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'Dee Why' is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dee Why is located 18 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council and is part of the Northern Beaches region. Dee Why is surrounded by the suburbs of Collaroy, North Curl Curl, Brookvale, Narraweena and Cromer.

Contents

History

Geography

Dee Why Beach

Dee Why Lagoon

Commercial Areas

Governance

References

External links

History

The origin of the name of neighbouring Long Reef is obvious but the origin of Dee Why remains unclear. The earliest reference to it is pencil note in surveyor James Meehan's field book, "Wednesday, 27th Sept, 1815 Dy Beach - Marked a Honey Suckle Tree near the Beach".^[4] What it meant to him was not recorded, and since then many dubious and unlikely reasons have been put forward. One suggestion is that "Dy" could have been an appreviation for the Greek word "dyspropositos" which means ''difficult to reach'', since the beach was shileded by undergrowth and swamp surrounding Dee Why Lagoon.

Geography

Dee Why is contained in the drainage basin of Dee Why Lagoon, and stretches from Victor Road in the west to Dee Why Beach in the east, and from the crest of Wingala Hill to the northern edge of Dee Why Lagoon. A walking track leads from Dee Why Beach along Dee Why Head to North Curl Curl Beach, which is home to many coastal native plants, although some areas of the track are overgrown with weeds. Another significant natural resource within Dee Why is the Stony Range Botanic Garden, formerly Stony Range Flora and Fauna Reserve.

Dee Why Beach

Dee Why Beach runs for about 1.2 km along the eastern border, overlooking the Tasman Sea. On its southern end, the foreshore is given over to a large car park, Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club, and Dee Why Beach Reserve, which contains picnic areas and century old Norfolk Island Pines, similar to the ones in Manly. The reserve is contained by a seawall running for approximately 400m. There are several rockpools located below cliffs to the south.
The beachfront reserve has recently been upgraded, with new pathways, stairs, lookout platforms, an upper promenade and restoration of heritage items.^[5]

Dee Why Lagoon

Behind the beach's remaining dunes, to the north of The Strand, is Dee Why Lagoon. Its entrance marks the northern end of Dee Why Beach and the southern extent of Long Reef Beach. The high conservation value of the lagoon and its surrounding area was recognised in 1973 when it was proclaimed a wildlife refuge. The Dee Why Lagoon Wildlife Refuge covers an area of 69 hectares. It is a major scenic feature of the Northern Beaches, situated off Pittwater Road.

Commercial Areas

The main commercial area in Dee Why is the Dee Why Town Centre, directly to the east of Pittwater Road, and lined along the main streets of Howard Avenue, Oaks Avenue and Dee Why Parade. These streets all lead from the main road to the beach. Recently, there have been plans for the Dee Why Town Centre to be revitalised as a place "where people want to go, not have to go," as the Warringah Administrator Dick Persson said. However, there has been significant opposition to the plan by a church adjoining the site, St. Kevin's Catholic Church, as the plan intrudes upon a carpark once owned by the parish, but given to the council on the condition that it always will be used as such. On the western side of Pittwater Road, opposite the Town Centre, is Dee Why Library, one of five networked libraries in Warringah Council.
The Strand is the street that runs along the southern beachfront and features many cafes, restaurants and bars.

Governance

Dee Why is within the Warringah Council Local Government Area, and is home to the award-winning Warringah Council Civic Centre built in 1973, which contains the Council Chambers and is situated just to the north of the Library. Warringah Council's councillors were dismissed in 2003 over certain controversies, and is currently headed by an administrator. Council elections are due in 2008.
Dee Why is in both the federal electorates of Warringah, represented by Tony Abbott, the Australian Minister for Health and Ageing, of the Liberal Party, and the electorate of Mackellar, which is currently represented by Bronwyn Bishop, also of the Liberal Party. The suburb lies within both the state electorates of Wakehurst and Manly, who are represented by the Liberal Party members Brad Hazzard, Shadow Minister for Education and Aboriginal Affairs, and Mike Baird respectively.

References

★ ''The Book of Sydney Suburbs'', Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8
1. Dee Why Suburb Profile
2. State Electoral Office search results
3. AEC Polling Places
4. ''Sydney's Northern Beaches'', David Messent, David Messent Photography, 1999, ISBN 0-9577124-05
5. Dee Why Beachfront Reserve Opening

External links

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