In the earliest days of New South Wales, Epping formed part of the Pennant Hills District, the name given generally to the area of hilly land between the North shore and the boundary of the Eastern Farms, extending as far as Carlingford.UnderGovernor Macquarie ,Sydney was expanding quickly and the need for timber became acute.

Because of the large number of trees growing in the Epping locality, a convict sawpit camp was set up in the Oxford Street area. The convicts soon cut down the trees on the rocky eastern side and the sawpits became known as the Barren Hills Sawpits. They were closed in the 1830's and from then until 1883 the only inhabitants of Epping east of Midson Road were the members of the Devlin family who farmed some of the land.

On the coming of the railway line in 1886 the first station was called "Field of Mars". The name of the station was subsequently changed to "Carlingford". However, the district was known as "East Carlingford"as was the post office. Confusion arose over different names.

The Carlingford Progress Association wanted to change the name of Carlingford in the Mobbs Hill area and to retain the Epping area as Carlingford.Mr William Midson and Mr Walter Loveridge,two of the earliest settlers in Epping and very active in local affairs,formed the East Carlingford Progress Association and actively supported a change of name.The Midson family had migrated from Steeple Bumpstead,a village near Epping Forest in England.The trees in Epping reminded the Midson family of Epping Forest and so it was that Mr William Midson actively canvassed the name "Epping".Other names suggested were "Corella" and "Essex".

The East Carlingford Association agreed to the name "Epping" and recommended to the Railway Commissioner that the name be changed from Carlingford to Epping.This was agreed to and the station was called "Epping". The post office shortly afterwards changed its name from East Carlingford to Epping and so Epping has been the name of the area for over one hundred years.

Contributed by PP Bob Paisley