EYE ON BALGOWLAH

Moving to Balgowlah?  Here is some useful information on your new community.

Balgowlah is suburb on Sydney’s lower Northern beaches with beautiful reserves on North Harbour & a thriving local shopping precedent.  It is a suburb popular with young families, single and partnered professionals and older people alike with its location just enough out of Manly to enjoy a quieter existence but still in good position to the Spit bridge into the Sydney CBD.  Balgowlah is part of the Manly Council.

The size of Balgowlah is approximetly 2km² with 9% of this area parks and recreational space.  The population of Balgowlah has steadly grown to 6,423 (latest information from 2006) and mainly represented by the age group 30 - 39 year olds.  Balgowlah is made up of houses and also a good range of apartments/units.   The median house price has risen to $1,352,500 

Did you know? .… Balgowlah was named after the Aboriginal word north harbour  which relates to its position North of Port Jackson.

Shopping

Balgowlah has some great shops along Sydney Road, which is the main road through Balgowlah.  These include necessities such as Doctors surgery, pathology clinic, skin cancer clinic, Post office, bank, chemists & a newsagent.  Also includes fashion boutiques, antique & second hand shops, hairdressers, hardware store, dry cleaners and butcher.  Recently opened in July 2010 is the brand new Stockland Village which as well as having residential apartments, has a good ‘mall’ with many shops to choose from.  These include a large supermarket & fruit & veg shop, butcher, seafood shop, deli, liquor store, fashion shops, books, homewares, gifts & beauticians.

Restaurants & Cafes

Balgowlah has a range of restaurants along Sydney Road with many nationalities to choose from.  There are Italian, French, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Chinese & Indian.  Our favourites are Tamagawa (Japanese); Chez Maurice Et Linda (French) & Ajmer's Indian Restaurant.  Cafes & takeaways are also in good supply along Sydney Road with our favourites being the Gourmet chicken & salads (BBQ chickens), Full of Beans (for coffee & wraps), Zest cafe also for good coffee and lovely outdoor courtyard & Crust (pizza).  Also the new Stockland Village has a wide variety of cafes & takeway food places.  Try the Almond & Ginger slice at Dare café – yum!  Also just opened at Stockland village in March 2010 is Smoothmoves new favorite Sushi Roll where you can have sushi train or sit down for a menu meal.  We love the 'tiger sushi' and 'prawn tempura'!

Is your favourite shop or restaurant missing from here?  Let us know and we can add it to the list!

Transport

The local community free bus network Hop Skip & Jump is a convenient way to get around the area. It is also a way to get cars off the road which is better for the environment and your pocket. There are 4 routes with locations such as the Swimming Pool, Manly Wharf, Waringah Mall, Stockland Village & Balgowlah Heights shops with which to be dropped off/picked up.

STA buses also run through Balgowlah on route to Wynyard; QVB; Chatswood; St Leonards; Neutral Bay; Dee Why; Warringah Mall & Manly. 

Bikes are another popular way to get around, with 2 separate bike paths leading to Manly.  There is one running along White Street & Lauderdale Ave with the other path on the other side of Sydney road along Balgowlah Road. 

Schools

There are two primary schools and one boys secondary school in Balgowlah. 

Primary

St. Cecilias Primary School

Manly West Public School

Secondary

Balgowlah Boys High School

There are also 2 child care centres for little ones.

Eco Preschool

Balgowlah Preschool

Acre Woods Childcare

Parks & Reserves

Balgowlah is lucky to have the beautiful North harbour reserve right on its door step.  This reserve on the Spit to Manly walk which is a popular and very scenic walk to do.  The reserve comprises of a off leash dog area which the local pooches love and a good sized undercover play ground for kids too.  With two free public BBQ’s to access and a lovely tidal harbour to frolic in, it makes for a lovely day out.  Around the headland from North harbour reserve is Forty baskets beach and reserve which has a lovely aspect looking across to Manly. 

Balgowlah sits on the scenic walkway from Spit to manly and makes for a beautiful walk into Manly to get the papers and have brunch on a Sunday morning.

Sports & recreation

Golf

Balgowlah Golf Club – Sydney Road

Tennis

Balgowlah Tennis Club – Balgowlah Road

Lawn bowls

Balgowlah Bowling Club – Bareena Drive, Balgowlah Heights

Ovals

Balgowlah Oval – Sydney Road

Fishing

Around Forty baskets & Wellings Reserve

Kayaking

Off North harbour reserve or Forty baskets

Source:

Manly Council

www.manly.nsw.gov.au

RP Data

http://www.rpdata.com/