NSW · Northern Beaches Council
Frenchs Forest, 2086
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
51% humidity · 17.1 km/h wind · 21.2° / 13.8° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Dog friendly
Suburb profile
Frenchs Forest is a practical established suburb in Northern Beaches, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Local eateries and coffee spots give the area a friendly, everyday social rhythm. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates excellent overall, led by parks and green space and growth momentum, while safety and local dining and lifestyle amenities sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 14,267
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $3,109
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 130 of 4,545
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,467
- Employment rate
- 64.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 213 / 188 / 136
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,288
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 66
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 288
- Against the person
- 102
- Against property
- 126
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 20.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 140 residents
- State safety percentile
- 1.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +3.5%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault19
- Fraud25
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment35
- Malicious Damage To Property23
- Steal From Motor Vehicle17
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,089
- Arranounbai SchoolSpecial
- Davidson High SchoolSecondary
- Frenchs Forest Public SchoolPrimary
- Mimosa Public SchoolPrimary
- The Forest High SchoolSecondary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
193 public transport stops in this suburb
- Rangers Retreat Rd At Fitzpatrick Av
- Rangers Retreat Rd Before Kyogle Pl
- Rangers Retreat Rd Opp Garner Av
- Warringah Rd Opp Northern Beaches Hospital
- Yarraman Av At Bantry Bay Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Roadworks & transport
3 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Expect delays. Use an alternative route.Fitzpatrick Avenue East, Warringah Road18 Feb 2026 – 31 Aug 2026
- RoadworksWakehurst Parkway, Warringah Road09 Jun 2026 – 05 Jul 2026
- RoadworksWarringah Road, Fitzpatrick Avenue West29 Jun 2026 – 05 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
515 planning-related records
2026· 28 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development3 THE ESPLANADE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 BRIERWOOD PLACE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 RHONDA AVENUE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool20 SORLIE ROAD FRENCHS FOREST 2086Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 BLUEGUM CRESCENT FRENCHS FOREST 2086Under Assessment
April 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)3 ANN STREET FRENCHS FOREST 2086Under Assessment
- Demolition; Industrial development; Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure; Storage premises; Light industry10 AQUATIC DRIVE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Under Assessment
- Small bar; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading25 FRENCHS FOREST ROAD EAST FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 PEACOCK PARADE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 EPPING DRIVE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling8 KARINGAL CRESCENT FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 BAYVIEW CLOSE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 MARCUS PLACE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool39 PEACOCK PARADE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Car park; Retail Premise22 FOREST WAY FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Health services facility; Hours of operation and trading7 SKYLINE PLACE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool37 PEACOCK PARADE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation44A IRIS STREET FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 MERRILEE CRESCENT FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
February 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Garden centre9 19 RODBOROUGH ROAD FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 PEACOCK PARADE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)34 ADAMS STREET FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Industrial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 Rodborough Road, Frenchs ForestDetermined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 RHONDA AVENUE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Car park; Retail Premise22 FOREST WAY FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure16 GLADYS AVENUE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool17 DAKARA DRIVE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Independent living units; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 SKYLINE PLACE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool48 JINDABYNE STREET FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure300 WARRINGAH ROAD FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Medical centre; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Hours of operation and trading1 1 SKYLINE PLACE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Pathways and paving3 MOIRA PLACE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 KURRAJONG ROAD FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure53 EPPING DRIVE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 HUME PLACE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Independent living units; Erection of a new structure5 SKYLINE PLACE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure78 FRENCHS FOREST ROAD EAST FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure52 FOREST WAY FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
October 2025
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation36 RANGERS RETREAT ROAD FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences22 GREENDALE AVENUE FRENCHS FOREST 2086Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
353 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Dan Murphy'sAlcohol
Frenchs Forest Road
- LiquorlandAlcohol
- Bakers DelightBakery
- ANZ Frenchs ForestBank
- Commonwealth BankBank
Unit Shop 11A
- NABBank
- Bbq (2)
- Beauty salon
- Bench (39)
- Bicycle Parking (8)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
28 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Akora ReservePark
- Aranda ReservePark
- Ararat ReservePark
- Bennabra Place ReservePark
- Brentwood ReservePark
- Brick Pit ReservePark
- Coster ReservePark
- Estelle ReservePark
- Frenchs Forest ShowgroundPark
- Gilbert Place ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 17
- Emergency department
- On site
- Alternativealternative
- Australian Clinical Labssample_collection
- Blue House Dentaldentist
- Davidson Family Medical Practicedoctor
- Doctordoctor
- Douglass Hanly Moirsample_collection
- EHP Physiophysiotherapist
- Forestville Family PracticeSkyline Placedoctor
- Frenchs Forest Child and Family Health Centrenurse
- Frenchs Forest Dentaldentist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Forest ChildcareRodborough Roadkindergarten
- Little Bloomers Early Learning CentreGrattan Crescentkindergarten
- Rodborough Road Children's Centrechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 57
- Parks (OSM)
- 32
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 76.3/100 — Excellent
- State standing
- Top 1% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 46th in Australia
- State rank
- 18th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #9 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #11 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- ALDIamenitiessupermarket
- ANZ Frenchs Forestamenitiesbank
- Adams St after Forest Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- At Your Serviceamenitiesdry_cleaning
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Australia Post Parcel Lockeramenitiesparcel_locker
- Bakers Delightamenitiesbakery
- Banana Blossomamenitiesfast_food
- Bantry Bay Rd Opp Garner Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Northern Beaches Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.