Celebrate Local Government Week
Published on 07 July 2026
Join us to celebrate Local Government Week, Monday 3 August - Sunday 9 August 2026 as we showcase the work Woollahra Council does and the diversity of services we provide.
There’s so much to love about living, working and playing in Woollahra and we’re proud to be part of this community. We’re responsible for waste collection and recycling, street cleaning, planning controls, parks and playgrounds, libraries, a preschool, local events, community venues and much more.
During this special week we encourage people to explore some of the ways your Council is part of your daily life, and to participate in the events that showcase some of the things we do for the community. Check out some of the highlights below.
What's on during Local Government Week
National Tree Day
Local Government Week is off to an (early) good start with National Tree Day on Sunday 26 July. We will plant a range of locally native plants at the edge of the beautiful Cooper Park, helping to extend the habitat corridor for small birds and other wildlife. Everyone is welcome! All plants will be supplied by Woollahra Council along with gloves and tools. Find out more and register.
Celebrating 20 Years of Bushcare
This year we are celebrating 20 years of Bushcare, our community-based program where volunteers work alongside Council staff to help regenerate and preserve Woollahra's bushland.
"With the help of our community we have planted thousands of seedlings and removed hundreds of thousands of tonnes of weeds," Bushcare Liaison Officer Rudi Adlmayer said.
"With so many parks and reserves in our local area, it’s work that’s ongoing and endless, but incredibly rewarding. It’s a bit like gardening, as soon as you finish one end, you’re back to the beginning!" Rudi said.
Become a Bushcare Volunteer
Over the last 20 years we have enjoyed the company of volunteers who have joined us every week for many years, and others who just pop in whenever they can.
"It’s a great mix of people and some of us have formed lifelong friendships," Rudi said.
Join our Bushcare volunteers to help care for local bushland sites and grow native seedlings.
Woollahra Library at Double Bay Turns 10
In May this year, Woollahra Library at Double Bay celebrated a significant milestone - 10 years at the heart of the community.
Since opening, our library has become far more than a place to borrow books. It is a vibrant, welcoming space where people of all ages come to read, learn, connect and be inspired.
From young families attending rhyme time, to students preparing for exams, to readers discovering their next favourite book, the library continues to play an important role in everyday life.
As Woollahra Library at Double Bay celebrates its first decade, we remain focused on the future - continuing to provide inclusive, accessible and inspiring spaces for the whole community. A very Happy Birthday to a very special library!
Bus to Books in action
Bus to Books
Did you know that Woollahra Libraries offers a monthly bus service for residents in our LGA who have difficulty accessing the Library due to limited mobility?
The Woollahra Libraries Bus to Books service picks you up from your home and takes you to Woollahra Library at Double Bay. During your visit you can access our Library resources and browse and borrow our books, movies, magazines, and much more. Enjoy morning tea and conversation with some new friends before the bus takes you back home.
The service operates on the fourth Thursday of every month and bookings are essential as places are limited. Please contact the Library for bookings on 9391 7100 or email homelibraryservice@woollahra.nsw.gov.au
BYO Book Club
The BYO Book Club is a drop in Book Club where you can talk about what you’ve been reading, hear what others have been reading and chat with fellow book lovers and library staff over morning tea.
Paddington BYO Book Club: Held the first Tuesday of each month (excluding January) from 10.30-11.30am at Paddington Library.
Double Bay BYO Book Club: Held the third Thursday of each month (excluding January) from 10am - 11am at Woollahra Library at Double Bay.
20s and 30s BYO Book Club: Held the third Wednesday of each month (excluding January) from 6pm - 7:30pm at Paddington Library.
Rhyme time fun at Woollara Libraries
Story time, Rhyme Time and Book Babies
Enjoy stories, rhymes, singing and dancing with your child at each of our Woollahra Library locations. This program runs weekly during the school term.
Rhyme Time for babies and toddlers (0-2 years)
- Woollahra Library at Double Bay - Monday 10:00am and 11:00am, Tuesday 3:30pm
- Watsons Bay Library - Thursday 10:00am and 10:30am
- Paddington Library - Thursday 10:30am and 11:15am
Story Time for pre-schoolers (3-5 years)
- Paddington Library - Sunday 10:30am & Monday 10:30am
- Watsons Bay Library - Tuesday 10:30am
- Woollahra Library at Double Bay - Wednesday 10:30am & second Saturday of the month 10:30am
Book Babies (ages 0 - 18 months)
Woollahra Library at Double Bay - Monday 2:30pm
Find out more.
