Community Comes Together to Save Burger Time 69

West End’s beloved Burger Time 69 has launched an urgent fundraising campaign after severe damage from a neighbouring business’s ram-raid and fire on 7 November.


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Community hub at risk

Burger Time 69 on Boundary Street, known for its friendly atmosphere and long-serving staff, may face closure without community support. This popular local meeting spot has seen team members Terry, Jess, and Florine serving the community for over seven years.

Owner Nathan Ghanbari is facing significant challenges after discovering his insurance won’t cover the damage. With the neighbouring property also uninsured, his business is left without recourse for the thousands of dollars in lost stock and necessary repairs.

To help maintain staff employment, replace destroyed stock, and fund essential repairs, the restaurant has set up a GoFundMe campaign. It states that even a “couple of dollars … spent on fries” could help this valued community-focused team get back on its feet.

“Without your help, we will lose the great team we all love, and will put the business in dire stress trying to reopen,” Ghanbari explains, emphasising the challenge of starting over so soon after taking ownership two months ago.

Proceeds from the campaign will go towards “restoring any damage, paying staff as so not to lose them until we can re-open, [and] restoring stock,” among other things.


Read: West End Shisha Bar Destroyed in Overnight Ram Raid and Fire


Help Burger Time 69

Community members can support Burger Time 69’s recovery by contributing to their GoFundMe campaign here. The goal is to restore its role as a local gathering spot and preserve its contribution to West End’s vibrant food scene. As of 16 November, the campaign is already 47% of the way towards reaching its $10,000 target.

Published 16-November-2024

Honest Cooking Shines at Gum Bistro, Newest West End Bistro

West End has a fresh face on the dining scene with the opening of Gum Bistro, an intimate 40-seat restaurant showcasing honest, produce-driven cooking.



Occupying the former Pasta Club space on Boundary Street, Gum Bistro is the creation of chef Lachlan Matheson and sommelier Phil Poussarts, both alumni of the acclaimed Pasta Club.

The reimagined space has undergone a brightening makeover with white-painted panels, pops of greenery, bespoke stamped napkins and local artwork lending a cosy, considered ambience. But the real star is the concise, MetCommets focused menu.

Matheson’s seasonal cuisine allows quality local produce to take centre stage, be it the textbook duck liver parfait with Riser sourdough or the cold squid salad with fennel, chicory, and lemon to start. Standout mains include the vegetarian-friendly vegetable pot pie and the crowd-pleasing sweet corn agnolotti pasta.

While expertly crafted cocktails named after guitar riffs are available, oenophiles will be eager to explore Poussarts’ curated wine list during their visit. The experienced sommelier has sourced an interesting array of rare finds and varieties during previous tenures at esteemed spots like Pilloni, Essa and Hobart’s Fico.



With its intimate, welcoming ambience, locavore sensibilities and intriguing wine program, Gum Bistro looks poised to become a West End dining destination for honest, flavourful cuisine. Reservations are recommended to secure a table at this hotspot.