Big Don's Smoked Meats: Famous BBQ joint plans to relocate from Bayswater home over local government tension
Popular BBQ joint Big Don's Smoked Meats has announced plans to relocate from its current home in Bayswater.
The beloved barbecue restaurant took to social media on Tuesday calling for suggestions on where it should relocate to once its lease ended — citing a 'tenuous relationship' with the City of Bayswater.
'Our tenuous relationship with the City of Bayswater has been well documented over the years,' owner Donovan MacDonald wrote.
'Some councils are better than others, and if the right one was supportive and wanted to see BDSM in their suburb we would jump ship when our lease ends, for the right space.
'Frankly, some Perth councils are so backwards you don't feel welcome. The bureaucracy is appalling whether you're a small food truck or a large restaurant like ours, we've been both.
'You saw just the other week Bayswater ban food trucks from within 200m of a brick and mortar.
'Perth's food scene could be far better than it is if local government pulled their finger out. I'd love to see an amalgamation.
'Globally our food truck scene is the worst due primarily to local governments.'
The announcement comes less than three years after PerthNow reported plans for a
300-capacity microbrewery
and beer garden to open alongside the barbecue joint on Moojebing Street — Mr MacDonald had hoped for an early 2023 opening.
He listed some of the issues his business had been hit with over the years including: food had to be take-away only, 20-seat limit forcing customers to bring their own tables and chairs, and that their portable toilets were not building permit approved.
'We've had a lot of support from local councillors over the years no doubt, but the feeling from the city itself is: it's too difficult, we don't want you. Nor will we work with you in a constructive manner for a positive outcome for all,' Mr MacDonald continued.
'We have several years left, but a project the size of our shop would need years lead time anyway. Who's out there, slide into my DMs.'
The post triggered a wave of messages from keen councillors across the city.
'You need to come down to the City of Cockburn and discuss how we can help,' City of Cockburn councillor Tom Windenbar wrote.
City of Kwinana mayor Peter Feasey said: 'Send me an email, lets talk!'
City of Gosnells mayor Terresa Lynes added: 'I might know where there's a big old building that might suit you .... I'll flick you an email. Can everyone stop sending me this post now!'
Mr MacDonald started his barbecue business from his backyard before officially launching as Big Don's in 2017.
He now boasts a 230,000 following on Instagram and his menu items, posted weekly for pre-order, sell out within minutes.
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Revealed: Insane amount celebrities spend on Aussie homes - realestate.com.au
Australia's real estate market is not only a playground for the affluent but also a haven for celebrities seeking privacy, luxury, and breathtaking views. From the sun-drenched beaches of Byron Bay to the bustling streets of Sydney, these high-profile individuals have invested in some of the country's most extravagant properties. In this exclusive roundup, we delve into the opulent homes of Australia's most celebrated personalities, exploring the lavish amenities and stunning locales that define their residences. JAMES PACKER Leading the list is James Packer's two-level pad in the Sydney Crown Resorts. At the time of sale, the property smashed the Sydney apartment record of $26m, set in 2016 with the sale of Sydney's Opera Residences penthouse. Now said to be worth $100m, the luxury 'Sky Home' boasts stunning views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Packer renovated the apartment, installing an elevator and removing stairs, with other features including Scandinavian bleached birch wood, ripple textured bronze glass and silver-veined stone slabs from Greece. When he purchased the home, Packer planned that his ex-wife Erica would decorate. The couple previously shared a home in Sydney's east, La Mer, which they sold for $70m in 2015. Read more here. The former media mogul splurged $60m on a two-level pad in the Sydney Crown Resorts. CHRIS HEMSWORTH Chris Hemsworth's Byron Bay mansion epitomises luxury with its state-of-the-art facilities and panoramic ocean views. Hemsworth and wife-actor Elsa Pataky is nicknamed 'Fortress Hemsworth' by locals and comes with an estimated worth of around $50 million. The couple purchased the 4.2 ha estate in 2014 and spent years building the home, which features six bedrooms, a media room, a gym, a spa, and a massive 50-meter infinity pool. The home is known for its privacy and seclusion, offering fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean. Spaniard Pataky, who has largely called Australia home for over a decade, has shared a series of snaps of the home on social media, including a state-of-the-art kitchen with mum cooking with the kids. The heart of the home which features plenty of white, beige and grey tones with wooden accents and includes a large dining space that extends seamlessly onto the outdoor terrace. The pool areas looks to be one of the family's favourite areas of the home and Pataky has posted a pic of herself there too. Read more here Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky. Chris Hemsworth's sprawling Byron Bay mansion. Elsa Pataky shared this picture of the couple's pool with a view on Instagram. RUSSELL CROWE He presided over the Roman army in Gladiator but in real life, Russell Crowe has built a property empire so vast it could make him one of NSW's biggest private land owners. Real estate documents reveal that since snapping up his first batch of land in the picturesque North Coast hamlet of Nana Glen back in 1999, Crowe has purchased at least a further nine surrounding lots that span hundreds of hectares across the region. While a precise value for just his original Nana Glen property isn't readily available, some reports suggesting estate could be worth over $40 million. The estate is a large, rural property and features a chapel where Crowe married Danielle Spencer in 2003. It has also been used for other events, including memorial services. The property suffered significant damage during the 2019 NSW bushfires, but Crowe has been actively involved in the restoration and recovery. Russell Crowe showed rapper, RZA around Nana Glen. Picture: Russell Crowe's Twitter An aerial view of Nana Glen following the bushfires. A view of the private chapel. NICOLE KIDMAN AND KEITH URBAN Over the past decade Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have spent over $25 million on property. The power couple, who are worth an estimated $282 million, have been married since 2006 and in that time have acquired an extensive property portfolio. Despite being based in the United States country music capital Nashville, the couple now claim