
Manly Beach, view from Fairy Bower

Manly, New South Wales

Manly Ferry
'Manly' is a
suburb of northern
Sydney, in the state of
New South Wales,
Australia. Manly is located 17
kilometres north-east of the
Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the
local government area of
Manly Council, in the
Northern Beaches region.
Beaches
Manly is most notable for its beaches which are popular tourist destinations. Manly features a long stretch of sand on the ocean side, that runs from Qeenscliff Beach to North Steyne Beach and
Manly Beach. This is followed by rock pools and sandy beaches called
Fairy Bower and
Shelly Beach. Norfolk Island pine trees are also symbollic of Manly and are a prominent feature of both the ocean and harbour-side beaches.
Commercial Area
The commercial Manly is centred around
The Corso, which runs from the harbour side at Manly Wharf to the ocean side at Manly Beach. Part of The Corso is a mall which allows outdoor dining for cafes and restaurants. The commercial area extends to surrounding streets with more cafes and restaurants concentrated along the ocean and harbour shores.
Housing
High-rise buildings and apartments now line the foreshore; a testament to both the high popularity of the area and the compliance of the local council to the whims of developers. Since the 1970s and the "Conserve Manly" local political party, high-rise development has been drastically limited and most new beachfront developments are no more than three or four stories in height. The relaxed lifestyle, beaches and promiximity to Sydney city have led to Manly's real estate prices being amongst the highest in Australia.
Transport
Transport services to Manly include an efficient Ferry service from Manly Wharf, and bus services to the
city and other suburbs. The
Manly Ferry provides a relaxed journey taking 30 minutes and allows for scenic views of Sydney Harbour, surrounding national parks and Sydney icons including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. A faster "JetCat" service taking 15 minutes also operates between Manly and Sydney city. The ferry service once advertised Manly as "seven miles from Sydney, and a thousand miles from care".
Schools and Churches
In recent years, Manly has become a popular destination for international students studying English, and several English language colleges offer a range of study options.
A former Catholic seminary at St Patricks Estate on North Head now operates as a tourism and business college that attracts international students from many countries. As well as being an educational hub, many spectacular weddings have been held here, including
Nicole Kidman and
Keith Urban.
Recreation
Manly is blessed by having
Sydney Harbour on its western side with calm water, ferry wharf, swimming area,
Oceanworld Manly aquarium,
sailing and yacht clubs. Yet a short 300 metre walk down
The Corso lined by shops to the eastern side is the
Pacific Ocean and the famous
Manly Beach. Manly also has the rugby league team,
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
This alignment of the Corso allows Manly to host the
Manly International Jazz Festival, Australia's largest community based jazz festival, during the October
long weekend public holiday, with various stages hosting continuous free public performances from mid-day until sundown.
History
Manly was named by
Capt. Arthur Phillip for the indigenous people living there, "their confidence and manly behaviour made me give the name of Manly Cove to this place".
[2] These men were of the Kay-ye-my clan. While scouting for fresh water in the area, Phillip encountered members of the clan, and after a misunderstanding he was speared in the shoulder by one of the clan; to his lasting credit, the progressively-minded Phillip ordered his men not to retaliate. During the 19th and early 20th century Manly was one of Australia's most popular seaside holiday resorts.
References

A sign outlining Manly's Aborignal heritage.
★ ''The Book of Sydney Suburbs'', Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8
1. Suburb Profile: Manly
2. Governor Phillip to Lord Sydney, 15 May 1788, in the Historical Records of New South Wales ii:129, quoted by Robert Hughes in ''The Fatal Shore'', 1987, paperback ISBN 1-86046-150-6 page 15
See also
★
Manly Beach, New South Wales
★
Fairy Bower, New South Wales
★
Shelly Beach (Manly)
★
Manly Council
★
Manly Hospital
External links
★
Manly Council - History of each of the Streets in Manly Local Government Area
★
After 150 years, Manly's still the quay to Sydney, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 10 September 2005
★
Manly International Jazz Festival
★
Fighting Jet Lag in Manly, Sydney's Easy Getaway, ''The New York Times'', 16 January 2005