Duffys Forest, New South Wales

Duffys Forest is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Duffys Forest is 28 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Northern Beaches Council. Duffys Forest is considered to be part of the Northern Beaches region and the Forest District.

Duffys Forest Sydney, New South Wales
Population	509 (2021 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	2084
Elevation	184 m (604 ft)
Location	28 km (17 mi) north of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Northern Beaches Council
State electorate(s)	Pittwater
Federal division(s)	Mackellar
Suburbs around Duffys Forest: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Duffys Forest Terrey Hills Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

History

Duffys Forest is named after Patrick Duffy, who received a land grant there in 1857. He became a timber cutter and cleared a road through the bush to Cowan Creek, where he built a stone wharf for transporting timber. The wharf is still known as Duffys Wharf and the road is Duffys Track.^[2]

Heritage listings

Duffys Forest has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• 13 Namba Road: Waratah Park^[3]

Population

In the 2021 Census, there were 509 people in Duffys Forest. 70.5% of people were born in Australia and 86.2% of people only spoke English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 43.4%, Catholic 23.4% and Anglican 18.1%.^[1]

Landmarks

Waratah Park Earth Sanctuary (33.6761°S 151.1772°E / -33.6761; 151.1772 (Waratah Park Earth Sanctuary)) was a popular tourist attraction in Duffys Forest, famous as the film set of the popular television series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. Much of the set and props are still there, although since being closed in August 2009 all of the animals including descendants of the kangaroos used in the series have now been removed.^[4]

The 'Duffys Forest Ecological Community' is an endangered ecological community of the Sydney basin.^[5]

Education

Duffys Forest is home to one school:

AGBU Alexander Primary School

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Duffys Forest (State Suburb)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
2. Pollen, Frances, ed. (1990). The Book of Sydney Suburbs. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0-207-14495-8.
3. "Waratah Park". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01944. Retrieved 18 February 2020. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
4. Sydney travel guide in pictures and art prints and toys store
5. "Duffys Forest Ecological Community" (PDF). New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 1 October 2024.

33°40′31″S 151°11′52″E