Step into a treasure trove of history and nostalgia with our extensive collection of photo albums available under the 'media' tab on our website. Today, we are thrilled to shine the spotlight on a local hero, a man whose legacy has stood the test of time - Andrew 'Boy' Charlton. His triumphant journey to gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics is a story of determination, skill, and the unwavering spirit of a true champion.
]]>Fast forward to 2024, and we are on the brink of celebrating an entire century since the Manly Swimming team, led by Charlton, etched their names into the annals of history. Their legendary status was solidified in those momentous games, forever associating their triumphs with the heart and soul of our community.
Here at the Charlie Bar and Manly Swimming Centre, named in honor of Charlton, his story and the legacy of the 1924 Paris Olympics continue to inspire generations. His victorious return from Paris, adorned with gold, silver, and bronze medals, was marked by a grand hero's welcome, a moment in time beautifully captured by a photographer and featured in the month of October of our 2024 Centenary calendar.
The 2024 calendar, produced in collaboration with the Manly Warringah Pittwater Historical Society, is a journey back in time, offering glimpses of significant moments from our local history. Another remarkable highlight from 1924 is the grand opening of the Manly Olympic Swimming Pool, fondly remembered as the Manly Baths, which unfortunately met its demise during the 1974 storm but lives on in the cherished memories of those who experienced its glory days.
Today, the site stands as the Manly Skiff Club, but the legacy of the Manly Baths remains ingrained in our community’s history. The grand opening event from December 1924 is immortalized in the month of December in our 'Bridging the Years' calendar, a tribute to the rich tapestry of our local heritage.
As we delve into the tales of joy and adventure from the school students who once swam in the murky, seaweed-infested waters of the old Manly Baths, we are reminded of the vibrant and resilient spirit that defines our community.
Don’t miss the chance to own a piece of history and celebrate the centenary of our local legends. The 'Bridging the Years' calendar is available now at the Lost Manly Shop, a heartfelt homage to our past, and a treasure for generations to come. Join us in this nostalgic journey and keep the spirit of Andrew 'Boy' Charlton and the 1924 Paris Olympics alive for many more years to come.
https://www.lostmanly.com.au/products/2calset-mwphs2024
Link to Boy Charlton album...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1730870240386420&type=3
]]>
Country visitors who have the time to spare will be amply repaid by a visit to the fifth Venetian Carnival to be held at Manly on the 20th, 21st, and 23rd instance. The object is to raise funds in aid of the Manly Cottage' Hospital and "Voluntary Workers' Association. This year the carnival will be better and more attractive, and for the purposes of such a fete Manly has advantages that are quite unrivalled, not least among which are the splendid harbour trip from the city and the in-comparable surfing beaches. The attractions will be on a scale never before attempted. In the park adjacent to the wharf is to be erected a 'City of the Allies'.
A water pageant will be carried out on the harbour front, with pyrotechnic displays after sundown. Many thousands of Japanese lanterns will provide a truly Oriental aspect. A procession in fancy dress will be made each day, and all the famous bands of Sydney, not for getting Manly's own Municipal Band, of which the people are so justly proud, will be engaged to provide tha music. Confetti at carnival time is, of course, a necessity, and vast quantities will be on sale for use of the revellers. The hotels and boarding houses are preparing for the expected influx of visitors, and there should be no difficulty in obtaining ample accommodation.
Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954), Saturday 16 February 1918, page 3
retrieved 15/3/23
Manly Swimming Club held its first club carnival on 23 April 1892 in the new Corporation Baths.3 The events featured a boys’ handicap race of 66 yards (2 lengths of the baths); the Captaincy Race of 200 yards (6 lengths), won by C J Griffith; an exhibition of fancy diving and swimming by the brothers E & C Cavill; and a Members’ Handicap of 200 yards, also won by Griffith. A long-distance diving contest to see who could travel furthest underwater from a dive was won by W H German, who stayed under for 45 yards. He was also second in the Captaincy race. Mr German was Mayor of Manly at the time. Other events held at the carnival included a clothes race, were competitors had to swim fully-clothed and wearing a top hat; and walking the greasy pole “off which competitors continually slipped into the water, causing much merriment to the onlookers.” There were around 200 spectators.
The Manly Swimming Club appears to have been reconstituted in March 1893. At a meeting on 11 April 1893 at the Grand Pier Hotel, the following office-bearers were elected: President, John Woods; secretary, R A Luckham; promoter, R Stennett.
The club held a carnival on 18 November 1893, at which the Cadet Band played. Events featured a water-polo match between Manly and East Sydney, which the latter won 5-0. Ralph Stennett, the baths’ manager, performed an underwater escapology trick with manacles. Arthur Holmes won the fancy dress swim.4Secretary of the carnival was Mr R A Luckham.
At the club’s carnival on 17 March 1894, the 200 yards championship of NSW was
contested, and was won by A Cavill of North Shore Swimming Club, one of the well-known family of swimmers. An inter-club handicap race was also held.5
Office-bearers elected on 2 October 1894 were: President, H S Badgery; Secretary and treasurer, R A Luckham; delegates to the Association, R Walker and A Moore.6 The club had between 30 and 40 members.
The club disbanded in 1895, “on account of the treatment it had received at the hands of the Amateur Swimming Association.”7 Manly swimmers could no longer compete as a club in inter-club events.
The club was briefly reformed in December 1899, but did not thrive, possibly because Mr Stennett was no longer baths manager. It was not until September 1905, when the Manly District Amateur Swimming Club was formed, that Manly again had an active swimming club.
