Northern Beaches Archives

More Than 40 New Trees Planted at Dee Why’s James Meehan Reserve

More than 40 advanced native and coastal trees have been planted at James Meehan Reserve in Dee Why as part of a larger canopy-building programme targeting Northern Beaches suburbs identified as having lower-than-average tree cover.

The new plantings, completed over the past month, include a mix of five species chosen for their suitability to the local environment: banksia integrifolia, eucalyptus robusta, melaleuca quinquenervia, araucaria heterophylla and ficus rubiginosa.

For anyone walking through James Meehan Reserve on the way to the beach, heading out for a dog walk, or watching sport on the weekend, the change is already visible — and the benefits will compound considerably as the trees mature over coming years.

Dee Why is one of four suburbs prioritised in the current round of planting alongside Brookvale, Warriewood and North Curl Curl. The programme is funded through a special variation in rates and sits within a broader Tree Canopy Plan aimed at building urban greenery across the Northern Beaches over the long term.

Shade that does real work on hot days

The new plantings will boost canopy cover and help reduce the impacts of urban heat on public land. Trees act as natural air conditioners, providing shade and cooling on hot days, and streets with trees can be several degrees cooler in summer.

On a suburb like Dee Why, where the built environment and coastal exposure combine to concentrate heat during summer afternoons, that temperature difference is felt directly by anyone spending time outdoors.

Urban heat is not just a comfort issue. It affects how long people can safely spend outside, how walkable a neighbourhood feels during warmer months, and what kinds of outdoor activity are realistic for older residents and young children.

Increasing canopy cover in areas where it has historically been lower addresses that problem at a neighbourhood scale, rather than expecting individuals to manage it on their own.

Greener streets people actually want to spend time in

People are drawn to greener places. Green streets and neighbourhoods provide privacy, local character and places to play and spend time. It is the kind of thing that is easy to overlook until the trees are there, and then immediately obvious. A reserve with established canopy draws different foot traffic than an open, exposed one.

It encourages slower movement, longer visits and the kind of incidental social contact that gives a suburb its sense of community.

For Dee Why, a suburb that has been developing at pace with new residential density along Pittwater Road and the surrounding streets, the addition of mature vegetation in public reserves plays a practical role in making shared outdoor spaces feel worth using.

A habitat, not just a landscape feature

Trees provide food and homes to birds, insects and wildlife. A mature gum tree can be home to many hundreds of different species, helping sustain ecosystems. The species selected for the James Meehan Reserve planting include natives well suited to supporting local wildlife corridors on the Northern Beaches.

Banksia integrifolia, the coast banksia, is a particularly significant food source for honeyeaters and flying foxes. Ficus rubiginosa, the Port Jackson fig, supports fruit-eating birds and provides dense canopy as it matures.

The Dee Why planting connects to a broader effort to maintain biodiversity across the Northern Beaches’ urban landscape, where native vegetation has been progressively replaced by development over decades.

Part of a longer plan for the Northern Beaches

The James Meehan Reserve planting is one element of a larger-scale programme that targets low-canopy suburbs across the Northern Beaches with substantial numbers of trees rather than token additions.

The Tree Canopy Plan sets out preferred species, planting locations and long-term targets, and the current programme is executing against those priorities in a concentrated way.

Residents can learn more about the tree planting programme, preferred local species and the Tree Canopy Plan at the Northern Beaches website.

Published 26-June-2026

Dee Why Restaurant Stella Blu Nears Final Service After 34 Years

Photo Credit: Stella Blu Restaurant & Bar/Facebook

Stella Blu at Dee Why Beach will close after 34 years on The Strand, bringing an end to a beachfront restaurant remembered through decades of meals, milestones and familiar local routines.

For more than three decades, Stella Blu has been part of the rhythm of Dee Why Beach.

The Italian restaurant at 18 The Strand opened in 1992, when the beachfront had only a handful of eateries. It began as a 40-seat cafe serving pizza, focaccia, pasta, coffee and desserts, before growing into a larger restaurant known to generations of diners on the northern beaches.

That long run will end on 28 June, when Stella Blu closes after its final lunch service.

Co-owners Nick Salerno and Pino Salerno announced the closure as impending redevelopment of the site brings the restaurant’s time at The Strand to an end. The business looked at other options, but no alternative was found that felt right for Stella Blu.

