The Blinking Light plaque in Frenchs Forest is set to return later this year, restoring a marker for an intersection name that has remained familiar to generations of northern beaches residents.
The bronze plaque was stolen from its sandstone plinth at the corner of Warringah Road and Wakehurst Parkway in February 2026. Its disappearance prompted disappointment among residents, including people who still refer to the junction as the Blinking Light Intersection decades after the original beacon was removed.
Transport for NSW is now investigating a suitable replacement, which is expected to be installed later in the 2026 calendar year.
A Frenchs Forest Name That Lasted
The Blinking Light name dates to October 1952, when an experimental warning beacon was suspended above the intersection.
At the time, Warringah Road and Wakehurst Parkway had been dirt tracks through bush, with the junction having been the scene of multiple high-speed collisions. The blinking signal was introduced to test whether a beacon could encourage motorists to slow as they approached potentially dangerous intersections and allow enough time to stop if necessary.
The light soon became a local landmark. Although traffic signals replaced it in 1966, the name remained part of local usage.
That connection was evident after the plaque was stolen. Residents recalled travelling through the area during the 1960s, while others said they had continued to call the junction the Blinking Light long after the beacon itself disappeared.
Changes To The Intersection
The intersection has undergone several upgrades since the original signal was removed.
Later works associated with increased traffic around the Northern Beaches Hospital substantially changed the junction. Warringah Road was widened to 12 lanes, including a four-lane slot for through traffic, while an overpass was built for Wakehurst Parkway.
During the upgrade period, Roads and Maritime considered formally recognising the Blinking Light name as a tribute to the area’s history. A community working group was established to consider how the intersection could be commemorated.
The current layout opened in 2020.
Blinking Light Plaque Marked The Earlier Junction
A commemorative bronze plaque was unveiled in 2021, recognising the blinking light that had once hung above the intersection.
Placed on a sandstone plinth on the north-eastern corner of the junction, the marker recorded that the beacon had been installed in 1952 to alert road users approaching the intersection and had been replaced by traffic signals in 1966.
The plaque remained there until its theft in February.
The loss prompted calls for the marker to be replaced, along with a request for measures to better secure its successor against another theft.
Transport for NSW has confirmed it is aware of the missing Blinking Light plaque and is investigating a suitable replacement. The new marker is expected to be installed later this year.
Published 31-July-2026
