Manly, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manly Brisbane, Queensland
Calm waters of Moreton Bay in Manly looking northeast to Darling Point
Manly Location in Queensland
Population	4,273 (2021 census)
• Density	1,583/km2 (4,100/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4179
Area	2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	19.9 km (12 mi) E of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Wynnum Manly Ward)
State electorate(s)	Lytton
Federal Division(s)	Bonner
Suburbs around Manly: Wynnum Wynnum Moreton Bay Manly West Manly Moreton Bay Manly West Lota Moreton Bay

Manly is a lovely bayside suburb located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a popular spot known for its beautiful waters and boating activities. In 2021, about 4,273 people called Manly home.

Exploring Manly's Geography

Manly is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of the center of Brisbane. It's surrounded by other suburbs like Wynnum to the north and Lota to the south. To the east, you'll find the wide open waters of Moreton Bay.

Manly's Coastal Features

Manly has a few special points of land that stick out into the bay, called headlands:

• Darling Point
• Norfolk Point

Between Darling Point and Norfolk Point is a pretty spot called Rose Bay. This bay was named in 2011 after the historic Rose Bay Estate. This land used to belong to Captain George Poynter Heath, who was Brisbane's first harbour master back in the 1880s.

Eastwood Beach is another lovely spot along the shoreline of Rose Bay. It was named in 2011 after Mr. Les Eastwood. He helped create this beach with the Rotary Club of Wynnum and Manly.

Manly Boat Harbour

The Manly Boat Harbour is a large marina located in the south-east part of the suburb. It's a busy place for boats and is south of Norfolk Point.

Getting Around Manly

Manly has its own train station on the Cleveland railway line. This makes it easy for people to travel to and from Brisbane. There are also two footbridges over the railway line, helping people cross safely.

Manly's Rich History

An old map of Manly Beach from 1887, showing land for sale.

The land where Manly now stands was originally home to the Mipirimm subclan of the Quandamooka people. They were a semi-nomadic group who lived off the land and sea. Manly and the nearby suburb of Lota were known as Narlung to the Quandamooka people, which likely means 'the place of long shadows'.

Early European Settlement

European settlers first arrived in Manly around 1859. Thomas Jones was one of the first to get a large piece of land. Joseph Lewthwaite built the first house, a stone home called Wyvernleigh. This house later became known as Tingalpa House. The area was managed as part of Lewthwaite's estate, which even included a sugar plantation.

Aboriginal people continued to live in the Manly area for many years. They had camps in Manly and Wynnum. Local Aboriginal groups went on fishing, oyster-catching, and turtle-hunting trips from the area until the 1920s.

Manly Beach Estate

In 1882, a large area of land was sold at auction and called the Manly Beach Estate. It was likely named after the famous Manly, New South Wales beach in Sydney. More land was sold in 1885 and 1887, with advertisements mentioning the upcoming railway line.

Growth and Development

In 1889, a railway line opened, connecting Manly directly to Brisbane. This made Manly a very popular seaside destination by the early 1900s.

Many churches were built in Manly over the years. St Paul's Anglican Church started in a converted cowshed in 1904. The first church building was opened in 1914, and a new one was built in 1964. The old church is now used as a hall.

Manly Methodist Church opened in 1904. It later became Manly Uniting Church in 1977. However, it closed in 1990 as local Uniting churches decided to combine and form Bayside Uniting Church in Manly West.

Manly State School opened its doors to students in 1910.

The Manly War Memorial was unveiled in 1921. It honors the 16 local men who bravely fought and died during the First World War. The memorial is made of special stone and marble.

In 1925, the old Wyvernleigh homestead was bought by Archbishop James Duhig for a new Roman Catholic church and school. The homestead was used for church services until it was replaced by a hall in 1927. A new brick church was opened in 1990.

St Philomina's Catholic School opened in 1941. It was run by the Presentation Sisters. In 1953, it moved to its current location and was renamed St John Vianney Catholic School.