Stella Blu restaurant at Dee Why Beach — *Photo Credit: Stella Blu Restaurant & Bar/Facebook*

From Small Cafe to Long-Running Ristorante

Stella Blu’s story at Dee Why Beach began with modest offerings and a small dining room, but the venue quickly became a favourite among locals.

Over time, it expanded into adjoining premises and was renovated as the owners worked to create an Italian ristorante shaped by food, hospitality and its beachside location.

The site also carries an earlier family history. Umberto and Stella Russo, Italian immigrants, built two shops with a flat above after an older shop on the site burnt down in 1977. They operated a cafe on the corner of The Strand and Howard Avenue called Donna Stella.

Their son Victor later took over the restaurant and renamed it Stella Blu in honour of his mother.

When Nick Salerno became part of the business, Stella Blu was still known for simpler cafe-style meals. With Pino Salerno later joining as partner, the restaurant grew into the venue many diners came to know across the following decades.

Outdoor tables at Stella Blu Dee Why — *Photo Credit: Stella Blu Restaurant & Bar/Facebook*

Milestones Around the Table

Stella Blu became more than a place for lunch or dinner for many of its regulars.

Across 34 years, the restaurant became a setting for proposals, birthdays, wedding receptions, anniversaries, Mother’s Day meals, farewell drinks and wakes. Customers have remembered favourite dishes, family lunches, long meals with friends and occasions that became attached to the restaurant’s beachfront tables.

Former staff have also recalled busy services, long shifts and the people they worked with over the years. Others remembered the early days of the restaurant, when it was smaller, simpler and already becoming part of Dee Why Beach life.

Since the closure was announced, customers and former staff have shared memories of the restaurant’s food, service, staff and place on The Strand.

The Strand dining strip in Dee Why — *Photo Credit: Stella Blu Restaurant & Bar/Facebook*

Redevelopment Ends the Restaurant’s Time on The Strand

The decision to close follows plans to redevelop the building into a shop-top apartment complex.

Nick Salerno had initially intended to work with the property owners through the redevelopment, with the possibility of continuing Stella Blu in the renewed premises. However, the process continued for a long period, leaving the business without certainty about whether it would return to the site.

He has said there was no acrimony over the redevelopment decision, but the lack of security around the restaurant’s future made it difficult to keep waiting.

The business also considered another premises on The Strand, but no suitable site was available. Moving Stella Blu away from Dee Why was not considered the right fit for a restaurant so closely associated with the suburb.

Final Meals by the Beach

The restaurant’s final week has been marked as a last chance for diners to return before Stella Blu closes its doors.

For some, that means one more meal at a familiar table. For others, it is a final visit to a place linked with birthdays, family gatherings, old work memories or evenings by the water.

Nick Salerno has said he is closing the restaurant while he still enjoys the work and the interaction with customers. After Stella Blu closes, he has said he will explore other potential interests in hospitality.

Published 24-June-2026

Dee Why Garden Plan To Bring Fresh Produce To Arthur Reserve

Photo Credit: NBC

A new Dee Why community garden has been approved for Arthur Reserve, giving residents a planned shared space for fresh produce, gardening knowledge and local connection.

New Garden Planned For Arthur Reserve

Dee Why residents are set to gain a new community garden at Arthur Reserve after Northern Beaches Council approved the locally led proposal.

The garden will occupy a 300 square metre section of community land near the Cromer-Dee Why Scout Hall. It will be established, operated and maintained by a community garden group.

The proposal was endorsed at a recent meeting after strong public support. In late 2025, 145 submissions were received, with most backing the plan.

Many submissions referred to the proposed garden’s social, health, educational and environmental benefits.

Dee Why Community Garden To Include Raised Beds

The Dee Why community garden will feature raised garden beds and be designed for inclusive use.

The layout will also keep pedestrian movement through Arthur Reserve open, allowing people to move through the reserve while the garden operates nearby.

Community gardens are shared areas of land managed by groups of people. Garden beds may be individual or shared, with produce divided according to how each garden is organised.

A Shared Place To Grow And Learn

Community gardens provide space for residents to produce food locally, reduce household waste through composting and worm farming, and learn about permaculture and organic gardening.

