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Manly Lane Live to Continue Operating as a Pop-Up Dining Precinct for 3 Years

Manly Lane Live, the pop-up bar and beer garden outside the quadrangle at Manly Library, has secured permission to continue operating for the next three years. Refurbishments will also be underway to increase patronage from 12 to more than 100 patrons.

Restaurateur Matt Clifton, the man who launched Manly Lane Live in the summer of 2021 with just 12 seats, said that this initiative was meant to boost the local economy post-COVID as the venue will collaborate with heaps of eateries. It has transformed a formerly underutilized public space into a dining precinct.

In line with its expansion to 100 seats, the site’s development application (DA2021/2065) proposed to upgrade facilities with more lights, furniture and waste management, including portable toilets. Custom-made caravan-style bars will also be fitted into the site.

*Photo Credit: Development Application/NBC*

Mr Clifton, who heads the Experience Manly tourism group as well, said that the venue will not encroach on other businesses in the area, amidst complaints from the tenants of the neighbouring commercial buildings. He acknowledged that Market Lane is a busy commercial district so live music performances will be played after work (6:00 p.m) so as not to distract office spaces.

Eateries that join the pop-up will open beginning 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. However, during breakfast or lunch, Mr Clifton said that people are still welcome to sit or lounge at the venue, thus becoming an urban park with options for eating and drinking.

Meanwhile, the Northern Beaches Council does not see any issues with the outdoor pop-up bar on the Manly Town Centre Conservation Area.

“The proposal seeks consent for use of space within Market Lane to continue a temporary pop up bar. The proposal includes some physical works such as new fencing, seating, trees, pergolas, stage and a caravan bar.

“Given the small-scale nature of the physical works it is considered to not impact upon the heritage items or the conservation area or their significance. Heritage also raises no objections to the use of the space as a bar. Therefore Heritage raises no objections and requires no conditions.”

Follow updates from Market Lane Live via Facebook.

Manly’s Harry Hay: One of Australia’s Celebrated Swimming Coaches

Photo Credit: Olympedia / olympedia.org/

Last 30 March 2022 marked the 70th death anniversary of Manly swimmer, Harry Hay, who competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Discover his journey from being an Olympic medalist to becoming one of the most celebrated swimming coaches in Australia.

Born in 1893, Harry Maitland Hay was a member of the North Sydney Swimming Club. He won the NSW Junior 100-yard championship during its 1908-09 season. After serving in the military during WW1, Harry competed in the 1920 Olympic Games.

Whilst he didn’t win any medal in the individual 100-metre freestyle and 400-metre freestyle events, he however bagged the silver medal in the 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay. He was joined by Frank Beaurepaire, Ivan Steadman and Billy Herald in the Australian team that swam against the eventual gold medalist, the United States team. It was at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics where the first Australia-only Olympic team competed and won two silver medals and a bronze.

Harry Hay (third from left) joins surfboard legend and fellow Olympian, Duke Kahanamoku (slouching)
at Boomerang Camp, Freshwater
Photo Credit: Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club / freshwaterslsc.com

Upon his return, Harry won the Australian 100-yard championship in 1922, his lone national title. He would then transition into professional coaching, grooming some of Australia’s exceptional swimmers including Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton, Arthur Beard, Noel Ryan, Bill Kendall, Robin Biddulph, Warren Boyd, Garrick Agnew and Rex Aubrey

Harry attended each subsequent Olympic Games from 1924 to 1948 at his own expense, working as an unofficial swimming coach under the guise of a masseur, because at the time, the Olympic code prohibited the employment of professional coaches.

Although he was officially appointed as a massage therapist, the Australian team manager paid him $10 a week to train ‘Boy’ Charlton and Tom Boast. It was Charlton, however, who gave him his first taste of the limelight as a coach as the Charlton broke one record after another at the 1924, 1928 and 1932 Olympic Games, under Harry’s guidance.

A month before leaving for Helsinki to coach Australian Rex Aubrey, who would be competing at the 1952 Summer Olympics, he suffered a heart attack and died at age 59 in St Ronan’s Hospital, Manly. He was survived by his wife, Mary Thorp, whom he married in 1949.

