🎭️ Featured Event

Bareboards presents Curtain Call, 5 original short plays, 15-30 minutes in length, all written, directed and performed by Arts Theatre Cronulla members.

Playing on 10,12 and 13 September, tickets can be booked here.

Have an event you’d like to feature? Click here to let us know about it and get your event featured in front of locals.

📰 Local News

Sutherland Shire Wins Big at 2025 Sydney Business Awards

The Sutherland Shire took out four major honours at this year’s Sydney Business Awards, a huge leap from last year’s single win.

Caringbah’s Joshua Campbell, founder of Halbuild, was named Outstanding Young Business Leader. After starting his career as a marine engineer and Army Reservist, Campbell built his construction management firm with a focus on government projects, fitouts and refurbishments.

Miranda-based BFF4Change, founded by Cathy Goodwin in 2020, won Outstanding Community Organisation. Its unique digital voucher system allows charities to nominate locals in need, who can then redeem vouchers at participating businesses, keeping support flowing through the community.

Quest Woolooware Bay, the Shire’s first new hotel in decades, claimed Best Visitor Experience, while the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber secured Outstanding Local Chamber for the third year running.

The awards, hosted by Business NSW and the City of Sydney, recognised 20 winners across NSW — with the Shire proudly among the standouts.

Basement Battles are raising money for the community

Basement Health & Fitness has teamed up with The Family Co. for an inspiring new partnership that blends fitness with community impact.

Over eight weeks of BASEMENT BATTLES, members will take on epic challenges, with the highlight being a 24-hour ERG relay from 7pm Friday 12 September to 7pm Saturday 13 September. Participants will row, ski, and bike their way through the night, all to raise vital funds for The Family Co.

Every dollar raised goes directly into programs that support women, children, youth, and families—helping create safe, connected, and thriving communities. It’s more than just a fitness event; it’s about showing up, pushing limits, and making a real difference.

Whether you’re a seasoned Basement regular or just keen to support a great cause, this is an amazing chance to get involved. Every rep, every dollar, and every hour on the erg helps build a safer, stronger future right here in the Shire.

Sign up for the 24-hour ERG Relay here.

🔦 Suburb Spotlight: Cronulla

From seaside shacks to Sydney’s surfside playground

Cronulla might be famous today for its beaches and laid-back lifestyle, but its journey into the suburb we know really took shape in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

By the 1880s, the sandy soil had made farming attempts difficult, and the land was gradually subdivided for residential blocks. What agriculture couldn’t sustain, leisure soon replaced.

Fun Fact: The name Cronulla comes from the Aboriginal word Kurranulla, meaning “place of the small pink seashell.”

In 1888, the first commercial guesthouse — the Oriental Hotel — opened its doors, setting the tone for Cronulla as a seaside escape for Sydney’s growing population. Wealthy families from the city would build holiday homes here, drawn by the fresh air, ocean views, and slower pace.

Transport was the real game-changer. The railway reached Sutherland in 1885, and by 1911, a steam tram linked Cronulla to the line. Finally, in 1939, the Cronulla rail extension opened, making it the only Sydney beach suburb directly accessible by train.

Suddenly, Cronulla wasn’t just for weekenders — it was a suburb where people could live and commute.

With easier access came growth. Guesthouses multiplied, shops and cafés sprung up, and surf lifesaving became central to community life.

Fun Fact: Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1907, is one of the oldest in Australia.

Schools and churches established roots in the early 20th century, giving the suburb a stronger sense of permanence. By the 1950s, the humble cottages and holiday shacks gave way to apartment blocks, a sign of the beachside population boom.

Through all this development, Cronulla never lost its coastal charm. Its long stretches of sand and rock pools kept drawing crowds, while civic projects like the Bicentennial Plaza in 1989 modernised the town centre. Even today, Cronulla strikes a balance — blending surf culture, community spirit, and a buzzing café and dining scene with its deep-rooted history as Sydney’s southern beachside playground.

📅 Cronulla Through the Years

• 1888 – The Oriental Hotel opens, Cronulla’s first commercial guesthouse.

• 1880s–90s – Land is subdivided; holiday homes begin popping up along the coast.

• 1904 – Cronulla School of Arts is established (building completed 1912).

• 1910 – Cronulla’s first public school opens.

• 1911 – A steam tram links Cronulla to Sutherland.

• 1929 – Cronulla Post Office officially reopens after an earlier closure.

• 1939 – The Cronulla railway line opens, connecting the suburb directly to Sydney.

• 1950s–60s – Population boom; cottages and holiday shacks replaced by apartment blocks.

