Choral Championship presents a platform for diverse choral groups, including community choirs, show choirs, and vocal ensembles to showcase their skills.

Participation in the Sydney Eisteddfod is not just about competition. It is a process that helps choirs refine their pieces, gain performance experience, and receive valuable feedback from expert adjudicators such as Sam Allchurch and Luke Byrne. This experience fosters a sense of unity and accomplishment among choir members, enhancing their connection and cohesion through communal singing.

buy ticket

As the Sacred Heart Primary School Choir from Matraville prepares for their performance, the community eagerly anticipates their moment in the spotlight. This event underscores the importance of music in bringing people together, celebrating talent, and enriching the cultural landscape of Sydney.

Tickets for the finals are available, and the evening promises to be a memorable celebration of choral excellence. The Sacred Heart Primary School Choir’s participation is a significant achievement, reflecting the dedication and hard work of the young singers and their commitment to musical excellence.

Published Date 20-June-2024

Mystery Prize Winner Emerges from Matraville after 3 Weeks

Photo Credit: Unsplash

A Matraville woman can now enjoy her long-awaited $72,000 windfall after being blissfully unaware that the winning ticket was tucked away in her purse for more than three weeks.

In a twist of fate, a regular Sydney player scored an impressive 8 Spot win on Sunday, 19 November 2023, taking home a total prize of $72,846.10. The unsuspecting winner’s ticket had gone unnoticed.

Upon receiving confirmation of her win, the Matraville resident expressed her astonishment,

“I can’t believe I’ve held this ticket in my purse for more than three weeks. I even visited the club on numerous occasions and didn’t realize the mystery winner they were searching for was me!”

The fortunate twist of fate occurred when the winner decided to try her luck with a game at another venue nearby over the weekend. It was then that she stumbled upon the old ticket in her purse, which she had yet to check.

She initially thought the machine had malfunctioned and sought assistance from the venue’s staff. To her surprise, two team members revealed that she had indeed won something substantial.

Her initial guesses of winning $5,000 and $10,000 were quickly surpassed as the staff exclaimed, “Higher! Higher! A lot more zeros!”

The revelation left both the winner and her partner in hysterics. She couldn’t contain her excitement.

The Matraville local is now ready to kick off the new year by fulfilling some long-standing wishes.

“I’ve got to get my fence fixed at home. My car needs attention, and I’m well overdue for a little cruise.”

Matraville winner — Photo Credit: Unsplash

“In 2020, my partner and I had booked a five-week cruise, but it was shortened to one week and two days because the COVID outbreak had gotten so bad. We haven’t been anywhere since!”

With her newfound prize, she and her partner can now look forward to a cruise in the new year, realizing the holiday they had always envisioned.

The winning entry was originally purchased at Brighton Le Sands RSL Club, located at 351 Bay Street, Brighton Le Sands.

In FY23, players across the eastern states of mainland Australia celebrated more than 95.42 million wins collectively worth more than $1.34 billion.

Published 21-Dec-2023

Cabot Properties Acquires Cutting-Edge Multi-Level Warehouse in Matraville

Boston-based investment manager and developer Cabot Properties has made a significant move into the Australian real estate market with the acquisition of one of the country’s first multi-level warehouses. The property, currently under construction in Sydney’s Matraville, is set to become a notable addition to Cabot’s expanding portfolio.

Spanning an impressive 19,757 square meters and situated on a generous 1.94-hectare site at 42-52 Raymond Avenue, the state-of-the-art warehouse commanded a considerable price tag of approximately $150 million.

Matraville Cabot Properties — Photo Credit: Cabot Properties/Real Estate Source

Development on the Raymond Avenue building commenced in March 2023 and is projected to reach completion by the third quarter of 2023. The warehouse is being brought to life by Mulpha, a reputable Sydney-based property company known for its expertise in the industry.

Cabot Properties‘ acquisition of the multi-level warehouse in Matraville marks its second major investment in Australia within the past year. In a strategic move in July 2022, the Boston-based firm acquired a sprawling 9.3-hectare industrial development site in Melbourne’s Campbellfield from renowned petrol industry figure Nick Andrianakos for $41 million.

