Collaroy is a gorgeous seaside suburb nestled between Dee Why and Narrabeen on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Only 22 km from the Sydney CBD, this beachside location presents a fantastic lifestyle to its lucky residents and makes a stunning getaway for visitors.
Collaroy: the early days
Collaroy was originally part of Narrabeen in what was traditionally Guringai land. According to Historical Encounters, the word itself means “big reeds” in the Indigenous language. However, that’s not the reason given for this location’s name.
It wasn’t until 1881 that Collaroy became a suburb in its own right. Fittingly, an event related to the ocean earned this beachside suburb its name.
At the time, paddle steamers travelled regularly between Newcastle and Sydney, carrying passengers and goods. Rumour has it that two steamers were having an unofficial race that led to the crew of one ship committing a navigational error when attempting to avoid a reef in heavy fog.
Exactly how and why it happened may have yet to be substantiated, but the S.S. Collaroy managed to beach itself close to Pittwater Road around Long Reef. Collaroy now had a name of its own.
The beach
Collaroy’s defining feature has to be its sand and surf.
Collaroy Beach is a surfing spot popular with locals and with a vibrant surf life saving club that has more than 800 members.
The stretch of sand reaches up to join Narrabeen Beach, but the main strip, directly across from Collaroy’s main street, is sheltered enough from the wind to make it perfect for swimmers, beginning surfers and families.
There is even a beachside rock pool for those who prefer their calmer water, plus a playground that’s popular with small children.
Drive along Pittwater Road past Collaroy and you will usually see surfers in the water. It’s one of the nicer moments of the B Line bus ride when you are heading south; you get a bird’s eye view of the swell.
What to do in Collaroy
Collaroy is home to a village-style strip of shops, cafes and restaurants, and has its own cinema, the unique and privately owned United Cinema. This place has a lot of old world charm and is an easily recognisable landmark with its turquoise exterior.
Locals enjoy a range of coffee spots and an IGA Local Grocer, which saves them from making the trip to Woolworths in Narrabeen or down to Dee Why.
This suburb is also a mini hub for night life because of the popular and inviting Collaroy Hotel (The Collaroy) and the adjacent Beach Club, which is an RSL. These are great spots for a drink and a meal, and the B Line stops take revellers from here down to Manly or up to the Park House in Mona Vale for further festivities.
Collaroy also boasts a tennis club and the other icon of the area is the Long Reef Golf course, which is probably one of the most stunning places to play a round in Sydney. A fantastic dog park and seaside walk surround the golf course… time your trek well and you may be able to spot whales in the water.
If you’re looking to host an event, you can try the Collaroy Swim Club’s Main Hall.
Collaroy demographics and real estate
Real estate in Collaroy varies from high-end apartments with stunning ocean views to larger homes as you climb the hill.
According to realestate.com, the medium house price in Collaroy is currently $3,250,000, and the unit price is $1,087,500. Both houses and units saw a dramatic price increase in late 2021 and have remained high ever since.
With the average age of Collaroy residents being 39 as of the 2016 census, the suburb has a relatively young population. With almost half the Collaroy population being married, it is also a family-friendly suburb.
Collaroy is not only a wonderful suburb to live in, it is also a fantastic location for investors. Rental yields in Collaroy are currently a comfortable 2.27 per cent for houses and 3.29 per cent for units, and the average weekly rent is $1,295 for houses and $700 for units.
Units have been performing well in Collaroy in recent months and have a lower sales time of 35 days compared to 49 days for houses, which is still impressive given market conditions have plateaued somewhat in 2024.
Putting it together
Like its near neighbours North Narrabeen, Narrabeen, Elanora Heights, Ingleside, Warriewood and Mona Vale, Collaroy is a sought-after Northern Beaches suburb that is well regarded as a place to live or invest.