Marine Parade, Manly

It has always been a favourite activity for visitors to Manly to make their way around from South Steyne to the secluded Shelly Beach. Prior to the 1890s this involved much clambering over rocks. However when the sewerage system was nearing completion, the Council took advantage of the works to construct a broad promenade along the route. At a meeting of Manly Council on 8 January 1891 it was decided that "The extension of South Steyne towards Fairy Bower be named the Marine Parade." The Mayor arranged for seating and a two-rail fence along the seawall.

Struck by the number of visitors who made the promenade to Shelly Beach, the Council decided at its meeting of 25 April 1899 to seek permission "to erect a toll bar on the Marine Parade to Fairy Bower and Shell Beach," the proposed charge to be one penny per head. This brainwave was never going to work, and was quietly abandoned.

Various attractions have operated at Fairy Bower over the years to capitalise on the passing pedestrians. One such was Manly Winter Gardens. This limited company was registered in November 1930 with capital of a thousand pounds. It was intended to provide a miniature golf course, dance hall, amusements and catering. The venue would feature "tropical gardens". However the timing was wrong, coming as it did during the Depression. The venture only operated for a few months, before being voluntarily wound-up in May 1931.

Later, a "refined tea room" named The Tapestry Inn operated at 8 Marine Parade in the late 1940s. It was the venue for the charter meeting of the Manly Soroptimist Club in November 1949. Manly Soroptimist Club was only the third such club to be formed in Australia, and did a lot of good work in the following years.

The photo shows Marine Parade in circa early 1920s. The Marine Cafe is visible, and Fairy Bower Beach has a good expanse of sand.