View source for Dee Why

{{for|the ferry|Dee Why ferry}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox Australian place 
| type      = suburb
| name      = Dee Why
| city      = Sydney
| state     = nsw
| image     = Dee Why Beach.JPG
| caption   = Dee Why Beach
| local_map = yes
| zoom      = 12
| lga       = [[Northern Beaches Council]]
| postcode  = 2099
| est       = 
| pop       = 23,354
| pop_year  = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name=census>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL11229|name=Dee Why (State Suburb)|accessdate=10 August 2024|quick=on}}</ref>
| elevation = 20
| area      = 
| stategov  = [[Electoral district of Manly|Manly]]
| stategov2 = [[Electoral district of Wakehurst|Wakehurst]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/redistribution_2004/district_search?queries_locality_query=Dee+Why |publisher=NSW State Electoral Office |title=State Electoral Office search results |access-date=10 December 2006}}</ref>
| fedgov    = [[Division of Mackellar|Mackellar]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nsw/mackellar.htm | title=Division of Mackellar |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=16 November 2010}}</ref>
| fedgov2  =  
| near-nw   = [[Cromer, New South Wales|Cromer]]
| near-n    = [[Collaroy, New South Wales|Collaroy]]
| near-ne   = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-w    = [[Narraweena, New South Wales|Narraweena]]
| near-e    = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-sw   = [[Brookvale, New South Wales|Brookvale]]
| near-s    = [[North Curl Curl, New South Wales|North Curl Curl]]
| near-se   = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| dist1     = 18
| dir1      = north-east
| location1 = Sydney CBD
| coordinates = {{Coord|-33.7544|151.2854|format=dms|type:city(22,000)_region:AU-NSW|display=title,inline}}
}}

'''Dee Why''' {{IPAc-en|d|iː|ˈ|w|aɪ}} is a coastal [[suburb]] of northern [[Sydney]], in the state of [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]], 18 kilometres&nbsp;north-east of the [[Sydney central business district]]. It is the administrative centre of the [[Local government in Australia|local government area]] of [[Northern Beaches Council]].

== History ==

=== Name ===
<!-- Please check the talk page before editing or adding information on the origins of Dee Why's name-->
The reasons for Dee Why's name remain unclear. The earliest reference to it is a pencil note in surveyor [[James Meehan (surveyor)|James Meehan]]'s field book, "Wednesday, 27th Sept, 1815 '''Dy Beach''' - Marked a Honey Suckle Tree near the Beach".<ref>{{cite book |title=Sydney's Northern Beaches |last=Messent |first=David |year=1999 |publisher=David Messent Photography |isbn=0-9577124-0-5 }}</ref>  What it meant to him is not clear,<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Sydney Suburbs |editor-last=Pollen |editor-first=Frances  |year=1990 |publisher=[[Angus and Robertson|Angus & Robertson Publishers]] |location=Australia |isbn=0-207-14495-8 |page=82}}</ref> but various claims have been put forward, including:

*The letters DY were simply a marker that Meehan used to mark many other places on his map.<ref name=JimBoyce0>{{cite book |title=Pictorial History: Warringah |last=Boyce |first=Jim |year=2006 |publisher= Kingsclear Books |location=[[Alexandria, New South Wales]] |isbn=0-908272-85-5 |page=130}}</ref>
*The name came from the local Aboriginal language that Meehan used to name many of the locations that he surveyed.<ref name=JimBoyce1>{{cite book |title=Pictorial History: Warringah |last=Boyce |first=Jim |year=2006 |publisher= Kingsclear Books |location=[[Alexandria, New South Wales]] |isbn=0-908272-85-5 |page=63}}</ref>

By 1840 Meehan's 'Dy' had become the single word 'Deewhy', but was split into its present form during the 1920s.<ref name=JimBoyce0/> The term 'Dee Why' was also used to name 'Dee Why Heights' or Highlands, known as [[Narraweena, New South Wales|Narraweena]] since 1951, and 'Dee Why West', the name of which was changed to [[Cromer, New South Wales|Cromer]] in 1969.<ref name=JimBoyce0/>

=== Pre-European history ===
Little is known of the Aboriginal people who lived in the Dee Why area before European occupation, although there is evidence of a [[midden]] at the southern end of Dee Why Beach, and the indigenous people were known to fish on the then wider and deeper lagoon, where black swans were once seen in large flocks.<ref name=JimBoyce1/>