From the Manly Library Local Studies blog archives
Refs:
1 Champion, G & S, Bathing and Drowning, p19.
2 Sydney Morning Herald 21 March 1892, p5.
3 Sydney Morning Herald 25 April 1892, p7.
4 Sydney Morning Herald 20 November 1893, p6. See also Champion, Bathing and Drowning, p23-24
5 Sydney Morning Herald 19 March 1894, p3.
6 Sydney Morning Herald 3 October 1894, p8.
7 Champion op cit, p28; SMH 15 October 1895, p6.
Newspaper articles collated by Manly Library Local Studies
Manly Amateur Swimming Club volunteers, 1914-15
It was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, 30 April 1915, p8, that 56 members of the Manly Amateur Swimming Club had so far enlisted for service in WWI.
They were:
Bennett, F
Buckley, Alick
Butchardt, N
Corrigan, Edgar
Cowan, R
Darley, Arthur H
Donovan, F
Dove, B
Dryden, Robert E
Farley, M
Fuller, W E
Gillespie, John
Hawksford, Len
Hedley, Reginald
Hind, Harry
Holland, John
Holmes, N
Johnson, Ben
Kidman, Cyril
Kirke, Basil
Kirke, Clement
Kirke, Errol W
Kirke, Hunter
Lord, J
McCubbin, A
McCubbin, David
McKelvey, Steve
McLean, L
McMahon, F
McPhee, Ken
Merrett, Eric
Millar, George
Miller, Robert
Mitchell, Jack
Murray, Cecil G
Murray, Dr Archibald W G
Murray, G
Ogilvy, Archie
Paddison, C
Perry, S
Quirk, R
Richards, Tom
Rosenthal, Arthur
Rossiter, W
***
Featured image: Manly Amateur Swimming Club Premiers NSW undated.
Image courtesty NBC Library
Manly Amateur Swimming Club 1908-09.
Image courtesty NBC Library
Manly Amateur Swimming Club 1914-15.
Image courtesty NBC Library
Manly Amateur Swimming Club 1915-16
Image courtesty NBC Library
The Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company, (PJ&MSSCo.), was established in Sydney in 1855. The company was created to provide a regular passenger and cargo service between Sydney and Manly, a popular seaside resort located just north of Sydney Harbour.
In the early days of the company, the ships used for the service were paddle steamers, which were powered by steam engines and propelled by large paddlewheels on either side of the vessel. These paddle steamers were the backbone of the company's fleet for many years, and they proved to be reliable and efficient vessels for the busy Sydney-Manly route.
As the popularity of Manly beach increased, so did the demand for the company's services. In response to this, PJ&MSSCo. began to expand its fleet and introduced larger, more modern ships. One of the most famous of these was the SS South Steyne, which was launched in 1938 from Leith, in Edinburgh Scotland, where it was built, and quickly became an icon of Sydney Harbour.
During World War II, the company's ships were requisitioned by the Australian government and used for various military purposes, such as transporting troops and supplies. After the war, the PJ&MSSCo. resumed its regular passenger and cargo services, and continued to operate successfully for many years.
However, by the 1970s, the company began to face increased competition from other transport providers, such as buses and cars. This, coupled with rising fuel costs, meant that the company was struggling financially. In 1974, the PJ&MSSCo. was forced to cease its passenger services, and focus solely on its cargo operations.
Despite this setback, the PJ&MSSCo. continued to operate as a successful cargo shipping company for many years, and in 2002, the company was acquired by DP World, a global ports operator. Today, the legacy of PJ&MSSCo. lives on in the form of the South Steyne, which has been restored and was a popular tourist attraction in Sydney Harbour for a few years until government politics got in the way. Now she sits idling in an undisclosed private wharf in Sydney, waiting for her mighty return where she rightly belongs.
The Port Jackson and Manly Steam-Ship Company played a crucial role in the development of Sydney and Manly as popular tourist destinations. Its reliable and efficient steamers provided an essential transport link between the two, and helped to shape the cultural and social fabric of the region.
The blog title was a catchy advertising slogan won by a local Manly housewife, in a radio competition run by the PJ&MSSCo. to promote the South Steyne ferry that had not long joined the Circular Quay to Manly run in 1938, and turned it into a travel promotion poster to attract the day trippers from the city. It now a much loved piece of our local history.
On 1 April 1938 the mighty South Steyne arrived in Sydney Harbour from Leith, Scotland, where she was built, to begin her lifelong service of the Manly Ferry run. She now waits idly at a non public wharf in Sydney Harbour, waiting faithfully to be returned to service if only the government would provide a public wharf for her to use for embarkation purposes. On the celebration of this day, Lost Manly is offering our South Steyne 4 poster set on sale.
https://www.lostmanly.com.au/products/6798534377635
Join our engaging facebook group where it all began:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lostmanlynorthernbeaches
]]>
DROWNED IN THE SURF
The Treacherous Beach at Manly BRAVE MEN TO THE RESCUE.
They lost no time In seizing the situation, and in a few seconds Sydney Williams and T. McCarthy were in the raging surf, each intent on the rescue of one of the girls. M'Carthy secured Miss Mitchell, and SWAM ASHORE with her, battling the waves In their strong recoil to the subdued cheering of the excited gathering on the beach.
Dawn West, June Pym, Beryl Hosking, Myee Steele 1940, Ladies Amateur Swimming Club (N.S.W.) - Membership courtesy of Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies.
]]>Women's Amateur Swimming Club, A women's race about to start, Manly Baths, 1910-1920.