Manly Cove: Among Sydney’s Microplastics Hotspots

Photo Credit: Northern Beaches Council / northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

Macquarie University-AUSMAP has released an interactive map showing the hotspots for microplastic pollution in Australia and Manly Cove is among the areas with high levels of microplastics pollution.

Macquarie University’s team of researchers have released an interactive map indicating the microplastic pollution hotspots around Australia based on data collected through the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP). The project aims to track where microplastics are coming from and engage communities and the government in tackling “the biggest threat to ocean wildlife, and the human food chain.”

“It’s hard to solve a problem you can’t see. So we’re putting microplastic pollution on the map!”
– AUSMAP

Photo Credit: AUSMAP / ausmap.org/hotspot-map

Their network of 700 volunteers has collected more than 3 million microplastic fragments from Australian shorelines to identify hotspots. These microplastics come from an estimated 12 million tonnes of plastics that find their way into our oceans every year which not only pose a threat to marine life but could potentially enter the food chain.

The interactive rates the density of microplastics via a six-point scale:

Green – Very Low: <10/m2
Yellow – Low: between 11/m2 and 50/m2
Orange – Moderate: between 51/m2 – 250/m2
Red – High: between 251/m2 – 1,000/m2
Black – Very High: > 1,000/m2
Purple – Extremely High: > 10,000/m2

Photo Credit: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0> / Wikimedia Commons

In Sydney, Manly Cove and Cook Park, Botany Bay showed very high levels of microplastic fragments with 4,051 and 1,039 per square metre, respectively.

“Monthly microplastic data, collected from Manly Cove by our Community Champion Ali, has shown that the levels and types vary not only spatially but also temporally,” the AUSMAP report said.

“Numbers spike after certain weather events but remain relatively consistent at moderate to high levels outside of these times. Not only do numbers vary but types of microplastic change over time.

“A trend of hard plastics dominating the warmer months and polystyrene foams are found more often in cooler months, which may suggest weather and catchment or water-based activities may be influencing factors.

AUSMAP Program Director, Dr Michelle Blewitt revealed that in a single sampling day conducted in Many Cove, their team was able to collect more than 1,200 microplastics per square metre.

“That’s a huge volume of microplastic in one location. By being able to identify where these hotspots are and engaging people to identify what microplastics are, we empower them to do something about it,” Dr Blewitt said.

Among the beaches where very low microplastic fragments were found include Brighton-Le-Sands, Dee Why, Tamarama, Bronte Beach and Maroubra.

The AUSMAP project recently won the Australian Museum 2021 Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science. AUSMAP is a project of Total Environment Centre in collaboration with Macquarie University,

Why Go On A Ghost Tour At Q Station Near Manly

Did you know that you can go on a tour of one of the most haunted places in Sydney, which can be found at the Q Station in North Head, near Manly?

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, their famous ghost tours will entertain you as you walk the site and discover intriguing stories about the place’s history.

Read: State Heritage Status Sought For War Memorial Park In Manly

The infamous Gravedigger’s Cottage, one of the key locations on the ghost tour, is a small cottage that has also been known as the Boatman’s Hut and the Cookhouse. It is thought to have been built for staff on the edge of the 3rd Class Precinct at Q Station and was dubbed as one of the earliest surviving structures of the old quarantine station.

Gravedigger’s Cottage (Photo credit: Quarantine Station Ghost Tours/Facebook)

The bathroom at Gravedigger’s Cottage has been argued as ‘Sydney’s most haunted bathroom.’ Ghost hunters, who attempted to communicate with the dead through a device called the spirit box, revealed there was a female presence in that certain room of Q Station. That female entity has been described as ‘weeping and sitting crouched in the bathtub.’

Besides the female ghost allegedly seen in the bathroom, another apparition, which was described as a man in a wide-brimmed hat and black cloak, is also often seen in the kitchen of the Gravedigger’s Cottage.

Q Station’s notorious shower block (Photo credit: Quarantine Station Ghost Tours/Facebook)

However, the most haunted part of the complex is not the bathroom or the kitchen, but the shower block. Back in the day, those who were sick reportedly took a shower containing 10 percent of carbonic acid to kill fleas and ticks in seconds. However, it took off a layer of their skin.