The decision to invest in the Matraville warehouse aligns with the growing interest in multi-level warehouses across Australia. Several prominent companies, including LOGOS and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, have expressed intentions to venture into the multi-level warehouse sector, underscoring its promising future potential.

Once completed, the Matraville warehouse is expected to be leased to a single tenant, with logistics companies being the most likely candidates. Its strategic location positions the warehouse ideally to cater to the burgeoning e-commerce market in Sydney, meeting the increasing demand for efficient and streamlined logistics operations.

Published 5-July-2023

Matraville Sports High School Picked for the Olympic Pathway Program

Seven high schools in New South Wales, including Matraville Sports High School, have been picked for the inaugural Australian Olympic Pathway Schools program.

This Australian-first initiative is in conjunction with the Australian Olympic Committee to help boost NSW’s future generations of Olympians and Paralympians.

Aside from Matraville Sports High School, the other six include Endeavour Sports High School in Caringbah, The Hills Sports High School in Seven Hills, Hunter Sports High School in Gateshead, Illawarra Sports High School, Narrabeen Sports High School and Westfields Sports High School in Fairfield West.

“Our 7 Sports High Schools in NSW are the only secondary schools in Australia to have this prestigious recognition,” Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said.

“This reflects the great strength of our sports high school network, and their excellent track record in fostering both sporting high performance and academic achievement. I can’t wait to see the next generation of medal-winning athletes coming from our public schools as we look to Brisbane 2032.”

Photo Credit: Matraville Sports High School/Facebook

“The students at our sports high schools today will be our heroes standing on the podium at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, and this partnership will strengthen their opportunity for international success,” Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said.

“The first-of-its-kind in Australia, this initiative will encourage even more high school students to reach for the stars, as well as provide programs to help young people stay focused and motivated while they’re studying and trying to forge a pathway in their respective sports.”

In line with this program, the NSW goverment has also committed to a $1.5 million funding for Olympics Unleashed, enabling Australian Olympians to visit primary school kids to share their experiences and life lessons. The initiative is expected to run until 2026.

“The key to sporting excellence is to align participation, pathways and high performance. To have this alignment at high school level is powerful, particularly as we look to Brisbane 2032 and beyond,” AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll said.

“We have seen Olympic Training Centres recognised around Australia and overseas, but never at the school level.

“The AOC is also thrilled by the extension of the Olympics Unleashed program. Our Olympic athletes can deliver these sessions across the state, including regional areas and Indigenous communities. We will reach 1800 schools across the 3 years.

“It’s important that our young people pursue a passion – we want people to get active but finding your passion may lie beyond sport.”

Published 17 February 2023

Construction Of New Matraville Youth And Community Hall Begins

Works on the new Matraville Youth and Community Hall are well underway, with plans to replace the current structure with a single-storey building featuring the community hall and a covered outdoor space adjoining the hall.

Read: Here’s the Draft Masterplan for the Transformation of Matraville Town Centre

It will also have its own kitchen, storage area, bin / waste area, services room, male and female bathrooms, an accessible bathroom and entry foyer.

The existing structure, footpaths and retaining walls at the site were demolished before works commenced in January 2023.

The demolished structure located at 1-5R Knowles Avenue Matraville, was constructed in the 1960s, was in poor condition and was not serving the community well.

Based on the feedback received from the community during the consultation period, locals wanted a space for activities such as dance or exercise classes, youth programs and indoor sports.

The old Matraville Youth and Community Hall (Photo credit: Randwick City Council)

Matraville Youth and Community Hall, located on the corner of Knowles Avenue and Pozieres Avenue has been used by locals for a range of activities including karate, dance and music classes, exercise classes and children’s birthday parties. The hall also provides a large space with toilets and kitchen.

Once the upgrades are complete, the new community hall expected to cost $4 million will also be equipped with new sustainability features, including solar panels and battery storage, rainwater tanks for water reuse, energy efficient hot water, lighting and heating, fans and large louvre openings to assist natural ventilation, and EV charging station on the street.

