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Sydney restaurateur Jackie Milijash found dead in her home

A high-profile Sydney restaurateur who has been credited with kickstarting Sydney's café culture has been found dead in her northern beaches home.

Jackie Milijash, who opened Jackie’s Café in Paddington and Jackie’s Restaurant and Bar in Bondi, was found by her mother in her house at Avalon just days before her 53rd birthday.

The cause of her death has not been revealed.

Milijash had been working on a new establishment that was set to open in the northern beaches.

A photo of Jackie in her younger days. Source: Instagram/hamishcameron
A photo of Jackie in her younger days. Source: Instagram/hamishcameron

Her venues were hotspots for celebrities, with Aussie stars Hugh Jackman, Megan Gale and Nicole Kidman all fans of her menus.

She was even rumoured to be casino mogul James Packer’s first girlfriend.

Milijash was known for kickstarting Sydney’s café culture back in the 1980s after noticing a lack of quality venues in the city.

Her sudden death has left her friends and family shocked.

PR queen Roxy Jacenko left a bouquet of white flowers on the gate of Jackie’s Café in Paddington in remembrance of her friend.

“Jackie was truly one of a kind. I will miss you my friend,” one friend wrote on Twitter.

“So loved and already so missed,” said another.

Celebrity hairdresser Joh Bailey was a close friend of Milijash and wrote a tribute on social media.

“Jackie darling! We shared a flat in Edgecliff in the late 80's. Wild Wild times. Heart of gold. R.I.P x.”

News break – August 28