They also bring together people with a shared interest in gardening and community-based growing.

Across the Northern Beaches, community gardens are generally located in parks or school grounds. They operate as separate incorporated associations, with volunteer members and elected committees.

Their running costs are covered through membership and annual fees, fundraising and grants.

The Dee Why site will be managed by the community garden group responsible for its establishment, operation and maintenance.

NBC sustainable gardening — *Photo Credit: NBC/YouTube*

More Community Gardens Across The Northern Beaches

The new Arthur Reserve garden will add to existing community gardens across the Northern Beaches.

Active gardens already operate at Balgowlah, Seaforth, Freshwater, North Curl Curl, Manly Vale and Newport.

Balgowlah Community Garden is located behind the children’s playground at 100 Griffiths Street. The North Curl Curl garden is based on the western bowling green of the North Curl Curl Community Centre, at the corner of Abbott and Griffin Roads.

Freshie Community Garden is used for growing fruit trees, vegetables and flowers through sustainable gardening practices. Manly Vale Community Garden brings children, families and neighbours together to learn about more sustainable living.

The planned garden at Arthur Reserve will extend that network into Dee Why, near the Cromer-Dee Why Scout Hall.

Published 18-June-2026

Dee Why Driver Fined After Alleged Drink-Driving Crash

Photo Credit: NSW Police Force/Facebook

A 74-year-old woman has been fined and had her licence suspended after an alleged low-range drink-driving crash at Dee Why, where her car hit a parked trailer and blocked May Road.

Hyundai Hits Parked Trailer In Dee Why

Police were called to May Road at Dee Why shortly after 6:45 pm on Wednesday, 10 June, following reports of a single-vehicle collision involving a parked trailer.

Residents who heard the impact came outside and found a silver 2016 Hyundai i30 hatchback had struck an unattended box trailer. The trailer was carrying building materials for a nearby construction project.

The vehicle hit the trailer on the passenger side. The 74-year-old woman driving the car did not appear injured, but the car and trailer were left blocking the road after the crash.

Police at Dee Why scene — *Photo Credit: NSW Police Force/Facebook*

Police Attend Dee Why Drink-Driving Crash

Police attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command attended the scene and spoke with the driver.

The woman was directed to take a roadside breath test. She was reported to have had difficulty providing a sample before a reading was recorded. The roadside result was allegedly 0.07.

She was arrested and taken to Dee Why Police Station, where a further breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.051, just above the legal limit.

Fines And Licence Suspension Issued

The woman was issued infringement notices for negligent driving and low-range prescribed concentration of alcohol as a first offence.

The negligent driving infringement carried a $562 fine and three demerit points. The low-range PCA infringement carried a $704 fine and a three-month licence suspension.

Her vehicle was later removed by tow truck.

Trailer Owner Called To May Road

The owner of the box trailer, a builder from Western Sydney, was contacted after the crash and arrived about 45 minutes later to move it.

Some residents criticised the trailer being left parked on the street rather than removed from the area each day.

The incident left May Road briefly disrupted while the vehicle and trailer were dealt with.

Published 12-June-2026

Dee Why Assault Victim In ICU As Footage Appeal Continues

Photo Credit: Pexels

A Dee Why man remains in a critical condition after being assaulted at James Meehan Reserve, with an appeal for dashcam and surveillance footage as police continue to investigate the incident.

Dee Why Assault Victim Remains In Critical Condition

A 47-year-old Dee Why man remains in a critical condition after he was assaulted at James Meehan Reserve, near the corner of Clyde Road and Richmond Avenue.

The man, identified by his partner as Nick, was attacked late on Friday night, 29 May, after reportedly approaching a group in the park area over noise. His partner has said he had gone to ask the group to lower the volume after loud music late at night.

Dee Why assault — *Photo Credit: Tracey Posa/Facebook*

He was later found severely injured and taken to hospital. His condition has since deteriorated, and he remains in the intensive care unit at Royal North Shore Hospital, where he is unconscious, intubated and on life support.

His partner has described serious injuries, including bleeding to the head, facial fractures, injuries to his ears and face, and extensive bruising.