The Manly Women's Amateur Swimming Club is one of the oldest swimming clubs in Australia. It was founded in 1904, at a time when competitive swimming was largely dominated by men. The club was established with the aim of providing women with an opportunity to compete in swimming events and develop their skills in the sport.
The club was initially formed as the Manly Ladies Amateur Swimming Club, but the name was later changed to the Manly Women's Amateur Swimming Club. The club was based at the Manly Baths, which were one of the most popular swimming locations in Sydney at the time.
In its early years, the club faced many challenges, including opposition from conservative members of the community who believed that women should not participate in competitive sports. However, the club persevered and gradually gained acceptance and recognition for its achievements.
Dawn West, June Pym, Beryl Hosking, Myee Steele, 1940, Ladies' Amateur Swimming Club, courtesy of Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies.
Over the years, the Manly Women's Amateur Swimming Club has produced many outstanding swimmers, including several Australian representatives. The club has also played an important role in promoting women's swimming and providing opportunities for women to compete at all levels of the sport.
Myee Steele, 1938. Myee was born in 1922, and attended Manly Public School. An Empire Games representative in 1938; 440 yards Australian Free Championship, 1939 5 min., 53 sec; Victorian record. 880 yards Australian Free Championship, 1939 - 12 min., 30 sec. Photo from Frank Bell courtesy of Northern Beaches Library Local Studies
Today, the Manly Women's Amateur Swimming Club continues to be a vibrant and active club, with a strong focus on developing swimmers of all ages and abilities. The club has a proud history and remains an important part of the Australian swimming community.
Betty Green 1943, photo from Frank Bell courtesy of Northern Beaches Library Local Studies
]]>
The Manly Amateur Swimming Club has a long and proud history dating back to 1902, when it was founded by a group of local swimming enthusiasts in the beachside suburb of Manly, located on the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious swimming clubs in Australia and has been a fixture of the Manly community ever since.
From the outset, the club was focused on promoting the sport of swimming in the local community, and encouraging young people to get involved in the sport. In the early years, the club held regular swimming competitions and events at Manly Beach, and quickly gained a reputation for producing talented swimmers.
The Manly Amateur Swimming Club has a long and storied history, with many notable achievements over the years. In addition to producing successful swimmers, the club has been instrumental in promoting the sport of swimming in Australia and providing opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills and compete at a high level.
Manly Ladies Amateur Swimming club, 1925.
L to R: Petty Moore, ? Ellis, ? Ellis, Thelma Bird, Lorna Wellings, Flossie Miller (Lady Murdoch), Doris Apps, Josie Sheidow, Gwen Abbot, Beryl Walpole, Marjorie Morgan, courtesy of Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies.
The club has produced many notable swimmers over the years, including Olympic gold medalists Andrew "Boy" Charlton and Murray Rose. The club has also been a training ground for many other successful Australian swimmers, including Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, and Susie O'Neill.One of the most notable swimmers to emerge from the Manly club in the early years was Cecil Healy, who went on to win a gold medal as part of the Australian 4x200m freestyle relay team at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.
Welcoming home the Manly Swimmers from the 10th Olympic Games Paris, France, October 1924. Nick Winter (1st, Hop-Step-Jump), Andrew "Boy" Charlton (1st, 1500 metres), Ernie Henry (Swimming), Ossie Merrett(Manager), Dick Eve (1st, High swing). 10th Olympic Gamesheld in Paris, France, courtesy of Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the Manly club continued to produce top-level swimmers, including Andrew "Boy" Charlton, who won two gold medals at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, and Murray Rose, who won a total of four gold medals at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics.
In addition to producing successful swimmers, the Manly Amateur Swimming Club has played a key role in the development of swimming as a sport in Australia. The club has been a leader in promoting the importance of swimmer safety, and has been instrumental in the establishment of swimming facilities and programs throughout the country.
Today, the Manly Amateur Swimming Club remains a major force in Australian swimming, with a strong focus on developing young talent and helping athletes achieve their full potential. The club continues to be a source of pride for the local community and a symbol of the rich sporting heritage of the Manly area.
The Manly Baths were a historic swimming and recreation complex located in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Established in the late 19th century, the baths were a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, offering a variety of amenities for swimming, sunbathing, and other water-based activities.
The Manly Baths consisted of several large swimming pools, as well as changing rooms, showers, and other facilities. They were particularly popular during the summer months, when visitors would flock to Manly to enjoy the beach and the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to swimming, the Manly Baths also hosted a variety of social events and activities, including picnics, dances, and other gatherings. They were an important hub of social activity in the Manly community, and played a significant role in the development of the suburb as a popular beach destination.
Over the years, the Manly Baths underwent several renovations and changes, with new pools and facilities added to keep up with changing tastes and trends. However, by the mid-20th century, the baths had fallen out of favor, and were eventually closed in the 1970s. The Sygna storm on 23 May 1974 was the final nail in the coffin.
Today, the site of Manly Baths is occupied by Manly Skiff Club and Sailing Club on the far end of East Esplanade. While the baths themselves are no longer in operation, their legacy as an important part of Manly's social and recreational history continues to be celebrated by locals and visitors alike.
]]>
The 1924 Summer Olympics, held in Paris, France, saw the participation of several Australian swimmers, including a number of athletes from Manly, a suburb of Sydney known for its beaches and water sports.
One of the most notable Manly swimmers at the 1924 Olympics was Boy Charlton, who won two gold medals in the men's freestyle events. Charlton, who was just 17 years old at the time, set a world record in the 1500m freestyle and also won gold in the 400m freestyle event.
