The Northern Beaches is a region within Northern Sydney, in the state of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, near the Pacific coast. This area extends south to the entrance of

Port Jackson Port Jackson, consisting of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, is the ria or natural harbour of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The harbour is an inlet of the Tasman Sea (p ...

(Sydney Harbour), west to

Middle Harbour Middle Harbour (or ''Warrin ga''), a semi–mature tide dominated ria, drowned valley estuary, is the northern arm of Port Jackson, an inlet of the Tasman Sea located north of Sydney central business district on the coast of New South Wales, Au ...

and north to the entrance of

Broken Bay Broken Bay, a semi-mature tide-dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large inlet of the Tasman Sea located about north of Sydney central business district on the coast of New South Wales, Australia; being one of the bodies of water that separa ...

. The area was formerly inhabited by the Garigal or Caregal people in a region known as Guringai country. The Northern Beaches district is governed on a local level by the

Northern Beaches Council The Northern Beaches Council is a local government area located in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 after the amalgamation of Manly, Pittwater and Warringa ...

, which was formed in May 2016 from

Warringah Council Warringah Council was a local government area in the northern beaches region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It was proclaimed on 7 March 1906 as the Warringah Shire Council, and became "Warringah Council" in 1993. In 1992 ...

(est. 1906), Manly Council (est. 1877), and

Pittwater Council Pittwater Council was a local government area on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It covered a region adjacent to the Tasman Sea about north of the Sydney central business district. The area is named ...

(est. 1992).

History

Early history

The traditional Aboriginal inhabitants of the land now known as the Northern Beaches were the Garigal people of the

Eora The Eora (''Yura'') are an Aboriginal Australian people of New South Wales. Eora is the name given by the earliest European settlers to a group of Aboriginal people belonging to the clans along the coastal area of what is now known as the Sy ...

nation. 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 in

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a national park on the northern side of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The park is north of the Sydney central business district and generally comprises the land east of the M1 Pacific Motorway, sout ...

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 the

First Fleet The First Fleet was a fleet of 11 ships that brought the first European and African settlers to Australia. It was made up of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships and six convict transports. On 13 May 1787 the fleet under the command ...

. 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 via

Mona Vale Road The A3 is a major metropolitan arterial route in Sydney, formerly designated Metroad 3. The A3 runs from its intersection with the A8 at Mona Vale at the north end, to the southerly of its two intersections with the A1, Princes Highway, at ...

was a trip of more than . 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. 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 from

in the north to Manly Lagoon to the south, and by Middle Harbour Creek and

Cowan Creek Cowan Creek is located in New South Wales, Australia. It is a tidal subcatchment of the Hawkesbury River. Almost all of the catchment lies within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Tributaries include Coal and Candle Creek Coal and Candle Creek i ...

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. 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 North Narrabeen is a suburb in northern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 25 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Northern Beaches Council. North Narrabeen is part of the Northern Beache ...

to Palm Beach). In 2016, the Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 insisted that the Northern Beaches region councils of Manly, Warringah and Pittwater become the

. This was effective from 12 May 2016. 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 neighbouring North Shore region. The " Forest District" became an unofficial district within the Northern Beaches region to describe the suburbs between Ingleside and the

Upper North Shore The North Shore is a region within Northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, generally referring to suburbs located on the northern side of Sydney Harbour up to Wahroonga, and suburbs between Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove ...

Suburbs and localities

;Suburbs The suburbs of the Northern Beaches district are: ;Localities The localities of the Northern Beaches district are: * Bantry Bay *

Careel Bay Careel Bay (formerly 'Evening Bay') is a bay and adjacent locality in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The locality is within the suburb of Avalon Beach. The bay lies adjacent to the suburbs of Avalon Beach and Palm Beach in the north eas ...

Schools

The following primary, high and K-12 schools are located on the Northern Beaches: Primary *AGBU Alexander Primary School *Allambie Heights Public School *Avalon Public School *Balgowlah North Public School *Balgowlah Heights Public School *Beacon Hill Public School *Belrose Public School *Bilgola Plateau Public School *Collaroy Plateau Public School *

Cromer Public School Cromer is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cromer is 20 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Northern Beaches Council and is part of the North ...

*Curl Curl North Public School *Dee Why Public School *Elanora Heights Public School *Farmhouse Montessori Primary School *Forestville Montessori School *Forestville Public School * Frenchs Forest Public School *Harbord Public School *

John Colet School The John Colet School is a co-educational secondary school in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England. In August 2011 the school became an Academy. The school was founded in the 1950s, and is named after churchman and scholar John Colet. In September ...

* Kamaroi Rudolf Steiner School *Kambora Public School *Killarney Heights Public School *Kinma School *Manly Village Public School *Manly Vale Public School *Manly West Public School *Maria Regina Catholic Primary School * Mimosa Public School *Mona Vale Public School *Narrabeen Lakes Public School *Narrabeen North Public School *Narraweena Public School *Newport Public School *Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School *Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School *Seaforth Public School *St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School *St John's Catholic Primary School *St John The Baptist Catholic Primary School *St Joseph's Catholic Primary School *St Kevin's Catholic Primary School *St Kieran's Catholic Primary School *

St Luke's Grammar School St Luke's Grammar School is a dual campus Independent school, independent Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican Mixed-sex education, co-educational Primary school, primary and Secondary school, secondary day school, located on the Northern Bea ...

(Bayview Campus) *St Martin De Porres Catholic Primary School *St Rose Catholic Primary School *Terrey Hills Public School *

Wakehurst Public School Wakehurst Public School is a co-educational primary school located in the Sydney suburb of Belrose, and draws its students predominantly from the surrounding suburbs of Belrose, Davidson and Frenchs Forest. The school has approximately 400 enr ...

