| Northern Beaches New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Long Reef (bottom), toPalm Beach, the northern half of Sydney's Northern Beaches | |||||||||||||||
 Map of Northern Beaches region | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 263,554 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Northern Beaches Council | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | |||||||||||||||
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TheNorthern Beaches is a region withinNorthern Sydney, in the state ofNew South Wales,Australia, near thePacific coast. This area extends south to the entrance ofPort Jackson (Sydney Harbour), west toMiddle Harbour and north to the entrance ofBroken Bay. The area was formerly inhabited by the Garigal or Caregal people in a region known as Guringai country.[2]
The Northern Beaches district is governed on a local level by theNorthern Beaches Council, which was formed in May 2016 fromWarringah Council (est. 1906),Manly Council (est. 1877), andPittwater Council (est. 1992).
The traditional Aboriginal inhabitants of the land now known as the Northern Beaches were the Garigal people of theEora nation.[3]Within a few years of European settlement, the Garigal had mostly disappeared from this area mainly due to an outbreak of smallpox in 1789. Much evidence of their habitation remains especially their rock etchings inKu-ring-gai Chase National Park which borders northern beaches's north-western side. The northern beaches region was explored early on in the settlement of Sydney, only a few weeks after the arrival of theFirst Fleet. However, it remained a rural area for most of the 19th and early 20th centuries, with only small settlements in the valleys between headlands. While it was geographically close to the city centre, to reach the area over land from Sydney viaMona Vale Road was a trip of more than 100 kilometres (62 mi).
Since those days, urban growth proceeded slowly until the 1960s when development accelerated because of improved roads and a general increase in living standards in the regions.[4]
In 1906, the Warringah Shire council was formed the NSW Government Gazette, along with 132 other new Shires within New South Wales. It ran roughly fromBroken Bay in the north toManly Lagoon to the south, and byMiddle Harbour Creek andCowan Creek in the west. Pittwater was incorporated as the "A Riding" of Warringah Shire, however for many years there existed a sentiment held by some in A Riding, the northern Riding and the largest in Warringah, taking up more than 40% of Warringah's land area, that they were being increasingly ignored and subject to what they considered inappropriate development and policies for their area.[5] This culminated in 1991 when a non-compulsory postal poll of the residents of A Riding was taken over the question of a possible secession. This resulted in a 73.5% vote in favour of secession, however only 48.18% of residents took part in this vote. This vote was, however, 600 short of the total majority required. Over time, the Northern Beaches was often divided by the "Lower Northern Beaches", referring to the southern end of the region, and the "Upper Northern Beaches", referring to the northern end of the region (North Narrabeen toPalm Beach).
In 2016, the Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 insisted that the Northern Beaches region councils of Manly, Warringah and Pittwater become theNorthern Beaches Council. This was effective from 12 May 2016.[6]
Today, the Northern Beaches is very well part of the Sydney metropolis, however maintains an isolated environment from the other regions of Sydney including the neighbouringNorth Shore region. The "Forest District" became an unofficial district within the Northern Beaches region to describe the suburbs betweenIngleside and theUpper North Shore.
The suburbs of the Northern Beaches district are:[7]
The localities of the Northern Beaches district are:[8][9]
The following primary, high and K–12 schools are located on the Northern Beaches:
Primary
High
K–12
International Schools
Closed schools
Public transport in the Northern Beaches is primarily provided by buses. Major bus interchanges are at Pittwater Road at Brookvale, Dee Why, Mona Vale andManly Wharf. Buses connect toGordon,Chatswood andNorth Sydney stations on theNorth Shore line, served bySydney TrainsNorth Shore & Western andNorthern services, as well as stations in the CBD.[11][12]
B-Line buses travel from Mona Vale toWynyard, stopping at Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly Vale,Spit Junction andNeutral Bay.[13][14]
Manly ferry services operated bySydney Ferries run from Manly toCircular Quay.[15] The privately operated Manly Fast Ferry also runs to Circular Quay.[11]
Palm Beach Water Airport is located in Palm Beach.
The Northern Beaches has a public library system,Northern Beaches Libraries and theManly Art Gallery and Museum.
Notable sports teams include theManly-Warringah Sea Eagles (rugby league),North Harbour Rays,Manly RUFC,Warringah Rugby Club (rugby union),Manly Warringah District Cricket Club (cricket) andManly United FC (soccer). The Sea Eagles play in theNational Rugby League, and play their home games atBrookvale Oval.
33°36′32″S151°19′41″E / 33.609°S 151.328°E /-33.609; 151.328