I get that they're a seabreeze (hot inland so air rises sucking in breeze off the sea in the arvo). But is there a specific synoptic situation that also encourages them to form? Haven't seen a good Nor-Easter season in a while...

Thats basically it diffrence in temperature, if ever you see the wind NW In the morning theres a very good change of a seabreeze, i also heard the dew on the ground in the mornings is a positive side.
There needs to be no other wind around or it kills the effect.

Wind is NW this morning, chance of a seabreeze today????
Ha, not likely, the wind seems to be coveniently arranging itself to have the weekends and public holidays off! So many times this year, wind during the week and not on the weekends.

I think you also need:

a blue moon
to be working
the tide to be wrong