=== Early development ===
The first land in the area to be listed by the New South Wales government Gazette was {{convert|700|acre|ha}} granted to [[William Cossar]] in the early 19th century, James Wheeler purchased 90 acres in 1842, but by the mid-19th century most of the land in what is now Dee Why had been acquired by James Jenkins and other members of the Jenkins family. Elizabeth Jenkins, eldest daughter of James, gave all her land to the [[Salvation Army]] upon her death in 1900, in recognition of their support in her old age. The Salvation Army received in total {{convert|1740|acre|ha}} of land, {{convert|200|acre|ha}} of which were in Dee Why. An industrial farm, as well as hostels for boys, girls and women were established on this land. Access to the beach was limited by the Salvation Army's land, with a wire netting barrier running along its length.<ref name=JimBoyce1/>

Warringah Council was formed in 1906, giving Dee Why residents a local government. In 1911 it was decided that the tram line that had expanded in sections from [[Manly, New South Wales|Manly]] since 1903 was to be extended from Brookvale on to [[Collaroy, New South Wales|Collaroy Beach]] via [[Pittwater Road]], and soon after to [[Narrabeen]].<ref name=Manlymania>{{cite web |title=Brief Background History of Tramways in Manly |url=http://www.manlymania.net/Tramway/Manly%20Tramway%20History.pdf |publisher=Manlymania |access-date=11 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021004438/http://manlymania.net/Tramway/Manly%20Tramway%20History.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2011 |date=January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The line opened on 3 August 1912 with an hourly service, and it was perhaps this development that caused the Salvation Army in 1913 to progressively sell off most of its holdings on the Northern Beaches, starting with The Oaks Estate Auction, which gave its name to one of the main streets of Dee Why, Oaks Avenue. Another main street, Howard Avenue, commemorates Commissioner Thomas Howard, the first commissioner of the Salvation Army in Australia and New Zealand. By 1920, most of Dee Why had been subdivided.<ref name=JimBoyce2>{{cite book |title=Pictorial History: Warringah |last=Boyce |first=Jim |year=2006 |publisher= Kingsclear Books |location=[[Alexandria, New South Wales]] |isbn=0-908272-85-5 |page=7}}</ref> From the end of 1938, the trams, as a result of losses due to low population density and competition with new bus routes that duplicated their services, operated only at peak hours for commuters and on weekends for tourists, and finally ceased operating with the final run on 30 September 1939.<ref name=Manlymania/>

In 1971, work began on a new Dee Why civic centre, inspired by Sulman Prize-winning architects Edwards, Madigan & Torzillo. The building was completed in 1972 and the Council moved there in 1973 from the Shire Hall in Brookvale where meetings had been held since 1912, making Dee Why the seat of Warringah Council.<ref>{{cite web|title=Centenary of Warringah |url=http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/council_now/centenary.aspx |publisher=Warringah Council |access-date=11 June 2011 |date=31 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615043225/http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/council_now/centenary.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Dee Why Beach Estate Manly - Pacific Pde, Cassia Rd, Banksia St, Griffin Rd, Daisy St, 1911.jpg|Dee Why Beach Estate Manly - Pacific Pde, Cassia Rd, Banksia St, Griffin Rd, Daisy St, 1911
File:The Oaks Estate Dee Why - Pittwater Road, Pacific Pde, Oaks Ave, The Strand, DeeWhy Pde., 1913.jpg|The Oaks Estate Dee Why - Pittwater Road, Pacific Pde, Oaks Ave, The Strand, DeeWhy Pde., 1913
File:Southern Cross Estate - Tango Ave, Dee Why Rd, Carew St, 1915.jpg|Southern Cross Estate - Tango Ave, Dee Why Rd, Carew St, 1915
File:The Dee Why Heights Extension Estate - South Creek Rd, Pittwater Rd, Fish Rd, Lismore Ave, Westminster Ave, Pittwater Rd, 1920.jpg|The Dee Why Heights Extension Estate - South Creek Rd, Pittwater Rd, Fish Rd, Lismore Ave, Westminster Ave, Pittwater Rd, 1920
</gallery>

== Geography ==
[[File:View from Dee Why Cliffs.jpg|thumb|Dee Why Beach and [[Long Reef (New South Wales)|Long Reef]] from the Bicentennial Coastal Walkway]]