Appeal For Dee Why Footage After Park Attack

The man’s partner has appealed for help from anyone who was parked or driving near the area on Friday night.

People with dashcam footage from around James Meehan Reserve have been asked to check recordings between about 10:00 pm and midnight. Anyone who was travelling between Pittwater Road and Dee Why Beach between 7:00 pm and midnight has also been asked to review footage that may show movement in the area.

Footage showing vehicles, headlights, people, or a group moving through the area may assist the investigation. The reserve was dark at the time, and there was no CCTV covering the immediate location.

The partner has remained anonymous because of concerns for her safety.

Ambulance response in Dee Why — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Police Continue James Meehan Reserve Investigation

Police have confirmed the investigation is continuing, with no further update available. Evidence was collected from the park after the assault, but the man’s condition means he has not been able to speak with police or provide his account of what happened.

A bystander reported seeing a rowdy group of youths returning from the beach area along Howard Avenue between about 10:30 pm and 11:00 pm before boarding a bus. That information has been passed to police, but there has been no confirmation that the group was involved in the assault.

The investigation remains focused on piecing together movements before and after the incident. Any dashcam, vehicle, home security or other footage from nearby streets may assist police as they continue their inquiries.

Anyone with information that may assist has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Published 2-June-2026

Northern Beaches Transport Review Sparks Push for Metro Rail to Dee Why and Brookvale

NBC

A major transport review covering the Northern Beaches is open for public feedback, triggering a fierce local push to get a metro rail line to Dee Why and Brookvale onto the dynamic planning agenda for the first time.

The Northern Beaches Network Review examines how the peninsula’s main road and public transport networks are performing. The official scope targets five key arterial corridors: Mona Vale Road, Warringah Road, Military and Spit roads, Pittwater Road, and the Pacific Highway.

But local community advocates, business groups, and regional leaders are hitting back, warning that the official strategy focuses too heavily on short-term fixes while ignoring the massive structural changes the peninsula desperately needs.

The case for metro rail

The Northern Beaches still has no rail connection. Buses and private cars fight for space on the same gridlocked corridors, and while the B-Line has made a massive dent in transit times since launching in late 2017, the network is hitting its absolute ceiling.

A formal community backlash is now gathering momentum, demanding that planners fast-track the “investigation of a mass transport solution such as a Metro rail to Dee Why and Brookvale” before the region bottlenecks completely.

Local submissions are also calling for aggressive bus priority upgrades north of Mona Vale, grade-separated cycleways, and immediate engineering fixes for notorious intersection logjams that the current official review largely glides over.

For Dee Why commuters heading south to the CBD, daily trips remain an exercise in frustration due to shifting bus reliability and relentless Pittwater Road gridlock. The notorious Officeworks intersection in Dee Why stands out as a prime pain point in local feedback.

What is currently on the table?

The official review sticks to practical, medium-term adjustments. Key proposals include an east-west B-Line link connecting Dee Why to Chatswood’s existing Metro station, alongside stronger bus priority lanes along Pittwater, Military, and Spit roads.

Several major road upgrades are also rolling out across the region simultaneously:

Mona Vale Road West: Detailed design work and site investigations are moving forward to widen a 3.4-kilometre stretch from two lanes to four between Terrey Hills and Ingleside, which includes a new northern shared path.
Wakehurst Parkway: Safety works, intersection upgrades, and flood mitigation projects are progressing between Frenchs Forest Road and Pittwater Road in North Narrabeen.

While these projects offer welcome relief, residents argue they are minor Band-Aids on a much larger systemic problem.

Density is coming, and the roads aren’t ready

The clock is ticking for the peninsula’s transport infrastructure. High-density residential zoning is ramping up across major hubs, with Mona Vale, Frenchs Forest, Brookvale, and Dee Why all locked in as designated growth zones. New planning reforms mean developments can now scale up to six storeys along these transit corridors.

Locals are warning that piling thousands of new residents into these areas without heavy mass transit infrastructure will completely paralyze local roads. The message from community leaders to infrastructure planners is clear: critical enabling infrastructure must pave the way for density, not trail behind it by a decade.

Tinkering around the edges simply will not cut it anymore when there are only a few bottleneck roads in and out of the peninsula.

