Davidson, New South Wales

Davidson
SydneyNew South Wales
Population: 2,424 [1]
Postcode: 2085
Location: 20 km (12 mi) north-east of Sydney CBD
LGA: Warringah Council
State District: Davidson
Federal Division: Mackellar
Suburbs around Davidson:
St Ives Belrose Belrose
St Ives Davidson Frenchs Forest
East Killara Forestville Forestville

Davidson is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Davidson is located 20 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council. Davidson is part of the Northern Beaches region and also considered to be part of the Forest District, colloquially known as The Forest.

Contents

Location

Davidson is adjacent to Belrose and Frenchs Forest and is located on the eastern edge of the Garigal National Park. As the crow flies, Davidson is located approximately 15 km from the Sydney CBD.

Davidson comprises part of the "Forest" area, which also encompasses the suburbs of Belrose, Frenchs Forest, Forestville and Killarney Heights. The Forest forms part of the Warringah Council jurisdiction, which encompasses a large part of the Northern Beaches area of Sydney.

History

Davidson was named for Sir Walter Davidson, Governor of New South Wales from 18 February 1918 to 4 September 1923. A park was dedicated in his honour in this area in 1923 and the developing suburb later took this name.[2] Davidson began life as a mining quarry, with residential developments not beginning until the early 1980s.

The area faced a significant threat in January 1994 when bushfires in the Garigal National Park came dangerously close to the suburb. These fires were suppressed by the brigades of the Warringah/Pittwater Rural Fire Service from entering the Davidson Valley System.[3][4]

Geography

Davidson features uneven topography,[5] in large part due to the area’s origins as a mining quarry,[6] as well as its proximity to Garigal National Park.[7] Steep descents are evident in Stone Parade, Borgnis Street and Maitland Street, whereas more undulatory landscapes can be seen along parts of Prahran Avenue and Kambora Avenue.

The Eucalyptus trees and Liquid Ambers that line the streets of Davidson provide a pleasant backdrop for those living in the suburb. They also provide a haven for large numbers of native birds such as Kookaburras, Galahs and Rainbow Lorrikeets.[8]

Parks

Davidson has many parks. The suburb adjoins Garigal and Kur-ing-gai Chase National Parks and in addition, has numerous other reserves including McFarlane Reserve, Maitland Street Reserve, Aranda Place Reseve and Richard Healy Oval.

Davidson is home to the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade since the station relocated from Cannons Parade Forestville in 1976. The Station has approximately 50 members and is one of 13 Brigades in the Warringah/Pittwater District of the NSW Rural Fire Service. www.davidsonrfb.org

Education

Davidson is home to two primary schools. Kambora Public School, located on Kambora Avenue and St Martin de Porres Catholic Primary School, also located on Kambora Avenue (although its address is Prahran Avenue and its main entrance is in that avenue). Davidson High School is named for the suburb, however the school campus is actually in nearby Frenchs Forest, on Blackbutts Road.

Commercial

A shopping complex on the corner of Yindela Street and Pound Avenue contains a small number of commercial premises. Significantly, the complex also contains the only apartment accommodation in the suburb.

Population

It is a small suburb with only approximately 400 homes. The residents of the suburb are predominantly of Anglo-Saxon descent with only some multi-cultural influences.

Notable residents

Culture

Davidson garners attention each December for its residents' enthusiastic display of Christmas lights. The "Davidson Lights" draw families from all over Sydney. Borgnis Street provides the centre of the nightly celebrations in the lead-up to Christmas,[9][10][11][12] however the festive spirit is spread widely throughout the suburb with residents of Stone Parade and its various cul-de-sacs also actively participating.

References

External links