Your local arborist
Clareville — waterfront gardens, old trees and Pittwater's unique environment
Clareville is one of the Northern Beaches' most exclusive residential areas, situated on the western shore of Pittwater between Bilgola and Avalon. Properties here range from waterfront blocks with established gardens running down to private jetties, to hillside homes on sandstone ridges with sweeping water views. The gardens at Clareville are often older, with trees that have been growing since the mid-20th century or earlier — some are remarkable specimens by any measure. When you call The Living Canopy, you speak directly to Alex Price, the qualified arborist who will come out and give you an honest assessment of what the trees need.
Pittwater waterfront properties present a specific set of tree management challenges. Trees growing close to the water — whether on the foreshore itself or within the garden zones of waterfront blocks — are subject to the effects of salt water, waterlogged soils at high tide and periodic inundation during storms. Casuarina glauca (Swamp Oak) and Melaleuca quinquenervia (Broad-leaved Paperbark) are well adapted to these conditions, but even these species can develop structural issues when they outgrow their position. The foreshore environment is also ecologically sensitive — works near the water's edge are subject to additional considerations under the relevant planning framework.
On the hillside properties, the situation is different. Sandstone ridges above the waterfront support dry sclerophyll species — Angophora costata and Banksia serrata are common — while the more sheltered gullies between ridges often have denser vegetation, including Pittosporum undulatum and various Acacia species. Large specimen trees on these properties — particularly old Angophoras with wide-spreading crowns — often require crown management to maintain clearance from structures and to reduce the risk of large-limb failure over high-traffic areas.
Old garden trees — Jacarandas, large-leafed Figs, Camphor Laurels and other species planted for aesthetics over decades — are common in Clareville's more established gardens. Some of these are genuinely beautiful and structurally sound; others are approaching the end of their practical life. We assess older ornamentals honestly and give you a realistic picture of what's worth managing and what needs to come out.
