Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability — Attraction in Sydney

We were just going for a walk nearby when we smelt this amazing warm and hearty smelling food coming from somewhere unknown, being a little hungry now we sought out this alluring aroma, after a short look around we stumbled across this Cafe at the top of the coal loader, called you guessed it, The Coal Loader Cafe :)

My wife ordered a steak sandwich which was a prime cut absolutely perfectly cooked, she didn't leave even a bite! and I ordered a custom made chicken BLAT, (it wasn't on the menu with chicken but when I asked if maybe? It might be possible they made it for me no problems at all anyway, and truthfully? yum! It was almost as if they individually picked and placed every single piece of this absolutely beautiful chicken and placed it perfectly on my sandwich, absolutely no leakage or mess (which drives me a little crazier each time it happens elsewhere) on-top of that the bacon was AMAZING! so perfectly cooked and crisp I picked at the bacon first (being a bit of a slob, but it was Soo good) but same as my wife, not a crumb left :)

So thankyou so much for a lovely warm and cosy afternoon late lunch (being the middle of winter it was sunny but a little chilly outside but inside was just perfect) it was the perfect way to spend an hour after a walk all around the old Coal Loader (very interesting place to walk or roll around with easy access for all types of mobility)

We'll absolutely be coming back very soon, we couldn't recommend the Coal Loader Cafe and their super friendly and accommodating team and more importantly to my stomach The Coal Loader Cafes food more highly,...

Hard to know what to say about this. It's a kinda field of lost dreams experience, which is good if you're feeling whimsical and optimistic, but if you're feeling dejected about life, the universe and everything, then this place might make you darker.

There's been a red hot taxpayer funded go at getting something to happen here, but it's just not working. The much touted (on the website) markets are quarterly at best, the so called community gardens are maintained by the taxpayers, not by enthusiastic locals, because people who can afford to live here don't want a community garden, they want a holiday in Italy.

The coal loader thing has been rendered safe with lights and walkways, which has pretty much emasculated it as an industrial artefact, so it's just kinda damp and dull.

The so called historic ship repair aspect has already claimed one old ferry, sunk in situ and unceremoniously cut up and recycled, and the current occupant of berth 1 looks about ready to go the same way, as is the adjacent jetty.

So, what's next? It's time, ladies and gentlemen.

Demolish the lot, restore the shoreline, install public parks, and fund the entire exercise by the development of the higher ground as medium density harbourside living.

C'mon North Sydney Council & NSW Government, you know it...

I quite like this area, we visit regularly with our kids. The little park near the waterfront is safe and closed in so it isn't too easy to lose the little ones! The new cafe is also great and not too crowded (at least yet!) though once it's better known it may be a different story. Staff and volunteers at the centre are friendly as well and don't mind having a chat. This little patch of green so near the city is very much appreciated.

The only reason that I can't give this 5 stars is for something that is probably out of control of the centre but does impact on the amenities. On more than one time our visit has been marred by the incessant industrial noises and dust coming from the white ship next to the old wharf. What surprises me is that the navy base next door with far more boats is quiet. We've talked with other visitors (locals) and they say this is normal and that sometimes the noise starts before 8am and will often go past sunset.

One small gripe though is that the concrete path in the tunnel is a little uneven and it might be an idea to put up a sign warning people of this as one of my littlies nearly tripped on a bit of...