Tables and chairs that have become a beloved fixture of the waterfront foreshore at Hayes St Wharf in Neutral Bay are set to be removed following an enforcement decision, drawing strong community opposition from residents who describe the informal gathering space as one of the suburb’s most cherished spots.
Rangers recently attached removal notices to the furniture placed on the public plaza at the wharf, triggering immediate reaction across local social media and prompting a flood of community comment from residents who have long used the waterfront seating as a casual meeting place. The decision has since been confirmed, with removal proceedings to go ahead.
The furniture’s origins are a mix of contributions. Around 40 per cent of the tables and chairs belong to Thelma and Louise, the cafe operated by Marilyn Nohra at the wharf site for 21 years. The remainder has been brought to the foreshore by locals themselves, many of whom have made it a habit to pull a chair to the water’s edge, particularly older residents from the nearby Lansdowne Gardens who have found the back-supported seating valuable. Nohra pays outdoor dining fees to the local authority and holds public liability insurance for the cafe’s use of the outdoor space.
A 21-Year Relationship With the Community
Nohra has run Thelma and Louise at Hayes St Wharf since 2004, building the business around its location and the community that gathers there. She also operates Mum and Dad’s Place nearby and organises the Hayes St Pizz Up, a bi-annual event where food is provided free to local residents. The cafe’s longevity has been built on exactly the kind of informal, neighbourhood-scale connection that the waterfront seating has reinforced over time.
She describes Hayes St as a gem, a place with the feel of a country town in the middle of the city. From her perspective, the seating arrangement has functioned as an extension of that character, a practical response to a waterfront plaza that lacks sufficient formal public furniture and that draws an ageing local population who value the comfort and community the informal setup provides.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the seating was extended onto adjacent public land when indoor dining restrictions applied, a move that normalised the outdoor furniture’s presence in the space even further. The arrangement has remained without formal incident since, with the local authority having recorded only one formal complaint, submitted twice by the same resident, prior to the enforcement action being initiated.
What Residents Are Saying
The community response to the removal decision has been substantial. Residents on local pages have described the seating as providing culture and a genuine gathering place, and have pushed back on what many see as a disproportionate response to a well-used informal arrangement. Others have described the location as a magical place to sit, enjoy and support local businesses.
Concerns raised in favour of removal centred on the condition of some of the furniture, with some pieces described as rusty and old, as well as hygiene issues including dirty cups and plates left overnight and food waste that has contributed to a bin and pest management problem in the area. Nohra has indicated she would be willing to pack the cafe’s furniture away each evening, though she notes she cannot be responsible for chairs brought independently by locals.
The question of accessibility has also featured in the debate, with some residents noting that the placement of informal furniture creates difficulties for people with mobility issues trying to move through the foreshore area.
What Comes Next
Whether any formal public seating replaces the informal arrangement is likely to depend on funding decisions yet to be resolved. The local authority has indicated that foreshore improvements, including the installation of new public seating, may form part of broader upgrades if additional funding is secured. If that funding does not come through, the foreshore plaza is likely to remain without additional furniture for the foreseeable future, leaving a gap that the community has been filling informally for years.
For Neutral Bay residents who use Hayes St Wharf regularly, the outcome of that funding question will determine whether the removal of the informal seating represents a temporary gap or a permanent change to the character of one of the suburb’s most popular waterfront spots.
Thelma and Louise cafe is open daily at Hayes St Wharf, Neutral Bay. More information about the cafe is available by visiting the wharf directly or following the cafe on social media.
Published 18-March-2026.