• 1989 – Bicentennial Plaza opens, modernising Cronulla’s town centre.

☕️ Café Corner

Miss Jaffles Café

Comfort Food With A Twist

Tucked away in Cronulla, Miss Jaffles Café has built a loyal following for its nostalgic yet creative take on an Aussie classic – the humble jaffle.

This isn’t your average toasted sandwich spot. Each jaffle is pressed to golden perfection, with fillings that range from comforting childhood favourites to gourmet surprises. Think slow-cooked beef, mac and cheese, or even sweet options for those who like dessert first.

Beyond the jaffles, the café also serves great coffee, milkshakes, and hearty breakfast options, making it a go-to for both locals and visitors looking for something a little different. The vibe is relaxed and friendly, with a retro edge that instantly makes you feel at home.

Perfect for a quick bite on the go, a casual brunch with friends, or a family treat after the beach, Miss Jaffles is a celebration of comfort food done right. Whether you’re chasing nostalgia or trying something new, this Cronulla gem is worth a visit.

Makers Daily

Cronulla’s First Specialty Matcha Bar

Cronulla’s café culture has a new player with the arrival of Makers Daily, the Shire’s first specialty matcha bar. Located in the heart of Cronulla, it’s already making waves with inventive blends like biscoff, white chocolate, birthday cake and pistachio.

If matcha isn’t your thing, the menu also features a line-up of wholesome smoothies — the spirulina blend is a standout — plus a selection of sweet treats you won’t find anywhere else locally.

Whether you’re strolling through the mall, heading to the beach, or catching up with a friend, Makers Daily is a refreshing new stop worth adding to your list.

Got a favourite café in the Shire you’d like to promote? Reply to this email and tell us all about it.

🍝 Restaurant Radar

Bottomless Lunch at Parc Pavilion Cronulla

Parc Pavilion has launched its brand-new Bottomless Menu, and it’s quickly becoming the Shire’s must-visit experience.

Hosted at The Terrace—the Pavilion’s stylish alfresco bar overlooking Monro Park—this bottomless offering delivers two hours of unlimited cocktails, wine, and beer, all paired with fresh coastal vibes, live DJs, and sun-soaked views.

The menu is designed for sharing, featuring Mediterranean-inspired plates, pub favourites, and Italian classics. Highlights include ricotta gnocchi, seafood baskets, and the ever-popular bang bang prawn salad, perfectly matched with cocktails like Aperols, Mojitos, Limoncellos, and Appletinis.

Whether you’re gathering for brunch, a long lunch, or an evening with friends, the mix of delicious bites and free-flowing drinks makes for a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere.

Ideal for celebrations or simply elevating your weekend plans, The Terrace has set the scene for Cronulla’s hottest new tradition. With daily bookings available, it’s the perfect excuse to indulge in great food, generous pours, and unbeatable coastal energy.

Got a favourite restaurant in the Shire you’d like to promote? Reply to this email and tell us all about it.

🏢 Business Brief

RCVRI Cronulla – Recovery Meets Relaxation

Right in the middle of Cronulla Plaza, just steps from the beach, RCVRI is a wellness and recovery studio designed to help you recharge, reset, and feel your best. From hot and cold plunge pools to infrared saunas, steam rooms, and even a hyperbaric chamber, it’s packed with recovery tools you’d usually expect to see in elite sports facilities.

But here’s what really caught my attention—the ZeroGravity flotation bed. I’d honestly never even heard of it before, and it’s as amazing as it sounds. You float weightlessly while a gentle lumbar massage melts away tension. It’s deeply relaxing and seriously cool.

RCVRI also offers compression therapy and percussion treatments to boost circulation and muscle recovery, making it ideal for athletes and anyone in need of some TLC. Open daily, it’s more than just a recovery space—it’s a welcoming community focused on wellness, performance, and feeling good in both body and mind.

Got a favourite business in the Shire you’d like to promote? Reply to this email and tell us all about it.

🏡 Property Peek

If you’ve got a spare 8 figures kicking around, this brand-new Cronulla penthouse takes luxury to another level.

Two storeys, ocean views, and a rooftop terrace with a spa made for sunset drinks — it’s lifestyle living at its peak.

If you invite me over, don’t be surprised if I spend the whole evening pressed up against those floor-to-ceiling windows, pretending the horizon is mine.

Want to feature your property in The Shire Insider? Reply to this email and tell us all about it.

Have an event you’d like listed in The Shire Insider? Submit your event HERE

P.S. Want to get your business or event in front of Shire locals? If you would like to advertise with us or if you want us to feature your events, email us at [email protected]