*Wheeler Heights Public School *Yanginanook School High * Barrenjoey High School *

Balgowlah Boys High School The Balgowlah Boys Campus of Northern Beaches Secondary College is a government-funded single-sex comprehensive secondary day school for boys only, located in Balgowlah, a suburb on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ...

Cromer High School Cromer Academy (formerly Cromer High School, Sports College, Cromer Institute of Science) is a 11- 16 secondary school with Academy (English school), academy status in Cromer, Norfolk. It is part of the Inspiration Trust federation. Description ...

* Davidson High School * Forest High School * Freshwater Senior Campus *

Killarney Heights High School Killarney Heights High School is a coeducational, comprehensive high school located on Starkey Street in Killarney Heights, a northern suburb of Sydney, near the Northern Beaches, Australia. Academically, Killarney Heights High School has perform ...

* Mackellar Girls Campus *

Manly Selective Campus , motto_translation = What We Receive, We Pass On , location = 138 Abbott Road, North Curl Curl, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = Austra ...

Mater Maria Catholic College Mater Maria Catholic College is an independent Roman Catholic co-educational secondary day school, located in Warriewood, on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1962 by the Sisters of the Good Samari ...

* Narrabeen Sports High School *

Pittwater High School Pittwater High School, (abbreviation PHS) is a school located in Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia, on Mona Street and Pittwater Road. It is a co-educational high school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education with students ...

Stella Maris College Stella or STELLA may refer to: Art, entertainment, and media Comedy *Stella (comedy group), a comedy troupe consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black and David Wain Characters *Stella (given name), including a list of characters with th ...

* St Augustine's College (Years 5-12) * St Paul's Catholic College K-12 * Covenant Christian School *Fisher Road School * Galstaun College *

Northern Beaches Christian School Northern Beaches Christian School is an independent non-denominational Christian co-educational primary and secondary day school, located in Terrey Hills, Sydney, Australia. Established in 1981, the school provides a general and religious educ ...

* Oxford Falls Grammar School *

The Pittwater House Schools , motto_translation = Always hardworking , location = 70 South Creek Road, , Northern Beaches, Sydney, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = ...

(Dee Why Campus) International Schools *

German International School Sydney German International School Sydney is a German international school in Terrey Hills, Sydney, New South Wales.Contact Us< ...

* Sydney Japanese International School Closed schools *

Beacon Hill High School Beacon Hill High School (abbreviation: BHHS) also known for a time as Beacon Hill Technology High School is a former high school in the northern Sydney suburb of Beacon Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It was a co-educational high school oper ...

* Forestville Montessori High School * Oxford Falls Public School

Transport

Public transport in the Northern Beaches is primarily provided by buses. Major bus interchanges are at Pittwater Road at Brookvale, Dee Why, Mona Vale and

Manly Wharf Manly Wharf is a heritage-listed passenger terminal wharf and recreational area located at West Esplanade and serving Manly, a Sydney suburb in the Northern Beaches Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Since the 1850s, ...

. Buses connect to Chatswood and North Sydney stations on the North Shore line, served by Sydney Trains North Shore & Western and

Northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ra ...

services, as well as stations in the CBD. B-Line buses travel from Mona Vale to

Wynyard Wynyard may refer to: Australia: *Wynyard, Sydney, the district of Sydney CBD around Wynyard railway station, Sydney *Wynyard Park, Sydney *Wynyard, Tasmania *County of Wynyard, in the Murrumbidgee–Tumut region of New South Wales Canada: *Wynya ...

, stopping at Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly Vale, Spit Junction and

Neutral Bay Neutral Bay is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Neutral Bay is around 1.5 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council. Neutral Bay takes ...

. Manly ferry services operated by

Sydney Ferries Sydney Ferries is the public transport ferry network serving the city of Sydney, New South Wales. Services operate on Sydney Harbour and the connecting Parramatta River. The network is controlled by the New South Wales Government's transport a ...

run from Manly to Circular Quay. The privately-operated Manly Fast Ferry also runs to Circular Quay. Palm Beach Water Airport is located in Palm Beach.

Sports

Notable sports teams include the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (rugby league),

North Harbour Rays Sydney is an Australian rugby union team that competes in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). Formerly known as Sydney Rays, the team is one of two sides from New South Wales in the competition; the other being the NSW Country Eagles. T ...

Manly RUFC Manly Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club based in Manly, a suburb of Sydney. The club was formed in 1883 and competes in the New South Wales Rugby Union competitions, the Charter Hall Shute Shield. Manly, known as the Marlins, pl ...

Warringah Rugby Club Warringah Rugby Club is a rugby union club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, New South Wales. Only located 25 km from the city centre, the club is close to many magnificent beaches, the Sydney Academy of Sport and Narrabeen Lake. Th ...

(rugby union),

Manly Warringah District Cricket Club Manly Warringah District Cricket Club is a cricket club in based in Manly, Sydney, Australia who play in the Sydney Grade Cricket competition. Founded in 1878, Manly was a foundation club in the Sydney grade competition. Manly are relatively suc ...

(cricket) and

Manly United FC Manly United Football Club is an Australian association football, football club based in the northern beaches area of Sydney. The club competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW and their home ground is Cromer Park, in the suburb of Dee Why, N ...

(soccer). The Sea Eagles play in the National Rugby League, and play their home games at Brookvale Oval.

References

External links

Manly – Local Directory
{{Australiansurf Beaches of New South Wales Surfing locations in New South Wales

Lists of tourist attractions in Sydney