In addition to Charlton, several other Manly swimmers competed at the 1924 Olympics, including Cecil Healy, who won a gold medal as part of the Australian 4x200m freestyle relay team, and Frank Beaurepaire, who won a silver medal in the men's 200m breaststroke event.
The success of the Manly swimmers at the 1924 Olympics helped to cement Australia's reputation as a world-class swimming nation, and inspired a new generation of athletes to pursue their dreams of Olympic glory. Today, Manly remains an important centre of swimming and water sports in Australia, with many top athletes and coaches calling the area home.
Andrew "Boy" Charlton profile 27 April 1924
]]>If you are looking for the perfect gift idea from the Northern Beaches, check out these 5 thoughtful gift ideas that are sure to be a hit!
There’s nothing quite like a gift from someone who knows us better than anyone else. When someone provides you with a gift they’ve thought over, it outranks thinking at all about a gift’s value, as warm feeling and love, on a special day, remain absolutely priceless.
If you wish to provide a beautiful gift to someone you care about, then selecting from a range of fantastic Lost Manly Shop items can connect them to the cultural heritage of the Northern Beaches of Sydney. This popular tourist destination has a storied history and delights thousands of people annually, also serving as a picturesque slice of Australia worth appreciating.
Printed Mugs
A personalised printed mug can take you back to the places you love while enjoying your morning tea or coffee, serving as a fantastic piece of memorabilia worth taking care of. Our beautiful Ceramic printed mug collection offers a range of inspired print motifs showcasing the diverse cultural and historical heritage of the Northern Beaches, while adding a splash of nostalgia to your morning brew. What better way to start your day?
Vintage Posters and Calendars
Our exciting collection of Calendars and Vintage Posters are made to order, offering you the opportunity to give a personalised gift to your friends and family. All our images have been carefully sourced far and wide to bring you vintage relics from our past. Some of the images are quite old and rare and have needed graphic enhancement to be print perfect; each one a labour of love from the designer. Our calendar photos have been thoughtfully selected from the most popular and loved images among our members and friends, guaranteed to make the perfect gift, being both practical and beautiful. Isn’t it better to give a thoughtful gift then a last minute ‘buy anything’ one? Every product we create at the Lost Manly Shop is a labour of love, born out of our great love and passion for the Northern Beaches, its history and its heritage. Each original product offers a personalised gift idea for friends and family, or for self, not to mention, a fantastic way to adorn any living space.
100% Cotton T-Shirts with Personalised Logo Designs
Our large range of Cotton T-Shirts are customised by applying unique and original logo designs created right here at the Lost Manly Shop (graphics department) personalised to each customer’s requirements. Our garments come in a range of colours and sizes, including the core colours of black, white, navy and grey, to more vibrant summer colours of rich red, purple and teal green, in sizes ranging from extra small to 5XL (depending on the brand). These 100% combed cotton T-shirts are designed to last and retain colour over several machine washes. If heading on your holidays, they can provide the perfect suitcase stuffer.
Summer and Winter We’ve got you Covered
We offer a range of garments to suit all seasons, from the classic cotton tank top or Muscle T-Shirt as some like to call it, to show of those hard earned biceps, to the Long-Sleeved T-Shirts or Fleece Hoodies keeping you warm all winter long. These garments not only look fantastic but are made from quality cotton, ensuring they’re comfortable and breathable, making them ideal for summer and wintertime. Our garments are perfect for men, women and children, so you don’t have to worry if shopping for more than one person.
Cushion Covers
Is there anything quite as comforting in a home as cushions and blankets? With our colourful cushion covers, beautifully textured with a range of personalised printed designs from local artists making local art, to a splash of good old-fashioned vintage appeal, you’ll find they will spruce up any home, from your grandmother’s homely sitting area to your son’s bachelor pad in need of some colour and light, giving it a personalised touch of colour and class, with a hint of nostalgia taboot.
Add a splash of colour and Northern Beaches culture to any home with these stunning home decorating gift ideas, that celebrate the unique and unrivalled cultural history and heritage, of our Lost Manly and the Northern Beaches bringing the natural beauty, cultural identity and unique history to your home, or the home of your loved ones and friends.
]]>The Manly Beach land division took place in 1910, when a large parcel of land in Manly was subdivided into smaller blocks and sold to developers and individual buyers. The land division was driven by the growing popularity of Manly as a beach resort destination, and the increasing demand for property in the area.
The Manly Beach land division resulted in the creation of a number of new streets, including Pacific Parade, Ocean Beach Road, and Manly Parade, which opened up access to previously undeveloped areas of the beach. The subdivision also led to the construction of a number of new homes, shops, and other buildings in the area.
The development of Manly Beach as a popular tourist destination continued throughout the 20th century, with the construction of a number of new hotels, restaurants, and other attractions. Today, Manly Beach remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia, and is renowned for its beautiful scenery, great surf, and vibrant culture.
You can own your own slice of history with this vintage subdivision reproduction poster. Our poster prints are produced from the original artwork image, which can be more than 100 years old, so naturally they will contain 'age spots' and 'flaws' from the ravages of time, which add to their charm and serve as statement pieces, adding a touch of vintage nostalgia to your living space. Most are happy to leave their authentic flaws as is. However, we also give them a little 'make-up' improvement using graphics programs, but seek to keep them at their original and best.
When asked if they want the flaws out, most will say no, so they are presented 'as it', unless the flaws detract from the overall effect, then they'll get a little 'touch up'.