Have your say by June 15

The community feedback window has been extended to Monday, 15 June 2026, to give residents more time to log their experiences. Locals can pinpoint exact problem intersections or congested corridors using the interactive map on the official Have Your Say platform, complete a travel survey, and download the full 30-page summary report.

To submit your feedback online, head to NSW Gov before the June 15 deadline.

Published 29-May-2026

Driver Charged After Head-On Crash Near Brookvale Oval

NSW Police Force/Facebook

A head-on collision on Pittwater Road near Brookvale Oval sent one man to hospital and led to another being arrested and charged after he allegedly returned positive results for alcohol, cocaine and methylamphetamine.

Emergency services were called to the scene just after 9.30pm on Sunday 24 May, where a white 2001 Toyota LandCruiser carrying Queensland number plates and an orange 2018 Volkswagen Polo had collided head-on.

NSW Police officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command attended alongside NSW Ambulance paramedics and firefighters from Dee Why Station, finding the front ends of both vehicles heavily damaged and airbags deployed throughout. It was not immediately clear whether one of the vehicles had been turning across traffic or had crossed the median strip.

The collision and its aftermath

Two occupants were in the LandCruiser, understood to be a man and a woman both in their 20s, and one man was in the VW Polo. Paramedics assessed all three at the scene. The 26-year-old Polo driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition. The occupants of the LandCruiser were assessed but did not require hospital transport.

*Photo Credit: NSW Police Force/Facebook*

Officers subjected both drivers to roadside breath testing at the scene. The 28-year-old male driver of the LandCruiser allegedly returned a positive reading and was arrested. He was taken to Dee Why Police Station, where further breath analysis returned an alleged blood alcohol reading of 0.095.

An oral fluid sample was also taken for drug testing purposes, which allegedly returned positive results for both cocaine and methylamphetamine.

The charges he faces

The 28-year-old was charged under Section 110(4) of the Road Transport Act for driving with a middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol, commonly referred to as a middle range PCA. This offence carries an automatic licence disqualification of 12 months. He was granted bail and issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday 17 June 2026.

Additional charges relating to the alleged presence of drugs in his system are expected to follow once further testing is completed. Police confirmed they are awaiting those results. Depending on the outcome, charges will be laid under either Section 111 or Section 112 of the Road Transport Act.

If it is his first offence, either charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $3,300.

Road closed, then cleared

Northbound lanes of Pittwater Road were closed for the duration of the incident, with traffic diverted through Old Pittwater Road, Beacon Hill Road and Warringah Road. Southbound traffic ran on a single lane past the crash site. Tow trucks removed both vehicles and the road fully reopened by 10.15pm, less than an hour after emergency services first arrived.

Pittwater Road is one of the Northern Beaches’ main arterial routes, carrying significant volumes of traffic between Dee Why, Brookvale, Narrabeen and suburbs further north. The stretch near Brookvale Oval sees consistent traffic flow on weekend nights.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Northern Beaches Police Area Command or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppers.com.au.

Published 25-May-2026

Dee Why Retail Crime Prompts Undercover Police Operation

A late-night clash outside a Dee Why supermarket has laid bare a growing pattern of youth shoplifting and rising tension in the Northern Beaches, with a local man taking matters into his own hands after spotting teens allegedly stealing from a busy retail strip.

Just before 8.30 p.m. on 26 April, NSW Police were called to Lighthouse Square on Howard Avenue in Dee Why after reports of a fight between a 54-year-old man and a group of teenage boys.

The man had reportedly seen up to eight youths stealing from a nearby Woolworths and confronted them, leading to a physical altercation that spilled into the public square. Witnesses contacted Triple Zero as the situation escalated, and officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command arrived within minutes.

Confrontation Reflects Growing Strain in Dee Why Retail Hub

The man, who sustained minor injuries, held onto one 17-year-old boy until police arrived. He was later assessed by paramedics but did not require hospital care. Police chose not to charge him, though he later acknowledged he should not have intervened.

The teen was arrested and released under the Young Offenders Act, with investigations ongoing and CCTV footage expected to play a role.

The incident has drawn attention to repeated thefts in the Lighthouse Retail Precinct, where retailers and locals say a group of youths has been targeting stores, particularly Woolworths and BWS. Staff are understood to have been instructed not to engage directly with offenders due to safety concerns, leaving them reliant on police response.