Bill Pelican, one of the previous visitors at Q Station, shared that although his group did not experience anything paranormal, there was definitely a very creepy vibe throughout their tour and stay at the Q station.

“There were several times that I wanted to leave certain locations due to the creepiness, but being in a group there is strength in numbers, so you do feel emboldened,” he shared.

Melinda Minns, a guide for the Q Station ghost tour, can attest to how many people experienced the same feeling during their tour. Because the energy in the rooms was so strong, people would just walk in there and know immediately that something bad has happened there.

Read: Manly Oval To Be Demolished For Ivanhoe Park’s Major Revamp

About the Quarantine Station

The complex, also known as the North Head Quarantine Station, operated as a quarantine station from 1832 to 1984. During this period, migrant ships arriving in Sydney with suspected contagious disease stopped inside North Head and offloaded passengers and crew into quarantine to protect local residents. All travelers, even the healthy ones, needed to undergo quarantine for 40 days before being cleared to enter Sydney.

There were over 13,000 individuals, including convicts and free migrants to NSW and many Sydney residents, who were isolated at the complex whilst an estimated 572 have died and are buried there.

When the maritime quarantine facility closed in 1984, the ownership of the Quarantine Station was transferred from the Commonwealth to the State Government and it was reserved as part of Sydney Harbour National Park.

Today, the former quarantine station remains part of the Sydney Harbour National Park and home to Q Station, which is made up of a hotel, conference centre, and restaurant complex.

State Heritage Status Sought For War Memorial Park In Manly

Photo credit: New South Wales War Memorials Register

Manly Warringah War Memorial, which includes Manly Dam, could finally be added to the State Heritage Register if the 2021 nomination for inclusion becomes successful.

Read: Manly in Top 6 of Brisbane Suburbs With Biggest Median Price Increase

In 2019, the Northern Beaches Council decided to nominate the park on the National Heritage List for its national significance as a war memorial but the nomination was unsuccessful.

This time, Council is seeking to gain heritage status for the war memorial park not just on a national level, but on a state level after putting it forward for the State Heritage Register as well. Although the dam is already on the State Heritage Register, the rest of the park is not yet included on the list.

Located at Curl Curl Creek, Manly Dam first opened in 1892 as a water supply dam for locals in the area. It was one of the only two ‘Independent Water Supply Schemes’ in the Sydney metropolitan area; the other was at Parramatta.

Manly Dam Wall shortly after construction, ca. 1890s (Photo credit: www.sydneywater.com.au)

Over the years, the dam wall was raised so that the reservoir could supply neighbouring suburbs, all the way up the coastal strip as far north as Mona Vale. But as the population grew, the dam’s capacity became insufficient and pumping from the dam ceased in 1933.

It was then recognised as a war memorial after the First World War. At the time, the park’s management was given to a group of ex-servicemen. Some parts of the park were named Gallipoli, Suvla Bay, and Anzac Cove during that time.

Photo credit: New South Wales War Memorials Register

The park was officially named Manly Warringah War Memorial Park in 1939. It houses two memorial monuments: the first is an unconventional, contemporary design with two standing columns and one column lying on the ground and a sphere on a low plinth near the water; whilst the other one is a polished grey granite plaque set upon two unpolished lighter coloured granite steps with an accompanying flagpole.

If granted heritage status this time around, the memorial park will be placed alongside other heritage sites in the suburb, including the Manly Dam near King Street and the Manly Cove Pavilion at West Esplanade.

Manly Surf N Slide, Sliderz Cafe Up For Sale as ‘Cash-Producing Machine’

Manly Surf N Slide, an iconic waterpark venue in Manly Cove, and the adjacent Sliderz Café have been put up for sale together to potentially become a “cash-producing machine” for its new owners.

The Finn Group has been advertising Manly Surf N Slide waterpark and the Sliderz Café at various platforms online, including Facebook Marketplace, with suggestions to either upgrade the current sites or redevelop the properties, subject to approvals from concerned agencies, into an entirely new venue or a beach club for both locals and tourists

According to The Finn Group, the current owners, Mark and Tracy O’Sullivan from Clontarf, have plenty of ideas on how the new owners could maximise their cashflow for the waterpark and cafe, considering it’s in such a blue-chip location at Manly Cove. Among these ideas include removing the slide and converting the site into a two-storey club with a rooftop bar.

