Frenchs Forest, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frenchs Forest Sydney, New South Wales
Frenchs Forest from the air, with Forestway in the centre
Frenchs Forest Location in New South Wales
Population	13,473 (2016 census)
• Density	1,481/km2 (3,840/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2086
Elevation	149 m (489 ft)
Area	9.1 km2 (3.5 sq mi)
Location	13 km (8 mi) north of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Northern Beaches Council
State electorate(s)	Davidson, Wakehurst
Federal Division(s)	Warringah, Mackellar
Suburbs around Frenchs Forest: Belrose Belrose Oxford Falls Davidson Frenchs Forest Beacon Hill Forestville Seaforth Allambie Heights

Frenchs Forest (say "frenches") is a suburb in northern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 13 kilometres north of the main city area, known as the Sydney central business district. Frenchs Forest is part of the Northern Beaches region of Sydney. Locals often call it The Forest.

In the 2010s, the area was changed to allow for new buildings. This included a new hospital, a town centre, a new high school, and 2,200 new homes. Roads around the new Northern Beaches Hospital were also improved. These changes were finished in time for the hospital to open in 2019.

History of Frenchs Forest

First Peoples of Frenchs Forest

Before Europeans arrived in 1788, the land of Frenchs Forest was home to the Garigal clan. They were part of the Dharug language group of Indigenous Australians. You can still find signs of their life today. These include rock carvings, rock art, and old campsites. The word Warringah, which is the wider area, has meanings like "sign of rain" or "across the waves".

European Settlement in Frenchs Forest

Europeans first explored the Warringah area soon after they settled in Sydney Cove in 1788. Governor Phillip travelled through the area. He wrote about the land, plants, and animals. He also observed the Aboriginal way of life. Some historians believe Phillip travelled through Bantry Bay and into Frenchs Forest. He might have done this to get good views of the area.

In 1853, two brothers, Simeon Henry Pearce and James Pearce, bought land here. Later, James French, a police officer, took over the land. This is how Frenchs Forest got its name.

For a long time, Frenchs Forest stayed mostly rural. It was not until the mid-1900s that it started to become a suburb.

Geography of Frenchs Forest

NASA satellite view of Frenchs Forest within the Sydney area

Frenchs Forest is very close to the Garigal National Park. It is high up, about 156 metres above sea level. This means it often gets more rain than other parts of Sydney. The suburb is built along ridgelines, surrounded by native bushland.

The eastern parts of Frenchs Forest have views of the Pacific Ocean, about 3 kilometres away. Being close to the ocean helps keep the temperature milder. The western side has views over other Sydney suburbs like Chatswood and North Sydney. This side is next to Garigal National Park, where you can see native animals. These include birds, turtles, wallabies, lizards, and snakes. There are also bush tracks like the Bluff Track.

Climate in Frenchs Forest

The weather in Frenchs Forest is similar to the Climate of Sydney. However, there are some small differences. Winters are usually cooler and wetter than in the city. Summers tend to be less hot.

Shopping and Services

Forestway Shopping Centre is a main shopping area. It has supermarkets like Aldi and Woolworths. There are also over 50 other shops.

Smaller shops can be found at Sorlie Road. These include different restaurants. Skyline shops on Frenchs Forest Road East got their name from an old drive-in movie theatre.

A new shopping mall and aquatic centre are planned for the Frenchs Forest Town Centre. There will also be new high-rise homes.

Schools in Frenchs Forest

Frenchs Forest has several schools:

• The Forest High School
• Davidson High School
• Frenchs Forest Public School

Churches in Frenchs Forest

• Frenchs Forest Anglican Church
• Frenchs Forest Uniting Church (also called "The Kirk")
• Forest Alliance Church
• Frenchs Forest Baptist

The Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish has three church buildings. These are in the nearby suburbs of Davidson, Forestville, and Terrey Hills.

Getting Around Frenchs Forest

Roads in Frenchs Forest

There are three main roads in Frenchs Forest. Warringah Road goes east-west, connecting Roseville to Brookvale. Forest Way goes north, connecting to Belrose and Terrey Hills. Wakehurst Parkway goes north-south, connecting Narrabeen to Seaforth. These three roads are the only ways to drive off the Northern Beaches peninsula.

The intersection of Wakehurst Parkway and Warringah Road used to be dangerous. In the early 1900s, a blinking light was put up to warn drivers. This is why the intersection is still called 'The Blinking Light'.

Buses in Frenchs Forest

Several bus services run through Frenchs Forest. CDC NSW buses connect Frenchs Forest to Chatswood railway station and Westfield Warringah Mall. There is also an express bus to Town Hall station in Sydney's city centre. Keolis Downer Northern Beaches also runs bus lines. These include the 160X bus to Dee Why and the 169 and E69 routes to Manly and the city.

Community and Activities

• Frenchs Forest Showground has areas where dogs can run freely. Horse events are also held there.

Events in Frenchs Forest

• Forest Funday is a free fair held every year on Anzac Day, April 25. It is organised by the Christian churches in the area.
• Eurofest is held in mid-September at Ararat Reserve. It involves many different cultural clubs.

Clubs in Frenchs Forest

• The Scout Hall
• The Girls Guides Hall
• Ararat Reserve has several cultural clubs. It is named after the Ararat plains in ancient Armenia.

Sports and Recreation in Frenchs Forest

• The Warringah Aquatic Centre has an indoor heated swimming pool. It also has baseball fields.
• Lionel Watts Oval has fields for many sports. These include cricket, Australian rules football, soccer, rugby league, and netball. There is also a skate park.
• A path for bikes and walkers connects Frenchs Forest to Dee Why. It was built around 1982.
• The playground at Lionel Watts Oval (Blackbutts Rd) was rebuilt in 2019. It has a small track for toddlers and young children on tricycles.
• Manly Dam Reserve is next to Frenchs Forest. It has bush tracks for walking and mountain biking.
• The Manly-Warringah Radio Society is a local club for Amateur Radio Operators. Their club rooms are in Terrey Hills.

People of Frenchs Forest

In the 2016 census, there were 13,473 people living in Frenchs Forest. About 68.9% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included England (7.0%), New Zealand (2.2%), and China (2.1%).

Most people (80.8%) spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Mandarin (2.1%), Armenian (1.8%), and Cantonese (1.6%). The most common religions were No Religion (30.3%), Catholic (25.3%), and Anglican (19.2%).

Most homes in Frenchs Forest (93.3%) were separate houses.

Notable People from Frenchs Forest

• Faith Bandler, a civil rights activist
• James Mathison, a television presenter
• Donald Shanks, a singer
• Julie Sutton, a former mayor of Warringah Council