Now, where else can you get such unique Northern Beaches Vintage Prints like these? Having searched high and low to find these golden girls, you'll love having this poster take pride of place in your living space, knowing its a unique and rare piece of our history. And what’s a golden girl to wear? Nothing but silk. These beauties are printed on 170gsm Silk semi gloss paper, for added longevity and perfect for framing in or out of glass. This one is currently available in A3 size.
https://www.lostmanly.com.au/products/manly-north-steyne-subdivision-1910
]]>North Steyne Surf Club is an iconic Australian surf club that has been serving the community for over a century. Established in 1907, the club has a long and fascinating history that reflects the development of surf lifesaving in Australia. In this blog, we will take a closer look at the history of North Steyne Surf Club, from its early beginnings to its present-day activities.
]]>The Early Years (1907-1920s) North Steyne Surf Club was founded in 1907 by a group of passionate surfers who were concerned about the safety of beachgoers. The club was established on the northern end of Manly Beach, and its members were dedicated to the principles of surf lifesaving.
In its early years, the club had limited resources, and members often had to rely on their own equipment and expertise to carry out rescues. However, despite these challenges, the club quickly gained a reputation for its commitment to safety and its high level of skill.
During the 1910s and 1920s, North Steyne Surf Club continued to grow in popularity, with more and more people becoming involved in surf lifesaving.
Carnival December 19th 1925, North Steyne, showing the then new circus seating
The club also played an important role in educating the public about surf safety, and members were often called upon to assist with rescue operations outside of their usual patrol areas.
The Interwar Period (1930s-1940s) The 1930s and 1940s were a challenging time for North Steyne Surf Club, as the world was gripped by the Great Depression and then the Second World War. Despite these difficulties, the club continued to operate and remained an important part of the community.
Brother-in-arms and brothers-in-law, Manly Servicemen Leo Ibbotts, Bede Sutton and Stan Lyons, in 1941 sitting on the sandstone at North Steyne,
opposite their parent's home on Ocean Beach.
Barbed wire on the beach during WWII
The Modern Era (1950s-Present) Since the 1950s, North Steyne Surf Club has continued to be a vital part of the community. The club has expanded its facilities and services, and today it boasts a modern clubhouse, state-of-the-art equipment, and a team of highly skilled and dedicated members. The club has also continued to be involved in the development of surf lifesaving as a sport, and its members regularly compete at local, national, and international events.
Belly board, surf skis, hollow board and others, Manly Beach circa 1951.
Photograph probably Ray Leighton
Longhurst, page 79.
In addition to its lifesaving and sporting activities, North Steyne Surf Club also plays an important role in community service. The club runs a number of programs aimed at promoting surf safety and educating the public about the dangers of the ocean. It also provides training and support for new members, ensuring that the tradition of surf lifesaving continues for many years to come.
Use the links below if you'd like to order this or other vintage poster prints, or check out some of my other creative uses for vintage appeal merch.
https://www.lostmanly.com.au/products/vintage-poster-north-steyne-surf-carnival
Check out all the available customised vintage merch and posters here.
https://www.redbubble.com/people/LOSTMANLY/shop?asc=u
Since its closure in the late 1990’s the former (Warringah Ice Skating Centre as it was called in the mid-1980s) site has evolved into a large apartment and commercial complex, but once upon a time the highly popular Narrabeen Ice Rink sat on the corner of Lagoon and Wellington Streets, next to Narrabeen Woolworths where it served as a local icon for over 35 years.
The rink was constructed in the 1970’s by Dutch native Dick Groentemann, who also built Ice rinks in Newcastle and Blacktown. The arch-trussed building was also home to the Warringah Bombers Ice Hockey team, at times attracting crowds of over one thousand spectators.
The old rink was purpose built from iron and never made ice effectively. Dick bought it and also failed to make ice properly until he met another Northern Beaches family the Pitstocks. Warren Pitstock was an engineering genius and fixed it. The larger rink was then built as a joint venture between the two families, once Father Sobb allowed them to remove the abandoned Nunnery behind the old rink. It was a handshake agreement that died with father Sobb, but that’s another story.
Dick Mann owned and operated many businesses on the Northern Beaches over many decades. The ice rinks and ski slopes are a couple. Yes Narrabeen and Warringah Mall ski slope. Some might remember him or his children from Narrabeen Ice skating rink, Elliott, Ronnie and David.
David 'Dickie' Groenteman is one of Australia's oldest living survivors of Auschwitz. He was captured as part of the resistance. Passing illegal papers to help people escape. Born in 1923 in Amsterdam, this is the first time Dickie has shared every intimate, unfathomable and inspiring chapter of his life story. It's the tale of a boy from Holland who survived death row and the death camps to become a hockey legend. On the ice Dickie was known as 'The Flying Dutchman' and this is his story told. To see the key characters of this story and learn more about Dickie, follow @storiestoldau on Instagram or Facebook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-flying-dutchman/id1656572482
When David Groenteman arrived in Australia and moved to Sydney, one of his first ports of call was the local ice rink. Ice hockey was his passion but in a country with Australia’s climate, building a legacy around the sport was always going to be a challenge but Dickie doesn’t mind a challenge and he quickly established a team of talented European immigrants. They called themselves ‘The Bombers’ - a homage to the military planes that came to their rescue during World War II. After a resounding win in their first match against the state’s best players to earn a spot in the top NSW League, ‘The Bombers’ would go on to win a string of championships and cups. But Dickie wasn’t content with personal glory on the ice. He wanted to transform the sport nationwide. So, he went and built rinks with his bare hands and the help of family and friends across the country.