Highlights

Manly Surf N Slide and Sliderz Café are for sale for $950,000.
Owners Mark and Tracy O’Sullivan believe that the 40-year-old site needs “fresh energy.”
Nicole Kidman filmed a BMX Bandits scene in this waterpark in 1983.

The property’s asking price is at $950,000 with at least 30 interested investors. Steve Finn said that the waterpark and the cafe are in such a unique location but it needs facility improvements and refurbishments to reclaim its former reputation as a popular recreational venue.

*Photo Credit: Gabor Gergely/Google Maps*

Manly Surf N Slide, formerly known as the Manly Waterworks, opened in 1981. Up until the 1990s, it was the dream location for many children in the Northern Beaches who wanted to celebrate their birthday at the venue.

At the height of its popularity, award-winning actress Nicole Kidman filmed a scene at the waterslide for the 1983 movie BMX Bandits.

In December 2016, the O’Sullivan family did a $150,000 renovation of the premises, which re-opened under its new name. Months prior to COVID-19, the couple opened Sliderz Café as a new fit -out. However, Mark and Tracy said that the property needs “fresh energy” and investors who can “take it to the next level.”

Manly Surf N Slide is currently closed for the season and whether the O’Sullivans succeeds in selling the site or not, the waterpark will re-open in September.

Manly Oval To Be Demolished For Ivanhoe Park’s Major Revamp

Photo credit: northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

The grandstand at Manly Oval, colloquially known as the ‘Flying Saucer’ because of the design of its roof, may be demolished to allow the construction of a new grandstand in the location.

Read: Construction Underway for AYAH, a New Adolescent Hospice in Manly

It’s part of the draft Masterplan and Plan of Management for Ivanhoe Park which proposes replacing the grandstand with something a “little less dominant.” In their proposal, the Northern Beaches Council wanted to build a new grandstand which would be designed to blend in with the park rather than being the dominant feature of the park.

It would also accommodate a clubhouse, food and beverage facilities, public toilets, seating equivalent to existing grandstand, improved unisex change rooms, storage and indoor cricket nets and training facility.

Built in 2011, the grandstand forms part of the 150-year-old heritage-listed reserve along with the oval, bowling club and tennis courts as well as the Botanic gardens.

Extent of Masterplan Study Area Map (Photo credit: yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/ivanhoe-park)

Building a new grandstand is estimated to cost up to $20 million. To go ahead with their plans, the council would have to ask the NSW and Federal Government for help in terms of funding.

Following an online community survey and a second working group meeting, a public exhibition is scheduled in July 2021 to allow submissions regarding the draft document.

About Manly Oval

Wooden Grandstand and Pavilion built 1908 and demolished in 1963 (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Council History Hub)

Manly Oval is a sporting ground primarily used for cricket and rugby union and serves as the home ground for the Manly Marlins and Manly Warringah District Cricket Club. It has also previously been used to host National Rugby Championship games as a home ground for the Sydney Rays. The grandstand, located next to Manly Tennis Centre, has undercover seating for 2,000 people with a total capacity of 5,000.

Manly Fears Outbreak of Meningococcal Disease After Teens Infected

Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) is a fatal disease that could potentially lead to the loss of limbs, and residents fear the possibility of a full-blown outbreak as three new cases arise in the area’s teenage population in May 2021.

Throughout May, three teenagers in Manly have been diagnosed with IMD, and the local community fears that they might have an outbreak on their hands. Two more teenagers have since been tested. All of these cases have been linked to three junior rugby league clubs.

Though the disease does not spread easily, it is still contagious, spreading through secretions from the nose and throat of carriers. Close and prolonged contact could potentially pass the disease on from one person to another.

IMD occurs more commonly in people between the ages of 15 and 24, as well as children under the age of 5, however, it can affect everyone. According to Dr Michael Staff, Director of Public Health of the Northern Sydney Local Health District, the spreading of cases such as these are rare, however, early detection is crucial.

What is IMD?

