Manly ferry wharf

Manly
The Esplanade entrance in February 2012
Location The Esplanade, Manly
New South Wales
Australia
Coordinates 33°48′01″S 151°17′02″E / 33.8004°S 151.2839°E / -33.8004; 151.2839Coordinates: 33°48′01″S 151°17′02″E / 33.8004°S 151.2839°E / -33.8004; 151.2839
Owned by Roads & Maritime Services
Operated by Harbour City Ferries
Distance 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) from Circular Quay
Platforms 1 wharf (2 berths)
Connections Manly Wharf
Construction
Disabled access Yes
Other information
Status Staffed
History
Opened 1939–1941
Services
Preceding station   Sydney Ferries   Following station
Terminus
F1
Manly		Terminus

yes

Official name Manly Wharf
Type State heritage (built)
Designated 18 April 2000
Reference no. 1434
Type Wharf
Category Transport - Water
Builders Maritime Services Board

The Manly ferry wharf is an heritage-listed passenger terminal wharf and recreational area located at West Esplanade and serving Manly, a Sydney suburb in the Northern Beaches Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Also known as the Manly Wharf, it was designed by Arthur Baldwinson and built from 1939 to 1941 by the New South Wales Maritime Services Board. The property is owned by Roads and Maritime Services, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The wharf was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 April 2000.[1]

Services

Today the wharf is served by Sydney Ferries and Manly Fast Ferry services to and from Circular Quay.

Platform Line Stopping pattern Notes
1 Shuttle to Circular Quay [2]
2 Manly Fast Ferry Shuttle to Circular Quay [3]

Interchanges

Sydney Buses operate services from The Esplanade and Belgrave Street.[4] In the 1980s, a bus interchange was built outside the wharf.[5] It was demolished when the wharf was redeveloped and the stops moved further away.

History

The first wharf was constructed in 1856 on the same site as the present wharf.[6] Lumby (2016) says the date was 1855, and the wharf built by English-born merchant and Manly enthusiast, Henry Gilbert Smith, who envisaged the place as a seaside resort. Smith bought up land in 1853 and eventually acquired an interest in steam ferries serving the locality. As well as building a house known as "Fairlight", Smith was responsible for cottages, a hotel, church, school, pleasure grounds and swimming baths. He also had much to do with planting the first Norfolk Island pines (Araucaria heterophylla) on the ocean front.[1][7]:1

Improvements were made to the wharf in the first half of the 20th century. These were swept away at the end of the inter-war era after the Maritime Services Board decided to construct an "imposing" new wharf during 1938 following several years of local agitation. A fire at the wharf in 1939 precipitated further action.[1][7]:1,2

Until the mid-1960s, ferries docked at both sides of the wharf. When the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company introduced hydrofoils to the Manly service in the mid-1960s, a pontoon was attached to the eastern side to allow the hydrofoils to berth without their foils fouling the wharf. This was removed when the hydrofoils were replaced by JetCats in 1991. When the Freshwater class ferries were introduced in the 1980s, the western berth was rebuilt to accommodate their onboard gangways.

The wharf complex has a number of retail outlets and restaurants.[8] In 2014, plans were lodged to add a second storey to the wharf.[9][10]

The MSB engaged gifted young modernist architect Arthur Baldwinson (1908-68), not long after his return from several years working in England, to design major reconstructions of the ferry wharves at Manly and Circular Quay.[1][7]:1,2

The wharf was built in a modernistic transport idiom with typical stylistic features of era such as play of circular and rectangular geometric terms, bayed facade to the water (marine connotations), wide arc plan at entrance, clock tower with "fins," flat roofing marked by wide fascia board. The current entrance was originally designed as a tram terminus and turning area. The structure was subjected to major alterations to the wharf wings involving a T-shaped clerestorey.[1][11]

The Manly wharf was completed in 1941.[1][7]:2[11]

Description

A broad wharf supported on timber piers and with a concrete platform. The superstructure is constructed of steel and timber. The facade and side walls form an important architectural design, similar to the Circular Quay ferry terminals.[1][12]

The original part of the wharf was built in a modernistic transport idiom, with typical stylistic features of era including play of circular and rectangular geometric terms, bayed facade to the water (marine connotations), wide arc plan at entrance, clock tower with "fins", flat roofing marked by wide fascia board. The current entrance was originally designed as a tram terminus and turning area. Timber clad framed structure opening and large internal spaces, concrete deck to west enclosed by "ship" railing. Some original shop fittings, signage etc. Subjected to major alterations to the wharf wings involving a T-shaped clerestorey.[1][11]

Modifications and dates

Additions to the wharf include the hydrofoil pontoon c. 1968, and the more recent elevated platforms for new ferries.[1][12]

Extensive refurbishment in 1990.[1][6]

Heritage listing

As at 11 April 2001, the wharf was considered of environmental significance as a visually prominent man-made feature; and of historical significance for its associations with the maritime activities at Manly as a tourist destination and suburb of Sydney, dependent on the ferry link to the CBD.[1][6]

Together with Circular Quay, the wharf is the only substantial older style ferry wharf surviving in Port Jackson: association with Manly's history as a recreational centre.[1][12]

Manly Wharf was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 April 2000 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

Of historical significance for its associations with the maritime activities at Manly as a tourist destination and suburb of Sydney, dependant on the ferry link to the Sydney CBD.[1][6]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

Of environmental significance as a visually prominent manmade feature.[1][6]

The place has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

Of social significance as the ferry link to Sydney CBD by commuters and visitors.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Manly Wharf, New South Wales State Heritage Register (NSW SHR) Number H01434". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "F1 Manly ferry timetable". Transport for NSW.
  3. ↑ "Manly Fast Ferry timetable". Transport for NSW.
  4. ↑ Manly Wharf bus stand location map Archived 13 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Transport for New South Wales
  5. ↑ Manly Wharf Manly Council
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Anglin Associates (1990). Maritime Services Board Heritage and Conservation Register: Sydney Harbour. p. 2033.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Lumby, Roy (2016). "Manly, A Seaside resort..."
  8. ↑ About Manly Wharf
  9. ↑ Restaurants, extra shops planned in $7 million revamp of Manly Wharf Manly Daily 25 September 2014
  10. ↑ Manly Wharf revamp looks towards fine dining Hospitality Magazine 26 September 2014
  11. 1 2 3 Stapleton, Maisie (1981). National Trust of Australia (NSW) Classification.
  12. 1 2 3 Blackmore, C.; Ashton, P.; Higginbotham, E.; Rich, E.; Burton, C.; Maitland, N.; Pike, P. (1986). Heritage Study: Municipality of Manly.

Bibliography

  • Architectural Projects (2011). Manly Ferry Wharf - Conservation Management Plan.
  • Attraction Homepage (2007). "Manly Wharf".
  • Tourism NSW (2007). "Manly Wharf".
  • Heritage Unit, Department of Public works & Services (1999). Marine Ministerial Holding Corporation S170 Register.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article contains material from Manly Wharf, entry number 01434 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.

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