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. The Bicentennial Coastal Walkway from [[Queenscliff, New South Wales|Queenscliff]] to [[Palm Beach, New South Wales|Palm Beach]] leads from [[North Curl Curl, New South Wales|North Curl Curl Beach]] in the south, along the cliffs of Dee Why Head and down to the southern end of Dee Why Beach. The track exhibits the coastal heath ecosystem that used to be spread all over the Warringah area, and has been extensively regenerated since 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/environment/DeeWhyHeadlandEscarpment.aspx |title=Dee Why Headland/Escarpment |access-date=11 November 2008 |date=20 December 2007 |work=Warringah Online |publisher=Warringah Council}}</ref>

Another significant natural area within Dee Why is the [[Stony Range Botanic Garden]], established in 1957 on the site of an old quarry and located just south of the Dee Why town centre. The garden, which contains plants from all over Australia as well as those indigenous to the area, has four main sections, the rainforest gully, the sandstone heath on the site of the quarry, the Federation Cascades built in 2001 to commemorate the centenary of the federation of Australia, and the primitive plant section, with examples of plant species that have survived for millions of years. The garden is open from 8am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day, and admission is free.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden|url=http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/play/stony-range-regional-botanic-garden|website=Warringah Council|publisher=Warringah Council|access-date=13 April 2015|archive-date=11 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211051056/http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/play/stony-range-regional-botanic-garden|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Dee Why Beach ===
[[File:Looking South to Dee Why Beach (23631142524).jpg|thumb|left|Looking South to Dee Why Beach]]
[[File:DeeWhyBeach.jpg|thumb|left|Dee Why Beach and Dee Why Lagoon, view from [[Long Reef (New South Wales)|Long Reef]]]]
[[File:Dee Why Beach, Sydney 2019.jpg|thumb|Dee Why Beach sunrise in April]]
Dee Why Beach runs for about 1.2&nbsp;km along the eastern border, overlooking the [[Tasman Sea]]. To the north are the dunes separating the beach from the Dee Why Lagoon. At its southern end is the Ted Jackson Reserve (renamed from Dee Why Beach Reserve in October 2010),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/news_events/documents/MediaReleaseTedJacksonReserve.pdf |title=Ted Jackson is remembered |access-date=16 November 2010 |date=19 October 2010|work=Media Release |publisher=Warringah Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323133249/http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/news_events/documents/MediaReleaseTedJacksonReserve.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2011}}</ref> with picnic areas and century old Norfolk Island Pines, similar to the ones in [[Manly Beach, New South Wales|Manly]]. The reserve is contained by a seawall running for approximately 400m, and was upgraded in 2006, with new pathways, stairs, lookout platforms, an upper promenade and the restoration of the war memorial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/council_then/documents/IHAP_2006041232.pdf |title=RESERVE THE STRAND DEE WHY - CONSTRUCTION OF TIMBER DECK, NEW PAVED PROMENADE AND ASSOCIATED LANDSCAPE WORKS |access-date=16 November 2010 |date=13 December 2006|work=Report to Independent Hearing & Assessment Panel Meeting on 12 April 2006 |publisher=Warringah Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317132204/http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/council_then/documents/IHAP_2006041232.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2011}}</ref> There are two playgrounds in the vicinity, located at the southern end of the beach and west of the Dee Why [[Surf Life Saving Club]], near to the lagoon, and several [[Swimming pool#Types|ocean pools]] located below cliffs to the south. Car parking facilities exist in the streets to the south, as well as a car park next to the Life Saving Club.

[[File:DYLagoon.jpg|thumb|Tank traps dating from World War II in Dee Why Lagoon]]

=== 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]]. It is an extremely significant area for local and migratory birds, and is listed on migratory bird agreements with [[Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement|Japan]] and [[China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement|China]]. The Dee Why Lagoon Wildlife Refuge covers an area of 77 hectares, of which the lagoon takes up 30 hectares. The rest of the reserve is primarily swamp-based bushland, as well as the coastal dune ecosystem between the lagoon and the sea. It is a major scenic feature of the Northern Beaches, situated off Pittwater Road, and accessible from Dee Why Parade and The Strand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/environment/DeeWhyLagoonWildlifeRefuge.aspx |title=Dee Why Lagoon Wildlife Reserve |access-date=11 November 2008 |date=21 December 2007 |work=Warringah Online |publisher=Warringah Council}}</ref>

== Commercial areas ==
[[File:Dee why pittwater road.jpg|thumb|Apartments on the corner of [[Pittwater Road]] and Dee Why Parade.]]
[[File:Dee-why-fisher-road-flowers.jpg|thumb|right|Shop selling flowers on Fisher Road, in suburban Dee Why.]]
The main commercial area in Dee Why is centred on either side of [[Pittwater Road]], the main arterial road on the Northern Beaches, and continues down the streets leading to the beach as well as upwards along Fisher Road. This area is characterised by 1960s shop-top, two- and three-storey buildings and later, four- to ten-storey developments.

