Dolphin Park Bushland Reserve is one of those little hidden way pockets of green where peace and birdsong reign and trees get to grow tall, and form hollows for wildlife or bloom to be food trees for them.
This holding is in previous Vol-Fol 2560-192 was James Young, one of the Directors of the Barrenjoey Land Company, and Barrister-at-law, under a transfers from Emma Florence Nolan (nee Kelynack) the wife of Herbert Russell Nolan who died in 1915, of the 179 acres and 2 roods his holding at today's North Avalon to Whale Beach (Nolan Vol-Fol: 2560-192 - Primary Application 19218). When the Barranjoey Land Company was formally registered in June 1911 the first directors were named as Harry Wolstenholme, E T Jones, John Thompson Ralston, James Young, and Herbert Russell Nolan. Many of these partners were either related, in the case of Harry Wolstenholme and James Young, or students together at Newington College.
A gentleman named Kenneth Gray Byrne bought 40 acres, as seen in Vol-Fol 3694-119 below. The Certificate of Title was registered February 10 1925, with a Mortgage to Constance Phillipson of Sydney, Estate Agent on June 19 1924. The mortgage was surrendered in 1926 with these Lots bought by A J Small on October 12, 1926.
James Young and Miss C. Phillipson (Mrs. Carruthers) also sold Lots of land to the Warringah Shire Council for the formation of Careel Bay playing fields and Hitchcock Park.
See: Careel Bay Playing Fields Reserve - Including Hitchcock Park: Birds, Boots & Beauty
Also available: Pittwater Roads II: Where The Streets Have Your Name - Careel Bay
And: Careel Head Road Shops and the Bangalley- Burrowong Creeks: Some History
Note the park and right-of-way path between Barrenjoey road an Dolphin Crescent, coming out between Lots 85-86, and the further two slim rights-of-way, and the drainage lines - features of these early land subdivisions was a right-of-way or pathway between the streets (little more than dirt tracks then) so those who bought here could access the main road and transport such as buses:
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Whale Beach Estate January 26th, 1922, showing 2nd and 3rd subdivision - shows the extent of the Dolphin Park, names Barranjoey Road - a 'Government Road' into where Careel Bay Playing Fields now are - named as 'The Whale Beach Estate Limited' subdivision. Item No.: c053460088, from and courtesy State Library of NSW Pittwater Subdivisions folder.
The Reserve supports a mixture of vegetation communities. The lower section of the Reserve near Pittwater is a transition between of Swamp Mahogany Forest and Swamp Oak Woodland. The southern slope supports Spotted Gum Forest dominated by Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata),Spotted Gum Low Open-forest is present on the ridgetop with trees 4-5m high.
The council states that 'although the provision of grassed areas in Dolphin Park has disturbed fauna habitat, the upper section of the Reserve contains a thick mesic understorey, rock outcrops and tree hollows. The canopy is generally still intact throughout the Reserve, providing mature habitat trees such as Spotted Gums and Swamp Oaks. The reserve provides suitable habitat for the endangered population of Squirrel Glider, Glossy Black-cockatoo and the Greater Broad-nosed Bat'.
A few pictures of Dolphin Park Bushland Reserve, starting from Barrenjoey Road entrance and going upwards into Dolphin Crescent itself, for those who haven't yet had the pleasure of taking an early morning walk this way, or don't know you can cut through here, head south along Dolphin Crescent, then pass Coral Close Reserve and Park to find the steps leading up to Whale Beach road that come out on the west side footpath near Dolphin Bay, Whale Beach - another 'right-of-way' embedded into the landscape for everyone since these lands were first subdivided and put up for sale. Photos taken 7.30 - 8.00 a.m., Wednesday February 4th 2026.
The June 1960 Warringah Shire Council minutes of meetings record: M.B. Floyd of 4 Rayner Road, Whale Beach and 31 others from Whale Beach, are requesting the completion of right-of-way leading from Careel Head Road to Whale Beach Road, by way of Dolphin Crescent, by constructing a concrete Path and handrail in continuation from the steps, as the grade is difficult and when it rains the slippery condition of the existing pathway makes it almost unusable and dangerous.
Dolphin Park Bushland Reserve and Dolphin Crescent loop to right-of-way up to Whale Beach road. By: Google Maps
Coral Reserve is in Area (ha): 0.1257, Lot 88, DP 28663. The park consists of Kikuyu lawn areas with some large Coral trees and play equipment.
Dolphin Bay, Whale Beach, September 2017
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Looking south-west along Dolphin Crescent exit/entrance end
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Looking north-east back up hill on Dolphin Crescent - this hill turns into a creek during rains