Undercover Police Operation Targets Repeat Youth Offenders

On 30 April, NSW Police launched an undercover operation in Dee Why aimed at curbing retail theft and antisocial behaviour. Officers worked alongside loss prevention staff to monitor activity across the precinct. According to Northern Beaches Police Area Command, five individuals were issued fines and cautions during the operation.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Boutouridis stated that the enforcement action focused on young people suspected of repeated theft. One 15-year-old boy known to police was arrested at Lighthouse Square and charged with breach of bail and larceny. He was refused bail and scheduled to appear in a Children’s Court.

Police confirmed the operation forms part of a broader retail crime strategy, known as Operation Percentile, which aims to strengthen ties with retailers and increase enforcement within shopping areas. Officers also noted that some youths involved have shown ongoing patterns of offending, complicating efforts under existing youth justice pathways.

Published 30-April-2026

Dee Why Surf Club Leads NSW Shark Bite Kit Rollout After Recent Attacks

Photo Credit: Surf Life Saving NSW/Instagram

Dee Why Surf Club has become the launch point for a rollout of shark bite trauma kits across NSW, with emergency first aid packs to be placed at surf life saving clubs following recent serious and fatal shark attacks.

Dee Why Shark Bite Kits Add Public Access To Emergency First Aid

The kits are being installed on the outside walls of 129 surf life saving clubs, giving beachgoers access to emergency equipment when lifesavers or lifeguards are not on duty.

Each pack includes tourniquets, bandages and wound dressings. The equipment is intended to help control severe bleeding before first responders arrive, particularly in the critical minutes after a shark bite.

NSW beach safety — *Photo Credit: Surf Life Saving NSW/Instagram*

The rollout began at Dee Why Surf Club, a location closely connected to recent beach safety concerns on the Northern Beaches. Local surfer Mercury Psillakis, 57, died after a shark attack in September, and his death has been linked to renewed efforts to improve emergency readiness around surf areas.

Before the broader rollout, several shark bite kits funded through community donations had already been placed near surf clubs on the Northern Beaches after Mr Psillakis’s death.

Recent Attacks Bring Focus To First Response

The new kits follow several serious incidents along the NSW coast where fast first aid was a central factor in the emergency response.

NSW surf clubs — *Photo Credit: Surf Life Saving NSW/Instagram*

In January, surfer Andre de Ruyter, 27, was attacked by a shark at North Steyne Beach in Manly. A makeshift tourniquet was used to reduce blood loss before emergency crews arrived. His injuries were severe, and his right leg was later amputated below the knee.

In November, Swiss tourist Lukas Schindler, 26, survived a bull shark attack at Crowdy Bay after a tourniquet was used. His girlfriend, Livia Mulheim, 25, was also attacked and could not be saved.

Surf lifesavers have also reported more shark sightings and beach closures in recent months than they had seen in the previous decade. During the recent summer, between six and 10 NSW beaches were closed on some days because of shark sightings.

Dee Why shark kits — *Photo Credit: Surf Life Saving NSW/Instagram*

Trauma Kits And Drones Expand Shark Safety Measures

The trauma kit rollout is part of a wider set of shark safety measures now being introduced around surf communities.

A separate drone program will train surfers to operate shark-spotting drones, with 60 new drones and training for 125 pilots. The drones will carry a tribute message in memory of Mr Psillakis.

The drone training is aimed at improving aerial surveillance at surf breaks, including during boardriding club events and training sessions. If a shark is seen during a club activity and no other local direction is in place, activity will be paused for at least 30 minutes.

*Photo Credit: Surf Life Saving NSW/Instagram*

The official volunteer lifesaving season has ended, although some beaches will still have lifeguard patrols. Beachgoers have also been reminded that shark attacks are more likely around dawn and dusk, when many beaches are unpatrolled.

The rollout places practical emergency equipment at a site closely tied to recent loss. Across NSW, the kits are intended to give the public another way to act quickly while waiting for trained responders to arrive.

