Named after the convict Joseph Fidden, the wharf was primarily used for the transport of timber and supplies to and from Sydney in the 19th century.

[1][2] It is unknown whether the original structure was a conventional wharf, or a mooring place with lines connected to a metal ring secured in a nearby rock.

[4] In 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip was aware of timber resources on the north shore, in the area now known as Ku-ring-gai.

The first Europeans to inhabit this area were convict timber cutters and their overseers, who set up camp around 1805 near the end of Fiddens Wharf Road.

Between 1805 and 1809, a government sawmill and convict timber-getting camp was established on Lane Cove River near a place that is now known as Fidden’s Wharf.

On 5 April 1821, Governor Lachlan Macquarie issued five crown grants of land in the area that now comprises Killara, which included 40 acres to Joseph Fidden.

Over two decades much timber was cut, including blackbutt and ironbark, stringy bark and blue gum, the last two types highly regarded by Macquarie for building and flooring.

Residents named were boatmen Joseph Fidden, Thomas Elyard and William Bowles.

The Lane Cove Sawmill Company was established just up the hill on Fiddens Wharf Road.

In the Fiddens Wharf area Eocene alluvium and relatively high rainfall enabled large trees to grow.

Regular fire discouraged rainforest plant species and favoured the eucalyptus trees.

Lane Cove Road became the main route for delivery to Sydney,[3] and the commercial importance of Fiddens wharf diminished.

The citrus plantation failed due to soil deterioration, bushfires, pest and fungal disease.

Stone steps were built from the river to Fiddens Wharf road during the 1930s by unemployed men.

[3] A sporting ground was built in 1966 near the wharf on the site of a small military training camp.

There is a historic walkway beside the steep driveway down to the oval, it was built by convicts part of Kuring-gai's first road and has over 100 large rock slabs as steps.