Curl Curl

Location

Curl Curl Lagoon and Greendale Creek, separate Curl Curl from North Curl Curl. Neighbouring suburbs include Freshwater, Brookvale and Dee Why. Wingala is an adjacent locality. Curl Curl Beach runs along the eastern border and extends to North Curl Curl Beach.

Beach

The stretch of beach at Curl Curl is divided into North and South Curl Curl beaches. Curl Curl is known for some of the best surfing on the Northern Beaches.

Curl Curl Beach has two volunteer surf lifesaving clubs, South Curl Curl SLSC established in 1918 and North Curl Curl SLSC established in 1922. Northern Beaches Council employs professional lifeguards to patrol this beach from the end of September until Anzac Day. There are saltwater rockpools at each end of the beach.

History

The name Curl Curl appears to be the original Aboriginal name for the larger area of Manly Vale, Freshwater, Queenscliff. The name Curl Curl may have been derived from a Dharuk Aboriginal phrase curial curial, meaning river of life.

The name Curl Curl Lagoon was originally applied to Manly Lagoon, which empties into the ocean at Queenscliff. The lagoon that empties into the ocean at Curl Curl Beach was named Harbord Lagoon until it was renamed Curl Curl Lagoon as part of a renaming program in the 1980s. Manly Creek was originally named Curl Curl Creek and Queenscliff Headland was called Curl Curl Headland.

In 1858 Samuel Bennett (who died 1903) paid £600 for a 80-acre (32 ha) property, in the Curl Curl/Brookvale area south of Greendale Creek and was farmed by Bennett up until the mid-1870s. This area was later known as Brighton Park.

Population

At the 2011 census, there were 2,415 residents in Curl Curl. The majority of people were born in Australia (77.2%), with the top other countries of birth being England 6.1%, New Zealand 2.6% and South Africa 0.9%. Family households 78.2% were the main type of household, with the other household types being single person households 16.8% and group households 5.0%. Median monthly mortgage payments were $3,000, much higher than the national median of $1,800.

Sport and recreation

Parks and playing fields are located on either side of Curl Curl Lagoon and Greendale Creek. These areas were originally low-lying swampy land that was reclaimed by dumping rubbish on both sides of the lagoon throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Curl Curl Youth Club has organised soccer and netball since 1958.

Curl Curl Amateur Swimming Club runs regular Saturday afternoon swim events during the spring and summer months at the South Curl Curl rock pool. The club commenced in 1966 and has been running swimming events every year for swimmers of all ages and abilities ranging from learners to competitive athletes.

1st/2nd Harbord Scouts meet at the scout hut, 43 Stirgess Ave. Harbord Bowling & Recreation Club has four greens and regularly holds world-class tournaments.

Public transport

Curl Curl is serviced by four bus routes, 136 Manly to Chatswood, 139 Manly to Warringah Mall, E65 South Curl Curl to Sydney CBD and the 159 Manly to Dee Why.

Schools

Freshwater Senior Campus which is part of Northern Beaches Secondary College is for year 11 and 12 students, located on the corner of Harbord Road and Brighton Street, Curl Curl.

Stewart House is located across the road from South Curl Curl beach and provides students with an opportunity for a break from their current circumstances. Stewart House opened in March 1935, more than 150,000 children have benefited from a stay at Stewart House.

Curl Curl North Public School is a primary school located at Playfair Road near Abbot Road.