Published 29-Apr-2026

Local Gluten-Free Café Wins Big at National Dairy Awards

V’s Dessert Gluten Free/Facebook

V’s Dessert Gluten Free has won four gold medals and the National Champion title in the Dairy Dessert, Custard or Mousse category at the 2026 Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Show, the country’s most prestigious dairy competition, in its very first year of entering.

Founder Vivian Wang entered four flavours of her handcrafted gluten-free basque cheesecakes, including original, rose honey pistachio, blueberry and coffee, against entries from some of Australia’s most established producers.

Every single one came home with gold. The original basque cheesecake then went further, taking the National Champion trophy for its category from a field that required a gold medal just to be in contention.

“It was our first year entering, and we genuinely did not expect this result,” Wang said. “Competing alongside some of Australia’s best producers made the recognition even more meaningful.”

A Competition with a Long History

The Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Show is not a gimmick. The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW has been running dairy judging since 1858, making it one of the longest-running food competitions in the country. The show operates in its current comprehensive format since 1994 and now spans 94 classes across cheese, milk, yoghurt, butter, ice cream and dairy desserts, with over 600 exhibits assessed by a national panel of food and dairy specialists.

*Photo Credit: V’s Dessert Gluten Free/Facebook*

Every product is scored out of 20 on presentation, aroma, flavour, texture and body. Gold, silver and bronze medals go to entries that meet specific benchmark standards, and only gold medal winners advance to compete for one of sixteen champion trophies. It is a two-stage hurdle, and Wang cleared both in the one run.

Chair of Judges Tiffany Beer described the competition as an opportunity for producers to benchmark their products and receive independent expert feedback, whether presenting something innovative or a home-grown classic.

The 2026 champion in the overall cheese category was Riverine Blue from Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese in Victoria, a repeat winner. Among the other champions in the show were a buffalo cream butter, an olive oil, honey, lemon and thyme ice-cream, and a khajoor (date) flavoured milk. Wang’s cheesecake stood alongside those names as one of 16 national champions across Australia’s dairy industry.

From a Fine Dining Kitchen to a Gluten-Free Café on Francis Street

Wang’s path to Francis Street runs through years of professional kitchen work, a pandemic and a conviction that gluten-free desserts had been done badly for long enough.

She trained as a pastry chef and spent years working in fine dining, drawn to the precision and elegance of dessert work. When COVID closed restaurants and she found herself baking at home, she started experimenting with gluten-free formulations, motivated in part by wanting to help people who had limited access to genuinely good sweet options.

“Desserts allowed me the time to go at a slower pace and work with perfection and precision,” Wang said. “The plating, the prep work, the elegance, it suited me perfectly.”

“When lockdowns hit and restaurants closed, I started experimenting at home and I realised there was a huge gap for genuinely good gluten-free desserts. I wanted to help people and I have the skills and knowledge, so I thought, why not give it a go.”

The café opened on Francis Street in September 2024. Wang’s philosophy from the start was that gluten-free should not feel like a compromise. The texture, the balance, the flavour had to come first, and the absence of gluten had to be incidental rather than the point.

“These desserts aren’t replacements, they just naturally happen to be gluten free,” she said. “We bake in small batches using high-quality ingredients and Australian dairy. Gluten free should never feel like a compromise. Texture, balance and flavour always come first.”

A Cheesecake Unlike the Rest

For anyone unfamiliar with the style, a basque cheesecake is defined by a deliberately caramelised, almost burnt top crust and an interior that is soft, creamy and custard-like rather than firm and sliceable. The name comes from the Basque Country in northern Spain, where the style originated and spread globally over the past two decades.

The deliberate caramelisation is the key. Where a classic New York cheesecake aims for a pale, smooth surface, a basque cheesecake goes into a very hot oven without a water bath, allowing the top to colour deeply while the centre stays just barely set. The result is a combination of bittersweet caramel and rich, yielding cream cheese that is unlike anything a traditional cheesecake produces.

Wang’s four competition entries, original, rose honey pistachio, blueberry and coffee, are all available at the café now.

Visit V’s Dessert Gluten Free

V’s Dessert Gluten Free is at Shop 22/2b Francis Street, Dee Why, on the corner of Redman Road. The café is open Thursday to Sunday from 8.30am, with closing times varying. Follow the café on Instagram and Facebook for updates on seasonal flavours, hours and new menu items.

Published 26-April-2026