Visit the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf
If you haven't yet visited our Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, now is the perfect time to drop in. The gallery must be one of the most scenic, situated in picturesque Blackburn Gardens overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Make a day of it and stay a while. After admiring the latest gallery exhibition, wander down to Murray Rose Pool and visit the beachside café or picnic in the gardens
The gallery is open Wednesday 1pm-6pm, Thursday - Friday: 10am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday: 10am-5pm. Admission is free.
Don't miss these exhibitions at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf
Mythmakers
Until 23 August
Bringing together painting, sculpture, film and installation, Myth Makers reflects on the ways myth is constructed, performed and circulated in contemporary life.
The exhibition features works by Adele Warner, Andrew Thomas Huang, Annabelle McEwen, Bridget Stehli, George Raftopolous, Gian Manik, Jordan Gogos, Oscar Sulich, Sanné Mestrom and Vincent Namatjira.
Myth Makers highlights the porous boundaries between the physical and symbolic realms, and the ways in which their interplay continues to shape how we imagine ourselves and the world around us.
Shallow Pool Illusion, Rachel Mackay
Until 23 August
Shallow Pool Illusion takes its title from an optical phenomenon in which submerged objects appear closer to the surface than they really are. The illusion produces a discrepancy between appearance and reality, generated by the refraction of light as it passes through water.
The work considers perception as something continually mediated through matter and subjectivity. The shallow pool illusion produces a suspended state that suggests reality has become altered or clouded, but does this distortion reveal something else? The distorted image may, paradoxically, hold a different kind of truth.
What's on at the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf
Youth Recreation Area at Rushcutters Bay Park
Work has officially started on the new Youth Recreation Area at Rushcutters Bay Park, marking an exciting milestone in the delivery of a dedicated recreation space for local young people.
Young people make up around 12 per cent of the Woollahra community, and the need for a dedicated recreation space for children aged 8-14 years was identified through extensive research and community consultation. The Youth Recreation Area has been carefully designed to support active lifestyles, skill development and social connection, while providing a welcoming space where young people can spend time outdoors with friends and family.
The project includes a junior scooter and skate area, a mini basketball court with a netball ring and new landscaping, creating more opportunities for active recreation, social connection and outdoor play.
"I can't wait to have such an awesome place to have fun and hang out with my friends. The area looks incredible and it's going to open up so many opportunities for us," Evie (2nd from left).
Construction is expected to be completed and the youth recreation area open for play in spring 2026.
Find out more about the Youth Recreation Area at Rushcutters Bay Park.
Did you know that we know collect old batteries, e-waste, clothes and accessories from your home for FREE?
Free recycling pick-up service
Get rid of your old batteries, e-waste, clothes and accessories in a safe and sustainable way by booking a free pick-up through our expanded recycling service.
This service allows you to book in a free collection of your unwanted e-waste. All you need to do is book in a collection (available Monday-Friday) and leave your recycling on your kerb (or rear lane if you have one) for collection by the next business day.
Items accepted
- Household Batteries (battery terminals must be taped with cello/duct tape)
- Car Batteries
- Vapes
- E-waste
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Accessories
Items NOT accepted:
- Whitegoods - fridges, freezers, stoves/cooktops/ovens, dishwashers etc
- Smoke detectors
- Christmas/string lights
- Video and cassette tapes
- E-waste from business
- Underwear, socks, hosiery
- Ripped, dirty, wet or soiled clothing/accessory items
- Manchester, bedding, pillows, towels etc.
- Any other item that is not deemed acceptable as part of this service.
How do I book a collection?
There are a few options for booking a collection. You can:
There are no limits to the amount of collections per year, but they must be booked in.
Find out more details about the free recycling pick-up and what we do and don't pick up.
The Woollahra Festival received funding via the Outgoing Sponsorship Program
Celebrating our Woollahra Council Grant Recipients
Congratulations to the community organisations, schools, businesses and individuals from across the Woollahra Local Government Area, who received a total of $359,000 in funding through its Grants Program
The projects will make important contributions to the ongoing development of the Woollahra community, and benefit both local residents and visitors to the area.
The successful recipients will undertake projects that will drive meaningful change in the Woollahra community. They will use grant funding to develop projects including initiatives supporting sustainability in schools, increasing mental wellbeing in the community, delivering green energy to community organisations, youth-led community events and connecting local businesses.
Find out more about the Woollahra Council grant program and how you can apply for a grant.
Meet Lara! Helping Council Residents Find Answers Anytime
Lara, Woollahra Council’s new Virtual Assistant, is now live on the Council website, helping residents find information quickly, easily and anytime they need it.
Designed as a smarter way to search and access Council information online, Lara supports our customers by answering common questions, guiding them to the right webpages, documents and forms, and helping simplify everyday enquiries.
