NSWPort & river
Manly
Seven miles from Sydney by ferry.
1855Henry Gilbert Smith’s wharf opens
WHAT STARTED IT
Manly sits on a narrow neck of land between a calm harbour cove and an ocean beach, a short steamer trip from Sydney. Henry Gilbert Smith bought land here in 1853 and built a wharf to bring ferry passengers to his seaside subdivision.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Ferry services, later run by the Port Jackson Steamship Company, turned Manly into one of Australia’s most popular seaside resorts. The population grew from about 500 in 1871 to over 5,000 by 1901, and Manly’s bathing by-laws were relaxed from 1903 to allow daytime surf bathing.
TURNING POINTS
1855Henry Gilbert Smith completes a wharf on the harbour side of Manly.
1896One of the first films shot in Australia shows passengers leaving the ferry Brighton at Manly.
1903Manly Council moves towards all-day surf bathing, with neck-to-knee costumes required.
1924The Spit Bridge opens, replacing a punt service.
1974The NSW Government takes over the Manly ferries.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A busy beachside suburb and administrative centre on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. It remains a visitor destination known for its beaches and its ferry link to the city.