The Manly Boat Harbour was built in 1958. Large walls were constructed, and the harbor was made deeper. The soil removed from the harbor was used to create parks and parking areas nearby.

Darling Point Opportunity School opened in 1958, helping students with special needs. It was renamed Darling Point Special School in 1986.

In 2000, Norfolk Point was officially named. It's located in the Manly boat harbor and was named after the sloop Norfolk. This ship was commanded by Matthew Flinders when he explored Moreton Bay. A special plaque on the point remembers this naming.

Manly's Population and People

Manly is a growing suburb with a friendly community. Here's a quick look at its population over the years:

• In 2011, Manly had 3,702 people. Most people (73.1%) were born in Australia.
• In 2016, the population grew to 4,064 people. About 72.4% were born in Australia.
• In 2021, Manly had 4,273 people. About 72.8% were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England and New Zealand. Most people in Manly speak English at home.

Places of Historical Importance

Manly has several sites that are recognized for their historical importance. These places help tell the story of the suburb's past:

• A stone retaining wall on Cambridge Parade.
• The Manly War Memorial at 184 Carlton Terrace.
• Manly State School on Ernest Street.
• The Manly Retaining Wall on Falcon Street, sometimes called "The Great Wall of Manly".
• The Michael Gannon residence at 150 Kingsley Terrace.
• The Sisters of Presentation Convent at 26 Kooralgin Street.
• The Manly-Lota RSL Sub-Branch Hall at 184 Melville Terrace.
• A wall and gardens on Royal Esplanade.
• A Spanish Mission style house at 551 Royal Esplanade.

Learning in Manly

Manly has excellent schools for young people:

Manly State School

Manly State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located at 63 Ernest Street. In 2018, the school had 656 students and also offers a special education program.

St John Vianney's Primary School

St John Vianney's Primary School is a Catholic primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located at 15 Oceana Terrace. In 2018, the school had 436 students.

Darling Point Special School

Darling Point Special School helps students from Prep to Year 12 who need special education. It's located at 368 Upper Esplanade. In 2018, the school had 123 students.

There isn't a high school directly in Manly. Most students go to Wynnum State High School, which is very close by in the neighboring suburb of Wynnum.

Boating Fun in Manly

Manly is a fantastic place for boating! Many clubs and facilities are based here:

• The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
• The Wynnum Manly Yacht Club
• The Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club
• Darling Point Sailing Squadron
• The Multi-Hull Club of Australia
• Sailability, a charity that helps people with disabilities enjoy sailing.

Many of these clubs have marinas, storage for boats, and places to fix boats. There's also a commercial marina called East Coast Marina.

Boat Ramps and Pontoons

Manly Boat Harbour has several places to launch boats and tie them up:

• A breakwater on the south side helps protect the harbor.
• A boat ramp, floating walkway, and pontoon near Fairlead Crescent.
• Another boat ramp, floating walkway, and pontoon at the south end of the harbor.

These are all managed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

The Sporting Pontoon is off Trafalgar Street and is managed by the Darling Point Sailing Club.

Brisbane Coast Guard

The Brisbane Coast Guard has its main base in Manly Boat Harbour. This group is part of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and helps keep boaters safe. It's the largest Coast Guard group in Australia and has been helping people since 1972.

Places to Visit and Shop

Manly has some great places for shopping and services:

Shopping and Services

• Manly Harbour Village, located at 50 Cambridge Street, is a shopping area.
• Manly Post Office is also found within the Manly Harbour Village.

Churches in Manly

St Paul's Anglican Church, a local landmark.

Manly is home to several churches:

• St Paul's Anglican Church at 99 Ernest Street.
• St John Vianney Catholic Church at the corner of Ernest Street and Kooralgin Street.

Tourist Information

If you're visiting Manly, you can find helpful information at the Wynnum Manly Tourism & Visitor Information Centre.

Getting Around Manly

Manly is well-connected by public transport:

• The Manly railway station offers regular train services to Brisbane and Cleveland.
• Local bus services connect Manly to nearby suburbs and to Brisbane City services in Wynnum.