'In Memory of Jim Saad, the beloved 'Cobbler of Kirribilli'
Jim arrived in Sydney from Lebanon in 1962 and spent nearly 60 years mending shoes and cutting keys at Milsons Point station. His dedication and warmth made him a true icon in the North Sydney community. This bronze memorial captures his tools and shoes, as if he just stepped out for a moment, but his legacy remains forever.

The memorial unveiling took place on Saturday 24 August, at the new Burton Street Plaza in Kirribilli. The event was attended by the North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker, along with members of Mr. Saad's family.

Jim Saad, originally from Lebanon, arrived in Sydney in 1962. Just two years later, he began working at a small shoe repair and key cutting business located in the Milsons Point Train Station access tunnel. In 1966, he purchased the business and continued to operate it for the next 56 years, becoming a well-known and cherished figure in the community. His shop was a place where countless shoes were mended, and innumerable keys were cut, serving residents and visitors alike from both Milsons Point and Kirribilli.

When he passed away in August 2021 at the age of 80, there was an outpouring of respect and sympathy from the community. Flowers and tributes adorned his shopfront, reflecting the deep connection he had with those he served.

This memorial will serve as a lasting tribute to Jim Saad's dedication and contribution to the local area. The sculpture features a pair of shoes and shoe repair tools, symbolising the craft to which Mr. Saad dedicated his life. It has been installed at the top of Burton Street, across from the train station entrance, ensuring its proximity to the place where Mr. Saad's shop once stood.

Plaque inscription:

In Memory of Jim Saad
The Cobbler of Kirribilli
(1941-2021)Jim Saad came to Sydney from Lebanon in 1962. The following year he started mending shoes and cutting keys in a shop in the tunnel of Milsons Point train station. For nearly 60 years, he repaired thousands of shoes and cut countless keys with no thought of retiring.Jim passed away suddenly from COVID 19 in August 2021. His business had operated longer than any other in North Sydney. Jim's death was reported internationally but it was felt most within the community he served. Tributes and flowers were left at his shop front in memory of a friend and mate,

'the Humble Cobbler'.Jim Saad
Your Presence we miss, your memory we treasure
Loving you always, forgetting you never.
Your Smile and Kindness, a friend and mate to all
the generations, that visited your shop.
From your family and the extended family of the
Kirribilli Community and beyond.
Vale Jim

Several of Jim's shoe repair tools and a pair of his own boots were donated by his family to North Sydney Council in 2023.
These were used by artist Linda Klarfeld as an inspiration for this memorial.