Powered by generative AI, Lara draws on published content across the Woollahra website to help customers find answers faster. Rather than searching through pages yourself, Lara can help connect you with the information you're looking for more quickly.
Find out more.
Having fun at the upgraded Lyne Park Playground
Upgraded Parks & Playgrounds
The Woollahra Council area has a range of historic gardens, foreshore parks, playgrounds and bushland reserves. Our dedicated staff are passionate about maintaining and revitalising our parklands.
Robertson Park Playground concept design
Robertson Park Playground Upgrade
We're upgrading the much loved Robertson Park Playground in Watsons Bay to make it more accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
We're excited to share the final design of the new Robertson Park Playground! It's bigger and better with a range of play equipment, seating, landscaping, bike racks and more.
The new design features a range of elements including:
- a tall climbing tower with rope nets and giant tunnel slide targeted to children aged 3+
- a smaller marine-themed climbing structure with rope net and slide for younger children
- a trampoline
- a natural rope bridge
- a sand-play area with a play excavator
- a five-bay swing with two standard strap seats, an inclusive boat seat, an enclosed infant seat, and a bird nest seat
- and so much more.
Construction has commenced and the playground will reopen in November 2026 (weather permitting).
Find out more details about this project.
The draft plan for the upgrade of Rushcutters Bay Park Playground (concept image)
Rushcutters Bay Park Playground
We're upgrading Rushcutters Bay Park Playground to make it more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
We recognise the playground is important to the community and is a great place for children to be active and play it would benefit from an upgrade.
We've created a draft plan, with the help of community feedback, which features nature-inspired ‘rushes’ alongside marine-themed play spaces such as a climbing tower structure to challenge older children, swings, a cubby play tower for younger children, a trampoline, better shading, a waterplay area, nature play and an exciting new slide.
The design also features a new shade cover, equipment for both younger and older children and a new more welcoming, accessible entry.
We are currently reviewing community feedback on our draft plan and the final plan will be announced soon. Construction is estimated to start in early 2027.
Find out more about this project.
Thornton Reserve Playground concept design
Thornton Reserve Playground
We're upgrading Thornton Reserve Playground in Bellevue Hill to make it a more accessible, safe and enjoyable space. We recognise this play space provides an important opportunity for community connection and it would benefit from an upgrade.
We've created a draft design for Thornton Reserve Playground which features a range of elements.
New elements include:
- a 3m high slide on the embankment
- a multi-functional play unit with a double slide and climbing features for younger children
- a curved climbing structure designed for children aged 6+.
- a double-bay swing with toddler swing and a round “bird’s nest” swing.
The final design will be announced soon.
Comber Street Reserve in Paddington
Comber Street Reserve Upgrade
We know the reserve is a valued community space - a place to connect, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. Woollahra Council is refreshing the area to create a more welcoming and enjoyable place for local residents. These upgrades aim to make it more comfortable for sitting and socialising, while creating more opportunities for informal children’s play.
New elements include:
- New turf at the front of the reserve
- Raised planter beds along the northern side and front of the reserve constructed using bricks salvaged from the terrace house which previously occupied the site, demolished in the 1990s.
- New picnic table
- A double-brick planter edge/ bench seating added at the rear of the reserve
- The area at the back (currently grass in poor condition and dirt) will be paved with brick pavers
- New raised planter bed between the new grass and pergola
View the final plan.
Works are are expected to be completed in early August 2026 (weather permitting).
Expanded options for dog walking announced
We are pleased to announce that we have opened up eight new areas for off-leash dog walking across the Woollahra Local Government Area, with five more on the way. As part of the changes, we've also added some new locations to walk your dog on a leash, and we've extended the hours for some of our popular off-leash areas.
We listened to community feedback through extensive consultation and after careful review of your requests to consider more locations and changes to existing rules, the following previously on-leash or no-dogs areas are now off-leash:
- Camp Cove Reserve, Watsons Bay
- Cooper Park (upper amphitheatre)
- Percival Park, Rose Bay
- Signal Hill Reserve, Vaucluse
- Woollahra Ovals 2&3, Rose Bay (3.30pm - 10.30am)
- Robertson Park and Beach (between Yacht Club and Ferry Wharf) (3.30pm -10.30am)
- Steyne Park Sportsfield, Double Bay (5pm - 8.30am)
- Moncur Reserve, Woollahra (3.30pm -10.30am)
We are also extending off-leash dog walking hours at Lower Cooper Park, Lough Playing Fields, and Dumaresq Reserve.
Download the Woollahra App Today!
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The App is free to download and provides you with the ability to link details for your property - immediately providing location-specific information on regular waste collection services and Council clean-up collection dates - and also the option to make secure credit card payments for delivery of some services.
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