This included Narrabeen which became home to ‘The Bombers’ (workplace health and safety was a little different in those days). Three generations of Groentemans (Manns) have since pulled on the ‘The Bombers’ jersey and the club is still winning trophies to this day.
Do you Remember the artificial ski slope behind the Mall? the surface was made of spiky, nylon bristles and when you fell you got a cross between a gravel rash & a bad carpet burn. It was opened in 1967.
Newspaper ad from May 1968
ARTIFICIAL SLOPE
On Friday nights, the group go to the Cortina artificial ski slopes at Warringah Mall for ski training.
One of them, George Spartalis, said the training helped to keep them fit all the year round, and the artificial ski slope enabled them to keep their form in the summer.
"Last year when the snow came late we had no opportunity to practise on the snow before the racing started, but because of the artificial slope we were in pretty good shape.'
The Cortina slope, opened last year, is 200ft long and 40ft wide. The slope is made of nylon brush supported on scaffolding about 50ft high, The proprietors guarantee to teach stem turns, the intermediate stage of ski-ing, in three one-hour lessons.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/107448472624800
From the Facebook group album “The flying Dutchman”
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.968697274096257&type=3
]]>
The old garage door down the cracked and buckled driveway had seen better days, though it once served as the perfect canvas for handball, hide and seek or table tennis inside the garage. Instantly, I could see mum's gorgeous chiffon, royal blue strapless gown, the one she wore the night she met my father at the annual footy ball in 1958 Sydney, now strewn across the garage floor to stop the rain coming in, thanks to my brothers playing in their table-tennis championships. Oh Lord, my mother was beside herself when she saw it, but the boys thought nothing of it. I too was shattered as it was my favourite dress up gown of mum's, which was lovingly kept in a linen pillowcase.
The fragrant Camellia bush outside my bedroom window is now a fully grown, established tree, planted in the 1960s when the house was built, saved from the scourge of the developers knife, it still has the most luscious shiny leaves and fragrant, heady scent of Camellia, that wafted its way inside my bedroom windon, on many a hot, summer's night.
The side of the house, where we used to sneak a cheeky smoke after school, has now been fenced up, so I could only peer through the cracks, remembering those moments locked in time, thinking we were clever enough to light up a smoke underneath the open lounge room window, walk inside, and mum not be the wiser? How childish indeed!
When I had seen all that this fortified temple allowed me to see, I dragged myself away, with an intense longing in my heart to want to stay. It was so hard to walk away as each footstep forward was distancing me from my past, from those tender childhood memories that are mine and mine alone, that can never be taken from me, whether I own that home or not. I had to hold back the tears as my longing to return was so palpable. Elvis said it best in his beautiful song, Memories:
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thought come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves
around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart
with sweet memories
Sweet memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you.
]]>
It's hard to believe the Northern Beaches was once one of the least desirable places in Sydney to live because it was a long and difficult road trip from Sydney, and few travailed. Before the Spit Bridge was built in 1924, the only way across Middle Harbour was by punt, owned and operated by the Ellery family. The Northern Beaches is now one of the most desirable places to live in Sydney, reflected in the inflated housing prices, forcing many families to leave, causing a sense of 'dispossession' or loss, with many moving away, yet longing to return, if they could.
Manly's European history was the vision of one man, Henry Gilbert Smith, from the 'mother land' of England, who fell in love with the natural beauty of Manly and envisioned an Utopian paradise; an escape from the hustle and bustle of the Industrial Age polluted city life that the fledgling new Sydney town was embracing with such gusto; smoke, noise, pollution, crime and poverty, that he sought to create a utopian paradise reminiscent of his beloved 'Brighton by the Sea' in old England, an escape to a peninsular paradise.
Smith's vision was for a holiday life by the sea, where people could forget all their troubles and cares, and bask in the natural beauty of this undeveloped peninsula paradise, even though daylight swimming was illegal and fifty years away from legalisation. Smith saw Manly as the perfect place to recreate his 'BRIGHTON BY THE SEA' naming it, for a brief period, 'ELLENSVILLE' after his beloved wife.
He saw its development potential so quickly claimed much of the surrounding land. However, though undeveloped, the land was not uninhabited.
Many suburbs were named after Aboriginal names:
Join our engaging facebook group where it all began:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lostmanlynorthernbeaches
]]>
It's hard to believe that the Northern Beaches was once the least desirable place to live in Sydney because it was a long and difficult trip by unpaved roads and ferry punt on horse and cart, from Sydney town, and few travailed. The punt at the Spit was run by the Ellery clan, who lived close by, and operated the punt from the early 1800s until 1924, when the Spit Bridge was opened.
Fast forward a century or more and the Northern Beaches, is perhaps, the most desirable place to live in Sydney, reflected in the souring housing prices and dense overdevelopment, causing many families to leave for more affordable, and less populated places, resulting in a sense of loss for simpler times, and for some, a sense of feeling dispossessed.
Lost Manly and the Northern Beaches Facebook Group was conceived in July 2013, as a place to share local and family history, that had been gathered over the years, with nowhere to put it.
I think my love of history first began in my childhood,hearing my mother share memories of her childhood, growing up in North Manly during the war. Mum's parents and grandparents lived close by, and we walked past my great grandparents house in Soldiers Avenue Harbord on the way to Freshwater beach. Old man Claus, a Norwegian sailor from Bergen, built the original wooden house with his own two hands in the early 1900s and they lived their the mid 1960s when they both passed away, six months apart. Now that's true love.
