The History of the Northern Beaches
Welcome to the Northern Beaches
Guringai speakers (some of whom called themselves by the clan names below) met the first fleet when it arrived in 1788 and they were the first Indigenous people in Australia to resist Phillip’s fleet. They inhabited the north shore of Sydney Harbour, living along the coast from Kirribilli then north to Manly up along the northern beaches to Broken Bay and as far as Wyong. Inland they extended to the Lane Cove River. The word for man or person is kuri (Koori) and kuringga, the possessive means ‘belonging to kuri’. Ngai (ng/guy) means ‘woman’. The name Guringai was coined by ethnographer John Fraser in 1892 as the original name of the tribal group was not known. Within the language area were many tribal names such as Garigal, Gayamaygal, Gai-mariagal and Borogegal.
https://www.budawagroup.com/welcome
Some of the clans in the Guringai speaking areas: Kayimai (Manly, harbour), Borogegal (Bradleys Head), Cannalgal (Manly, coast), Garigal (Broken Bay), Cammeragal (Cammeray).
The Cammeragal were considered by the first fleet author David Collins as “by far the most numerous tribe of any within our knowledge” (Collins ‘1798 Manners, Etc. of the Natives of New South Wales’, p.673).
The history of the Northern Beaches intertwines with Australia’s broader narrative of exploration and the legacy of Indigenous communities. Manly serves as a shining beacon of this history. At the time of the first European colonists, the Guringai people inhabited this area.
The Cannalgal and Kayimai were Aboriginal clans in the Sydney region, specifically associated with the Manly area. The Cannalgal resided along the coast while the Kayimai were connected to the harbour. Both clans encountered Captain Arthur Phillip. The Kayimai people constructed shelters and/or lived in caves. These clans were part of the Guringai language group. The Cannalgal's territory was located to the west. This suggests a complex social structure and connection to the local environment by these groups.
The Cannalgal and Kayimai people were custodians of the land, and all the sacred and secret sacred sites that were bequeathed to them by Baiame, the all powerful being who created men and women and their world. Aboriginal culture is rich and varied; it is a proud and intrinsic part of Australia's heritage.
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/culture/indigenous/display/122220-traditional-custodians#:~:text=The%20Cannalgal%20and%20Kayimai%20people,intrinsic%20part%20of%20Australia's%20heritage.
For a time, Manly was considered a hidden gem, difficult to reach due to its long and perilous 70-mile road from Sydney, which deterred most potential visitors. It was often deemed one of Sydney's least desirable places to live, overshadowed by the allure of surrounding locations.
Isolated for years, the small population relied on fishing and farming, fostering a strong and tight-knit community that still embodies the area’s resilient spirit today.
In June 1855, Henry Gilbert Smith recognised Manly’s potential as a thriving settlement and invested in its development. He purchased land and constructed hotels, donated space for schools and churches, and established a ferry service to improve accessibility.
By 1880, the Manly Council was officially incorporated, and the area had blossomed into a popular seaside resort. Over the following decades, Manly would become a pivotal cultural and vacation hotspot for Sydney, transforming from one of its least populated areas to one of its most sought-after destinations.
Manly in 1894. Artist unknown.