Read: Did You Know That Netflix’s Heartbreak High Was Filmed In Maroubra Bay High School?

Based on Randwick City Council’s projected timeline for the project, works would be complete by March 2024.

For further updates, visit Council’s website or call Council’s senior project manager at 02 9093 6759.

Here’s the Draft Masterplan for the Transformation of Matraville Town Centre

The draft masterplan for the long-term transformation of the Matraville Town Centre has been released and locals are enjoined to provide their feedback before it’s permanently implemented.

Details of the draft masterplan were put together based on the community’s feedback from a series of consultations in 2021.

The aim of this project is to develop more recreational and community event spaces, dining spots and retail activities, and better pedestrian connections for the residents. The idea is to provide locals a distinct and vibrant town centre with a resilient economy, where people can gather and feel the community vibe.

According to Randwick City Council, the highlights of the Matraville Town Centre draft masterplan will entail:

Widened footpaths on Bunnerong Road to create spaces for outdoor dining and increased pedestrian safety
New and revitalised outdoor spaces for people to meet
More pedestrian crossings
Reduced speed limit along Bunnerong Road to 40km/ph
Provision for a future cycleway on Bunnerong Road
Opportunities for Indigenous and local art installations
New street furniture, lighting, landscaping and paving
Increased tree planting and canopy coverage on Bunnerong Road and surrounding streets

Implementation of this project will be divided into three actions to be delivered within 5 years (small-scale actions), 10 years (medium-scale actions), or 20 years (large-scale actions).

Photo Credit: Matraville Town Centre Masterplan

“We understand that in some areas of the public domain, a staged incremental approach may be necessary. It allows for practical and effective steps to be taken in the immediate short-term, with restructuring and long-term investment to achieve the vision,” Council stated.

Share your inputs regarding the draft masterplan by making an online submission on or before the 3rd of February 2023 or by emailing council@randwick.nsw.gov.au.

Opening of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Matraville Fast-Tracked for January 2023

Photo Credit: Sacred Heart Matraville/Facebook

Did you know that Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Matraville, the newest primary school in the Eastern Suburbs, has been fast-tracked to open one year ahead of its schedule?

By January 2023, the amalgamated Catholic primary schools of St Agnes in Matraville and the Our Lady of the Annunciation in Pagewood will be called the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, maintaining the Matraville site as the campus. The site will have over 420 students with two classes each from Kindergarten to Year 6.

According to Sydney Catholic Schools, the amalgamation warrants “contemporary, flexible, multi-use spaces to support modern learning practices” where both schools will transition as one institution with one identity and equal access to the new building.

The said building is geared for completion by the end of 2022 with 12 new learning spaces and a canteen. Development, however, will still continue as Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Matraville will incorporate a bigger outdoor space, an Early Learning Centre, and shared parish and school facilities.

“We’re very excited to see the Sacred Heart community realised ahead of schedule,” Tony Farley, the Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools, said.

“We trust our students will enjoy the adventure of new facilities, classmates, teachers and new learning experiences.

“This master plan is a multi-million-dollar investment in education that will allow students to thrive in a dynamic and faith-filled environment and become the next generation of change-makers in their communities.”

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Matraville — Photo Credit: Sydney Catholic Schools

The name Sacred Heart was chosen for the amalgamated schools as it’s the founding order for both St Agnes and the Our Lady of the Annunciation.

“Parents have responded very positively to the early amalgamation: they especially loved the new uniforms and school name which keeps the charism of both schools alive,” Sacred Heart Principal Rosemary Andre said. “We’re very excited about the new resources and opportunities for collaboration and excellent teaching and learning ahead. We also look forward to creating a new vision for the school in consultation with staff, parents and students.”

For enrolment enquiries, phone 0476 183 408 or email info@shmatraville.catholic.edu.au.

Meanwhile, the Pagewood site will transition into a secondary co-educational school for Champagnat Catholic College. The institution will welcome its first female Year 7 students in 2023.