There are currently four shopping centres in Dee Why including:

*Dee Why Market – a single storey shopping centre originally constructed in the 1970s with a significant redevelopment in 2009 and previously featured a [[Woolworths Supermarkets|Woolworths]] supermarket and [[The Reject Shop]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.george.com.au/dee-why/|title=Dee Why Market {{!}} George Group|website=www.george.com.au|access-date=2016-11-18|archive-date=18 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118163548/http://www.george.com.au/dee-why/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Dee Why Village Plaza – located on Howard Avenue and Dee Why Parade features a [[Coles Supermarkets|Coles]] supermarket.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deewhyvillageplaza.com.au/centre-information|title=Dee Why Village Plaza - Macquarie Fields, NSW - Centre Information|website=www.deewhyvillageplaza.com.au|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref> 
*Dee Why Grand – owned by ISPT is part of a large [[mixed-use development]] completed in July 2010 which includes newly built Dee Why Hotel, 170 residential apartments, 10-storey 6,500 sqm office, large-format bottle shop and three-level basement car park. The centre features [[Aldi]] and a second [[Coles Supermarkets|Coles]] supermarket in Dee Why.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ispt.net.au/properties/dee-why-grand-shopping-centre/|title=Dee Why Grand {{!}} ISPT|website=ispt.net.au|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref>
*Meriton Retail Precinct Dee Why – an outdoor shopping centre, part of the [[Lighthouse, Dee Why|Lighthouse]] development.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/plans-lodged-for-dee-why-town-centre-plaza-inspired-by-darling-harbour-and-german-movie-town/news-story/d558be2f98fb4e1e48afa27abf8090f9|title=Dee Why goes Darling Harbour with outdoor cinema, concerts and market|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref>

Also on Pittwater Road is the [[Northern Beaches Council#Civic Centre|Northern Beaches Council Chambers]] and the Dee Why branch of Warringah [[Library]], one of four networked branches of the Library including Belrose, Forestville and Warringah Mall.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/library/your-libraries/locations-and-hours|title = Locations and Hours - Warringah Council Libraries|date = 2014-11-17|access-date = 2014-11-17|website = Warringah Council|publisher = Warringah Council|archive-date = 10 November 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141110130804/http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/library/your-libraries/locations-and-hours|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The Strand, running along the southern Dee Why beach front, is a major commercial area, and features two to four-storey buildings with Apartments, cafes, restaurants and bars overlooking the beach.

There is also a set of eight mainly single-storey shops at the corner of South Creek Road and Pittwater in the northern part of Dee Why, next to the lagoon, as well as a few corner stores scattered in the more suburban areas.

The Dee Why Post Office opened on 26 April 1915. Dee Why Beach Post Office opened on 1 December 1945 and closed in 1979. Dee Why North Post Office opened on 1 October 1959 and closed in 1993.<ref name = "Post Office">{{Cite web  | last = Phoenix Auctions History  | title = Post Office List  | publisher = Phoenix Auctions  | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=NSW&filter=*Dee*Why*  | access-date = 21 January 2021}}</ref>

== Transport ==
Public transport in Dee Why primarily runs along Pittwater Road in the form of buses, including the high frequency, limited stops [[B-Line (Sydney)|B-Line]] route from the Sydney CBD to Mona Vale, with the B-Line stop located at the intersection with Howard Avenue. This stop is also served by two frequent bus routes including the 160X travelling westward to Chatswood via Warringah Road, and the 199 connecting Palm Beach to Manly. These three services run every 10 minutes or less throughout the day, every day of the week. Local services connect southwards to Warringah Mall and to Manly via Freshwater, westwards to Frenchs Forest and northwards to Cromer and Collaroy Plateau. Express services to and from the city and North Sydney run in the morning and evening weekday peaks, including two services to the city from near Dee Why Beach.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Northern Region Guide Map |work=State Transit |publisher=Transport for NSW |url=https://transportnsw.info/document/5202/region_8_map_n2020_december_2020_2.pdf|access-date= 21 January 2021}}</ref>

== Sport and recreation ==
There are many sporting clubs in the area of Dee Why.