Whether my interest in my own family history was inspired by my history lessons at school, or my history lessons at school were inspired by my family history at home, is a great unknown, but my natural passion for it showed up early when I scored the highest grades in Year 9 final exams, which were a complete shock to me as I wasn't even in the running. Thinking about it, now, I think it started in muma's kitchen.
Mum was born in Narrabeen in March 1939, as the world was facing the second world war. With that came stories of mum's childhood during and after the war, when butter was scarce, and rations allowed them to survive, and spreading dripping, instead of butter, on their bread was common. Mum's cooking was basic, as she worked full time as a Legal Secretary so by the time she got home, she usually made just meat and three veg and saved the fancy cooking for the weekends, which I loved, helping her and bonding over food. Mum´s Shepherd pie conjures up vivid childhood memories, baked in our old post-WW2 avocado, and beige enamel gas oven with the old pilot light that was lit with a match and was scary smelling the gas seep out before the flame caught it in a little explosion of fire.
Mum's childhood home was 1.2 km westward from our house, up the hill just off Allambie Road. We could see the tops of the four Oak trees in their backyard, from our front yard. Mum´s grandparents lived 1.2km eastward, towards Freshwater Beach. We walked past their old house in Soldiers Avenue on the way to the beach. I first started researching my family history in the mid 80s. There was no internet back then and all history tracings had to be done at the Archives at the Rocks, using the old microfilm machines, a skill I'd picked up working my first job in the Bank of New South Wales, now Westpac.
My family history research journey has taken me back hundreds, even thousands, of years to England, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Germany Poland. But it wasn't until living far from home in Norway that I started searching closer to home that brought me back to Manly, and in doing so, found out that four and five generations of my ancestors lived around Manly and the southern suburbs of the Northern Beaches. It was then I started the Facebook group Lost Manly and the Northern Beaches, as a place to share my findings, and encourage other locals to do the same, to create an online portal to gather and share the local and family history of the Northern Beaches, as told through the eyes of the locals.
]]>
From the 1850s to the 1920s, Manly Wharf was the gateway to the northern beaches – a status that was only broken by the construction of The Spit and Roseville bridges.
Manly Wharf in the 1870s.
From the 1850s to the 1920s, Manly Wharf was the gateway to the northern beaches – a status that was only broken by the construction of the Spit and Roseville bridges. And the man behind the construction of the first wharf at Manly was the founder of Manly – Henry Gilbert Smith – who applied to the state government in August 1855 for permission to build a wharf at Manly.
He wanted to build a wharf that was 61m long and 3.4m wide. Anyone who opposed Smith’s plan was given a month in which to lodge their objections but no one did, so the wharf was built by the end of September 1855 and the first ferry berthed there on October 6.
But while Smith owned the wharf, he wasn’t asked to pay rent for the space over which the wharf was built. Smith leased the wharf to Edy Manning, who ran the first boats to Manly, although it was not until 1857 that a daily service was commenced. From 1862, Smith leased the wharf to Samuel Skinner and Spencer Wilson, to whom Smith had sold his shares in his ferry, the Phantom.
After the deaths of Skinner and Wilson in 1867, Skinner’s interest in the ferry business passed to Smith’s business associate, T. J. Parker, although Smith retained ownership of the wharf.
In 1868, Smith received permission to extend Manly Wharf. Again, the public was invited by the government to make objections but none were made, so the permission was granted without conditions and there was no lease – the wharf was there on sufferance.
In the same year, operation of the ferry service was taken over by Captain Thomas Heselton, who in 1873 bought the rights, title and interest in Manly Wharf from Smith, although Parker still had shares in the business.
In 1875, John Carey bought the Manly service from Heselton, along with five boats and the rights, title and interest in Manly Wharf. Carey was a founder of The Daily Telegraph and was its chairman for 40 years until his death. In late 1876, John Carey, John Woods, John Watson and Jenkin Collier founded the Port Jackson Steam Boat Co, the forerunner of the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company.
The new company owned Manly Wharf but in December 1876 the State Government introduced a five-year lease on the land over which the wharf stood and felt the owner of the wharf should pay rent. The Port Jackson Steamboat Company offered to pay rent of £25 a year for five years from January 1, 1877, on the understanding that the company would get a renewal for another five years in consideration of money the company had already spent on the wharf.
The department agreed to the terms of the lease proposed by the ferry company. The wharf was still recognised by the department as belonging to the ferry company and the lease was for the land and water over which it was built. Manly Council was incorporated in 1877 and immediately endeavoured to gain control of Many Wharf.
The residents who petitioned for the incorporation of the municipality had long wanted the wharf but the lease between the State Government and the ferry company was signed before the council was incorporated. In 1878 the ferry company extended the wharf.
A public meeting at Manly on August 20, 1880, led to a letter being sent to the Secretary of Lands, asking him to terminate the ferry company’s lease when the five-year lease expired on December 31, 1881.
In 1881, the mayor of Manly, Alfred Hilder, wrote to the Secretary of Land, urging him to hand the lease of the land on which the wharf was built to the council upon the expiry of the lease.
The ferry company agreed to waive its right to a renewal of its lease upon receiving from the council of a sub-lease of the land and water over which the wharf was built on condition that the council grant it a lease of 12 years.
But because the government could only lease the wharf to the council for five years at a time, the council would be unable to sub-let it to the ferry company, which therefore withdrew its waiver, so in October 1881, the ferry company transferred its interest in the wharf to Manly resident Robert Pitt. The council agreed to the leasing of the wharf for five years to Robert Pitt.
