‘The people, the vibe, everything’: How two Sydney suburbs plan to supercharge nightlife

The 40-minute drive from one side of Sydney to another was no deterrent for Hurstville local Priscilla Sanaa and her friends – Canley Vale’s Bar 53, with its young crowd, neon signs and good music made her journey worth it.

“We love it here! It’s so fun, the people, the vibe, everything,” she said.

Speaking from the teeming bar a stone’s throw from Canley Vale station, Aaliyah Lasala prefers a night out in western Sydney over one in the CBD, which she says has “no vibe and no atmosphere”.

“It’s cheaper here, no lines, no entry fee. It’s also our kind of crowd as well – people who actually get up and dance,” Lasala said.

Nightlife is growing significantly faster in Sydney’s west than in the east, and not by accident. More local precincts are popping up and their goal is to boost nightlife by providing Sydneysiders with more options closer to home.

Bar 53 and six other businesses on Canley Vale Road form “Little Asia”, a district spearheaded by Anthony Nguyen. He had a vision for Canley Vale to become Sydney’s go-to spot at night for South-East Asian culture, art, and food.

“We’re not going to travel one hour to the city, then party, then spend an hour to get home – it’s dangerous. We have to create something for the locals,” Nguyen said. “We literally went and door-knocked everyone and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to create a district’.”

At almost 11pm on a Saturday night, the multi-generational crowds packed in restaurants such as Hai Au Lang Nuong show no sign of waning. Tuk-tuks line the footpaths, and inside, children play on retro video game consoles as their families dine nearby.

“There used to be a big stigma with this area, but now it’s completely changed,” Nguyen said. “If you want authentic Asian food as late as 5am, you can always find something to eat here.”

There is also “Canley Heights Nights”, a neighbouring area up the road run by district co-ordinator Seng Ly.

Separate from the local Little Asia initiative is the recently launched 12-month trial of a state government-led “special entertainment precinct” in Canley Vale and Canley Heights. Nguyen hopes having a two-pronged approach will boost activity.

Dubbed “The Canleys”, the precinct is part of the government’s broader vibrancy reforms aimed at relaxing rules around trading hours, live music and noise for restaurants and bars within a defined area.

For example, venues in such precincts can stay open for two hours longer on nights when live music is offered, and one hour longer on other nights. The policy also prevents single noise complaints from shutting a venue down and offers an 80 per cent reduction in liquor licence fees.

“The Canleys will breathe new life into our night-time economy, and will stand as a vibrant hub for dining, entertainment, and connection, an experience people will want to return to time and time again,” Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said.

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