Davidson, New South Wales facts for kids

Davidson is a friendly suburb located on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It's about 20 kilometres north-east of the main Sydney central business district (CBD). Davidson is part of the Northern Beaches Council area and is known as part of the "Forest District".

Where is Davidson Located?

Davidson is right next to the suburbs of Belrose and Frenchs Forest. It sits on the eastern edge of the beautiful Garigal National Park. This park is a huge natural area, making Davidson a great place for nature lovers.

The Forest District

Davidson is one of several suburbs that make up the "Forest" area. Other suburbs in this group include Belrose, Frenchs Forest, Forestville, Killarney Heights, Terrey Hills, and Duffys Forest. This whole area is managed by the Northern Beaches Council.

What is the History of Davidson?

Davidson was named after Sir Walter Edward Davidson, who was the Governor of New South Wales from 1918 to 1923. A park was created in his honour in 1923, and later the suburb took his name. Davidson started out as a mining quarry, but homes began to be built there in the late 1970s.

Bushfire Protection

In January 1994, a big bushfire in the Garigal National Park came very close to Davidson. Luckily, local fire brigades from the Warringah/Pittwater Rural Fire Service worked hard to stop the fire from reaching the homes in Davidson Valley.

What is Davidson's Geography Like?

Davidson has a varied landscape, with some hilly areas. This is partly because it used to be a mining quarry and also because it's so close to Garigal National Park. You'll find steep roads like Stone Parade and Borgnis Street, as well as more gentle, rolling hills on streets like Prahran Avenue.

Nature and Wildlife

The streets of Davidson are lined with many Eucalyptus trees and Liquid Ambers. These trees create a lovely green environment and are home to many native Australian birds. You can often spot Kookaburras, Galahs, and colourful Rainbow Lorikeets flying around.

What Parks are in Davidson?

Davidson is full of parks and green spaces. It's right next to both Garigal and Kur-ing-gai Chase National Parks, which are huge areas for exploring nature. Besides these, there are many smaller local reserves perfect for picnics, walks, or just relaxing. Some of these include McFarlane Reserve, Maitland Street Reserve, Aranda Place Reserve, and Richard Healy Oval.

What Schools are in Davidson?

Davidson has two primary schools for younger students:

• Kambora Public School
• St Martin De Porres Catholic Primary School

While Davidson High School is named after the suburb, it is actually located in the neighbouring suburb of Frenchs Forest.

What Shops and Services are in Davidson?

There's a small shopping complex on the corner of Yindela Street and Pound Avenue. Here, you can find a few local businesses, including a popular café, a hairdressers salon, and a sports injury clinic. This complex also has the only apartment buildings in Davidson.

Davidson Rural Fire Brigade

Davidson is also home to the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade. This fire station moved to Davidson in 1976. It has about 110 members, including former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. This brigade is one of 13 in the Warringah/Pittwater District of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS).

On 2 October 2013, a small bushfire started in the national park behind Maitland Street. Thanks to the quick response of the RFS, no homes were threatened, and the fire was put out without any damage to property.

Who Lives in Davidson?

According to the 2016 census, Davidson had 2,849 residents. Most people living here have English, Australian, Irish, or Scottish backgrounds. About 68% of residents were born in Australia, and 10% were born in England. Most people (84.8%) speak only English at home. When it comes to religion, many residents reported having no religion, while others were Catholic or Anglican.

The average weekly income for households in Davidson was $2,630, which is higher than the national average. Most homes in Davidson are separate houses (97.7%), with only a small number of semi-detached homes or units.

What is Davidson's Culture Like?

Every December, Davidson becomes famous for its amazing Christmas lights! Many residents put up fantastic light displays, and families from all over Sydney come to see them. Borgnis Street is a main spot for these celebrations, but other streets like Stone Parade also join in the festive fun.

How Do People Get Around in Davidson?

Public transport in Davidson is mainly by bus, operated by CDC NSW. Bus routes run regularly through the suburb, with direct services to the City and Chatswood. If residents want to go to Manly, they can catch a bus to Forestway and transfer to another bus there.