A significant $1 million safety and cosmetic upgrade at the historic Manly Wharf will see new measures introduced to prevent falls while carefully preserving the site’s cherished architectural character.
Long-term leaseholders Artemus Group, who acquired the wharf leasehold for $80 million and the adjacent Wharf Bar for $30 million in 2023, are spearheading the improvements. The nearly $970,000 development application, initially submitted to Northern Beaches Council last year, recently received approval from the independent Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel.
Enhanced Safety Measures
The primary focus of the upgrade is enhancing public safety around the popular Harbourside precinct. New glass or perspex panels will be installed within the existing ship railing-style steel fencing.
This decision was made to make it more difficult for individuals to climb over, following previous safety incidents involving people falling or jumping from the wharf, whether accidentally or due to unsafe behaviour. Artemus Group had initially proposed retractable glass panels, but this idea was not accepted due to heritage considerations.
Protecting Historic Charm
Preserving Manly Wharf’s unique historical and aesthetic value was a key consideration during the planning process. The NSW Heritage Council stated that the original retractable glass balustrading proposal was “not sympathetic to the historic and aesthetic values of Manly Wharf” and had the potential to “adversely affect the character and setting of the item.”
Planning documents highlight Manly Wharf, along with Circular Quay, as one of Port Jackson’s only surviving substantial older-style ferry wharves. The planning panel approved the development application with a crucial condition: Artemus must devise a “creative design” that integrates a “transparent Building Code of Australia (BCA) compliant panel with the existing balustrade design style,” ensuring the character of the existing balustrade is retained.
Community-Focused Revitalisation
Beyond safety and heritage, the approved plans also include initiatives designed to make the wharf precinct more inclusive for the local community and visitors. The deck area outside the Felons pub will be extended to create a dedicated kids’ play area, featuring a large, nautically themed boat and surrounded by pygmy date palms.
This addition aims to make the pub “more inclusive and family-friendly.” This latest approval follows a green light three months prior for Artemus’s $13 million plans to convert the former Aldi supermarket site at the wharf into a microbrewery with bars and an eatery capable of accommodating 700 patrons.
When Artemus took over the leasehold, co-founder Adam Flaskas expressed enthusiasm for “breathing new life” into the site, committing to making the area more welcoming for everyone by “revitalising the waterfront precinct into a premium hospitality destination, creating a thriving community and cultural hub for kids and families to grown-ups and everything in between.”
Published Date 11-Jun-2025