half a dozen apartments in Harbourside Milsons Point, NSW, taking her tally in the one building to more than $27.5 million. Meanwhile, the couple's country Bunya Hill estate – located an hour and a half from Sydney in the Southern Highlands' sleepy hollow of Sutton Forest – cost the pair $6.5 million in 2008. In addition to plenty of bovines (and alpacas), the property has a 1878 Georgian mansion on site with traditional wide sandstone verandas, pressed metal ceilings, a grand carved cedar staircase and 10 original marble fireplaces. There is also a stand alone guest cottage on site. Shortly after acquiring the sprawling estate, Kidman and Urban put in an 18m swimming pool, new gym, full sized tennis court and 250m grass mounds around the perimeter to block out the pesky paparazzi. With views of green rolling hills, manicured lawns and gardens it's not hard to see why the grand mansion made the NSW top homes of 2023 list. Read more here Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban host NYE drinks at their Sydney Harbourside apartment in 2021, with guests including Channel Nine newsreader Peter Overton. Credit: Media Mode The couple's Bunya Hill estate in NSW. CATE BLANCHETT It may come as no surprise to fans of Cate Blanchett's fierce red carpet fashion that her real estate portfolio is just as stylish. As much was revealed following the sale of her Hunters Hill Mansion in 2017, a heritage-listed property that combines classic architecture with modern amenities. 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ZAC EFRON The 'High School Musical' star has fallen in love with Australia after snapping up an acreage here and even filming an entire season of his travel documentary 'Down To Earth' about the country. The 37-year old purchased a 128ha property in the Glenferrie area of the Tweed Valley — an hour's drive from Byron Bay and about 30 minutes from the Gold Coast — for $2m in December 2020. Efron's application for 'the most sustainable home in the world' on the block was approved by Tweed Shire in November. The proposal for the zero-waste, off-grid home at Tomewin comes with a $2.685m cost to build, overseen by Melbourne-based environmental activist Joost Bakke. The application, lodged in August last year, refers to the dwelling as Future cave — a six-bedroom, two-storey house in a series of pods made of Hemp board panels, designed by architect Frank Burridge. Read more here. Zac Efron is building his own Aussie dream in the Glenferrie area of the Tweed Valley. Source: Instagram. DANIEL RADCLIFFE The Harry Potter star purchased a Toorak apartment in the mid-2000s when he was in Australia filming. Property records reveal it was bought new in 2004 for $1.9 million by Radcliffe's mother Marcia Gresham, and then transferred into her son's name just before his 18th birthday in 2007. The actor listed the home for sale in 2015, when it had price expectations of about $2.5 million. Despite receiving three offers, he decided not to sell because he was expecting to spend more time in Australia for work. In 2021, the actor transferred the property into the name of a corporate entity directed by his parents Marcia Gresham and Alan Radcliffe. The family has since sold the residence for a price in the low $2 million range. The north-facing home offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two car spaces, a large open-plan living area, a balcony and views of the Yarra River. Even Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe knows Australia's property market is magical. 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Israel stops Gaza aid boat, detains Greta Thunberg
Israeli forces have stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which had organised the voyage to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and protest Israel's blockade and wartime conduct, said the activists had been "kidnapped by Israeli forces" early on Monday and released pre-recorded messages from them. "Greta Thunberg has been kidnapped by the Israeli military," it said in an Instagram post. "The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated," it said in a statement. Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that "the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel". It said the passengers would return to their home countries and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels. It later circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests. Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on Friday. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard. "I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible," Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was diverted. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. After a 10 week total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Critics of the blockade say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's roughly two million Palestinians. Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, but later relented under US pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine. Hamas-led militants killed around 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90 per cent of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. with dpa and Reuters Israeli forces have stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which had organised the voyage to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and protest Israel's blockade and wartime conduct, said the activists had been "kidnapped by Israeli forces" early on Monday and released pre-recorded messages from them. "Greta Thunberg has been kidnapped by the Israeli military," it said in an Instagram post. "The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated," it said in a statement. Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that "the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel". It said the passengers would return to their home countries and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels. It later circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests. Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on Friday. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard. "I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible," Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was diverted. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. After a 10 week total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Critics of the blockade say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's roughly two million Palestinians. Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, but later relented under US pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine. Hamas-led militants killed around 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90 per cent of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. with dpa and Reuters Israeli forces have stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which had organised the voyage to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and protest Israel's blockade and wartime conduct, said the activists had been "kidnapped by Israeli forces" early on Monday and released pre-recorded messages from them. "Greta Thunberg has been kidnapped by the Israeli military," it said in an Instagram post. "The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated," it said in a statement. Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that "the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel". It said the passengers would return to their home countries and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels. It later circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests. Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on Friday. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard. "I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible," Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was diverted. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. After a 10 week total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Critics of the blockade say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's roughly two million Palestinians. Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, but later relented under US pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine. Hamas-led militants killed around 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90 per cent of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. with dpa and Reuters Israeli forces have stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which had organised the voyage to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and protest Israel's blockade and wartime conduct, said the activists had been "kidnapped by Israeli forces" early on Monday and released pre-recorded messages from them. "Greta Thunberg has been kidnapped by the Israeli military," it said in an Instagram post. "The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated," it said in a statement. Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that "the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel". It said the passengers would return to their home countries and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels. It later circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests. Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on Friday. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard. "I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible," Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was diverted. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. After a 10 week total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Critics of the blockade say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's roughly two million Palestinians. Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, but later relented under US pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine. Hamas-led militants killed around 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90 per cent of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. with dpa and Reuters
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'Not meant to be': Brittany Higgins sells French estate amid return to work
Brittany Higgins has sold her French estate in Bergerac, southwest France, within days of announcing she was returning to the workforce. The property settlement comes amid mounting legal fees as the ex-political staffer awaits the outcome of a defamation trial with her former boss Senator Linda Reynolds over a series of social media posts. Ms Higgins announced on Instagram on June 6 that her "quiet little safe haven" had officially sold. "We really thought this was our forever home," she wrote. "Alas, it was not meant to be." The three-bedroom, two-bathroom estate was initially listed for almost $690,000 but the couple later dropped the price to $608,000. Ms Higgins moved to France with her husband in December 2023. In March she gave birth to her first child Freddie in Australia with husband David Sharaz. She lamented on Instagram that Freddie would never have a chance to spend 'just one night' in his French nursery. Brittany Higgins has sold her French estate in Bergerac, southwest France, within days of announcing she was returning to the workforce. The property settlement comes amid mounting legal fees as the ex-political staffer awaits the outcome of a defamation trial with her former boss Senator Linda Reynolds over a series of social media posts. Ms Higgins announced on Instagram on June 6 that her "quiet little safe haven" had officially sold. "We really thought this was our forever home," she wrote. "Alas, it was not meant to be." The three-bedroom, two-bathroom estate was initially listed for almost $690,000 but the couple later dropped the price to $608,000. Ms Higgins moved to France with her husband in December 2023. In March she gave birth to her first child Freddie in Australia with husband David Sharaz. She lamented on Instagram that Freddie would never have a chance to spend 'just one night' in his French nursery. Brittany Higgins has sold her French estate in Bergerac, southwest France, within days of announcing she was returning to the workforce. The property settlement comes amid mounting legal fees as the ex-political staffer awaits the outcome of a defamation trial with her former boss Senator Linda Reynolds over a series of social media posts. Ms Higgins announced on Instagram on June 6 that her "quiet little safe haven" had officially sold. "We really thought this was our forever home," she wrote. "Alas, it was not meant to be." The three-bedroom, two-bathroom estate was initially listed for almost $690,000 but the couple later dropped the price to $608,000. Ms Higgins moved to France with her husband in December 2023. In March she gave birth to her first child Freddie in Australia with husband David Sharaz. She lamented on Instagram that Freddie would never have a chance to spend 'just one night' in his French nursery. Brittany Higgins has sold her French estate in Bergerac, southwest France, within days of announcing she was returning to the workforce. The property settlement comes amid mounting legal fees as the ex-political staffer awaits the outcome of a defamation trial with her former boss Senator Linda Reynolds over a series of social media posts. Ms Higgins announced on Instagram on June 6 that her "quiet little safe haven" had officially sold. "We really thought this was our forever home," she wrote. "Alas, it was not meant to be." The three-bedroom, two-bathroom estate was initially listed for almost $690,000 but the couple later dropped the price to $608,000. Ms Higgins moved to France with her husband in December 2023. In March she gave birth to her first child Freddie in Australia with husband David Sharaz. She lamented on Instagram that Freddie would never have a chance to spend 'just one night' in his French nursery.