One of the well known teams is the [[rugby union]] side, Dee Why Lions. Dee Why Lions have very well established teams in the game of Rugby ranging from children's teams to the senior team that competes in the NSW Suburban Rugby Union sixth-division Meldrum Cup.

The Dee Why Football Club, also known as "The Swans", is a [[soccer]] club officially formed in 1946, making it one of the oldest soccer teams on the Northern Beaches. There are two medals, dating from 1925 and 1926, that were awarded to players for Dee Why, that suggest it could have an even longer history. Notably in 1983 at an exhibition match against Manly Warringah, Dee Why won 2–1 with the winning goal scored by guest player [[George Best]], a former [[Manchester United]] and [[Northern Ireland national football team]] member.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dyfc.com.au/about/history|title=Dee Why Football Club : History|publisher=Dee Why Football Club|access-date=12 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607175418/http://dyfc.com.au/about/history|archive-date=7 June 2011}}</ref>

Dee Why is also home to the Dee Why Surfing Fraternity, Australia's oldest surfboard riders club, founded in 1961 and still competing each month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dysf.info/history1.html |title=Dee Why Surfing Fraternity History |access-date=29 August 2010 |date=26 December 2008 |publisher=Dee Why Surfing Fraternity |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216072945/http://dysf.info/history1.html |archive-date=16 December 2010}}</ref>

Dee Why was the home of the Evergreen Tennis & Squash Centre, located at Campbell Avenue until its closure in December 2010. The site is now occupied by houses.

== Education ==
There are two public primary schools in Dee Why, both along Fisher Road: Dee Why Public School (1922) and Fisher Road Special School (1953). St Kevin's Catholic Primary School (1935) lies across Oaks Avenue from the church of the same name.

[[St Luke's Grammar School]] (founded 1993 from Roseby Preparatory (Junior) School, Peninsula Grammar (Boys) School and St Luke's Anglican College for Girls), a K – 12 Anglican school, can be found on Headland Road in the south on the western slopes of [[Wingala, New South Wales|Wingala]] Hill.

== Religion ==
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, most common responses for religion in Dee Why were No Religion 32.8%, Catholic 22.9% and Anglican 10.8%.<ref name=census/>

=== Churches ===
Dee Why, being the most populous suburb on the Northern Beaches, is home to [[church (building)|church]]es of many denominations. A [[Methodist Church of Australasia|Methodist]] church was built on the corner of Howard Avenue and Avon Road in the 1930s, and is currently the oldest church building in Dee Why. With the rest of the Methodist Church, it joined the Uniting Church at its founding in 1977. It is currently home to the [[Cecil Gribble]] Congregation, a Tongan congregation of the Uniting Church. 

St John's Anglican Church was established in 1922. The current church, constructed in 1957 on the corner of Oaks Avenue and Avon Road, is well known for its modern stained glass artwork, installed over a period of years, including the recent addition of the Missions to Seamen Window in the new chapel, from the old MTS Chapel in [[The Rocks, New South Wales|The Rocks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stjohnsdeewhy.org.au/r_history.html |title=Resources – History |access-date=31 August 2010 |publisher=St Johns Anglican Church |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219090757/http://stjohnsdeewhy.org.au/r_history.html |archive-date=19 February 2011}}</ref> St Kevin's Catholic Church was established in 1923 on Oaks Avenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stkevinsdy.org.au/ChurchHTML/profile.htm |title=St Kevin |access-date=31 August 2010 |publisher=St Kevins Catholic Church |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216064443/http://stkevinsdy.org.au/ChurchHTML/profile.htm |archive-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> The current building, built in 1962, has a very distinctive design mimicking the structure of a tent.

