Hackett will celebrate 60 years this weekend with food trucks, face painting and a sausage sizzle

Posted on 24 October, 2023

This Saturday 28 October, the Hackett Community Association is celebrating Hackett’s 60th Birthday in grand style — and you’re invited!

From 3-8 pm, the grounds of the Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting Churches will come to life with stalls, displays, music and food trucks to celebrate 60 years of this beloved Inner North suburb.

There will be face painting and kids’ activities courtesy of The Funky Fairy (and a jumping castle pending the weather!), tacos and authentic Mexican food at Jarochos food truck (feature image), ice cream from Safari Delight, a sausage sizzle, craft stalls, a raffle and oodles more happening across the afternoon.

Co-organiser Barbara Mobbs of the Hackett Community Association says one of Hackett’s greatest treasures is the Holy Cross Tuckerbox initiative, a community pantry that provides fresh food and pantry staples to those facing food insecurity or tough times every Saturday.

Operated out of the Holy Cross Anglican Church on Antill Street and open to everyone, the Tuckerbox is mostly stocked by Foodbank NSW and OzHarvest and is run wholly by volunteer hours. All profits from the raffle and sausage sizzle will go towards helping the Tuckerbox feed even more people, something Barbara says is vital in this challenging financial climate.

“Every Saturday, the Tuckerbox is open to those who are in need of food items and personal items. A lot of the newer generation in Hackett probably don’t know what Tuckerbox is, so this is one way of us coming together as a community to say ‘This is who we want to support’ and thank everyone for the great job they do.”

Barbara says one of the most heartwarming parts of organising the birthday celebrations has been the local makers and artisans who have generously donated to the fundraising raffle, with plenty of goodies up for grabs.

“The raffle has 21 prizes from a variety of great Hackett businesses including Bev Hogg Ceramics, who is having her Studio Sale on the same day, Annie Trevilian, who is also having her Open Day on Saturday, and some very generously donated vouchers from Elev8 Skin Boutique which has just opened at Hackett Shops.”

Music lovers can find their groove with a jam-packed entertainment schedule planned for the day and a wide variety of bands and musicians taking to the stage, including a “very special guest” who will be playing from 6pm.

Another exciting highlight will be the Hackett Squares Artshow, with all entries inspired by Hackett. All works will be accompanied by a 50-word statement which explains how the entry links to the suburb or its community.

It’s been a transformative journey since the suburb was first announced in March 1960. Named after newspaper editor, Federation supporter and WA State legislative Council member Sir John Winthrop Hackett, Hackett’s first blocks went on sale in 1962 and by 1963, 156 people called the suburb home.

60 years later, more than 3227 people call the suburb home, including some some Hackett’s first residents, who will join local politicians in cutting a birthday cake at 4 pm on the day.

Want to get involved in the Hackett Squares Artshow?

Entries are welcome on the day in any medium (painting, photography, the list goes on!) but must be 30cm square.

They do not have to be mounted on a backing material of any sort, and should not be framed but all entries must be inspired by Hackett, and accompanied by a 50-word statement explaining the connection and inspiration. Click here for more details.

Feature image: Jarochos