Getting Harry's Cafe de Wheels to push off pie in sky, says owner

Sydney

Its meat pies, mash and mushy peas are legendary but Sydney's best-known late-night eatery has fallen out of favour with its increasingly upper-crust neighbours.

Harry's Cafe de Wheels is a pie cart located in the harbour-side district of Woolloomooloo, right next to the city's Garden Island naval base. Established on the eve of the second world war, the tourist icon has been a must for visiting celebrities since the 1940s, when the likes of Frank Sinatra and Marlene Dietrich tucked into its famous pie 'floaters', which consist of a pie sitting in a bowl of pea soup. More recently, Pamela Anderson, Virgin boss Richard Branson, Rolf Harris and Elton John have wolfed down its chicken, curry and vegetable pies and pasties.

But the garishly lit food stall's development consent is about to expire and wealthy locals are calling for it to be moved or closed down altogether. They say Harry's Cafe, which opens most nights until 3am, creates noise, litter and a traffic nuisance as late-night snackers descend on the area after a night on the town.

A powerful alliance of more than 30 judges, lawyers and business executives has written letters of complaint to the local council.

The row reflects the dramatic changes Woolloomooloo has undergone in recent decades. It was once a gritty working port, where tens of thousands of Australian soldiers embarked on troopships for the two world wars.

But the timber wharf from where they left has been redeveloped as an exclusive apartment complex which counts among its residents Gladiator star Russell Crowe.