Balgowlah was named in 1832 after an Aboriginal word meaning north harbour in reference to its position from Port Jackson. In the early days of European Settlement it had been known as Little Manly. Sir Edmund Barton, Australia's first prime minister, resided in the building known as Whitehall in White Street. Since 2004, Whitehall has been the site of the Norwegian Seamen's Church.

Balgowlah is home to the Stockland Village shopping centre. The nearest major shopping centre is Warringah Mall, located 2 kilometres north of the suburb. There are a few smaller shopping areas in Balgowlah, some of them the remnants of the traditional "corner shop" prior to the 1960s. The area is serviced by boutiques, real estate agents, two banks, bakery, grocer, fish market, restaurants, florist, a hardware store, a liquor store, post office, hair dressers, travel agents, delicatessen etc.

Balgowlah is one of the destinations for the Hop-Skip-Jump free bus service operated by Manly Council. Numerous public buses also operate in the area, the majority coming through Balgowlah en route to Manly, Warringah Mall, Seaforth and the city

Parks and Reserves
The North Harbour Reserve on Condamine Street, south of the shopping centre, is a popular picnic spot for large groups. The reserve is also on the scenic walk that runs from Manly through Fairlight, Balgowlah, Balgowlah Heights and Clontarf to The Spit, near the Spit Bridge.


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