Also in 1881, the Port Jackson Steamship Company was formed to take over the assets and business of the Port Jackson Steam Boat Company.
The Port Jackson Steamship Co agreed to the lease of the wharf being granted to Robert Pitt on condition that he sub-let the wharf to the ferry company for £118 per annum for five years and on condition that Pitt apply for a renewal after five years for another five-year lease and a further two-year lease, totalling 12 years.
Other conditions were that no other wharf be built at Manly, that the ferry company build or have built a 600-seat ferry for the Manly run, that it keep fares at a specific level, that it allow the public to use the wharf, that the ferry company run 11 services in each direction each day, that if the council erected a new wharf on the site or nearby, the cost of the new wharf would not exceed £2500 and that ferry company would pay the council, on top of its rent, 10 per cent per annum of the cost of building the new wharf, and that the council not build another wharf nearby that another ferry operator could use. The new lease was signed on October 25, 1881.
In 1883, the wharf was extended by 45m to accommodate the new steamer Brighton, the cost of which extension the ferry company had to pay over 10 years. In 1888 a bookstall and Camera Obscura and tea rooms were opened on the wharf. But tensions between the ferry company and the council were never far below the surface, so when a new ferry company – the Manly Co-operative Steam Ferry Co – was formed in 1893, the council backed the new company, which promised to cut ferry fares.
In 1894, the council authorised the new company to use Manly Wharf and transferred the lease of the wharf to the new company. In response, the Port Jackson Steamship Company then used the wharf it owned on the eastern side of Manly Cove, called the Brightside Wharf, and cut its fares to match those of the new company.
The State Government was not impressed by Manly Council’s behaviour concerning Manly Wharf and in 1895 began undermining the council’s lease. The government said it would build a second wharf at Manly and the Lands Minister decreed that the Port Jackson Steamship Company would use the old wharf and the Manly Co-operative Steam Ferry Company would use the new wharf and that in the meantime both companies would use the Brightside Wharf.
In 1896 the Manly Co-operative Steam Ferry Company collapsed, after which its interests were taken over by the Port Jackson Steamship Company, which was renamed the Port Jackson Co-operative Steamship Co. The council was able to reassert its authority over the leases of the two wharves – the old one and the new one – and asked the ferry company to initiate a cargo service to the new wharf.
In 1900, during the Bubonic plague, the Camera Obscura and tea rooms were demolished. In 1907, the ferry company was reincorporated as the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company and in 1907, 1908 and 1911, Manly Wharf was improved, during which the wharf was lengthened to 75m.
In 1915, Manly Council tried to squeeze more money from the ferry company when the three-year sub-lease came up for renewal and it was only a threat from the Sydney Harbour Trust to take over the lease that the council was forced to back down. The company’s offer was £2050 a year plus a subsidy of £1000 a year for three years, rising to £1500 a year for the next three years.
In 1916, the accommodation on the wharf for passengers was improved and a half-timbered facade and clock tower were added.
In 1924, the Spit and Roseville bridges were built and the land route to the northern beaches become a viable alternative to the maritime route to Manly and the northern beaches, eventually leading to a reduction in passenger numbers as ownership of private cars increased.
By 1929, the ferry company had a virtually unconditional lease on the wharf and was able to cut its annual subsidy due to the council’s failure to provide recreational improvements in Manly.
Also in 1929, the ferry company asked the government if it could convert the cargo wharf to an amusement pier, motorised transport having wiped out the use of boats to ferry cargo to Manly.
On August 7, 1939, a fire broke out in a milk bar on the main wharf and spread throughout the wooden structure, causing £10,000 worth of damage, leading to the wharf being rebuilt.
By 1940, the lease of Manly Wharf was transferred to the direct control of the Sydney Harbour Trust’s successor, the Maritime Services Board. As part of the rebuilding of Manly Wharf, the facade was altered and more shops were added.
Since that time, the wharf has been modified several times, more businesses have been added, including two restaurants on a second storey, and the cargo wharf-come-amusement pier has been demolished and a concrete wharf built in its place.
Story by John Morcombe,
Manly Daily March 2021.
]]>It's easy to feel blessed growing up on the Northern Beaches. And moving away for many born N bredders, leaves an aching longing to return; whether that is to return to it now or return to simpler, youthful times, when life on the Northern Beaches was casual and carefree. One thing's for sure:
YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF THE NORTHERN BEACHES, but YOU CAN'T TAKE THE NORTHERN BEACHES OUT OF THE GIRL
Born from my own longing, Lost Manly was established in 2013, far, far from 'home' (like Peter Allen, no matter how far I roam, I still call Northern Beaches home) as a sort of 'filing cabinet' for my family history research, to share online with family far and wide, and invite others to look into their own family history and share theirs also. We are now close to 30,000 members.
In October 2020 we produced the first Lost Manly calendar for 2021, featuring the plight to save the Freshwater Ferries, with stellar efforts from the Ferry crew taking stunning photos from sun rise to sunset and late in the evening. Some were distributed at the Save our Freshwater Ferries endeavours, which has been successful, but the fight's not yet over. Long may they reign. The calendars were a sell out. In 2022, we produced three calendars, celebrating the South Steyne and Queenscliff ferries, a vintage Manly calendar and a Moods of Manly sunrise series, and are now working on 2023 calendars with an exciting theme in store. You will be able to pre-order your copy here soon.
Then there's the Baragoola Preservation and the quest to Bring back the South Steyne. The Government should see the value in preserving our heritage and building on the history and character of our beautiful harbour.
]]>