The Dee Why Baptist Church (1940) was renamed the New Life Baptist Church in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nl.org.au/about.html |title=New Life |access-date=31 August 2010 |publisher=New Life Baptist Church |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002044046/http://nl.org.au/about.html |archive-date=2 October 2010}}</ref> St David's Uniting Church, the spire of which can be seen from a long way on Pittwater Road in both directions, was built in the 1940s as a [[Presbyterian Church of Australia|Presbyterian]] church, joining the Uniting Church with two-thirds of the Presbyterians in 1977. Peninsula Vineyard Church, founded in 1966, is located on St David Avenue.

The short section of road from Pittwater Road to Fisher Road was formerly known as part of Howard Avenue, but was renamed in the late 1990s to St David Avenue. The Salvation Army still maintains a presence in Dee Why, with a church located on Fisher Road, and there is a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall further north on Pittwater Road.

<gallery caption="Churches" class="center" widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:UnitingChurchDY.JPG|The oldest church in Dee Why, the Cecil Gribble Congregation, of the Uniting Church
File:St-Johns-Dee-Why.jpg|St John's Anglican Church
File:St-Kevins-Dee-Why.jpg|St Kevin's Catholic Church, with its distinctive tent-like architecture
File:Dee-Why-Baptist.jpg|Dee Why Baptist Church
File:StDavidsUnitingChurchDY.jpg|St David's Uniting Church
</gallery>

==Population==
According to the {{CensusAU|2021}}, there were 23,354 residents in Dee Why. 51.9% of people were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were [[England]] (5.9%), [[Brazil]] (4.2%), [[China]] (3.6%), [[Nepal]] (3.2%) and [[India]] (3.2%). 61.6% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Portuguese 4.6%, Nepali 3.1%, Tibetan 2.4%, Mandarin 2.1% and Spanish 2.0%. Dee Why's housing is higher density than average for Australia. Of occupied private dwellings in Dee Why, 81.9% were flats, units or apartments with 15.3% being separate houses and 2.4% being semi-detached.<ref name=census />

One famous resident of Dee Why was Edward (later Sir Edward) Hallstrom, who in 1923, after studying refrigeration and patents in the field, experimented in his backyard shed and developed the Icy Ball absorption refrigerator which ran on kerosene.

Writing celebrating this beach is featured in “Guide to Sydney Beaches” [[Meuse Press]].<ref>[http://sydneybeaches.tripod.com/guide.htm Guide to Sydney Beaches]</ref>

== Governance ==
Dee Why is within the [[Northern Beaches Council]] local government area, and is home to the [[Warringah Civic Centre]] built in 1973, which contains the Council Chambers and is situated just to the north of the [[Sulman Award]]-winning Library, completed in 1966. Formerly split between the A and B Wards of Warringah Council, the suburb is now entirely within the Curl Curl Ward of Northern Beaches Council, returning three councillors.

Dee Why is in both the federal electorates of [[Division of Warringah|Warringah]], represented by the independent member of parliament [[Zali Steggall]], and the electorate of [[Division of Mackellar|Mackellar]], which is currently represented by independent member of parliament Dr Sophie Scamps. The suburb lies within both the state electorates of [[Electoral district of Wakehurst|Wakehurst]] and [[Electoral district of Manly|Manly]], who are represented respectively by the independent member of parliament and former mayor of The Northern Beaches Council, [[Michael Regan (Australian politician)|Michael Regan]] and Liberal Party member [[James Griffin (Australian politician)|James Griffin]], a former Manly Deputy Mayor.

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last=Huntsman |first=Leone |year=2001 |title=Sand in Our Souls: The Beach in Australian History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxwuXP6Rc0YC |location=Carlton South, Victoria, Australia |publisher=Melbourne University Press |isbn=9780522849455 |oclc=249185947}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Dee Why, New South Wales}}
* [http://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-north/northern-beaches/dee-why-and-curl-curl Visitor's Guide to Dee Why - Sydney.com]
* {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/Gosford/maplg.htm|title=Gosford Lagoons & Sydney Northern Beaches|format=map |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage, [[Government of New South Wales]]}}
* {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/dee_why | title = Dee Why | access-date = 27 September 2015 | author = Tina Graham | date = 2008 | work=[[Dictionary of Sydney]]}} <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Creative Commons license|CC-By-SA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
* [http://sydneybeaches.tripod.com/guide.htm Guide to Sydney Beaches]

{{Sydney Northern Beaches suburbs}}
{{Sydney landmarks}}
{{Beaches of New South Wales}}

[[Category:Beaches of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Northern Beaches Council]]
[[Category:Suburbs of Sydney]]