Invasive Meningococcal Disease is a serious illness as it is both contagious and potentially fatal, manifesting as a severe infection brought about by a bacteria known as Neisseria Meningitidis which attack thin layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord known as meninges. What makes this disease deadly is how it can infect the blood.

Failure to treat IMD leads to death in 50% of cases, and even if the disease is caught and treated early, there is still a 10-15 per cent chance of death. Those who survive can potentially suffer from permanent brain damage, hearing loss, kidney failure, the loss of limbs, or chronic nervous system problems.

Symptoms of IMD include a high fever of over 40°C, headaches, vomiting, stiff necks, rash, sensitivity to light, confusion, and sleepiness. In some cases, rashes of red-purple spots and bruises also manifest, however it is usually the last symptom to appear. These symptoms can develop as quickly as a few hours, but usually develop over the course of one to two days.

Those who display signs and symptoms of IMD are encouraged to seek treatment immediately.

Construction Underway for AYAH, a New Adolescent Hospice in Manly

Did you know that the NSW Government aims to launch Australia’s very first dedicated hospice for young people, dubbed the Manly Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, in Manly?

The Manly AYAH, located on the former site of the Manly Hospital, is a $19.5 million project that will become Australia’s first dedicated service for young adults afflicted with life-limiting illnesses and diseases, catering to people between the ages of 15 to 24, offering respite care, symptom management, and end of life care.

Despite being located in Manly, AYAH will be available to all youths regardless of their locations, providing specialised support to rural and regional patients and limiting their need to travel long distances for health care.

Photo credit: New South Wales Government

Health Infrastructure, in tandem with the Northern Sydney Local Health District and medical experts to deliver the new hospice. Schematic designs for the Manly AYAH aim to provide care and patient experience specially tailored for young adults, with a total of eight bedrooms for patients, an on-site dedicated kitchen and dining room, carer’s lounges adjacent to the bedrooms, and two family accommodation units.

Additional features included in the design are breakout spaces and facilities such as a games room, a lounge room, a media room, a multisensory room, a quiet room, and sitting rooms. Laundry will also be available for visitors and families staying overnight, and the outdoor balcony offers views of the harbour. A garden and landscaping area will also be present, along with Telehealth consult spaces.

Construction for Manly AYAH is expected to be completed in late 2022. The service has received positive feedback from the Manly community, who have campaigned passionately and raised funds to make the project a reality. Philanthropist Kay Van Norton Poche, who donated a grand total of $6 million to the project.

The former site of the Manly Hospital, and the future site of the Manly AYAH, can be found at 150 Darley Rd, Manly. For more information, and for the latest updates on the upcoming youth health service can follow their Facebook page.

New FS8 Fitness Studio to Open in Manly

With the FS8 Manly studio finally set up, the revolutionary fitness facility invites the Manly community to sign up for a limited-slots, free seven-day trial scheduled to begin immediately on the opening on the 17th of April.

To celebrate the launch of FS8 studio in Manly, 50 slots for “foundation members,” who will enjoy the use of the facilities at a discounted rate, will be open. Launch week also includes free classes. Instructions can be found in the Facebook post below.

FS8 gets its curious name from three components that make up the movement: the F stands for “functional”, the S represents “style”, and lastly, the 8 refers to the eight key modalities that form the core of the movement. Each element has been designed to work together, remixing pilates, yoga and tone to maximise their efficacy and create something entirely new.

The Australian surfing icon Mick Fanning, who serves as an FS8 ambassador, advocates for the movement and aims to open his own studio in Byron Bay further down the line. The surfer first took up yoga over twenty years ago to manage his scoliosis, placing a heavy emphasis on how weights aren’t everything, and that people must develop flexibility by lengthening their muscles.

Legendary Australian surfer Mick Fanning.
Photo credit: CC-BY-SA/MarkYourWaves/Flickr

According to their website, FS8 can be described as pilates rocked to the core, yoga stretched to the limit, and tone with more pump and less pomp. In essence, the movement aims to focus entirely on fitness without the fluff by offering its members 30 different workouts and 2,800 exercises.

FS8 Manly can be found at Shop 1&2, 54 West Esplanade, will open Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. onwards with the exception of Saturday, which opens at 7:00 a.m. Visit their website for more information. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements.