Late-night trade push meets local resistance across Sydney
Sydney’s nightlife reboot is running into some familiar roadblocks, with several suburban pubs and bars discovering that not everyone is thrilled about the idea of drinks flowing into the early hours.
As part of the NSW government’s vibrancy reforms – rolled out last October to inject more energy into after-dark precincts outside the usual hotspots – venues have been lining up to apply for extended trading. Many want to stay open until 2am or 3am. But in pockets of the city, councils, residents and community groups are pushing back, raising concerns about noise, antisocial behaviour, crime and even property prices.
One of the most heated debates has unfolded in Hunters Hill, where the Hunters Hill Hotel sought to stretch its hours from midnight to 2am. Council said no, citing fears about noise from patrons and even car doors “opening and closing” after midnight.
Locals turned out in force to oppose the move. Sasha McCarthy, who lives 200 metres from the pub, told councillors the later hours could invite “inebriated patrons stumbling onto streets making all kinds of raucous noise”.
“We’re already often awoken by undesirables wandering streets at midnight (and) the thought of dealing with this at 2am almost every night after patrons have had an extra two hours of alcohol consumption is quite honestly frightening,” she said.
“At its core, this (proposal) threatens to take away the reason we move to Hunters Hill and threatens the family values on which the suburb is built.”
Even residents in Woolwich – three kilometres away – lodged objections, while the Hunters Hill Trust said the proposal clashed with the area’s “village atmosphere”.
NSW Police added fuel to the fire, highlighting 102 recorded criminal incidents linked to the hotel since Gallaghers Hotels took over in 2017. But chief executive Patrick Gallagher rejected the claim, arguing the numbers didn’t paint a fair picture.
“Hunters Hill is a conservative area, and we always knew we were going to attract objections, but it’s not like our aim was to turn the hotel into a nightclub,” he said.
“We currently have to close our doors at midnight and that means if you’re at the pub having a birthday party or catching up with friends, you either have to leave to go to another venue or go home altogether.
“The idea was simply about giving the community somewhere they could socialise at night.”
Other suburbs, similar story
Hunters Hill isn’t alone. A handful of other venues have watched their after-hours hopes fade at the council table:
- Charlie Parker’s, Paddington – Merivale’s Oxford Street bar was knocked back by Woollahra Council, which pointed to “adverse amenity impacts”, potential intoxication issues and noise.
- The Orchard, Penrith – Denied approval to trade from 5pm to 10pm.
- Sandy Bar Café, Clontarf Marina – Northern Beaches Council refused an extension from 3:30pm to 9:30pm over noise and traffic concerns.
- The Croatian Club, Concord – A bid to stay open until 3am was rejected after more than 200 locals objected. Resident James Philpott argued the plan could “unleash a free-for-all” in the neighbourhood.
“The club in my view is trying to hitch its wagon to the vibrancy reforms juggernaut, but I don’t think the reforms were ever intended to apply to quiet suburbs such as ours,” he said.
Club president Zvonimir Kurtovic said the decision was discouraging: “While one level of government is trying to encourage venues to trade later, another level of government is saying no.”
“The ability for venues to trade later really depends on which council area you’re in – if you’re in the Inner West or the City of Sydney, you’re far more likely to get a ‘yes’ than somewhere like Canada Bay.”
State government says it’s up to Councils
Night-time Economy Minister John Graham said the government is “working hard to bring Sydney back to life by cutting red tape”, but ultimately councils still control opening hours.
“We encourage them to get on board with the spirit of the vibrancy reforms,” he said.
A September report from the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner highlighted just how costly these applications can be, with development processes for extended hours setting businesses back an average $38,360.
Not All Councils Are Saying No
Despite the friction, there are signs of support for a livelier night-time scene. Inner West and Burwood councils have already set up designated entertainment precincts, and more are planned for Bondi Junction, Cronulla and other suburbs.
But as it stands, the path to late-night trading in some parts of Sydney remains anything but straightforward — proof that when it comes to nightlife, not all neighbourhoods want to stay up late.
Jonathan Jackson, 9th December 2025
